Shopping has always been one of my favorite things to do, I sometimes call it a hobby of mine. I can spend hours at the mall with my mom or friends, going through store to store trying to find that perfect addition to our closets. Some may even call me a fashionista. In this week's blog, I plan to explain a little about Melbourne's shopping culture, the stores I shopped in the most, and the shopping culture in the city. While traveling in Aussie, a local told me that Melbourne shopping was the best in the country. When I heard that I knew I had to explore the shops around town and see what they had to offer. Like I mentioned before, being a girl, shopping is one of my favorite past times, I mean it is so easy to spend money (if you have it). I always say when I have money it burns a hole in my pocket because it is so hard to save and not spend it automatically. Before leaving for my trip though I was determined to save because I wanted to be able to have plenty of spending money. By saving up money before traveling abroad, I knew I was going to be able to treat myself with a couple of things here and there. Lots of my side trips and fun activities that I had planned to do like skydiving and snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, fell through as COVID-19 hit the fan all over the world. As a result, I spent barely a third of my savings due to the crisis. But don’t think I didn’t go shopping before I left. Melbourne Central was the main shopping mall I visited in the city with my friends. This shopping center had multiple levels with stores, restaurants, bars, and even a train station below. I compared it to a mall I am familiar with around where I live in Pennsylvania called King Of Prussia (if any of you have ever been there). The shopping culture was pretty much the same as what we are used to in the states. People wander to the various stores with diverse offerings that appeal to most. Stores are similar as well regarding the items they sell. There were shoe stores, lingerie stores, small kiosks, and more. Name-brand stores I saw that were similar were Levis, Nike, and Foot Locker. Workers in this shopping plaza were kind and vocal with their customers offering help and assistance when looking for certain things like we are used to in the USA. Something I found interesting about Australia is its K-marts. Here in America, K-marts do not get that good of a reputation (in my area that is). Meaning, their supplies aren’t the best quality and the store's locations are not usually in the best areas. Most in my area have gone out of business. It is quite the opposite in Melbourne. I shopped at K-mart multiple times while I was studying abroad. The best way to describe the vibe was that their K-mart stores were like our Targets here in the USA. There were Target stores in Australia but again, they were overshadowed by the powerful K-mart. K-mart stores had clothing, household items, bedding, bath supplies, electronics, games, and more. Pretty much anything I needed and if I needed it fast I would shop at K-mart. They were the superior convenient store that people were fond of. Something awesome about Australia was that they do not believe in the use of one-time plastic bags and require everyone to bring their own reusable bag or pay 20 cents to buy a bag to use there. Instead of paying money for a bag every time, which could get pricey plus not good for the environment I suggest that everyone invest in a portable, lightweight bag that can be used for groceries or shopping items. This idea helps people recycle their bags and reduce the use of one time plastic in the country. One of the most interesting shopping experiences I had in Aussie was when I attended the Melbourne night market. A bus picked up my friends and me from Uni and drove us into the city to enjoy a couple of hours at the well known night market. This market was definitely a cultural experience to enjoy in Melbourne. There were food vendors of all different varieties and little shops with handmade soaps and jewelry that you could purchase from local makers. Small knickknacks like postcards and keychains were sold as well in different tents. I got to see artisan work done by Australians as well as get a taste of some of their famous dishes. I definitely recommend attending this event as it really gave me an insight into Australian food, shopping, and culture. XOXO -Tori
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This will probably be the hardest blog to write so far and that is only because of how much my heart hurts from missing these people who in such a short period of time left an indelible mark on me. These people who I came into contact with in Melbourne opened themselves up to me, offered me their friendship, and welcomed me into their lives. My new friends, from all across the world, were my rocks while in Australia. We shared amazing experiences and moments that instantly connected us. Not knowing I would only be there for only five weeks, I did not realize how precious each day was and makes missing them so much more intense. Knowing I should be with my friends in Australia for another three months is something that breaks me every day. I should be writing this blog in Aussie with my friends within reach-literally, not in my bed back in the US