Ineffable. That is the word I will be using to describe my time in Australia. “Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words”. Even that description doesn’t begin to cover it.
For those who know me, they know that traveling to Australia was a dream of mine. Never in my life did I think I was going to be able to do a semester abroad here. I will forever be grateful to my younger self for dreaming up this idea, and I will forever be amazed at my present self for going through with it. Having a dream as big as this and for as long as I did, does not go away quickly. This experience will always be a part of me. Now I know that as long as I work towards goals and dreams like I did this one, I will never regret anything I put my mind to, especially when it comes to travel.
My knowledge has greatly expanded while I’ve been here. Back in February, I was someone who had only ever traveled with other people, relying on them to show me around or take the fall when a challenge occurred. Being alone on the other side of the world has opened my eyes, and I never want to shut them again. From learning small things like public transportation and walking on the left side of the sidewalk, to learning things about myself that I thought were beyond imagination. Australia has allowed me to do things on my own–something I was not good at before. It has shown me how to interact with people from all over the world, sleep in a hostel, not to quit when a travel day doesn’t go as planned, and to appreciate every day that I have. Australia made me appreciate life’s beauty a little more–I began to look up at the trees or stop to take a picture more often. I found myself seizing the day just because I could. I didn’t rely on anyone but me. Australia gave me freedom like never before–I never had to tell anyone where I was going, what I was doing, and I could even go tanning after school just because I could.
With so many ups, there are downs. Being here wasn’t always amazing; it had its challenges. I was constantly missing my people back home, I had moments of being frustrated with school, I was sometimes angry at myself for being away during important events, and the time difference alone was difficult. I felt alone a lot–especially when I had trouble trying new things or studying for exams without my support system. While I had moments of sadness and frustration, I don’t regret any of those emotions because I know they made me grow. Without challenges, this trip would have been too easy, too simple. I needed challenges so that I could prove to myself that I am exactly the person I hold myself to be. As important as I let the challenges be, those moments were so small compared to the sense of community I found in these past 5 months. I have met so many amazing people that I will never forget. My friends in Brisbane will always have my heart–I could not imagine this experience without them. In the end, I learned to accept the challenging moments, knowing that there was no way they could dent this experience.
This abroad experience would not have happened without the support of many people and organizations. Without Hope College, specifically the Center for Global Engagement and Becky Thompson, I would not be where I am today. I will forever be grateful to Hope for allowing the possibility of this idea, and to the off-campus program for making it happen. I could not have done this experience without the help of my study abroad program–they provided an abundance of support, experiences, and trips that I will never forget–thank you, TEAN. To my family, friends, loved ones, and anyone else who supported me before, during, and soon to come after this journey–there is no “thank you” large enough in the world to describe my gratitude. Every ounce of support I received was appreciated and was never taken for granted. Every FaceTime, every phone call, and every donation meant more to me than I can express. Especially to my parents, you have supported me on this journey longer than anyone else, and it would not have happened if you hadn’t introduced me to travel at a young age or encouraged me to do it on my own. Mom and Dad, you are my rock, thank you.
As I write this final article in my final days of being in this country, I find myself nostalgic most of the time, grieving an experience that’s not even over yet. I find myself sitting in moments that allow me to reflect on the life that I have created here. I will never be in this apartment room again, never again walk along the beautiful arches of my campus as a student, never again know how it feels to be completely clueless about public transportation, and never again know what it’s like to be twenty one years old traveling alone in such an amazing place. I will forever miss this time of my life.
Before I came to Australia, I made a bucket list for myself and it read like this: make sure you take it all in every day, find a spot that screams “you”, facetime family every week, do things on your own, and make sure you document as much as you can. If I could give anyone advice about studying abroad, I would tell them to make a bucket list like this. By creating this list, I forced myself out of my comfort zone and held myself to standards I had never reached before. To those who study abroad after me, I encourage you to allow yourself to grow and create a version of yourself that is unique to your experience.
No matter how many times I call Michigan home, there will always be a piece of me connected to Brisbane. Home is no longer a place for me, but a feeling. I think I will be grieving my life here, at least for a little bit, knowing that I have changed so much and I will not be the same back home. I felt welcomed in this place, I rarely felt like a stranger, and I hope that every time I come back, it feels just like it does now. Australia was my number one destination for so long, and now that it’s not, I’m having a hard time being okay with that thought. The thought of not being here anymore makes me sad, but then I think about how much more of the world I want to explore and get excited all over again. Australia is a version of home to me now, a place that I can come back to, and I will jump right back into this time of my life. I will always feel welcomed here.
With less than ten days until I leave, I imagine myself walking out of the airport with my family, taking a look back at the airport, knowing that it will be my final goodbye to this journey. I could go on and on about this experience, and I apologize to those in advance who have to listen to my rambling stories, but I truly cannot be more grateful to this country for giving me more than ten-year-old me could have dreamed of. This beautiful country, its people, and this abroad journey will forever be a part of me. A part of me wishes I could stay forever.
Thank you, Australia. I am forever thankful for your guidance and love.
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