From Cairns to Sydney: My First Steps into Studying Abroad
- Ashley Chittum
- 8 hours ago
- 4 min read
Hi there! My name is Ashley Chittum and I am studying abroad this semester in Sydney, Australia. My first steps in Australia took place in Cairns during orientation. As part of my study abroad program, WorldStrides, we spent five days in Cairns learning about the culture, lifestyle, and atmosphere of Australia all while fighting the jet lag of a 16-hour flight. Here is my experience from my first days in Australia.
Flying Alone
Despite being twenty years old, I’d never flown alone prior to this trip. Heading to the airport and saying my final goodbyes was no easy trek. Even worse was sitting alone in the airport realizing the adventure that I was about to embark on. But the experience really wasn’t that bad. The flight to Cairns was a long one with two layovers and over twenty hours spent in the air. My best advice was to plan out time to sleep on the plane. I may have watched five movies during the flight, but I also took six hours to sleep (as comfortably as I could). My other piece of advice: chat with others. You’d be surprised how a small conversation can make loneliness go away. I met several great people during my flights who all spoke words of encouragement and advice for some of the “must see” items in Australia. A Canadian couple in the Dallas airport revealed how they met in Sydney many years ago. A mother who shared my row on my international flight spoke about her work with an Australian company and collaborating as the head of the American branch. My row buddy on my final flight to Cairns shared his experience growing up in New Zealand and how he now enjoys living and working in Brisbane. The journey is just as important as the adventure and the people that you meet along the way can make it that much better.
Welcome to Cairns
When my feet were on solid ground again, I was finally able to take in where I was. Cairns, a small city in Queensland, provides the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and a city that rests along the ocean with beautiful views stretching for miles. After arriving at the hotel, I took a long walk along the boardwalk to stretch my legs and enjoy the growing excitement for the adventures that were yet to come. Things can move very quickly, but it is important to take time to realize where you are and how far you have already come.
Making Friends
I was surprised to realize that my orientation group was only made up of twenty-two students (one of whom is a fellow Gamecock!) It is intimidating at first, getting off the plane and immediately trying to make new friends and meet the people that you may be spending the next semester with. It is important to just be you. Friendships take time, but those first few days are the best time to meet as many people as possible and find those who you connect with. Orientation was a great time to get to know others while embarking on adventures together.
Adventures in Cairns
Despite being a small city, we kept ourselves quite entertained. Our first big day started out with a “wildlife experience” at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventure where we took a boat around crocodile infested waters, held a baby crocodile and black-headed snake, and watched a zookeeper fend for his life against the most aggressive of the crocodiles. The best part was discovering the kangaroo exhibit where we fed and hugged the kangaroos while feeling guilty about what we would be doing in a few days (you’ll see). Next, we took a boat ride to a small island to be welcomed into the country by a local aboriginal tribe. Australia is known for the hundreds of indigenous tribes whose roots run deep in the soil. We hopped on a boat with family members of the Mandingalbay tribe who educated us on the history of the tribe and the land. They showed us old weapons that were used to hunt with and instruments (such as the didgeridoo) that were used for entertainment and storytelling. The most iconic day in Cairns was traveling to the Great Barrier Reef. A (very long) boat ride brought us to the middle of the ocean where we were suited up in swim gear and swam out into the ocean. The snorkeling was like no other. Fish swam close by and the vibrant colors of the coral below filled the ocean floor with a rainbow of colors. Some members of our group saw sharks and turtles. If you ever visit Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef is a must.
On our last day we enjoyed free time, exploring how we’d like. Some of my new friends and I borrowed bikes and pedaled up to the botanical gardens to enjoy the vibrant flowers and trees in the Cairns rainforest. Then we headed back to town to grab lunch and go swimming in the large, local pool that was situated just beside the main street that overlooked the ocean. That night we had our final dinner before we departed the next day. Most of us branched out and tried something new on the menu… Kangaroo (I know, I’m sorry). It was very tasty!
Shipping out to Sydney
Like all great things, orientation had come to an end. Despite being sad about leaving the small city that we had grown fond of, we were excited to see the new place that would be our home for the next four months. I can’t wait to see all that Sydney has to offer! I hope you follow along with my adventures and learn something new along the way!
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