Sunset from Mt. Dandenong in the Dandenong Ranges National Park
Today marks the conclusion of my study abroad. In these past four months, I’ve been fortunate enough to experience several once in a lifetime moments. From witnessing the penguin parade on Phillip Island to making a spontaneous side trip all the way to Fiji. Before arriving, I set a few personal goals for myself. They were simple (maybe even a little cliché), but meaningful:
- Make at least one friend
- Push myself to do more things outside of my comfort zone
- Enjoy my time abroad and avoid isolating myself in my room
- Embrace and immerse myself in the culture of my host country, particularly towards people of my ethnic background
Looking back, I’m proud to say that I was able to accomplish most of these goals
What I’m most proud of is that I found a friend somewhat early on in the study abroad program. Without my friend Amélie, I doubt I would have met half the goals I had set. She constantly encouraged me to go out of my comfort zone whether that meant taking the lead in social situations or navigating to new destinations alone. She took on a tough love approach, and as much as I despised it at the moment, I’ll admit it’s helped me grow as a person (just a little). She, along with a silly list of challenges my friends from New College of Florida gave me, helped keep me from isolating myself in my room doing homework, studying, or nothing. Together, they led me to new places and or try new activities, like exploring Queen Victoria’s market, visiting the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) art museum, going to the beach, and taking more pictures of myself. I really enjoyed those little challenges and I’ve been told there might be a small reward at the end.
If there’s one thing I wish I’d done more of, it’s exploring the culture of my own ethnic background. Although I have been able to learn a great deal on Australian culture, unfortunately, I haven’t had many opportunities to connect with Asian communities during my stay. Funny enough, it was in Fiji where I had one of my more memorable cultural moments. Believe it or not, Fiji has a surprisingly large Chinese population. The Airbnb we stayed at was owned by a Chinese family, and every morning they served us a simple breakfast consisting of zongzi (sticky rice with a Chinese date filling wrapped in bamboo leaves and steamed) and hard boiled eggs. I had forgotten how important food is in Asian culture. In most cultures it typically communicates warmth, kindness, and openness and so many other things without needing to say a word. It’s moments like these that have made my study abroad such an eye opening experience, since back home, it’s something I don’t usually stop to think about.
The memories and friendships I’ve made in Australia will always hold a special place in my heart. While my study abroad program has officially ended, I will be spending one more month here and I plan to make the most out of every moment.
The Traveling Jade 
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