with them so far from me!! God knows I am happy to be home and safe from this pandemic but being apart from my new, amazing friends is still something that saddens me each and every day. Reflecting on my experiences in Australia and the fact that I was only there for an abbreviated portion of the intended trip made me realize how strong and pure some of the relationships I made were. Meeting people while abroad was something I worried about but once arriving in Australia, I figured every person I met was going to be in the same position as I was, being new to this whole Australian university thing. This realization made the situation a lot easier. La Trobe is an extremely large school with a lot of students but the living accommodations were great for meeting friends and staying in touch as everything is walking distance away. The dorm, Chisholm, was where I lived as well as all my other SU classmates but in different towers. Chisholm consists of 12 three-story dorm-like buildings in which you have your own room, communal toilets and you have a kitchen on each floor. Living so close to people on campus also made meeting up and hanging out easier and connections were made very fast. Not even after the first week studying in Melbourne, I had my group of about six boys and six girls who became my bestest of friends while studying there and the reason why I am writing this blog this week lol. Most of the people I met and connected with most were Americans, as I said before, we were all in the same position as international students. I did have a handful of Australian friends as well that I met at La Trobe by going to campus events and social gatherings. Also, some of my closest friends in my friend circle were from Europe, places such as Sweden and the United Kingdom. Getting to know more about them and their cultures also gave me an understanding of what they were going through being away from home and things that they missed. Even though they were not American like myself, we found similarities which we shared together and this brought us closer as friends. No matter the cultural differences you may see in others compared to yourself, there are things that bring you together despite the differences. By sharing stories, memories, or just having a normal conversation, you can develop a deeper understanding of others' culture and gain a certain respect for their customs and values. My friends who I met from studying abroad were just strangers before we shared a conversation that then turned into laughs, which turned into forever memories. It just happened so naturally which is why I think they are so lasting. They are genuine friendships–no hidden agendas or ulterior motives, just people who were open to new experiences and willing to open themselves up to new people. I never knew pure friendships could be made in such a short time but meeting my friends from this experience definitely proved this theory wrong. I got to genuinely bond with people I would have never gotten to meet without this amazing experience thanks to SU. My friends and I still Facetime, Snapchat, and even Zoom chat at nighttime to catch up when all the time zones match up. It’s not always easy but it is so important to keep in contact with people who matter and these people matter. My trip abroad, although short, was a trip of a lifetime. Yes, I missed out on traveling to places while there due to the circumstances and more time would have allowed me to explore more of the land. What I did not miss out on, however, was creating lifelong friendships with amazing people. This opportunity has taught me that one never knows what tomorrow brings so make the most out of each and every day. It also taught me to keep close what and who are important to you. So I believe that these people, who I was lucky enough to meet and create friendships with, are going to be in my life forever because I do not want to lose them. XOXO- Tori Traveling to Australia I was intrigued to get to experience the well known cultural culinary dishes in the country. As far as trying new foods I consider myself to be middle of the road–meaning I am not extremely picky when it comes to food but I do have some hesitations when I see a new dish or unknown ingredients. Arriving in Australia I was excited to experience their food. I typically go out to eat often when I am home so I was not intimidated at all about going to new restaurants and examining their menus. First let me start with, compared to other places I have traveled around the world, Australia was relatively similar to the United States when it comes to comparing their food. There is a vast array of culturally diverse dining options to choose from at restaurants. Grocery stores were also similar in design and offerings. The grocery stores were easy to navigate just like America. Although not everything was the same as the US, this blog will share some of the things you can experience from food in Australia. My parents would probably say that I have always been a bit picky when it comes to the food I eat and that I tend to eat things I know I like instead of trying new things. Although this may have been somewhat true, I was taking my study abroad opportunity as my chance to break out of this habit. I wanted to maximize my experience. I did not have