City Sceptic to Aussie Enthusiast: Lulu’s reflections on her semester abroad in Melbourne

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Thursday 31 October 2024

Lulu is a fourth-year geography and sustainable development student, who studied abroad in Melbourne last semester. Hear from Lulu as she highlights the profound impacts of living in a vibrant city, which challenged her prior assumptions about urban life. She emphasises the importance of embracing new environments and the invaluable experiences that studying abroad can offer. Hear her thoughts about the stunning campus, diverse cultures and unique opportunities for exploration, as well as the emotional challenges of having to leave such a special place behind!

Having never lived in a city before, Lulu embarked on a journey to Melbourne last semester for her study abroad adventure! When chatting with Lulu about her experiences and why she chose Melbourne, she emphasised the opportunities that studying abroad had provided her with. Most significantly, it allowed her to live somewhere completely different and experience things she would otherwise never have had the opportunity to do!

“I’d never lived in a city before. It was so different to St. Andrews that I just wanted to have that different kind of living experience”.

Melbourne City Skyline

Lulu discusses her experiences of urban life and the cultural offerings Melbourne possesses. From stunning architecture, a thriving arts and music scene and world-class teaching, Lulu embraced every opportunity for exploration and discovery. She reflects on the high standard of teaching at the University of Melbourne, the stunning campus and the beauty of the city:

“The campus was really beautiful… and I really enjoyed the teaching standards there. There was so much you could do… it was just a really beautiful place to discover”.

University Campus

Elaborating on her experiences outside of academia and the city generally, she discussed her most memorable moments in Melbourne, which for her was the Great Ocean Road trip. She reflected on the incredible landscapes and wildlife that she got to see whilst on her travels:

Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road

“It kind of felt like a complete out of body experience, being out there and the realization that I was actually doing something I never thought I would”.

The ability to travel whilst undertaking a semester abroad is one of the many benefits students reflect on when they return home, but studying abroad isn’t always easy! Lulu discusses how exciting it is to go to the other side of the world, have an incredible experience and meet amazing new people, but importantly she acknowledges the hardships that come with these experiences and the bittersweet pang of departure:

“I think no one really prepares you for how hard it is to leave…”

Studying abroad does in fact come with its challenges! Saying goodbye to friends and close connections you forge over a short period of time can be difficult. This has certainly shaped Lulu’s advice to other students heading abroad in the future!

“I’d say to everyone to enjoy every second and make the most of your time with the people that you meet!”

Cherishing every moment is an important part of studying abroad, things can get tough but there are so many incredible opportunities on offer, and expanding your horizons can have a profound impact on you! Lulu stresses this when she discusses her plans post-graduation and how studying abroad has changed her thoughts and feelings about living in a city.

“I think I was always very set on not living in a city, but having this experience has really changed my opinion of it…I want to go back to Australia”.

And there we have it, an entire semester summarised in one blog post! Initially hesitant about city living, Lulu found herself captivated by Melbourne’s vibrant energy and Victoria’s diverse landscapes. Her reflections describe a transformative experience, reshaping her perspectives about city living and a newfound appreciation for Australia. An experience so profound, Lulu’s Australian adventure wasn’t just a study abroad program, it was a journey of self-discovery and transformative adventures, leaving an undeniable yearning to return to the land down under!

Thank you to Lulu for sharing her experience with us. You can hear more about student experiences abroad in the Global Education section of our blog!

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