An opportunity of a lifetime
My experience in Gold Coast was something irreplaceable, I would go back and do it a hundred times over. While deciding where I wanted to study, I always desired to see Australia. Unlike many people, I took an unusual root and signed up for the IFSA program without knowing one other person. I recommend IFSA to anyone who asks me about my experience. Even before taking off they give such detailed instructions for everything you need before you go abroad and assign you an advisor that can help with any questions you might have. I set up calls with mine so many times and I was always able to benefit from her advice. IFSA also makes sure to include excursions, our orientation took place in Sydney where I got to meet the rest of the 20 kids on my program. I still stay in touch with a majority of them we were a very tight-knit group. Our advisors there were always so eager to find us new night-life, restaurants, and sightseeing tips throughout the experience. My peers and I looked to those two women as our home away from home moms! There are monthly activities like boating, Morton Island weekend trip, Barefoot Bowls, Three Sisters, and more. Who wouldn't want to live in the heart of Gold Coast? The surfer century apartments are located a block from the beach and at the center of the hustle and bustle. I grew so much as a person starting fresh in a brand new place. No matter where you decide to study, just do it! There is no better time to put your life on pause for 6 months. It's a rare opportunity and a total blessing. In the Spring of my junior year, I did another program not through IFSA to Dublin, Ireland. I can say whole-heartedly IFSA is an amazingly organized program to trust to get you there in one piece and also be there when you need guidance. While living in the apartments, IFSA also partnered with a program at the school. Everyone who lived in my apartment all shared the same student mentor, who happened to be the student body president at Griffith! He gave us all the tips and tricks to navigate in a new place. He hosted events where we could meet other international students as well. Surfer's Paradise seemed gigantic at first but by the end seemed smaller and more like home, where I would see familiar faces on the tram, on Cavill Ave, at the grocery stores, and bars. I would take anything to go back and travel along the east coast of Australia and IFSA made it all possible. It was my hardest goodbye and my greatest love and to IFSA and Griffith University I am forever grateful.
