When deciding where to study abroad I knew I wanted to go as far away as I could from home! Melbourne is the most beautiful city I have ever visited. The process of getting there and accustomed to my classes and lifestyle was easy for me. There wasn't any time where I felt like I didn't have someone there for me. My advisors In Australia and at home continued to be there for me when I reached out.

Studying at Deakin gave me the chance to take incredible hands-on media courses and even experience the process of live television production. The combination of academic support, creative opportunities, and the welcoming culture in Melbourne made this program truly unforgettable. I left feeling more confident, independent, and inspired than when I arrived, and I’d recommend this experience to anyone looking for a meaningful, immersive study abroad journey.

Also, there were many times where I did things alone and thought I was doing something wrong, but that is further from the truth. I didn't limit my daily activities because a friend was busy, I did it anyways and always met someone new and overall felt more confident.

I had an incredible experience in Australia. I made so many friends and experienced so much around Australia. The housing made it easy to hang out with friends and meet new people. Also the trip offered to study abroad students in the beginning of our time there was a great way to meet everyone. Academically I took electives which were okay. I did not really like the actual education that Deakin offered. But, for me the experience in Australia was the most important part and I had an amazing time.

I had the time of my life at Deakin in Melbourne while getting to travel all over Australia & other places. The people are amazing the campus is beautiful. The classes are interesting & I learned so much as an exchange student. I miss it everyday I would give anything to go back! I lived off campus in the international house which was walking distance to Deakin & I met the most amazing people! I also had friends on campus and the accommodations were very nice & incorporated student life and engagement. There was constantly fun activities, parties & events planned for us as students to get us acclimated and meet new people. It was amazing.

My time at Deakin was the best four and a half months of my life. The university was great and they provided so many resources and a lot of support. My courses we’re great and so were my teachers. I loved Australia so much and I met some life long friends. I’m so thankful for my experience and would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I learned so much about myself and others, more than I could have imagined. I would love to move back here because I loved it so much. If you have the opportunity to go to Australia, do not hesitate!!

You Know You Studied Abroad in Melbourne When..

1. If you're from the U.S., you may have found your right hand sneaking to your heart, while singing the Australian national anthem at any given event. You tried to stop it, but it was too late. Everybody knows your secret.. You're American.
2. You’ve learned that the same rules for passing cars, apply to passing people: on the left. Otherwise you’ll do that awkward little apologetic shuffle dance with every person you cross paths with.
3. You acknowledge and respect that Melbourne weathermen and women have the hardest job in the world. They can only predict the psycho weather to some degree. Literally.
4. You've realized they don't make it easy to gracefully acquire a kid's meal when on a weekend travel budget. Example: my last food money-saving endeavor came in a cardboard box shaped like a barn.
5. You have to wonder who sat down one day and wrote the rules for footy.. “And they shall switch sides every quarter, wear short shorts and no protective gear, and they’ll have to pass..no, dribble the football-shaped ball every fifteen meters. Perfect.”
But of course you love the sport just as much as everyone else.
6. You’ve gotten used to eating gravy on just about everything and would like to request that you be buried in a gravy-filled grave when that day comes… a grave-y.
7. You're all too familiar with that musical chairs- like frenzy on the bus, when everyone boarding knows it's about to start moving. They're forced to either brace for impact, or launch themselves towards the nearest chair, and be forced to sit in it faster than a person should ever try to sit, when the bus makes it's jump to light speed.
8. You know what it's like to get carpal tunnel in your toes from walking on the beach for too long.
9. The only constant in your exercise routine is running to catch the tram.
10. If you went to Deakin, and lived in MC more specifically, you may have said the following to yourself several times: "It's quiet. Too quiet." *Fire alarm goes off* "Ah, I thought so."
11. You've realized Aus is like a geographically reverse California, with the best beaches up north, the more liberal people further south, less people and less politics in general, and therefore, more chill.
12. You've stayed in more hostels in the last 4 months than the rest of your life combined, and you've changed as a result. You've seen things you can't explain and things you can, but would rather suppress.
13. You miss Aus a lot when you go home, but let’s face it, home wasn’t the same without you. You’ve been singing a lot of Adele out loud to yourself, with extra soul, so it’s safe to say you’re coping with the adjustment pretty well. And in all fairness, it’s nice to have outlets that fit your plugs again.

A link to my blog, while studying abroad: http://blogs.gcu.edu/blog/category/study-abroad/