Bringing the learning home (Australian Learning & Teaching Council)

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Washington D.C

It is now officially week 4 of my adventure. After being in San Francisco travelling around by myself for 5 days I was ready to get to my dorm room and meet people!

The first week was orientation week for abroad students with 3 days introducing us to each other, to the school and to the city. Meeting so many other people from all over the world, Europe, Korea, Egypt, Africa and other Aussies too it really opens your mind to everything the world has to offer – I know that sounded so cheesy but it’s very true – and I made myself a promise, a promise that I will make the most out of this year and take advantage of every opportunity and explore everything I can.

In one day I visited the National Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and saw the White House, granted they were only quick visit’s but even so the smile from my face just never left, to actually see these symbols of America and history and freedom just made me feel incredible (and being a history major you can imagine how excited I was!). I’ve also visited some local areas, Chinatown, Georgetown and Adams Morgan and the rest of the city is just waiting to be explored!

The university (or college I should say) is incredible, the buildings are beautiful, the people are lovely and the work is intense with 5 books for just 1 history class. The social aspect is also widely different. Yesterday I became a Pledge member in the Greek sorority Alpha Epsilon Phi, already through this sisterhood I have met some amazing women who I know will support me all the way. I am also auditioning for a student run dance group that performs at the end of the semester which I will hopefully be able to participate in.

The weather is cold, the work is hard and I am missing my family already. BUT. I knew all of this coming into this experience and I welcome it with open arms, this is going to be the most amazing opportunity for all of us abroad students and I welcome the bad with the good because I know at the end I would have had an experience of a lifetime.

Safe travels everyone 🙂

Posted by  |  January 19, 2011 | Categories: The US | 2 Comments

Hawaii

My first stop on my way to uni in victoria BC is Hawaii. i was so lucky on the plane and had a spare seat next to me so i had a glass of wine and slept the whole way! i am apart of a group called “couchsurfing” where you stay on locals couches for free and they can show around. they are the host and you are the surfer. (just explaining so you will understand when i say my host). So my host lives in the middle of waikiki! she is 19 and a uni student so i slept on her collage dorm. I only had a bed for the night as she was going home for the holidays but when i met her 2 of her friends offered me there couch! so i was set for the rest of my stay. This is my first trip to USA and oh man they are soooo nice! really friendly and helpful. here are some things that stood out of my shot time here:

Australian beaches are better: there beach has coral on the bottom! but they have really good snorkelling. and there break is often way out the back where the drop of is.

Their crossings: at intersections they have like a zebra crossing so i am just crossing the street when ever and people arnt stopping much, so i asked some local near by to tell me how to cross the road “um..excuse me i have a really dumb question but…” you have to wait for the signal to cross at lights but some dont have the signal, also it dosnt make a noise, so i am day dreaming and missing the lights.

language: pretty similar however when i was waiting for my host to come home i said “oh i will just go for a wander around the shops till you get here” andshe thought it was the cutest thing ever “wander” her and her friends payed me out for ages!! and sometimes when i am telling them a stoty or just talking they will just be lauging at me because i have a funny accent – i was a bit confused at first – why are they laughting this isnt even the funny bit…

they photos are of: my ‘couch’, the famous hawaiian surfer, my hosts, a guy in his army uniform, the barbie (more like a grill), the potato bake i made, they loved it!, and the beach/ islands that i kayaked to.

Posted by  |  January 9, 2011 | Categories: Cultural differences, Fish out of water, The US | 1 Comment

US of A!

I’m finally in Chicago, my 2nd last stop before I’m where I need to be for the year! It’s freezing cold, snowing and soooo much different to home. Through all of my excitement I didn’t really stop and think about what it’d feel like being here with absolutely nobody to talk to or to rely on. You have to make all of your own decisions, you can’t pick up the phone and just call someone and ask their opinion, it’s here, it’s now, it’s fast paced and it’s freakin’ scary!

