Having always loved travelling, and the concept of travelling slowly specifically, the year abroad option for studying seemed like the perfect combination of stability, trying new things, and exploring a new place. I wanted to live like people did in another place rather than just visit it. I think my time in Adelaide was just that.
I found the perfect balance between studying, travelling, working, and exploring, because the academic year calendar difference afforded me just over three months of summer break.
The university experience was freeing, given that there was slightly less academic pressure than usual as the marks did not contribute to my final grade, I was able to explore different module options and enrol myself a range of different classes. I found those who I studied with to be friendly, and the teaching to be interesting. I found that, academically, by the end of my time in Adelaide, I was far more confident in my abilities than I had been on arrival.
Outside of university life, I got a part-time job at a bar to meet more people and get to know the city a little better. This proved to be a turning point in my time away. I had initially struggled to make friends and was feeling isolated, but I was incredibly lucky in finding a workplace where I could make friends around my age. I was lucky enough to find an incredibly inclusive set of friends who took great joy in showing me their favourite places in the state. I found something really beautiful in seeing a place through the eyes of the people who live there. I went to beaches, museums, galleries, hikes, and nearby towns and villages and kept finding new differences to consider and think about. I also found that after the confident boost of making friends at work, I was then able to make even more at university as I came out of my shell a bit more.
During the long, hot, balmy summer months I also travelled outside of South Australia. I completed the Great Ocean Road (Adelaide-Melbourne) and I found this to be an incredibly valuable and fulfilling experience. The coast was beautiful and a scenic reminder that there is more to life than essays and city living. It was also incredibly interesting to assess the slight cultural differences when moving interstate. The summer felt endless at times, and there were some days that I questioned whether the sun would ever decide to set. Of course, it eventually did, and as the winter now draws in, I wonder where the year went.
I would be remiss if I did not mention there were challenges. From confusing paperwork, to initial social anxieties, and moments of loneliness where I wanted nothing more than to return. But, I would say those moments of doubt could not overshadow the overwhelmingly positive experience I had in Australia. I have met friends I am sure will last a lifetime, and gained invaluable life experience. To any reader considering going abroad for a year, I highly recommend it. It may be difficult at times, and you will learn what independence truly means, but the experiences and people you meet will undoubtedly shape your experience into something invaluable and unforgettable.
(All the photos taken are my own).
