At first, I was excited to be going to Australia because I could have my own sense of independence away from my family. However, the more the days go by the more I miss my family and am counting down the days until I return home. The day that I was leaving for Australia I still couldn’t believe I was going to be on my first plane ride to one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
Going through security I looked back at my family and saw that I was leaving them behind and regretted it the moment I saw their faces. Then I remembered why I was going to Australia in the first place – this trip was to gain knowledge and experience a glimpse into my future career.
For anyone who has never been on a plane or never felt like they’ve had a sense of independence, of making their own choices, I would say that believing in yourself, and taking that next step to learn more about yourself in the process of studying abroad, will be the best decision you will ever make.
When I first got to Australia I didn’t know what to expect. Somehow, once I got here it felt like I had never left home. One thing that still confuses me is that people in Australia drive on the left side of the road and the wheel is on the right side of the car. I’m still adjusting to the time difference as well, but am making the best of my time here and trying to enjoy it as much as I possibly can.
As much as I love being here, I miss home a lot and can’t wait to see my family and friends again. I have been here for about a week now and I can say I feel comfortable here, being the only Hispanic person in the group. I earned this internship on my own through hard work, and even if I was rejected or accepted to it I was grateful for the opportunity to apply.
It is a whole new world and I’m ready to explore it and all of the crazy adventures and new friends I will make along the way. I’ve been jet-lagged for the last couple of days and am still trying to adjust to not seeing my family every single day. I’m glad that I have this time to figure out what it will be like when I do live on my own, buying my own groceries, commuting to work everyday, and other responsibilities I will be handling on my own.
My advice for students interested in studying abroad is to not only have the support of your loved ones but to remember to believe that you are capable of more than you think. When you’re planning and in your own time zone, you need to not lose yourself or get distracted by bad thoughts.
Have the courage and kindness to not let negative thoughts interfere with your time abroad or anything else in life. I hope my family knows that they can count on me for anything and I will always count on them for everything.
I anticipate that after being a part of this program, I will hopefully in the future be able to return here one day and live out my dreams as a physical therapist – as one who plays a role in my patient’s rehabilitation process.