My flights and stops went pretty smoothly for the most part. Each stop was scary because I had no idea where to go and what to pay and what to do, but after asking about a million questions I finally got my way. I’ve been on a plane for 32 out of the last 48 hours and I’m now laying in my Chicago hotel room, excited that I made it here and I can sleep now. When I got to JFK airport in New York, I expected the transition to be as smooth as the others, but because of the snowstorm my flight was canceled. Delta airlines gave me a cab voucher and told me where to go to wait for this specific cab to take me to another New York airport where they had a flight available, but when the cab never showed I had to get into a (cliche) yellow New York City taxi and go through New York City! (not that I’m complaining). Anyway, so after going through even more security checks and bag check ins I had to wait for a flight one last time. I must say though, after seeing the way that the staff of Delta Airlines handles their customers (not me specifically, but others around me), I don’t think I’ll be flying with them again. It’s like they just don’t care, but what can you do?

I’m in America… it’s mind blowing.

Posted by  |  January 8, 2011 | Categories: Only in..., The US | 1 Comment

Next step done…

I didn't take this picture. Copyright http://www.sydney.diplo.de

Well today was eventful.

7am wake up to apply for my residency permit.

We had to get to Woollahra between 900 and 1200. O fun.

We were gone for four hours, 15 minutes were spent in the German Consulate.

I hate to sound cliche’, but the lady behind the desk was very efficient. And nice.

I watched her conversation with some German nationals. All I could understand is that she could not do something, then asked when the passport ran out, to which the national replied the first of march. I felt like such a loser.

I gave another lady an empathetic smile when she struggled with the door to get in, she said something in German and laughed so I did one of those “o yeah” laughy-things. I still have no idea what she said.

I guess this is my first experience of language barriers where I’m the odd one out.

On the plus side my application was all good and I can expect the permit in 4 weeks. I leave in 6.

Not long now. So exciting.

Posted by  |  January 7, 2011 | Categories: Fish out of water, Predeparture | Tags: , | 1 Comment

Manchester United

I spent Christmas with relatives from my dad’s side of the family in England. On Boxing Day I was lucky enough to have my dad’s cousin Dave take me to see the greatest football team in the world, Manchester United, play (and win) at their home ground, Old Trafford.

It was an absolutely incredible experience! Even if you’re not a football fan, or a sports fan in general, I think you couldn’t help but enjoy yourself. There’s so much atmosphere and so much energy, it’s contagious. I had a brilliant time, even though by the end of the match I was frozen to the seat.

One of the things that most struck me though is the intensity of the rivalry between Manchester City and Manchester United. Having a father who was born and bred in Manchester and has been a United support since he was 5 years old, I’ve always understood that they were rivals, but seeing it unfold in front of you is completely different. The hatred between the two teams is so intense that even when they’re not playing each other, United fans are still singing songs like “knick knack paddy-whack give a dog a bone, why don’t City f**k off home!” I saw United play Sunderland on the day that I went, but that little rhyme was sung loudly and proudly many, many times.

It’s something I really think we don’t have in Australia. We love sport, but this is on a whole new level. My 85-year-old great aunt has a framed picture of Eric Cantona hanging in her hallway next to pictures of her great-grandchildren, that’s how much this matters to people. I don’t know anyone back in Oz who not only loves their team that much, but who hates their local rival that much as well!

Posted by  |  January 6, 2011 | Categories: Cultural differences, Festive season, The UK | 1 Comment

2 sleeps.

The butterflies in my stomach WON’T GO AWAY! 2 sleeps and I’m on my way to America and all things grand!

Good luck to everyone who are about to start or are already on their adventures! Have fun and live every minute!

Posted by  |  January 4, 2011 | Categories: Predeparture | 1 Comment

Gun handling in the U.S.

How can I go to America and not shoot a gun? Of course I can’t, which is why we went to the shooting range today and I fired a gun for the first time. Yet another thing I can now cross off my imaginary list. I used two different types of guns, one .357 caliber shotgun and the other, a semi-automatic handgun used primarily for self defense.

