What inspired you to go abroad?
I wanted to experience a new culture for the first time, as before this trip I had never traveled outside of the United States. Also, I saw this as a great opportunity to get an educational experience I wouldn't be able to have anywhere else in the world, especially at home.
On top of that, I wanted to get a better idea of what I want to do for a future career or even lifestyle, and what better way to do that than through a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Why did you choose SIT Study Abroad?
I chose this Australia program because it was the best fit for my major, environmental studies, and for what I want to do in a career: environmental fieldwork or anything with the ocean.
Also, I have always wanted to go to Australia due to the laid-back culture, fun waves, tropical weather, and cool animals.
What was your favorite part about Australia?
My favorite parts about Australia were the laid-back culture, the diverse environments including beaches, rainforests, deserts, and cities, and the exotic animals everywhere.
My favorite parts about Byron Bay were the surfing, the internship I did at a local surf school, and all the different places to visit in the beach town, such as the restaurants, bars, clubs, and shops.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Being out of the United States for the first time in my life, experiencing a new culture, making good friends with everyone in the program, having my parents visit me, exploring so many different environments, connecting with the local people, being able to look back on all the amazing photos I have, and leaving with a life-changing experience I will remember forever.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
SIT was really helpful with preparing me for this program before it even started, and I already knew what to expect of the basics coming into the trip. I was able to get in touch with the admissions counselor and alumni of the program before I even left home.
During the program, the directors and coordinators were all really nice and easy to connect with, and they were very helpful when it came to the academic, traveling, and independent project parts of the program.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
One thing I wish I had done differently during my time abroad was to connect with the locals more and still be in touch with some of them.
During the time at my internship, I was able to work with a lot of cool people from all around the world, especially my coworkers who I would see almost every day. I wish I had hung out with them a little more and got to know them better, because they were great to work with.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
In Byron Bay, I would usually wake up early to surf before class, and then eat breakfast after getting out of the water. After class, which normally ended early in the day, some of us would grab lunch and go to the beach for a while.
After that, I would just chill and do homework at the apartment. Later, I would either get dinner out with friends or cook something, and we would watch the sunset on the beach lawn.
If we didn't have class the next day, we would go out at night to the local bars and clubs in town, and get a meat pie late at night on the walk back home.
What did you enjoy doing during your free time abroad?
Surfing, bodysurfing, bodyboarding, hanging out with friends, shopping in town, going on hikes, exploring whatever area we were in, meeting new people, cooking, reading, going out at night, playing cards, ultimate Frisbee, going to the beach, taking pictures, spending time with my family, and teaching people how to surf.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
In Byron Bay, we stayed in really nice, fully furnished apartments that were a 5-minute walk to the beach. I really liked being close and within walking distance to everything there, like the beach, town, and my internship.
Whenever we traveled, we stayed in hostels, cabins, and sometimes camped in tents, which were cool first-time experiences. Wherever we were, I really liked living with my friends.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Even though studying abroad or traveling alone can seem really scary and stressful at first glance, once you're actually in the country living your daily life and adjusting to everything, you'll have the best experience of your life. This is especially true if you make more of an effort to get out of your comfort zone when trying new things or making friends.
Once the program is over and you get home, you'll realize how special of an experience it actually was, and you'll miss it a lot.
Would you recommend your program/provider to others? Why?
Absolutely, especially to people whose major is environmental studies, biology, or science. The program is perfectly catered to those kinds of career choices and covers real-life topics that are important globally, such as sustainability and climate change.
SIT has a lot of great programs and countries to choose from, and is very flexible with all areas of study. On top of that, Australia is such an amazing place that everyone should have the chance to visit.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
Experiencing a new culture and way of life that is different from the one you're used to. Also, it gives you the opportunity to meet new people from all over the world and can provide insight into future job or living situations. Overall, traveling abroad leaves you with a lot of fun stories to tell and memories that will last a lifetime.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Studying abroad in Australia changed my life. There hasn't been a day since I've been home that I haven't thought about or missed my time in Australia, and I still find myself reminiscing while scrolling through the hundreds of photos from there. I made some great friends there and got out of my comfort zone more, too.
After being there for 4 months, I would definitely consider living there someday, and I would love to have the opportunity to have a career there or somewhere abroad. Also, this experience has made me want to explore and travel the world more.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Being able to come home with great stories and memories, and almost no regrets. Also, meaningful travel is experiencing another culture, trying new things that you wouldn't normally do when at home, and connecting with local parts of the country such as people, food, traditions, and the language.
Also, it means taking advantage of great opportunities to travel abroad, such as for work or school.