the budget to be eating out every night so I had to buy food from the grocery stores. I would often pick up frozen food at the store and or microwave noodles (like a normal college student). Having no meal plan gave me an excuse to branch out and try new things. I tended to treat myself some days during the week with a coffee and biscuit from the cafe or a quick lunch in the Agora (outside student center) with friends. Places to eat in the Agora ranged from juice cafes to Greek food, Indian, Asian, and even Chinese. The diverse food offered various cultural delicacies and lucky for me I got to experience as much as I could. My friends and I tried eating at a new place for lunch every Monday while at La Trobe University and every place we tried was a hit! A difference I noticed was that some of the items were called differently in Australia. For instance, instead of calling it ketchup, Australians call it tomato sauce. They say there is no difference between the two but being a Heinz ketchup girl from a toddler's age, I could taste a difference. Another thing that interested me was their sushi. The sushi here in the US is served to us in pieces, normally eight pieces to be exact. But in Australia, the sushi is served in its rolled burrito-like form and eaten whole, without cutting it. Fast food in Australia is something that is also relatively similar to the US. McDonald's was on almost every corner and seemed to be the most popular fast food establishment around but one could also easily find Subway, KFC and Starbucks. There is no such thing as Burger King in Australia but what they call Hungry Jacks would be similar. Take out pizza places were also familiar as they had Dominos and Pizza Hut. Greek food was very prevalent around campus and throughout the city. Items such as Lamb kabobs and Gyros (my favorite!!!) were something I ate often because they were so convenient. One of my favorite places to grab lunch during a school day was at the Greek shop in the student Agora market and wow did it hit the spot every time!! I also tried oysters for the first time in Australia as well as the famous Vegemite spread. Vegemite is something I will NEVER try again nor make my friends try as it is truly a salt lick. The spread is usually eaten by locals for breakfast on toast or a muffin but I stuck to plain butter on my toast for the remainder of the trip. Another item that I tried in Australia that I have not seen in American is a meat pie. These tiny hand-sized pies are not made with fruit but rather beef and served with tomato sauce (ketchup) on top. In my opinion, these were not as awful as the vegemite and I am happy I tried this Australian delicacy but I will hold off on anymore for now. Although, Australian food could be seen as very similar to American food due to the variety of cultural options there are apparent differences in their overall diets. I did seem to meet more vegetarians than I have ever met before. Most of the Australians who lived on my floor mainly ate rice, vegetables, and pasta. They ate smaller portions than Americans do. Coffee is a popular beverage in Australia as well as in America–the world apparently runs on caffeine. I had some of the best hot and iced coffee while in Australia and I can not wait to have it again one day. I hope I can one day travel back to Australia and try more of their well-known dishes and continue to experience the vast diversity Australia holds– from their people to their foods. XOXO -Tori One of the top things I miss doing while in Australia was exploring the nightlife in Melbourne with my friends. The city atmosphere was similar to New York but also like California at the same time. At every turn, there was something different to see. From the street performers, the pace of the music, to the energy of the people, I loved being a part of the city rush from day to night. Nothing I have yet experienced in American can compare to the things I did and experienced in the 5 weeks in Melbourne. Although my Uni was about a 40-minute train commute to downtown Melbourne, it was usually spent making a game plan for the city or daydreaming out the window. The train would bring you right into Flinders station and you were instantly at the hub of it. Finder's station was kinda like a home base, you knew exactly where things were from that point. We would always use that station as a meeting point if the group ever split up (but remember that it is safest to always stay together). Once you are off your 40-minute train ride the city is at your fingertips. Clubs, restaurants, rooftop bars Melbourne had it all. I had, before coming to Australia, a whole list of must-see restaurants and fun things to do in the city. Such things as going to the one Icebar in Australia (which I did!!!) and to stroll down the alleyways of graffiti. Small local cafes and shops lined the streets and in every turn, there was something new to see. The Crown Casino was not on my list but I was persuaded to enter by my friends, who wanted to take their turn at luck on some gambling slot machines. I have never gambled in my life but I took my turn on the slots, rightfully so, I mean I was legally allowed too. I will admit I did have more fun at the casino than I thought I would have, hence to the fancy bar drinks and winning 30 dollars!
