I have finally made it to my study abroad destination in Melbourne, Australia! This blog entry will be based on my traveling experience overseas and adjusting to living at La Trobe University. To start this entry off I will first tell you about my travels. I WAS SO NERVOUS. Traveling previously was easy because I was always with other people. This was my first solo experience and oh boy was it a good one–just traveling around the world. I was anxious as I entered the airport, but once I got through security and found my boarding gate I knew I was in the right place and told myself to remain calm. My parents prepared me the best that they could to know what to expect when traveling and how I should hydrate and be prepared in advance. It was a very smooth transition to and from the JFK airport to Los Angeles. I ate some dinner before boarding my second flight and again prepared for the lengthy flight ahead of me. Most of my flight to Melbourne I did my best to get comfortable and sleep and I am very grateful for sleeping helps to avoid jet lag. Although food on planes is not the most appetizing or filling, one must stay hydrated and full of nutrients so I ate some food, had a couple more hours of interrupted sleep, watched a few movies, and a bit later I was landing in Melbourne. It was a great feeling to exit the plane and stretch my legs! Getting fresh air and being back on land was such a rush! Next step–customs. A lot of people fear this part of traveling, afraid of saying something wrong. Overall it was not any big deal, just a few questions and I was off to find my luggage. Now, I know I have a tendency to overpack and yes I have to admit that the only way that I got my luggage zipped closed was for both my mother and myself to sit on it, but I never expected my luggage to be open when it arrived. Apparently, with all of the baggage handlers picking up and throwing the bags to the necessary conveyor belts my one suitcase popped open. Much to my chagrin I found the contents of my suitcase sticking out of the bag and in need of some immediate attention. Thankful for a good samaritan soon it was zipped back up and I headed to meet my airport pickup driver. I was unsure where to go and hoped to God it would be easy to locate him, and it was. I bought myself an Australian SIM card then while waiting for my shuttle which then allowed me to gain an Australian phone number and use data (highly recommended!!!). Driving to the campus I watched out the window trying to take in all of the new sights. I was in Australia!!! I was so excited and could not wait for the real adventure to begin! I was then brought to my campus of La Trobe in Bundoora. I settled into my room pretty quickly and I was grateful to have a single room to myself. The room was a good size, was clean, and had a large window which let in loads of sunshine! I am excited to make it my own by decorating it. It is my home for the next four months and I want it to reflect who I am. Something that my college does not have that Chisholm College (where my accommodation is) does is shared unisex bathrooms. This will take some getting used to but I am sure that I will adjust just fine. I am meeting so many fellow Americans and Australian citizens located on my floor which truly is what I wanted. I love meeting all the friendly people and I hope we stay in contact through the semester. Did I mention how friendly Australian people are, they truly have no worries in the world or expectations of you. Each of them are willing to engage in conversation or answer any of your questions. I checked in on campus last week and did some exploring around to see local cafes and places to eat for lunch. They call the student center here, which is located outside, the Agora. Within the Agora there are small coffee shops, a bookstore, a post office, and various diverse cultural food choices. I will post photos throughout and you can see some of what I will be experiencing, seeing and eating all semester! Loving it here in Australia!!! Talk Soon Mates ! Xoxo -Tori
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Hello! I am writing and submitting this week's blog a little early because tomorrow, Saturday, February 16th, 2020, I will finally be traveling to Melbourne, Australia my destination for my semester abroad. I am feeling all the emotions as I am saying my final goodbyes to friends and family as I will not be seeing them for four months. Some are going to be able to make the trek and visit me, but most won’t. I have been feeling nervous but yet so excited for this opportunity to arrive. I have been saying for several months now that I am studying abroad and people’s responses have always been of awe and amazement. Telling me that it sounds like such a wonderful opportunity well the time is finally here (hence the title of this blog entry). These past extra weeks off have been very relaxing and now my routine is about to shift extremely all the way across the world. My to-do list of things to do before leaving seemed to grow longer and longer the closer I got to leaving. I chipped away at the list and believe that everything is set. Now my list of things to do when I arrive is growing longer and longer. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all of this change, but I am going to remind myself to breathe and take it slow. This is my adventure. I am in control. And if I have learned anything from watching all of the silly movies where all is going wrong and the main character wants to give up but doesn’t and in the end has an adventure of a lifetime. I am ready for my adventure. This time in my life will be like no other and I must keep reminding myself that so I don't get defeated in this major adjustment. Whenever I tell people I am traveling to Australia for four months they first give me a funny look but then they say how amazing that experience must be and to take every chance given to me. That is exactly what I plan on doing. Besides going to school and worrying about my classes I want to do adventurous activities there such as skydiving and snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef. I am lucky to have amazing parents who want to come to visit me while abroad and travel together to make more memories. This experience is going to be like any other and I know everything about it will be memorable. The horrors of hearing about the spread of the Coronavirus around the world has me a bit on edge–I won’t lie. Watching the news with people being evacuated out of China and the virus spreading to other areas is frightening. I will definitely be more aware of what I touch while traveling. I will make a point to wash my hands more frequently and bring hand sanitizer with me. Being sanitary and healthy while traveling can only help you in the end. Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and face. The worst thing I can imagine is arriving in Australia finally after all this time and being sick from catching some illness while traveling. Time will tell, but it is time to get some rest for my big day tomorrow. Next time we talk I will be around the world in a brand new land. Wish me luck! Talk soon everyone ! XOXO - Tori T-minus 12 days until I am flying from JFK in New York to Los Angeles where my 16 plus hour flight takes me to my new home for the next four months. I can't believe how close it is getting to embarking on my journey, my excitement is soaring but so are my nerves. These next couple weeks are going to feel like 12 years before I leave for my trip (which is a good thing because I still have so much to do). Most of my days have been spent working my day job as a waitress, trying to make as much money as I can to save up for all the expenses I am about to accumulate. Working and spending time with my family and friends is how I spend most of my days, which is outrageous to think how different my days are going to be in less than 2 weeks! How insane ?! Being independent came at a young age for me and I always enjoyed taking care of others as well as myself. I am not necessarily worried about cooking for myself or cleaning, as I am a girl and no slob, unlike my brother. I am actually excited about having to grocery shop abroad and being able to cook myself meals everyday. I do not have a meal plan at La Trobe University so I will be making plenty of my own food and also trying local cuisine around me. Doing research on your place of study (what my last blog was about, take a look!!!) and help you learn lots about what you are about to see, eat, learn, and experience. Australia is known for their delectable coffee and Melbourne is home to plenty of cozy cafes and I hope I get to visit as many as I can. I am a coffee girl to the bone so I truly can not wait to try what they call in Australia a “flat white”. Imagining myself wandering the streets of Melbourne and my university campus, I start to think of myself being a local for approximately 4 months (lol). Walking into my everyday local cafe and ordering my regular, feels natural and I can not wait to start on my Australian everyday routine. I am eager to know what my life is going to be like and how accustomed I will get to the differences between Aussie and America. In just two short weeks I will be typing my blog from my dorm room at La Trobe University or at a little, quaint, downtown shop instead of at my desk in my bedroom. I wonder how my classes are going to be run and how my living accommodations are going to turn out. So many questions, but only time will tell. Things are going to change drastically whether I am ready or not. Being uncomfortable is something Susquehanna prepared us for. They warned us to be cautious in all situations as we tourists are the outsiders. Taking the time to learn, adapt and appreciate the culture you are going to experience while abroad is what can help you not feel so uncomfortable or out of your element. Always remember to try new things and take on new adventures and challenges but also remember to stay safe and true to yourself, no matter what. Understanding another society does not come overnight but with knowledge, tolerance, and cultural encounters one learns to understand. I