Jetlagged, exhausted, and overwhelmed I arrived at Monash University on Saturday, having left Boston on Thursday. I spent my first couple days in Melbourne setting myself up with necessities and attempting to acclimate to the time change. On Monday and Tuesday there were information sessions giving us some basic information about life in Australia, or “Straya,” life as a Monash student, and how to navigate both the city and our time in Melbourne. Most of the other activities put on during the first week of Orientation were actually social events. One night we went to the Eureka Skydeck. From the 88th floor, there are breathtaking views of the city bustling with activity at night. Another day, we went to the Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary, where we were able to see kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, dingos, fascinating birds of prey, and many other native animals. As the drinking age in Australia is 18, many of the evening events generally included dinner and a bar and/or club. These events were very helpful in meeting new people and making friends.
The following week, the school and my dorm put on a number of events and activities designed to help us meet new people and become acquainted with campus. Since none of these events were compulsory, a friend of mine from Northeastern and I decided to take a trip up to the Gold Coast. We spent 5 days relaxing on the beach and taking in the views. I hadn’t properly prepared for how cold and windy it is so I welcomed the short break from the weather in chilly Melbourne.
In my two weeks in Australia, I have certainly noticed some differences from life back at home. First and foremost, they drive on the other side of the road here and the driver is situated on the right of the car. This proves difficult when crossing the street, especially while running. In addition, because they drive on the other side of the road, they also walk on the other side of the sidewalk. I have also had difficulty adjusting to this. This also means that when on an escalator, those choosing to remain stationary stand on the left while those wishing to pass do so on the right. I learned this the hard way when a lady yelled at me in the train station for having been standing on the right.
As a result of the 14-hour time difference, on my second morning in Melbourne, I woke up at 4 am to dark skies. As the sun began to rise, I saw hot-air balloons floating through the sky and thought about how lucky I am to be here.
