Thomas's Exchange to Northern Arizona University | USA
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| Photo from https://nau.edu/campus-life/ |
It was the best of times, it was the... No. I'm not going to start like that.
Going on exchange could very well have been the worst thing I've ever decided to do. Not because the experience was bad, quite the opposite in fact, but because of how unprepared I was for the administrative side of the exchange.
The problems started with the units involved I my double major. Cyber Forensics isn't exactly a well established field which meant any late-degree exchange I would want to do ended up extending my degree. To avoid that I had exactly 30 days from when I fully decided to go for it and the application closing date during which I would have to plan my remaining semesters, find units to match my units here and secure financial support.
Time was my enemy with both deadlines and time zones working against me.
Somehow, I managed it; with about a day to spare, I had enough information, agreements with my unit coordinators and a study schedule that kept me on my three year course.
Unfortunately, between my application submission and completing my exchange, I ran into plenty of (read as every possible) challenges that could come from the experience. My list includes visas and passports, unit and administrative changes and surprisingly another exchange student with my name.
There were times when these issues made me feel like bailing on the program. But I never did because I knew they were temporary and could be overcome if I wanted to do so. In the end, not only am I glad I didn't stop, but I impressed myself with my determination for something that I'm passionate for.
That's just the beginning of my experience. Here's where it gets going.
After finishing off my first year at Murdoch, I immediately embarked on exchange, even though it didn't start for another six weeks. During this time, I started getting used to being self-sufficient through places I never expected to get to like Madrid, Montreal and New Orleans.
Everything was going great. I made friends the world over, enjoying the similarities and differences between Australia and America until one day I started missing my family and friends who were now half a world away.
This overwhelming feeling of isolation scared me because this wasn't my first solo adventure, nor was it my first extended separation from everyone back home. When they told us it would happen I was like “Pfft. I've done this before, I won't be affected.” After the fear had settled in and gave me time to process it, I realised what was different this time was that I hadn't messaged them. That first message from my mum sent the aloneness packing.
While I was there I promised to myself I would try new things.
I took it a step at a time trying new foods and experiences that seem normal to most people for the first time. Most of them were positive and expanded my boundaries. Like seriously, before this, I wouldn't even try Chinese food or go to a karaoke bar. No joke. This trip pushed me into situations I couldn't escape by avoiding and I'm sure I'm a more adventurous person for it.
The most unexpected thing I did on this trip was to go out clubbing in New Orleans. It was interesting because daytime NOLA (Their acronym, not mine) and night time NOLA are two opposites. During the day, it's like a seaside village with a relaxed vibe and slow pace. When the sun's gone down it comes to life with parties spilling onto the street.
I should probably discuss Northern Arizona University at some point.
NAU is a chill campus; I mean that in both the literal and the slang senses of the word. During the Summer and fall, the lawns are a great place to rest, recover, study or play and I took advantage of this on a few occasions when assignments were getting me down. The rest of the time, they're only good for play. Specifically building snowmen and other related activities.
Being in my first snowfall was amazing. The world changes with snow and even photos don't do the change justice.
Everything about studying at NAU is reasonably similar to being at Murdoch. Large lectures but small tutorials and labs, professors who know their stuff, mandatory attendance unless you're self studying and a variety of assessments through the semester. The only notable difference was that they don't have study breaks during the semester while I was there.
During my semester, three things stood out above all else that I'm sure to remember forever. Homecoming carnival, viewing the galaxy through the campus telescope and falling on my ass because of ice that I didn't see.
While not all good memories, they all helped with perspective on my life, the exchange and the world in general.
While it looked like the worst decision I could have ever made, going on exchange, due to all the frustration and stress it put me through, I feel like it is the best thing I could have done; it has made me look at myself and think critically about what I can and can't do, what I'm willing to go through for something beneficial solely to myself and a greater confidence which will have a positive impact across all aspects of my life until I die. On top of that, the friends I've made will be life long, just like the things I saw and did.
I would love to do my entire degree as a collection of semesters abroad at different universities in different countries to get to taste everything the world has to offer, but that is not feasible so I'll be content with what I've gotten to do so far and aim for a career which allows me to live around the globe instead.
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