Author: Abbey Little 

Location: Newcastle, Australia

My second semester studying abroad has commenced and I have found a deeper sense of gratitude in my opportunity to study at the University of Newcastle for the entire year.  The first semester truly, and unexpectedly, put my character to the test.  I faced several hardships from 9,205 miles away—some that were anticipated but most that were not.  I knew the education system was different, but I wasn’t aware to what extent.  I knew I would make new friends, but never imagined how difficult it would be to say goodbye to some of them after one semester.  I knew my parents were going to get divorced, but I did not think their court date would be rescheduled three times.  I knew life would go on back home, but I did not prepare for death.  I knew studying abroad would be a life-changing experience, but I was not anticipating it to change my character as much as it has.

The majority of my first semester was spent alongside an irreplaceable group of fellow Americans.  Together, we learned the ropes of a foreign education system—standard 2-hour lectures once a week, along with a 2-hour lab or tutorial and a whole month dedicated to final exams.  We formed a family through supporting one another during individual struggles and embracing Australian culture together.  Saying good-bye to all of them was agonizing, but I am forever thankful for the bond that was formed between us.

One aspect of being half way across the world that I am yet to truly acclimate to the considerable time difference.  As of now, I am 15 hours ahead of the Central Time Zone –(this will change when we experience the next Daylights Savings, where Australia will jump ahead an hour and America will fall back an hour).  Considering this, I must admit that I have not been the best at communicating with family back in America.  Corresponding to my parents’ messages throughout the process of their divorce was tough—they would send a message during their day while I was asleep, and I would respond when they were headed to bed.  I got news of my uncle’s passing in midday while I was studying for an exam I had the following day.  It isn’t that any of this was inconsiderate on behalf of either parties—it is just that communicating from across the world comes with difficulty.

I have had the great privilege of establishing a support system via my Australian friends, whom I never want to leave.  I have created a happier life for myself amidst a foreign culture that I have positively delved in.  I can only imagine what my time here has  prepared me for.

I travelled across the world for a reason—for exceptional reason.  I’ve learned that no matter how far I run though, I cannot escape reality. So much of who we are is where we’ve been.  So much of where we go is who we’ve come to know.  I’ve lived under many different roofs, but I found my favourite home 9,205 miles away from what I’ve always known.  I have an endless love for this remarkable country—Newcastle especially—and for all the people I’ve encountered along the way who make each day the next best.

Cheers! xx

Author: Abbey Little

Location: Newcastle, Australia

I have reflected before on the fact that being abroad requires sacrifices—missing people and celebrations/holidays.  Yet part the glory of being abroad includes the opportunity to experience foreign holidays.  April 25th is a public holiday in Australia, known as ANZAC Day—the equivalent in America would be Veteran’s Day.  ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. There is a celebration  to honor when Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula on April 25, 1915. On this day, a dawn service is held beginning at 5 am.  In Newcastle, this takes place just across from the iconic Nobby’s Beach.  This is also the only day of the year that a gambling game called “2UP” is legal in Australia.  Many pubs host events for the game.  

A group of my fellow CIS Abroad friends and I decided that we would take the experience of ANZAC Day and its dawn service to the next level by venturing down to Nobby’s Beach the night before camping there. I was once again watching dreams unfold right in front of me.  The notion of sleeping on the beach just  sounded charming, romantic even.  We even grabbed some goon sacks (I’ll leave that research up to you) and a guitar to take down with us.  Our blankets were scattered just in front of Nobby’s Lighthouse, just before a “Caution: Falling Rocks” sign (but don’t get me wrong—I have no regrets).  

While the sentiment of this overnight beach adventure was dreamy, the reality of sleeping on the beach is bleak and harsh. The bitter breeze skimmed across the Pacific and brushed us with a wave of cool air.  The eight of us huddled in and made our circle of blankets a bit more close-knit.  As 1:00AM was approaching, we collectively agreed on a 3:45AM wake-up time to head back towards the kiosk to grab a coffee before the dawn service began.  I have never seen so many people wide-eyed and bushy-tailed at such an early hour of the morning than I did on ANZAC Day.  As we approached the kiosk –a group of eight foreigners, cloaked in sandy blankets, trudging down the footpath as a flock— you could tell that the significance of this Australian holiday was evident.  Alert, yet silent, locals made their way towards the stage where the service would be held.  Coffees in hand, we all stood together silently awaiting the commencement.  

