Cora Funk | Fall 2024
It feels truly unbelievable, and I really do not understand where the time went, but I am officially done with my study abroad program in Sydney, Australia! I am staying in Australia for a few more weeks though because my family is coming to visit, and we will do some traveling around Australia before heading back to the States. As I wait for their arrival, I am not only soaking up my last few days of being a Sydney resident, but I am also reflecting on the amazing memories, experiences and learning opportunities of the past several months. Today I will be sharing five things I learned while studying abroad.
Starting off strong, I learned that a study abroad experience will push you to be the most independent you have ever been. Obviously, I had to fly all the way across the world by myself, which in of itself was a bit daunting and out of my comfort zone. My particular study abroad program was an exchange program. Being in an exchange program basically means that I was considered an international student at Macquarie University and did not have the support that an affiliate program or UT direct program provides. In addition, I also lived in a townhome with four other girls. We all had our own room and bathroom, but we shared the kitchen, dining room and living room. This was the first time that I had to cook all of my own meals and do my own shopping. I really enjoy cooking so it wasn’t too too bad. The only issue was that I had a limited number of cooking utensils, so I had to stick to simple recipes. My go-to recipes were shakshuka, minestrone soup, tofu and pad thai. I also grew in independence by navigating the public transit system all by myself. In Nashville (my hometown) we don’t have a major public transit system, so getting used to the robust transit system, composed of trains, a metro line, ferries, and light rail, was definitely an adjustment. I only went the wrong way once! It was very nice because there was a metro station right next to campus, about a 15 min walk from my home, so it was very convenient to get to and from the inner city. 
The second thing I learned was that you need to channel your inner freshman at the beginning of your time abroad. I think it is safe to say that most freshmen bring their most enthusiastic and outgoing selves to the first couple of weeks at college, so that they can meet as many people as possible and hopefully find some great friends. The same can be said at the beginning of a study abroad experience. Especially in the first few days of being in Sydney, I pushed myself to be extra outgoing and made sure to participate in activities being held by the university. On one of my first days here, Macquarie University hosted a walking trip to a neighborhood called Chatswood. I made sure to sign up when I heard about it. And good thing I did, because I met the people who would end up being my best friends during my time here in Sydney!
Moving onto the third lesson, I came to realize that being homesick is very normal, and it can spring upon you when you least expect it. I would definitely call myself a homebody, so I was a little unsure about how homesick I would be during my time abroad. By building good routines and structure into my life in Sydney, I was able to combat a lot of homesickness. But that definitely does not mean that I never got homesick. I was homesick for a little while at the beginning of my time here. But as I got more comfortable with living abroad, the homesickness did decrease and only sprung up on me a few times. Despite the 17 hour time difference, I was able to call my family and text with my friends, which helped me feel less homesick. I was also fortunate to have great friends here to talk with, which also helped me to not feel as homesick.
The fourth lesson I learned was that you may have to adapt to the food options in your new country. Obviously, I should have expected this before coming to Sydney, but I did not realize the full extent of it until I arrived. Back home, my family and I usually shop at Aldi or Kroger. Here, I still shopped at Aldi (although they carry a lot of different items than in the States), but I also shopped at Woolworths and Coles. The prices here in Sydney, in my opinion, were very high. Because of this, I was not able to get all of the items I was used to getting at home. For example, I love fruit, however fruit here is very expensive. A bunch of bananas, for example, cost ten dollars here! So instead, I had to find alternatives, such as canned or frozen fruits and vegetables. But don’t let this deter you, because after a couple of weeks getting familiar with what the stores supply, I was able to adapt and build a great grocery list with items that were not only affordable, but also tasty!
And last, but certainly not least, do not be afraid to explore by yourself. I have heard a lot of people say that they do not want to go places by themselves. If that is your personality, then by all means that is okay! But for me, I think exploring by yourself gives you such freedom to plan a day that is fully catered to your interests! To stay safe while I ventured on my own, I made sure to tell my friends and some of my housemates where I was going. I also found it helpful to create a rough itinerary for the day so that I knew where and which buses/trains/ferries to take when I was traveling to and from the city. One of my favorite days was when I explored by myself. I went to the Circular Quay, where the Opera House is, I walked around the Sydney Botanic Gardens, I went to the Rocks Market, and I explored the Queen Victoria Building in the inner city! Not only did I have a great day exploring, but I was able to feel such a sense of accomplishment that I navigated the city and public transportation by myself. While I love exploring Sydney with my friends, I also think that exploring by yourself gives you a unique opportunity to customize your day in whatever way you want!
All in all, I would highly, highly recommend appreciating all of the time you have abroad and soaking up every ounce of life abroad! As I said, these past five months have flown by and I cannot believe that I will be heading back to the US in the next few weeks. Thank you so much for following along with my adventures, and I really hope that you decide to study abroad, because trust me, it really will be a life changing experience. Best of luck on finishing the semester and your exams – you are almost there! Go Vols!