The moment it hit me that I was really living in Australia wasn\u2019t when my plane landed or when
\nI saw the Sydney Opera House for the first time. It was much quieter than that. I was standing
\nalone in a grocery store after class, staring at shelves full of unfamiliar brands like Up & Go, V
\nEnergy, and Smith\u2019s Chips, when I realized that I was no longer just visiting Australia, but
\nactually living there.<\/p>\n
On July 12, 2025, I officially left the United States and, 14 hours later (yes, time travel included),
\nlanded in Sydney on July 14. Stepping off the plane, I felt both excited and nervous. I knew
\nstudying abroad would bring travel, new friendships, and unforgettable experiences, but I did not
\nyet realize how much the semester would reshape the way I envisioned my life after graduation.
\nWhat began as a temporary academic experience quickly became something far more
\ntransformative \u2014 an opportunity to grow, challenge myself, and reconsider what my future
\ncould look like.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/center-for-global-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/79\/2026\/02\/alanafriends-e1771351375426.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
During my first few weeks, everyday tasks became opportunities to learn. Navigating Sydney\u2019s public transportation system, converting currency, and settling into new routines helped me
\nadjust to life in a new country. Academics at Macquarie University were also structured differently from what I had experienced at home. Each course was led by both a lecturer, who delivered the primary course content, and a tutor, who guided smaller discussion-based sessions focused on applying what we learned. This format encouraged active participation and personal accountability, helping me strengthen my organization skills and confidence in managing my coursework independently.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/center-for-global-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/79\/2026\/02\/1771289150508-18f245ce-500d-4f93-b317-ef99543d168a_1.jpg\")
Outside of the classroom, I quickly found a sense of community through living in student
\naccommodation. Some of my favorite memories came from simple moments \u2014 playing card games after class, organizing group grocery runs, cooking meals together, and staying up late talking around the kitchen table. These everyday routines turned strangers into close friends and made Sydney begin to feel like home. It was through these shared experiences that I met Clara, a student from Germany who became one of my closest friends during the semester. Despite coming from different backgrounds, we bonded over shared excitement, occasional homesickness, and the experience of navigating life abroad together.<\/p>\n
Travel also became an important part of my study abroad experience. Through Arcadia Abroad, the program that coordinated my semester, I met students from universities across the United States who were also studying throughout Australia. Even though we attended different Australian universities, we quickly became close friends and often traveled together. One of the most unforgettable moments of my time abroad was a trip to New Zealand with a friend I met through Arcadia Abroad who was studying at the University of Sydney. During the trip, I bungee jumped in Taup\u014d. Standing on the platform and looking down, I felt completely terrified, but jumping anyway reminded me why I chose to study abroad in the first place: to step outside my comfort zone and embrace new experiences.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/center-for-global-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/79\/2026\/02\/alana-scuba.jpg\")
\nAfter the semester ended, I traveled up the east coast of Australia, staying in hostels for the first time and meeting travelers from around the world along the way. During the trip, I also had the opportunity to scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef, swimming alongside vibrant coral and marine life in a place I had only ever seen in documentaries. Planning travel logistics, navigating unfamiliar places, and embracing spontaneity no longer felt intimidating. Instead, it felt exciting \u2014 a clear reflection of how much I had grown in just a few months.<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t take long for me to notice how much Australians value being outdoors, whether they were walking, running, sitting in parks, or simply enjoying nature right in the middle of the city. Wildlife also became part of everyday life, from spotting \u201cbin chickens\u201d wandering around campus to the turkey that lived in my backyard \u2014 whom I eventually named David \u2014 who was constantly building and rebuilding his nest. These often humorous moments reminded me to slow down and truly appreciate the small, everyday experiences that made the semester so meaningful.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/center-for-global-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/79\/2026\/02\/alana-surfing.jpg\")
As my time in Australia came to an end, I realized just how much I had changed. I arrived
\nfeeling uncertain and slightly intimidated, and I left more confident, open-minded, and willing to pursue opportunities that once felt far outside my comfort zone. Studying abroad taught me that growth often happens when we step into unfamiliar environments and allow ourselves to adapt. This experience also reshaped how I think about my future. What I once saw as a temporary semester abroad became a turning point that expanded my goals beyond what I had originally planned. I now hope to return to Sydney after graduation on a work visa and continue building my career internationally. No matter where I go next, my time abroad has shaped the person I am becoming and has given me the confidence to pursue opportunities anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Alana Firsty<\/strong> The moment it hit me that I was really living in Australia wasn\u2019t when my plane landed or when I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5509,"featured_media":1998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"custom_author_name":"","chapman_pin_hero_slider":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,5,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education-abroad","category-travel","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nMajor: Business Administration (Marketing)
\nMinors: Honors \/ Nutrition
\nFall 2025 \u2014 Sydney, Australia
\nMacquarie University | Arcadia Abroad<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"