The Beginning: Observations in Tassie
After almost two full days of traveling, we finally reached Hobart, Tasmania. Right off the bat, the cold hit me like a slap in the face. Compared to Boston winters it wasn’t nearly as horrible, but going from 80 degree weather to 40 degrees is pretty hard to be prepared for! The airport in Hobart was very small, so small that it took a staircase to get down from the plane on the runway. Departures and arrivals were on the same floor as baggage claim and transportation. Once we got outside it was already dark, which is something we hadn’t seen in a long time. It was only 5 PM and it felt like it was already midnight. Jet lagged, hungry, and probably smelly, we made our way towards the hostel which was about a half hour from the airport.
Something I noticed immediately was that there was a different type of politeness in the air here. Everyone that welcomed me did so warmly, and was genuinely happy that I was here. People that I would interact with at coffee shops or convenience stores said that I was the one with the accent! One of the first things we did the next morning was drive around South Hobart to see breathtaking views of the water. The air smelled clear and crisp, so different from the air in most suburbs from the US. This was only the first beautiful view we saw, and everyone was instantly hooked on Tasmania’s scenery. Adding onto the early sunsets, the business of Tasmania caught me by surprise. When the sun goes down, most things close. Downtown goes from bright and buzzing to dark and quiet shuffling. This was definitely something that we’d all have to get used to.
Staying in a hostel was something I hadn’t experienced before. Set breakfast, lunch, dinner times with bedding, towels, and a whole lot of younger children. Springvale hostel is a sort of boarding school for girls and boys ages 14 through university students. Eating meals with 14 year old girls was interesting, but it was a great way to learn about each other’s respective countries. In exchange for information about bus passes and the best places to eat, I would tell them about what we’re doing here and different American traditions. Bob, the head administrator, briefed us on some common things that are done here in Australia. The list went on and on: thongs were flip-flops; tipping was not a required service; the phrase “it’s alright” substitutes “you’re welcome”; you drive on the left side of the road.
After having an introduction done by our professor about the courses we would be taking, our group of 16 exhausted yet eager students went to bed. From here, we were ready to begin our experience in Tasmania!
