What inspired you to travel abroad?
As an International Relations major at my home university, I really value the different perspectives that can be gained by going abroad. I knew that I wanted to study abroad in college to help gain confidence and make new friends across the world.
I like to force myself outside of my comfort zone, and going abroad was a great way for me to push myself to try new things.
Why did you choose TEAN by WorldStrides?
I specifically chose to study abroad with The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) because of their different options for host institutions, as well as the included excursions with the program. TEAN had multiple options for different host institutions all over Australia and even within Sydney itself.
I was able to take classes at a school with Aviation classes, which are not offered by my home institution. I was also drawn by the orientation in Cairns, where we went to the Great Barrier Reef as part of the program cost.
My friends and I outside the Sydney Opera House during one of the prettiest sunsets I saw during my time in Australia!
What was your favorite part about Sydney, Australia?
I loved the variety of things to do in Sydney! I love spending time in nature, and Sydney was a great hub for a lot of nature nearby.
It took me about 20 minutes to get to the beach from my apartment and about 2 hours to get to the mountains by train. There were also lots of cute towns nearby for day trips, and of course, the bustling downtown of Sydney!
I loved being outside in the nice weather and truly exploring the region.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Experiencing new things while being surrounded by my new friends made my experience extraordinary! I felt like I was constantly laughing and exploring new places.
Whether in cities, towns, or in nature, I was with some of the coolest people I've ever met. They really made my experience one that I will never forget.
Snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef during my TEAN orientation!
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The local staff were so supportive while I was abroad! They hosted lots of different events for people in my program to do, such as beach clean-ups, surf lessons, a rugby match, and a trip to the mountains.
All of those were included in the program cost. They also offered one-on-one coffee chats where we could simply catch up and talk about anything we were struggling with or the ways we were thriving.
Luckily, I didn't have any issues while I was abroad that I needed assistance with, but our local staff supported some of my fellow program goers to the hospital and with insurance issues. I felt supported the whole time I was abroad and would highly recommend TEAN because of their extensive support.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish that I had spent more time meeting Australians. Most of my friends in Australia were other foreigners, either other Americans or people from Asia.
It was very easy to meet other exchange students as all of us were there for a short time. Because of that, I did feel a little limited in the Australians I was friends with.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
I would wake up, grab a $3 coffee (which would be impossible to find in the US, haha), and head to class for a few hours. In the afternoon, I would make lunch and meet up with some friends at the beach.
We would stay at the beach for a few hours and grab dinner at one of our favorite happy hour places while watching the sunset.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
I was constantly at the beach! I probably went to 20 or 30 different beaches during my time in Sydney.
I certainly had my favorite beaches, but I loved exploring different walking paths on the coast and finding new beaches as I walked around. There were so many coastal walking paths in Sydney.
I loved walking on them alone or with friends during my free time. There are also cheap flights between cities in Australia, so I enjoyed a few weekend trips outside of Sydney to Melbourne, Newcastle, and Tasmania.
One of many Kangaroo selfies!
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I lived in an on-campus apartment with five other American students. We each had our own bedroom, which I really appreciated, and we had two bathrooms for the six of us.
I loved how it was on campus, as we had no commute to class and were a 20-minute bus ride away from the beach. The location could not have been better!
We had public transportation options all around us and could take the light rail or bus to the downtown area.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
One thing that everyone interested in my program should know is to make sure to take classes that you are genuinely interested in. Otherwise, it may be hard for you to focus on your studies when there is so much fun stuff to do around Sydney.
I was interested in my classes, which made me interested in studying sometimes. But if I weren't interested in my classes, it would've been really hard for me to do any schoolwork.
Would you recommend your program and provider to others? Why?
I absolutely would recommend anyone to do a TEAN program! I felt so supported during my entire time abroad and am so thankful for all of the opportunities TEAN gave me to immerse myself in Australian culture.
The whole program was very well-organized from the moment I became interested in a TEAN program to the moment I left Australia. The orientation in Cairns was a great way to dive headfirst into our study abroad.
It gave me a good chance to make friends in my program.
On a foggy hiking day in Tasmania at Cradle Mountain National Park during the start of fall!
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
I think traveling abroad helped me gain a lot of independence and confidence as a person. It allows you to experience a whole new life and strips you of everything familiar and comfortable.
It really forces you out of your comfort zone. There are so many opportunities that come with being abroad, such as reinventing yourself and meeting new people you would otherwise never have met.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Now that I'm home, I am constantly thinking about how to incorporate international experiences into my future career once I graduate from college.
I feel that going abroad helped me solidify my interest in working abroad in the future, which was a very important realization for me. That realization can only be made by experiencing it firsthand.
I am now constantly seeking new opportunities in my own city, as I am more open-minded and willing to try new experiences.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means truly immersing yourself in a country and a culture, rooted in curiosity and respect.
It is all about being willing to learn from other people and finding a way to connect yourself to a place through different experiences, without negatively comparing something from one culture to your own culture.