Australian troops marched down the aisle that was cleared just for them, hundreds of people standing attentively on both sides of them.  Members of the Newcastle community took turns speaking to the crowd from the podium of the historical significance of  April 25, 1915 and the honourable Australian and New Zealand soldiers, both past and present.  Rifles were fired from atop a hill just behind the crowd to conclude the ceremony, grasping the attention of everyone in attendance.  

However, we were greeted by the true luminary just to our right—a breathtaking sunrise, fully equipped with impeccable hues of red and orange.  In that moment, I felt at home.  I felt accepted.  A congregation of Australians surrounded me, yet I did not feel foreign.  A service that is celebrated each year in Australian culture, I had experienced just once.  Yet there I stood, united with all who were present, gazing at the most remarkable sunrise I have had the glory of observing.  It is true that the grass is greener in some places and that some rivers and oceans run bluer than others—but what is so universally unique is the concept that we all look up at the same sky.  Each day, the sun rises and sets on the horizon, regardless of our coordinates.  Living on the east coast of Australia means that I am one of the first people to see the sun rise at the dawn of each day.  On ANZAC Day, the warmth provided by the rising sun gouged much deeper than simply the surface of my skin and that entity is endless. Sweet, sweet serendipity.

Cheers! xx

Author: Jessica Hanson

Location: Newcastle, Australia

G’day Mates!

This is me checking in from my last full day in Wisconsin before I jump on a plane and start my journey studying abroad 9,000 miles away. Even though I knew I only had two months of summer from ending my sophomore year at Valparaiso University, IN, and leaving for my semester abroad, I can’t believe how fast it disappeared! Between working full-time hours at Kwik Trip, going on a 9-day vacation with my family to The Rocky Mountains & Yellowstone National Park, and figuring out flights, classes, packing, layovers, and all the other countless details and information about my new home for the next four months, I still can’t believe it’s already here.

To fill everyone in, I will be studying at the University of Newcastle (UoN) in Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia (!), about two hours north of Sydney by bus. Luckily, Newcastle is the seventh largest city in Australia and only a half hour from the beach, so I should be able to find plenty to keep me busy! This “Uni,” as they call it Aussie-style, has an enrollment of 26,000 on my campus, quite a big difference from the 6,000 total enrollment I know from Valpo. I will be a “Wombat” for the semester, although the school symbol is a horse head, and the coat of arms features an odd-looking horse/seahorse hybrid….Nonetheless, the school motto of “I look ahead” represents exactly the experience I hope studying abroad will provide – answering many questions about what I want to do after Valpo and looking forward into a career!

The past few weeks getting ready for this trip has been such a roller coaster of emotions for me. The hardest part for me is saying “see you later!” (NOT goodbye) to all my loved ones. As my brother and my best friend can attest (Sup Zach. Hey Jennifer!), I get super sentimental knowing that this is the last time that I will get to see my family and friends for four months. Sure, four months isn’t any different than being away from my Valpo friends for a whole summer, but knowing that I’m a whole world away and completely on my own in a foreign country makes it all the more difficult.

Aside from my sentimentality and excess of hugs as I leave my friends and family at the door, I have gone back and forth between being extremely excited or utterly terrified. Right now, knowing that I will be in a new country less than 72 hours from now, is exciting (well, to be honest, rather terrifying too.) It is also terrifying that I will have to figure out the airports all by myself- I’ve traveled before, but when you’re following a herd of 300 people during group travel, navigating the airport seems to be a breeze! I am terrified that I will be living in a studio apartment all by myself and have to learn how to cook and fend for myself (I know, real adulting, I guess I should probably get used to that by now!). I am terrified that I have to figure out a different classroom learning style and culture all at the same time.

But I am excited to explore Los Angeles for the very first time during my 10-hour layover. I am excited to meet new people and learn, and try new things (Vegemite, anyone?). I am excited that I am going to a country that is a lot more environmentally conscientious than the United States (on the whole) and that I have the opportunity to learn all about it and live this new culture. I am excited to see koalas and kangaroos, go snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, and learn how to surf. I am excited to be fully immersed in a new culture for four months. And I am excited to see how this experience changes me and inspires me to do great things.

