And so the countdown begins...only one week left until I land in Sydney, Australia!! I’ve been waiting for this moment for nearly 4 years now. Ever since I started college, I knew I wanted to study abroad prior to graduation. Sure, I could have closed my eyes, thrown a dart on a map, and left the destination all up to chance, but I wanted to be a little more strategic and thought out than that. So what made me decide on Australia? Well, for starters it’s the only country where you can play with koala bears, go snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef, and watch an opera at one of the world’s most famous performing arts centers all within the span of a week.
The University of Maryland offers a 3-credit course in Sydney with a focus on Australian theatre, music, and dance. As a singer (member of Anokha, UMD’s South Asian a capella group), dancer (member of Moksha, UMD’s Indian classical dance team), pianist, and former College Park Arts Scholar, I knew this study abroad course would resonate with my interests and be the opportunity of a lifetime. I’d get to fuel my passion for fine arts, learn about Australian history and culture, and enjoy the perks of the great outdoors. I’m also given a chance to travel to Cairns for a few days upon completion of the 3-week course. Deemed the second biggest tourist hot spot to the capitol, Cairns is where skydiving is a popular pastime. That’s been on my bucket list for a long time so I can’t wait to challenge my fears and get a bird’s eye view of the world from mid-air!
Till date I’ve led a somewhat sheltered life but have been extremely fortunate to have supportive parents who have encouraged me to take on various challenges as far as extracurricular activities and part-time jobs are concerned. I have never lived on my own (where I’m unable to take undue advantage of my mom and dad doing my laundry or preparing packaged meals for me to take back to campus). My family and I have been living in the same townhome where I was born for the past twenty-one years and since the University of Maryland is a mere thirty minutes away, I’ve gotten accustomed to being part of a small community with my childhood friends and relatives close by. I am ready to challenge myself, be removed from my comfort zone, and thrive in all that’s unknown.
I yearn to assume more responsibility in my life and believe self-sufficiency is what makes one truly independent. I am aware that living abroad involves even greater challenges but it also allows a person to broaden their horizons, take on new perspectives, immerse themselves in a foreign culture, and become a citizen of the world. Instead of being fearful or trying to conjure up shortcuts, I want to put myself out there and take the plunge (quite literally when I’m in Cairns). I have full confidence that I’ll make the most of my international experience in Australia and will evolve and mature in a matter of a month. I look forward to forging new friendships, trying new foods, exploring the sights, and feeling completely fulfilled on my own merit. But most of all, I look forward to spending my winter break during Australia’s summer season and being far away from the DC area and its unbearable, freezing temperatures.
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