The laws of gun handling and ownership are quite strict in California in comparison to other parts of America, particularly in the Eastern and Southern parts of the U.S. I’m not too clear on the specific laws and regulations, but in general you have the right to own a gun if you intend to use it for self defense. There are also strict rules about locking your weapon and leaving it unloaded when not in use.

However, the thing that surprised me the most about this whole experience was how easy it was to just walk into the shooting range, snag a couple of bullets and start shooting away like a maniac (at the target). There were no questions asked about my obvious (lack of) experience with gun handling. All I had to do was supply ID, sign my name, and briefly take note of the 7 or so house rules. After that, I was handed a gun and told to take aim and fire. Crazy stuff.

I can’t tell you how nervous I was initially, my mother would be so proud. My advice would be if you happen to be in the United States of America, I recommend you start shooting something.

 

I definitely see this experience as a significant example of cultural difference, because people’s reaction to guns here is quite relaxed. Many Australians are aware of the American way of thinking when it comes to guns in use for “self defense” and it’s almost comical to us at times. But I believe that U.S citizens take the right to bear arms very seriously. Didn’t stop me from having a laugh though.

Posted by  |  January 1, 2011 | Categories: Cultural differences | 4 Comments

10days and counting every minute!

I am starting to FREAK out!

It’s 10 days until my journey to Wisconsin-Whitewater and as previously stated, I am absolutely freaking out. This is going to be amazing. My whole family is getting sick to death of me talking about it, so I’ll just vent here. One of my friends (who posted below) left for San Fransisco last night and I was always leaving 10 days after her so now that she’s gone, it’s my countdown!

The only thing that sucks is that in order to get the cheapest flight available, I’m taking four different planes and three different airlines – not really crash hot about that considering that I’ve never traveled alone, let alone anywhere overseas other than Bali for crying out loud. So I leave Perth on the 6th of January at 2.55pm and arrive at 8.20pm on the 7th of January American time – so that’s about 9.20am home time – 2 days travel – so if anyone has any suggestions on stuff to do on the plane/while waiting in the airport I’d greatly welcome them!

All I have left to do now is invest in some warm clothes, photocopy my info for my family, work out my itinerary down to a tee and I’m off.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Posted by  |  December 27, 2010 | Categories: Predeparture | 2 Comments

Seasons greetings wherever you are

Hi, and merry Christmas!

I hope those of you far away had a chance to experience the holiday season as it is celebrated in your host country (which might be New Year rather than Christmas, thinking of Japan and Korea). If, regrettably, you weren’t able to do so with new friends or if you found yourself alone or, even with company, found you really missed family, this is one of the downsides of travelling, and those celebration moments are always the times we feel most isolated – even if enjoying a white Christmas or a different form of hospitality. So hang in.

For those of you about to head overseas, Christmas might have been specially sweet this year. Enjoy the last of the heat before you head off and let us know how it all goes.

Not wanting to wish the end of your sojourn on you, but we are also looking forward to getting those first ‘hey, I’m back!’ posts sometime in the New Year. But in the meantime, enjoy your travels, and keep safe.

To you all, all the best for 2011.

Jan

Posted by  |  December 27, 2010 | Categories: Festive season | Leave a comment

only a matter of days away

Hi everyone!

I’m only 4 days away from the most incredible experience of my life so far! I’m leaving for San Francisco for a bit of travel before heading to Washington D.C. for my year of study at the American University!

I am constantly nervous/excited/terrified and I don’t really think it’s actually kicked in that i’m leaving everyone behind so soon!

After the continuous paperwork and fees i’m finally getting to the end and started packing yesterday! How does one fit their life into a few bags?

Can’t wait to start this experience and read what everyone else is doing!
Goodluck everyone 🙂

Posted by  |  December 23, 2010 | Categories: Predeparture, The US | 1 Comment