Sarah's Expectations

At this point, I am not really sure what to expect, mostly because there are so many elements to this adventure beyond just an internship. I've never travelled outside the U.S. (besides Canada and a cruise in the Bahamas). So, that alone is a huge thing to contend with. Luckily, we'll be arriving in Sydney the week before our internships actually begin. I'm hoping that will give us time to get our bearings, acclimate to our new living environment, go grocery shopping, figure out our laundry situation (we'll have a washer, but no dryer, haha), recover from our 15-hour jet-lagged flight, and of course, get used to the 14 hour time difference! That's a lot to do before we set foot on the campus of Macquarie University.

My hope for the next 3 months is that I can immerse myself into a new culture, and really grab hold of its uniqueness. I am extremely excited that I'll be working in the International Student Services Office at Macquarie University. I can't imagine a better working environment for...an international student! Not only will I be interacting with Australian students, I will also be working with college students from all over the world. I look forward to learning a new work environment and seeing how student affairs in Australia compares to student affairs here in the U.S.

And then there's the whole other side of this adventure - living in Sydney! I can't wait to visit all of those places that I've only ever seen in picture or on TV. The Sydney Opera House, the Blue Mountains, Bondi Beach, Sydney Harbor, etc. We'll be sure to post lots of pictures!

Okay, back to organizing and packing I go...