No Such Thing as Free Wi-Fi

February 23, 2017

Figuring out what sort of data and international phone plan to use while abroad was something that had been stressing me out for weeks before coming to Australia. However, it all worked out in the end. I came over here with two phones: one, which I had recently updated to, and another older one that I had been using for several years. The thought process was that I would use my newer one for music and social media when I had access to Wi-Fi, and I would get an international SIM card to put in my older phone so that I would be able to have data. This would be the phone that I would use when I was traveling or going out at night, and would use to communicate with any new friends that I made while over here. I got the data plan and new SIM card for my phone at the airport as soon as I landed in Brisbane. It cost 60 AUD to get 20GB of data for a year. This plan also came with the opportunity to recharge and add more data to the plan if you should run out (something that I would definitely need to do as I wouldn’t be able to have constant access to Wi-Fi when traveling).

So far, after being in Australia for almost a month I’ve used up 10GB of data as this country doesn’t have a lot of free Wi-Fi and the Internet at the university tends to not always be working. Luckily for us students, even though the Internet can be slow and fades out at different areas around campus, there is still access to computers, Internet via Ethernet cable, and printers, in the library.

Claire Celestin

I am a premedical student interested in pursuing medical school after I obtain my undergraduate degree, and in my past few years at Northeastern University, it seems that I have gotten stuck in a routine of sorts. My days consisted of classes, volunteering, and studying in Snell library until I could not hold my eyes open anymore. Although all of this studying did allow me to maintain a high GPA, I have begun to feel trapped. Growing up, I had always dreamt of traveling, exploring, and immersing myself in different cultures and ways of living. I wanted to join the Peace Corps, build houses with Habitat for Humanity, and volunteer as a medical provider in impoverished countries. These are all things that I still want to do. My post graduate plans all point towards medical school and becoming a health care provider where I intend to serve not only those in the United States, but most importantly those areas where good doctors and health care are hard to come by. I believe that this study abroad opportunity will be a stepping stone into my future of world travel. I intend to take advantage of every opportunity that is presented to me while I am abroad. I will say yes to sky diving, snorkeling, and hiking into beautiful sunsets. In between all of that I will also try not to scream when facing Australia’s notorious gigantic spiders. I hope to travel around Australia every chance that I get, take surfing lessons, wake up in time for the sunrises on the Gold Coast, and still ace all of my exams. I intend to say yes to all of these experiences and more and upon my return I then want to share my experience with other students like myself. I want to show other students like me, who are afraid to push the rigid boundaries of pre medical studies that it is okay to take a break from the pressures that they have set upon themselves.