Deciding to study abroad was one of the most important choices I’ve had to make in college so far. There were so many options, all with different cultures! Eventually, I settled on the land down under, in a city called Gold Coast, known for its beaches and nightlife. I figured a beach city would be a nice change of scenery, different than Alabama’s humid climate with the only water access being Lake Nicol. I was surprised how little I actually needed to pack, as my housing is right next to a mall where everything is actually less expensive due to currency exchange. Any clothes I needed were just about the same price as they would be at home, but the dollar is worth 1.6 times more! Settling in, I did miss my family and friends, however I’m now part of a great group of adventurous, outgoing travelers like me. My expectations going in were to make friends and do as much as possible, and I’d say that things are going quite well. I really want to visit Sydney and see the Opera House while I’m here and go to a beach festival that my host city throws quite a few of. Upon arrival, my first stop was my program’s orientation in the coastal city of Cairns, right next to the Great Barrier Reef and lots of rainforest. Attached is a picture of an interesting animal that greeted me to the beautiful country. I can’t wait to visit more places like Cairns, Roll Tide!