I will add photos into this blog from some of my nights out and around town in Melbourne for you guys to have a glimpse into the nightlife. Most bars were open until the very early hours in the morning and some nights I would find myself getting into my bed as the sun was rising for the next day lol. I experienced such an amazing bar atmosphere, culture, and vibe while downtown in Melbourne city. One of the bars listed above, The State of Grace, was like a secret underground speakeasy with live music and special fancy drinks. Although the bars around the city are pretty pricey, the fun is always there. Another thing that was a downfall was the cover charge for some of the clubs, meaning you pay to get in. This is a preferred cash transaction so be sure you always have 20 notes laying in your wallet just in case you and your friends hit the town one night. It was extremely fun to be socializing by drinking, laughing and clubbing with your friends but always remember to be on the lookout for one another. Make sure you watch not only your drink but your friends and remember to take a buddy with you every time you leave the group so you are not alone at any time. Always travel with a group of friends (boys and girls) that communicate together and get along, that is how it worked so well when I ventured to the city. I knew I was protected if something were to happen and I helped to make sure my friends were safe. This is the best way to make a night full of memorable fun. Also, make sure you always bring a phone charger on your outings to the city, you never know how the night will end up going. XOXO -Tori It still seems crazy how the events of my life over the last week have changed what I thought and expected to happen. Taking time to reminisce on my amazing 5 weeks in Melbourne, I am amazed at how much different things are here in the states. I will be looking at the weather within Melbourne and my home town of Dallas, PA this week. The weather is completely different across the world. A week ago I was stealing away to the beach and lathering up in sunscreen–or so I told my parents–with my new friends taking time to buy a cool drink to beat the warm weather. When I arrived home my mother had to hand me a winter jacket, the ground had a light covering of snow, and I immediately wanted a hot cup of coffee. Even though these places are extremely far apart they are not completely different. They do have some similarities with weather conditions. I am used to it being almost all four seasons in one day here in PA, Melbourne is very similar on some days. While living in Melbourne I experienced lots of sunshine but also many days which were rainy and overcast–with big clouds filling the sky. This is also how PA tends to be during many months of the year. Luckily, I did not get to experience the winter weather Melbourne has within the months of June and July–I definitely prefer the warmer weather. Getting the ability to leave PA in the middle of the freezing cold and wet months to get sunburnt on the beach multiple times was something I took for granted looking back now. It is so weird to think about how just a short time ago I was wearing shorts and now I have to wear a jacket or at least layer up my clothing before going outside. Going to the beach with my friends and laughing in the sunshine may be one of the things I miss the most. Everyday, since I have been home, it has been either rainy, cloudy, or cold–or worse all three. And man does it make missing the Melbourne sunshine that much worse. :( But like I mentioned about how PA tends to have all four seasons in a day, Melbourne has that same occurrence. Some days I would wake up and it would be windy and grey outside then by lunchtime it would rain and by the afternoon everywhere would be filled with sunshine. Mother nature is everywhere in the world and is very confusing to understand. I have been communicating with my Australian friends who live there and they have told me that the temperature (which is in Celsius) is dropping as the summer has come to an end and fall is rolling in. This will make for more rainy days coming up as that is the most frequent type of weather condition throughout Melbourne. Going back and forth from time zones and weather conditions has gotten my body very confused. Getting adjusted to the weather conditions here in PA, which right now are mostly low 40 degrees to mid 50’s if we are lucky in the mid afternoon. This is only going to last through April then summer is right around the corner. Truly the only months that actually feel like summer here in PA are July and August as the sun is the strongest in those months and the days are the longest. In Australia the sun was so different as there is no ozone layer there so the UV rays are more direct on skin without you even being aware. I will forever remember the time I spent in Australia and how lucky I was to even travel across the globe to get there. The amazing sunsets each night never disappointed. I treasured these moments, thinking I would have more opportunities still did not stop me from always appreciating the beauty of nature. Now that I find myself home, I will never let these memories go and no matter how sad I am to be back home three months early, I am happy to be safe