myself, am craving this unknown australian culture and society and I am getting the chance to experience and can not wait to tell my readers all about it. The culture shock is going to be unreal. Stay tuned!! Xoxo, Tori Landon There is so much to know about your country, continent or just territory you are about to be traveling to. Living there for a semester means you will need to know what is about to be your life for the next 4 months. It seems daunting to envision everything needed for such a trip. For me, I knew I wanted to travel far and to someplace new, but the stories you hear and news you watch on television can influence you no matter where you travel to, I mean it did for me. Australia has the reputation of being the deadliest continent with some of the scariest creatures, but I am not going to let this intimidate me. I am in for the adventure, the experiences, and the memories which are sure to be unforgettable. I am only a couple of weeks out before boarding the airplane and settling in for a long flight across the world to my new home. I have a checklist in my head that I am trying to accomplish a piece of each day. Visa - check, airfare- check, new luggage (you know a girl has to travel in style)- check, apply for a credit card that does not charge international fees- check. Seems like I have a pretty good handle on things. Now I just have to start packing. This packing thing seems overwhelming. I mean it is freezing outside and here I am looking through my bathing suits. Being so far away Australia’s weather is going to be basically the opposite of what I am currently experiencing. I am going to go on the idea that I will need a little bit of everything–warm clothes, cold clothes, clothes to relax in and clothes for special occasions. This next four months are going to be an adventure and I want to have something for all occasions. To be prepared for what I anticipate as well as the unexpected and to keep in mind that it all has to fit into a suitcase (or two) will be a feat in and of itself. One thing to make sure you have when packing and organizing to travel is a safe place to hold all travel documents, money, credit cards, passports, etc. Security is something to take very seriously when traveling anywhere. There are many ways to keep your belongings safe so I would recommend researching ways and pick the best way that meets your needs. But please do not put this off because you do not want for anything negative to occur and potentially ruin your trip. Speaking of security, when traveling to a new place there are important places and things to find online before embarking on your journey. Such things are the closest U.S. Embassy to you, the emergency contact number in your country–for example instead of 911 in Australia it is 000, money conversions and exchange rates, weather conditions in your region, etc. Safety is priority number one. Being safe is sure to help you have a fabulous trip. Another week closer to my departure to Melbourne, Australia and so many things to do before hand, wish me luck! Xoxo, Tori G’day, mate! My name is Tori Landon and I am a junior attending school at Susquehanna University. I have lived my whole life in Pennsylvania but will be studying abroad in Melbourne, Australia for the next four months. In my blog, I hope to share with you my thoughts, feelings, experiences–good and bad–as I immerse myself in the Australian culture. The anticipation of traveling halfway around the world to study abroad has my head doing circles (the good kind). As the date is quickly approaching it is becoming very, very real. I have been talking about going on this adventure for so long and now it is right around the corner. Questions are flooding my mind, like how will the flight go?, how will I get around once I’m there?, what clothes, jewelry, personal items, toiletries should I pack? Four months is a long time so I am trying to think of everything that I will need. I have never been in this type of situation - packing up my life with limited space. I mean everything I can think of has to fit into 2 pieces of luggage. I already expect that I’m going to bring things I will not need in the slightest while needing things that I have forgotten. I have done extensive research on the art of “extreme packing.” I am not really sure if that is a real thing but I will master it! When starting to pack, first begin with the essentials (underwear, socks, jammies). OK, I checked that box and now I have to move on to the more difficult decisions. I’ll keep you posted about what I decide and how my strategies play out when I get there. Planning to live my life thousands of miles away from my home and people I know is now my focus. It is quickly becoming a reality and let me tell you, this overwhelming feeling I have of being anxious, worried, and excited will not go away. But all those feelings won’t stop me from embarking on this adventure of a lifetime. I want to encourage the readers of my blog to push past their boundaries and ALWAYS try something new. When applying for my GO program I knew I had a big decision to