Emely Seheon- Blog Abroad

Blog #1

Preparing for my Big Move
Studying abroad is an exciting journey, and when that journey takes you to Sydney, Australia, the experience becomes even more thrilling. From the iconic Opera House to beautiful beaches like Bondi, there's so much to look forward to. But before stepping into this adventure, I knew preparation was key. Here’s how I got ready, what my arrival was like, and how I’m adjusting to life in Sydney.

Preparation starts months before the plane departs. First, I made sure I had my visa and other important documents sorted out. Australia requires a student visa for international students, so I applied back in June to avoid any last-minute stress.Packing was another challenge. I wanted to make sure I had room to pack all of the things I buy while abroad, so I put one suitcase in another. I wanted to pack light, with the plan to buy what I needed while in Sydney. It's fall in America, but Spring here in Australia, so I packed mostly light clothes with a couple of warm jackets.

First Impressions of Sydney
My trip to Sydney from Albuquerque was quite complicated. I had to first fly 2 hours to LA, then spend a 9 hour layover at LAX. After that, I had a 15 hour flight across the Pacific, finally landing in Sydney at 6:30 am. I was exhausted, but I knew I had to stay up until at least 8pm so that I wouldn't be jetlagged.
Arriving in Sydney was surreal. As our plane was landing, I could see the Opera House from my window, which really set in the reality that I was across the world. My first stop was my accommodation, which lies in the heart of the city. I am close to public transportation and grocery stores, which made settling in much smoother. Sydney’s public transport system is efficient, and the walkability of the city immediately had me in love. A large network of trains, buses, metros, light rails, and ferries make it simple to get from one place to another. However, it's just as easy and often more efficient to walk anywhere as well. This is much different from what I'm used to in Albuquerque, which is a car dependent city.

Finding Rhythm in a New Culture
Adjusting to life in Sydney has been both exciting and challenging. The biggest adjustment for me was time zones. Staying in touch with family and friends back home required some creative scheduling. Another big adjustment for me was learning all of the slang. Aussies love to shorten any word they can think of, "Macca's" instead of "McDonalds", "bikkie" instead of "biscuit" (which is NOT the same as a cookie), "toastie" for a sandwich, and much more. Exploring Sydney has been the most enjoyable part of adjusting. In the month that I've been here I've gone to the Opera House, the Royal Botanical Gardens, a few different beaches, and the Blue Mountains. Of course, Australia has lots of wild animals, and no, I don't mean spiders. So far I've seen dolphins and whales, Benny the seal who lives behind the Opera house, and cuddled a kangaroo. Every day has been a new adventure. The key to adjusting, I’ve found is to stay open-minded and embrace everything Sydney has to offer.