and healthy. PA has some pretty great sunsets throughout the warmer months which I can not wait to see but I will post some memorable Melbourne sunsets so you can witness how beautiful they could be. As my favorite season is summer, I hope winter is soon over and spring hurries along so my PA sunshine can come out, the temperature will warm up, and I can sit outside by my pool instead of watching several seasons of a Netflix show while in quarantine lol. See you guys next week! Thanks for staying along with me throughout this crazy time in the world. Stay safe– XOXO -Tori Landon What a strange feeling has overcome me recently, let me tell you coming home so abruptly and so early from my study abroad has truly broken my heart. All the work and planning that went into going–all cut short due to the pandemic. One minute I was in Australia, meeting new people, going to amazing places, trying new things and the next minute it was gone. In the blink of an eye, it was all over and I found myself on an airplane coming home. It took me almost 30 hours of traveling–and four different airplanes– to finally make it back to my home in Dallas, Pennsylvania. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family, my home, and having the chance to sleep in my comfy bed, but I wanted, I expected, I dreamed of, being away for the entire semester and having more time to try new adventures and travel to new lands. Words can not express how much I already miss Melbourne, the people I met there, and the culture I got to experience. All of my experiences there were extremely positive and although my time was cut short I had a great experience through and through. I will never take for granted the time I got to spend studying abroad in the place I called home for 5 weeks. First off, let me say this, Coronavirus is ruining my life–I may be being a tad bit dramatic, but still!! Being forced home because of this is one thing but now I have to be locked in self-quarantine for 14 days and it is making me crazy. It is not how I pictured spending my time, especially with my friends so close and yet unable to see them. Not to mention my 21st birthday is coming up in a few days and here I sit, self-quarantined. I seem to be watching a new Netflix show every day. But on the other hand, it has allowed me extra time to get used to my time zone and fix my sleep schedule as it is the next day in Australia as you read this blog. Unpacking is another thing I have on my list of things to accomplish during my quarantine days. COVID-19 is no joke and it is very important in the halting of COVID-19 for everyone to do their part in helping to stop the spread of this virus. Self-isolation and social distancing are annoying but some of the methods that can eliminate the spreading of this virus. When returning to the United States I did many precautionary measures to ensure I did not get or pass anything while traveling through four different airports and airplanes. Simple things such as washing your hands and not touching your face are easy measures that I kept reminding myself to do while coming back internationally. The planes overall had few passengers due to this virus and lots of masks were being worn. I took part in wearing a mask as I traveled even though I was not feeling ill. The virus spreads by people touching their mouths, nose, and eyes so the mask prevented me from doing that. With this disease, you do not necessarily know if you have it unless you get tested. Symptoms such as fever, cough, and chest tightness were not a problem for me so I was not too worried. Within my last few weeks of being in Australia, I did get a sore throat and a mild cough which grew to worsen over the weeks. This was something I worried about so I made an appointment to be tested. This Friday I was tested for the Coronavirus which was kinda scary–not gonna lie. They recommended I do this just to be safe and due to the fact I had a cough and was just traveling overseas for 5 weeks. The test itself only took about 30 seconds. The nurse was all suited up in hazmat gear as I myself had on gloves and a face mask. She stuck what looked like an extremely long Q-tip up both my nostrils for about 5 seconds each. The test was not painful but just a tad bit uncomfortable. Now I have to wait 5-7 days to hear back my results which are kind of unsettling. I would never have thought that 1, I would be tested for this virus or worse 2, possibly having it. In my head I believe I do not have COVID-19 and staying positive is all I can do until I hear otherwise. I have antibiotics I have been taking twice a day to help with the sore throat and cough which are doing their job tremendously. I am starting to feel so much better. I hope this madness of social distancing and quarantining goes away soon because being cooped up in my house for days on end is not easy for a social person like me. I would never want to put anyone at risk of getting this virus especially my friends or family so it is the responsible thing to do. I know this is the hardest part but everyone must social distance from one another as much as they can and take every safety measure they can to ensure they are staying safe in these scary times. We are living through history right now–wash your hands and stay safe!
