May 31st, 2018
Fifteenth Week in Perth, Australia:
This week has proven itself to be much better than the last two weeks. I’ve been working really hard to stay motivated on my final two assessments, and I’m proud to say it’s starting to pay off! Tonight, after my residence’s end of semester carnival, I’ll take a shower, put my pajamas on, and settle down to finish this week’s first assessment. It shouldn’t be too bad considering I’m almost done, however, I still have to edit it and incorporate three additional references. Hopefully it won’t be too hard and I’ll finally be able to get some sleep tonight!
I’m also looking forward to an eventful weekend with a couple of my mates. Tomorrow, my friend, Jordan, had invited me to meet a couple of her flat mates and celebrate prior to heading over to Curtin University’s End of Semester Bash. She had further mentioned potentially going out to the city afterward and attending an event she had found through Facebook. Either way, it should be a blast and I’m looking forward to meeting new people. On Saturday, my friend, Taylor, and I will be partaking in a wine tour around Swan Valley. I’m not a huge fan of wine, however, I’m open to experiencing something new! It will also be a great opportunity for me to strengthen my connection with Taylor.
I’m also looking forward to an eventful weekend with a couple of my mates. Tomorrow, my friend, Jordan, had invited me to meet a couple of her flat mates and celebrate prior to heading over to Curtin University’s End of Semester Bash. She had further mentioned potentially going out to the city afterward and attending an event she had found through Facebook. Either way, it should be a blast and I’m looking forward to meeting new people. On Saturday, my friend, Taylor, and I will be partaking in a wine tour around Swan Valley. I’m not a huge fan of wine, however, I’m open to experiencing something new! It will also be a great opportunity for me to strengthen my connection with Taylor.
Tell us about a challenge you faced while studying abroad, how did you overcome it?
One challenge I’ve faced while studying abroad is an oscillating capacity of homesickness. Following my first week in Australia, I noticed I had become incredibly homesick. I missed the comfort of my family, pets, and even the subtle reassurance of being in a familiar environment. As I began to make friends and assessments had advanced, I found myself barely even thinking of home. There would be weeks in which I would receive little to no contact from my family, however, my confidence remained in knowing that they still missed me. Unfortunately, as my departure to the states becomes closer, my homesickness elevates considerably. It’s almost like with every text message and FaceTime call I receive from them, it gets harder and harder to stay motivated here. Other pressures, such as the drama surrounding my little sister’s behavior and other complicated family relations, further augment my desire to be with my family. Recently, I would say I have come to accept that I only have a month left until I am reunited with my family. This has changed my focus from anticipating my arrival in the states, to brainstorming other activities I could do while still being here. If anyone following this post has any advice, please feel free to send me a message!
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