I have a lot of personal goals and ideas for what I hope my study abroad semester will turn out to be- but I also know that I shouldn’t go in with too many expectations. And I know the biggest asset I can have is an open mind- and an open heart. However, my biggest goal is simply that I don’t let myself be afraid to try new things. I would hate to miss out on experiences because I’m scared, or nervous, or tired. I want to explore and take risks (safe ones, of course). I want to be intentional about the experiences I have and the limited time I will be abroad. I want my trip to matter, whether that simply means having the time of my life or it means finding tools and connections to change the world. I hope this trip brings me insight and knowledge and curiosity and courage and love. And above all else, I am looking forward to growing as a student, as a person, as a traveler, as a woman, and most importantly, as a world citizen- in whichever direction the Australian wind blows.

So farewell, my friends, or as the Aussies say, “Cheerio!” I will write again in a few weeks!

Blogger: Jessica Hanson

Location: Newcastle, Australia

Major: Chemistry and Environmental Science

Blogger: Abbey Little

Program: CISabroad – Newcastle, Australia

Opportunity cost (noun): the loss of other alternatives when one alternative is chosen.

I have been educated on the concept of opportunity cost in courses like economics, but I tend to overlook the real-life application of the matter. My experiences in Australia so far have given me an authentic insight on what an opportunity cost truly entails. I would like to defend this concept and preface my explanation by saying that choosing one alternative over another is not necessarily a negative action. However, the reality of it is absolute.

It was obvious that I would be sacrificing some parts of my everyday life when I made the decision to pack up and come to Australia for a year. I would miss celebrations such as birthdays, holidays, and graduations. I would miss family, friends, and all the familiar faces I encounter in a week’s time. Ultimately, I was sacrificing familiarity and comfort for an unexplored world full of excitement.

Melbourne, Australia

Throughout the month of April, I was fortunate enough to do some traveling in southern Australia. I visited Melbourne, which is a lively city booming with art.

From there, I traveled to Tasmania, which is easily the most picturesque place I have ever been to. Worlds could never truly describe the sense of happiness that Tasmania gave me, and pictures will always fail to capture the true beauty of it.

While in Tasmania, I was given back a little piece of joy that I had sacrificed to come abroad – a group of friends and I rented a car. That may sound silly, but constantly checking bus times to get around and hauling groceries from bus stops across campus is far from appealing. The fear of driving on the opposite side of the road from the right side of the car was masked by pure excitement. There were two groups of us, with four to each car. We all agreed to take turns driving, respectively.

The morning of our first full day in Tassie (Tasmania) rolled around, and it was my turn to get behind the wheel. I would be driving the first two hours of our four-hour road trip to a destination in northeastern Tasmania know as the Bay of Fires. From there, we would head south back towards our AirBnB in Cremorne and make a stop at Wineglass Bay for sunset, then return home for the night.

The sun was not properly risen as I pulled out of the driveway, and there was an eerie mist amongst the mountains. We were finally in control of where we would go. Josh and Josh made themselves comfortable in the backseat as I passed the aux cord to my trustee and co-pilot, Elena. we were on our way.

A sense of freedom was upon us. The boys both dozed off in the backseat as the sun began to come over the caps of the mountains on our right. Ahead, I could see a wall of fog, but did not think much of it. Within minutes, I was driving up a mountain through a thick cloak of fog. The road was demanding that I take sharp, slow turns. Eventually, I hit a patch of unpaved highway. The sense of accomplishment after getting through that drive was sublime. I have been given the opportunity to drive again; I was in control. That privilege had been absent from my life for months.

Our journey continued, and we had the glory of properly seeing Tasmania by means of the most outstanding road trip I have ever taken part of. Ever since, I seem to dread public transportation a little more, but again, I remember that I will get to be in control of my direction again someday. The privilege of driving daily was something I sacrificed by studying abroad in Australia. This sacrifice along has led me to the most glorious days I’ve had the chance of living. I have been in the land down under for approximately three months now, and I have come to the realization that I have indeed sacrificed a lot of normality since my arrival. Nevertheless, I would not trade any experience I’ve had for its alternative. I can confidently say the payoff of each opportunity cost I’ve encountered has been well worth it.

