I think one difficulty I found was the grading system in comparison to Rollins. Especially as grades are coming in at the end of the semester. Especially since the grading scale of high distinction at University of Sydney is viewed at publishable. Adjustment is always required when moving to a new place especially when you…
Category: Australia: TEAN at Sydney
Blog Prompt #2 – USYD
Due to the cultures being similar in music and language I have not experienced extreme culture shock. Also, American politics is often a topic of discussion. The accent is different than America but overall I have not felt like I am on the other side of the globe. They have different slang words, and the…
Letters to America – Before AUS
Hi everyone! My name is Noelle and I am a computer science and communication studies double major. When I decided to attend Rollins I knew that I wanted to study abroad. I was determined, for instance, freshman year I walked into the study abroad office and wanted to go abroad then, thankfully they don’t allow…
Goodbye Australia!!!
I am saying goodbye to this amazing country where I was able to call home for the (almost) two months I was there. Thinking about my thoughts before I came here, I can now say that everything went as expected. I did not have any problems making friends. The opposite happened. I made these huge…
Pre-departure post: Australia here I go!!!
I am writing this blog eight days before arriving in Cairns for orientation. I am flying to LA in four days and I am really excited and nervous at the same time. I remember a year ago I was planning and thinking about studying abroad and what I was going to do when doing it….
Post-Trip Reflection: Leaving One Home for Another
It has been some time since I returned to the Sunshine State after my unforgettable semester in Sydney. A wave of humidity hit my face as I exited my plane, letting me know that I was finally home. Now, as I read my first blog post, I realize that the Cristina who arrived in Sydney…
Blog Post #3: Sydney, My Second Home by Cristina Toppin
I am writing this blog post in late October, with only weeks to go until I fly back to Florida. As my departure date steadily approaches, I constantly feel a mixture of anxiety and excitement. I am excited to finally see my friends and family after five long months, what feels like an eternity compared…
Blog Post #2: Sand, Sun, and Shaking Up My Routine by Cristina Toppin
I am currently sitting in a hammock outside a hostel in Byron Bay, a Sydneysider getaway located along Australia’s Gold Coast. (Fun fact: The Hemsworth family owns an estate on Byron Bay, and many exchange students have reported Hemsworth sightings during their stays here.) It is exactly 9:00 AM. I’m on mid-semester break, and, after…
Blog Post #1: When You Wish Upon a Star by Cristina Toppin
I bought an overpriced journal at the mall by my apartment today. Why? Because I just had the most magical weekend ever. Was it because of the shooting star that I saw at Sawmillers Reserve, a secluded point which overlooks the Sydney Harbour? I caved into my superstitions and immediately wished upon the star to…
I’m Going to a Land Down Under!
This is the year of racking up miles and boarding passes. I explored Namibia for ten days through Rollins’ summer field study program and delivered my collaborative research on African textiles in Minnesota. Now, I am about to embark on a cross-continental journey yet again. My days will consist of unlimited sunlight, warm yet breezy…