Like deciding to attend the University of Texas at Austin right before the deadline to accept admission, I waited until the absolute last minute to finalize my Australian exchange offer. I’m not sure why I wait to make important life decisions. Maybe my hesitancy is due to the fear of failure or because I’m wary of making the wrong decision.
However, going to Australia for a semester wasn’t the first time I had completely left my life behind to start anew. Every time I start a new chapter, I’m greeted by not only the highest highs and the lowest lows but also a newfound appreciation for my place in the world.
Doing it Alone
For as long as I can remember, I have been putting off my aspirations, waiting for someone to accompany me on the journey. As a child of 2 immigrant parents, I have always loved to travel. I had the opportunity to go from ziplining in Costa Rica to skiing in Alberta, but as the family trips came to an end, my eagerness to travel continued to grow.
When I met a fellow student at Texas Global, I realized someone could travel alone and experience more fulfillment. With this in mind, I took off on my twenty-five hour flight to Australia completely solo and didn’t look back. I chose to spend 2 weeks in hostels in Sydney before diving into university. This was the best decision I could have made.
Within days, I made friends whom I could visit all around Australia. I hardly had time to speak with my parents because I was so busy; I even went on a spontaneous trip to Tasmania with the first few people I met.
I couldn’t have dreamed of a better first few weeks in Sydney, but then those travel friends slowly trickled up the coast, and I moved further from downtown. University began, and I was right back to where I started, all alone in a new city. That’s the thing with travel—the best day ever can be followed by a bad day. Yet, you must feel those lows to appreciate the highs.
Flash forward two months from my first week at university. Not only have those friends I met during my first weeks in Australia found their way back to Sydney, but I now have flatmates, university club friends, and even strangers who are now best friends to introduce.
Traveling alone forces you to take risks that you never could have taken in the familiar presence of friends. By stepping out of my comfort zone, I have made countless lifelong mates from all over the world.
Why Sydney?
Australia was never on my radar for studying abroad. It always felt too far away. However, when traveling Europe this past summer, my absolute favorite travelers were Australians. I joked that I would see them next year when I studied abroad, but I didn’t think I would follow through.
I am lucky to have found University of Technology because it allows me to satisfy my informatics degree requirements that were difficult to find in other programs. Initially, I planned on taking general education classes, but I found the best of both worlds when I landed on studying at the University of Technology. Not only could I fulfill my promise to visit my Australian friends, but I could also complete my academic requirements.
Another reason I chose to study abroad in Australia over a European destination was my desire to call a place my second home. There is pressure to travel every weekend in Europe because countries are so close to each other. On the other hand, traveling in Australia is similar in price and distance to traveling in the United States.
It forced me to have a mindset of being a tourist in my own city, a lesson I strive to take back with me to Austin. Bored between classes? Read in one of the magnificent parks. No Saturday night plans? Catch a show at the Sydney Opera House. Need plans for a calm Sunday morning? How about yoga under the Harbor Bridge?
In Austin, we are privileged to live in the best capital city in the United States; even I, an out-of-state student, take that for granted. I want to be a tourist when I return to Austin, especially for my senior year.
I want to cherish the Wednesday night trivia, catch a game at Crown and Anchor, or spend an afternoon kayaking Lady Bird Lake. Why do we only appreciate the little things when we are on “vacation” when we have a vacation destination as our backyard? Sydney has taught me the importance of staying still and embracing being a tourist in your own city.
Culture of Intention
I wasn’t prepared to be hit by so many culture shocks when coming to Australia. Australians speak the same language, have similar schooling, and even predominantly follow American media. Of course, Australians drive on the opposite side of the road, and almost every sentence uses some sort of slang, but all of those differences were easy to navigate.
One of the biggest culture shocks I witnessed within days was the way Australians approach their daily lifestyles. From healthy work-life balances to living with intention and being unapologetically themselves, Australians emanate joy as they go about their daily routines.
For example, when a cyclone hit most of the East Coast in March, Aussies surfed and danced in the harbor. For a typical American, a hurricane usually means having a few lazy days inside.
People here don’t take life for granted, and this is a vital lesson to learn. Living in Australia has inspired me to keep pushing myself out of my comfort zone rather than listening to what society deems to be a successful life. Instead of being afraid of entering the workforce, I am excited about life after graduation. Studying in Australia means being intentional about the life you want to have and not looking to others for approval. All you need is your own validation.
This post was contributed by Gemma Warde, a Global Ambassador for Spring 2025. Gemma is a junior studying abroad in Sydney, Australia.
Leave a Reply