When I was first getting prepared for studying abroad I knew it was going to be a trip of a lifetime with new experiences and new opportunities. Never did I dream that it was going to be something that the world has ever seen. Never have I been a part of American history in such an impactful way. This epidemic is becoming something I talk to my friends, family, and professors about everyday. There is no getting away from it. It has permeated every aspect of everyone’s life. I have already had new friends here in Melbourne leave to go home. Drastically cutting short the time I had to make memories and share experiences. I have been trying to stay positive and strong for all my friends here and mostly myself, but as time goes by I am starting to get stressed. Although I believe that America is in a much more compromised state than Australia, my hope to stay abroad is slowly slipping away. My friends are starting to get the news from their home universities that their time abroad is coming to an end. Never did I think this was how my abroad trip was going to go. Susquehanna is staying in touch with me with updates and all the safety precautions they are taking while I am studying abroad. Knowing that if I am truly unsafe here, my program would be ended and I would be sent home mainly due to keeping me as safe as possible gives me some comfort. I just want to be a college student, dragging myself to class, working through assignments, and blowing off steam with friends–being young and carefree. It is difficult to think of not being safe in just doing daily things but that is how things are changing. That is the world we are in right now. Talking to my parents and family in the states I am truly concerned to return back home. They share with me of the happenings–stores out of stock of items like bottled water, eggs, and toilet paper. People there are freaking out and buying many of the items to store up for this Coronavirus apocalypse. Schools, stores, and restaurants are closing and people are being urged to stay home. It is so crazy. I do not want to go home. Don’t get me wrong, I miss my family and my bedroom, but I am loving Australia and all that it has offered me in the last month. I have met wonderful, caring people and have made unforgettable memories. I do not want this unbelievable experience to end, but understand that all good things must end. I just wish it was not under these crazy circumstances. I wish everyone good health and safety. I will keep blogging about my experiences. I hope that you keep reading my blog but I will be returning back to the United States after this week. Australia you were great to me. Thanks for all the memories. :(
Cheers to all my Australian mates. I will miss you all so much. XOXO -Tori Here in Australia, the currency is completely different from what we are used to in the United States. The American dollar is worth more here but it equals out as everything in Australia is more expensive than in the US. They do not even call it bills here instead they call their money Australian notes, which are made of plastic and much prettier than US money. What was even stranger was that they do not have single one-dollar bills. They use coins for $1 and $2 notes. The $2 coin is almost as small as a penny and weighs about the same as a quarter. This was a bit strange for me at first but I am quickly becoming used to it. As a new student here at La Trobe, if what you wanted or needed did not originally fit into your suitcase flying over then you found yourself needing to buy many items. From bedding and other items to help make your room feel homey, and supplies for school to stay organized, to kitchen essentials like pots and pans, and don’t forget the food you need to cook not having a meal plan. I love a good meal out but again that is spending money and food here at restaurants is expensive and it quickly adds up. A difference that I have discovered between America and Australia is that there is no tipping at restaurants. So if you were to spend $20 notes on a meal (without any alcohol) that is pricey, but you do not have to tip, which is nice. Speaking of alcohol, the legal drinking age in Australia is 18, which means myself and my fellow American friends are surprised at being able to simply walk into a store and buy a bottle of wine or a case of beer without question or issue. Even when we go out on weekends and I see people who are 18 it still shocks me as you can not do any of that in the United States until you are 21 years old. Being twenty at the bars, I actually feel old as lots of younger people are taking advantage of the 18 year old law and are enjoying the partying nightlife. What will be the weirdest thing is turning 21 in Australia and celebrating as that's the biggest birthday in America. I have been waiting to turn 21 for so long because it is then that I am fully an adult and can have all of the privileges of being an adult -drinking, voting, driving- all of the momentous events that people in the US have to wait for a certain age to attain. I will admit that being over here and turning 21 will not be as momentous because for the moment I entered the country I was legally able to drink, but I am sure I will still want to celebrate. Another thing that I have spent money on here in Australia is transportation. La Trobe is technically not in the city so getting downtown does take time and money (of course). Public transportation is everywhere but again not free. There are these cards called Myki cards which you buy and reload money on them to pay for your trips. Trams, trains, and busses use this system and sometimes officials come and check that you paid for your ride so it’s not smart to try to trick the system as the fee is $200 if you are caught without paying. Using a Myki is beneficial as you can get pretty much anywhere on public transportation and it does not cost more than $9 a day. When traveling to the city or the beach my friends and I always resort to the tram. The fact that I spent my whole summer and winter break before coming to Australia saving my money has helped me in the long run. Giving my mom the money I made everyday after work was not fun but I am so happy I have that money now as like I said, abroad is EXPENSIVE! From buying the necessities to splurging here and there, you need to prepare for lots of spending so you can take full advantage of your time away. I would not want to change anything about my trip so far and I am blessed to be happy, safe and healthy. See you all next week mates, well I hope so :)
XOXO - Tori Going on my third week here in Australia and I am starting to feel more at home each and every day. My room is finally coming together and I am getting accustomed to how things are run here at La Trobe. My schedule is becoming routine and things are settling in place nicely. Being a study abroad student here is kinda like being the new kid on the block, you don't know where anything is and do not really have any allies. This new kid on the block feeling did not last long for me as I made several new friends quickly and am finally getting used to the education system here. Compared to the US, Australian universities are a whole different ball game. When I say that I mean the classes are divided differently into separate sections like lectures, tutorials, and workshops. Each class has two parts, one usually being a lecture first and then either in the same day or later on in the week there is a part two section (such as a workshop) which gives you time to practice and reflect on what you have learned from the lecture previously. This has only been my first week of classes here at La Trobe so everything seems very new and different to me but I just need to adjust to what is expected of me here. First off, the language here is English but with many slang words and synonyms-a lot like in the states but I am familiar with those. Below I will list a couple of the most popular slang words I have heard over the past three weeks.