Cheers! xx

Abbey

Blogger: Abbey Little

Program: CIS Abroad — Newcastle, Australia

Upon my arrival in Australia, I was regularly confronted with the question, “Why Australia?”  Invariably, I had two justifications—firstly, the lack of a language barrier, and secondly, the claim that math is the same across the world (which pertains to my Actuarial Science major).  After week 1 of lectures, workshops, and tutorials, I found flaws in both of my rationales.  I caught myself asking my Australian friends to repeat themselves three or four times before finally, if ever, really grasping what they were saying.  Sometimes, a soft smile and a nod would have to suffice.  I was writing statistics terms in my notes that I have never come across in my studies thus far. These events did not cause a sense of doubt in myself or my decision to study abroad here in the remarkable country of Australia, but a feeling of wistfulness crept upon me.

It was a feeling so distant, foreign to say the least.  It’s bittersweet, yet soothing, the feeling of wistfulness.  As in melancholy, something that distance cannot repair.  Accompanied by a cloud filled with drops of despair.  As in nostalgia, I’ve spent moments yearning.  But overall, of myself I am truly learning.  This feeling of wistfulness was unusually soothing, I must say.  Bittersweet, yet so foreign in the most comforting way.

I suppose I was not prepared for the load of culture shock I would experience, because I continue to feel that I belong here day in and day out.  There is a change in scenery, of course—I am awakened by the screeching sounds of cockatoos each morning, rather than a blanket of snow.  Bell peppers are not a thing here, but capsicums are.  Pronouncing words such as herbs, basil, oregano, and aluminum in front of a group of Australians will cause confusion and laughter amongst them.  An American friend of mine told her Australian roommate that she was struggling to get her joggers over her calves, which completely baffled her roommate, given that joggers are the equivalent to our tennis shoes.  Brekky is now my first meal and lunch is served in the arvo.  I no longer shop at malls; I shop at shopping centres.  I sit on a bus or in the back of Tayla’s car (yes—Tayla, not Taylor) in traffic on the left side of the road—something I have adjusted to quite easily!  I flip switches “down” to turn outlets “on” and turn door locks to the left rather than to the right.  You won’t find a car in a parking lot, instead a car park.  At first, these modifications seemed troublesome, but now I don’t give them a second thought.

What I have found most refreshing about my first month in Australia is the generosity of the individuals I have interacted with.  Liz, a fellow American, and I woke at 5 one morning to catch brekky at a kiosk on the beach.  We ordered an Uber from outside of West Tower where we reside, with plenty of time to enjoy the sunrise.  We stepped in to a Cadillac that was in the control of an older man, mid-60’s if I had to take a guess.  Conversation has come easy for us because we always get posed with the, “where are you from?” question.  We discussed some major U.S. cities—i.e. New York City, LA, Chicago—and then babbled on about our love for the beauty of Australia.  The driver then asked us where exactly we were planning on going to see the sunrise.  When we told him, he shook his head slightly in disapproval.  “Let me take you somewhere better. It’s the best place to watch the sunrise,” the man suggested.  We were then en route to Newcastle’s iconic Nobby’s Beach—a place we had only seen midday.  What was so humbling about the whole experience in the Uber was how serene we were to change our plans because someone who had only just met us cared enough to share a piece of his home with us.

As we pulled up to the beach, the sky was filled with storm clouds, but we were still anticipating a beautiful sunrise.  Liz and I strolled in to the Swell Kiosk when they opened their doors at 6:30 am and ordered our coffees and food before wandering across the pavilions.  We sat silently, listening to the wave’s crash in to the rocks near the shore.  It wasn’t too long before we realized we were not going to see the sunrise we had expected.  Instead, we were greeted with a calm under the waves, welcoming the collision of two worlds—a storm ahead racing towards clear skies behind us.  We savored our brekky under a pavilion as we watched the storm roll in.  Within the chaos that was brought on by harsh winds and the beginning of rainfall, we made the decision to order an Uber back to the city as the storm settled in over the beach–a delicacy that we could only attempt to capture in photos.  I long for more unforeseen adventures such as this peculiar Tuesday morning.

Being 9,000+ miles away from home is undeniably challenging, but there is an incomparable beauty within it that.  Stepping outside of my comfort zone has allowed me to form friendships that I will cherish forever, with both Americans whom I already look forward to visiting in the states as well as Australians who I cannot imagine leaving someday.  I am living in the glory of a foreign culture and I have found true gratification in that.

Cheers!

xx Abbey