make–stay close to home or go far, go only for a short period of time or go for the whole semester, go someplace where I have been before or somewhere completely new, and go where I know the language or somewhere where English is not the primary language. This once in a lifetime opportunity was at my feet and it was time to decide where my path was going to lead me. I thought long and hard and consulted with people from my university and my family, but ultimately I had to make the call. What do I want to do with my life? How can I best maximize this opportunity? A small part of me considered playing it safe and going somewhere close for a short period of time, but I knew I would regret not challenging myself and really pushing the envelope of my comfort zone. So when the rubber met the road, I knew that going far for the entire semester was the route I wanted to take. You are only young once, right? Traveling has always been a hobby of mine. I have been blessed with many opportunities to travel with family and friends to several cities, states, and countries in my relatively short life. The experiences have been beyond measure. Some of the destinations were places that I will probably not return to, while others were so incredible that I hope to revisit someday. All of those travel experiences were wonderful and they have helped me to grow as a person and develop a respect for the differences we all have. Seeing how different cultures live, trying new foods, and learning about various ways of life has opened my eyes to the world. The memories are something that I cherish, but I also realize that there is more out there, more to see, more places to explore, more memories to make. Although I have had the good fortune of traveling a lot, I have never been as far as Melbourne, Australia. The travel time is something that I have been thinking more about every day as my departure date gets closer. It is an extremely long flight. Basically, I leave on one day and will not arrive until 2 calendar days later (travel time plus crossing the International Dateline). All I can do is be calm and be as prepared as possible for any circumstance that may occur. I always try to bring some magazines and movies to keep busy but also small snacks and a pillow for comfort have proven to be lifesavers. Sometimes the flights can be chilly so having a pair of socks to throw on, a decorative scarf or even a sweater to warm me up are things that can easily be carried and prove to be invaluable. Flights are cramped with limited legroom, shared armrests, narrow aisles, and let’s not forget the overly small bathrooms. Having to use an airplane bathroom is not the most luxurious experience. On most flights, there are no fancy soaps, bath mats, or any other special items - only the necessities that all fit into an extremely small space. So now the conundrum - you are supposed to stay hydrated to counteract jet lag, but drinking too much usually means more trips to that tiny bathroom in the sky. Let’s face it, it’s a long flight and I’ll just have to talk myself down and consider the bathroom stops as a temporary inconvenience on an amazing adventure. From my flying experiences in the past, I have found that catching some “Z”s helps TREMENDOUSLY! Sleeping as much as possible while flying has helped me pass the time and allowed me to be bright-eyed and ready to go when I landed. If you are like me, you are probably saying “I can not sleep on planes, you’re crazy” well yes I am a little crazy but I promise you, sleep can change you for the better when traveling. Being jet-lagged is going to be inevitable but by trying to prepare your body for the adjustment you will be thanking yourself later. I have paid the price for remaining awake on flights–excited about what adventures are about to unfold–only to be too tired and much too cranky to truly appreciate my new surroundings. Take my advice, sleep as much as possible! Money, money, money! I have been planning this trip for some time and I have been working several jobs to save dollars to support me when I am in Australia. Now it’s time to start thinking about what my stash will amount to in foreign currency. Going to a country where a different currency is used will require me to plan ahead. Having some Australian money on me when I land at the airport will eliminate the need to rush to a bank or ATM upon arrival. I’m working on getting some Australian dollars now and I’ll keep you posted on what I find out. This will give me peace of mind that I have what I need immediately and I can simply get a taxi or lift to my lodging as soon as I get my luggage–please oh please let my luggage be there! I do not recommend carrying too much cash, but you will need enough to get you to your lodging and maybe a bite to eat. Thanks for reading my ramblings of anticipation! Twenty days and counting until I embark on this adventure. I am looking forward to sharing my experiences in this blog. Until next time! Xoxo Tori |
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May 2020
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