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!
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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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