The longer I am studying here and around my Australian mates, these slang words are becoming more and more normal to hear. Over the weekend before I started my classes here at La Trobe University, my new friends and I traveled into the city and explored downtown Melbourne. While walking through the streets and eating the local food I found many similarities to the states. I couldn't help myself but compare downtown Melbourne to New York City due to the city feeling, but what was different was the pace. Here in Australia, people are much nicer and not rushing around as we are in the states (Crazy NYC people). There was so much to see and explore while being in the city but no rush to do it, everyone was just enjoying seeing the new sights surrounding us. I can not wait to experience more of what Australia has to offer me for the next 4 months. Talk soon mates, going to grab my runners and head to Maccas for Brekky :) Xoxo - Tori This blog will be based on my amazing orientation weekend trip. This 3-day excursion allowed me to meet many new people and forge new friendships from all over the world. Together we shared wonderful moments that are sure to be forever treasured memories. The trip started with boarding a bus that left from La Trobe Campus and brought everyone to the Great Ocean Road along with Apollo Bay, where we all had the opportunity to eat local food and try our hand at surfing! But first off we all stopped at an Australian football field and got to experience the chance to throw a homemade boomerang. This was something that really surprised me. I always knew what a boomerang was and how it was used but never had the ability to try it. The high level of excitement was contagious throughout everyone. Trying new things was the theme of the weekend. Surfing was something I will never forget. Being from Northeastern Pennsylvania, I had never surfed and was a bit nervous that I would embarrass myself in front of my new friends. As soon as I suited up in my wetsuit and was strapped to my board, I knew there was no turning back and I am so grateful for it. It was such a rush to surf for the first time. Australian beaches are unlike anything I have ever seen. The water was crystal clear and was very welcoming. Although the water was most definitely not the warmest, as Australian summer months are coming to an end it was refreshing. After perusing around the local shops and bars, my new new friends and I headed to the beach to catch some rays. Three hours later I was a lobster (wish my mom was here to force me to put sunscreen on!!). I was unaware of how different the UV rays are here in Australia, unlike the sunshine in the states and suffered with some sunburn for a couple days after this trip :( There were a total of 42 students on this trip and I met each and every one of them. Staying in touch with new people you meet is a huge benefit but it also can be difficult. Adding them on social media platforms or asking for their phone numbers, if you have an Australian number, helps better stay in contact. If you are like me, you love meeting new friends but may have a hard time remembering each of their names so make sure you get ahold of something which has their name on it (like their Snapchat or Facebook). It seems that Australian adolescents and young adults use Facebook way more than we do in the US. I am not sure the reasoning behind that but I was forced to jump back on the bandwagon to stay in touch with my new friends. La Trobe has an extremely bigger campus compared to Susquehanna and there are way more students and places to get lost here. Once arriving on campus I downloaded the Lost On Campus app which allowed me to see where I am, where places are located and the easiest routes to get there. I highly recommend that anyone download this app, it is not just for La Trobe University but for most large universities around the world and it is very helpful. There are still so many items on my list of “things to do” before I finally start my classes on March 2nd. This last week before classes will be filled with checking off those boxes on the list, finding my classrooms and attending all orientation meetings and events. School starts next week and I am very eager to find out how they will be set up and I am interested to see the differences between American education and how Australian universities are run. I can not wait to get started and meet all my professors for this upcoming semester abroad. I am starting to feel like I belong here and no longer like a lost tourist. Everything takes time and you must not get down on yourself or stress over the little things. Remember to breathe! When we chat next I will be fully enrolled in my subjects and will communicate to you about how my first week of abroad classes went. Thanks for keeping up with me everyone :) Talk Soon xoxo - Tori |
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May 2020
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