Get to know Molly

Left: July 20, 2012
Returning: Dec. 3, 2012
Location: Sydney, Australia
Exhcange University: Macquarie University
Year in School: Senior
Major: Mass Communications (minoring in Womens Studies)
Hometown: Port Saint Lucie, Fla.

Entry No. 6 | Oct. 17, 2012

Living in Florida my whole life, I have been seriously deprived of seeing the seasons change. Like most Floridians, I make a big deal about it because there truly is something special about watching nature change and we miss out every year. But, I did get pictures of campus during winter and now, since we are in spring in Sydney. I have finally gotten to see the seasons drastically change. Had to travel a few thousand miles to see it.

So now that the weather is warming up we went to the world famous Bondi Beach again! Unknowingly, we went on the one day that there was a random cold front so it didn't make for a good beach day whatsoever unless you were trying to become an ice block. We did find a great bookstore called Gertrude and Alice. It has all sorts of used books and is crowded and cramped and smells like pure espresso. When you walk in the store, hanging to the right is a shirt for sale with Vladimir Nabokov's name and the cover of "Lolita." I knew it was going to be a great bookstore to waste a lot of time in right after we walked in. I picked up the book "Paris" by Julien Green and was truly unable to put it down. It is translated from French and so basically it is a huge beautiful poem. The whole point of the story is about getting lost in a city and learning about yourself and the city. It was a steep $22 so I didn't buy it because food, drinks and bus fare is more important, unfortunately. I really am regretting not buying the book because I have been searching for it ever since and two libraries and three different bookstores only have the French version. I guess I have to get back to Bondi on a cold day and sit in the bookstore for hours again.

There is always a new adventure here and always something we haven't done before. It is hard to do the same thing twice which is ironically part of what the book talked about. It kind of acted as a reminder that even if I'm tired or its not perfect weather out, it is still so essential that I go explore Sydney because my time here is so limited.

-Molly

 

Entry No. 5 | Oct. 14, 2012

I think the last time I was ever called out in class for having the highest grade was over a year ago in an intro media class. I have really been stressing out about these assignments and grades, because like I said in a previous post, school is hard here! But I was called out in class today for having the best essay out of the whole class with the highest grade. I think this is my favorite academic moment to date, because I have really been feeling less smart than many of my classmates. Sometimes it is because I don't know what current Australian event they are talking about or other times I don't feel like I have anything to contribute to the discussion especially when it has to do with theory and philosophy. This was exactly what I needed for a boost of confidence and I am so proud of myself for getting the highest grade!

This past Saturday, Tory and I went on a pub crawl with the exchange students club, called Club Ex. We went to pubs and bars around The Rocks, which is next to the Sydney Harbor and the opera house. We went in Sydney's oldest pub, I believe it was called Fortune of War, and was established early to mid 1800s. We had such a great time with all the other exchange students. We talked and danced over drinks, but I couldn't help but think about how many things must have happened in those very old pubs. I then found out that many of the places in The Rocks are thought to be haunted and have some very weird ghost stories attached to them. Even the streets and ally ways of The Rocks have little descriptions about the stories. We also saw a guy that either naturally looked like Edgar Allen Poe or was dressed up like him carrying around a lantern telling ghost stories. So, I did the tourist thing and took a picture at one of the signs that says "The Rocks" and, of course, there are four orbs in the picture! No other pictures from my camera have ever had this happened to them. It is all in fun, but who knows maybe the stories are real!

-Molly

 

Entry No. 4 | Oct. 12, 2012

As an extracurricular activity, Macquarie University offers a program for both international and local students called the Global Leadership Program. It appears on your transcripts and you have to take a certain number of sessions combined with different volunteering opportunities to receive certification from the program. Some of the sessions I chose to attend were on Aboriginal Australians, reducing your carbon footprint and the most useful and definitely my favorite was business etiquette. Haven't you ever wondered which piece of silverware was appropriate in formal dining for a certain dish? Yeah, well I have always considered paying for an etiquette course because I have always been so confused when it comes to formal dining. I learned how to introduce people and who has precedence during introductions. Basically, I learned about all the things that make or break you when it comes to finding a job or internship and you're still in college or a recent graduate. I am so happy I was able to take this course. It was truly an eye opener and it is refreshing to learn something BRAND NEW, especially when concepts and courses can get repetitive the further you get into your degree.

Recently, I have been building a new resume and looking into internships for the spring in Tampa. I also have had to e-mail advisors and start looking at classes and really preparing myself for next spring. It has been interesting to see how even though thousands of miles away, I am still so connected to my life at home. It truly feels like I pressed pause and will be back to pick up where I left off. I have definitely had to find a balance within the past week or two with home life and my life here at Macquarie in Sydney. It is easy to get caught up in both and ignore the other, which can be really bad. These are the times I have really had to grow up and take responsibility in creating my own experiences and future. Studying abroad is just a trip full of life lessons.

-Molly

 

Entry No. 3 | Oct. 8, 2012

In the pre-departure sessions before I left for Sydney, I learned a lot about the stages of culture shock. It goes something like the Honeymoon phase, Negotiation phase, Adjustment phase and the Mastery phase. I'm not really sure where I fall on this scale, because every day it feels a bit different. And don't think that just because we crossed the world to an English speaking country means we can understand what people are saying. Australians most definitely have their own language. Nothing makes you feel more like an outsider than not being able to understand what someone is saying to you, especially when it is in English, just not the way you're used to. I asked for French Fries the other day at a café at the ferry wharf. The guy had no idea what I was talking about. I'm not even really sure why I called it French Fries, but after a minute or two and the help of another customer I realized what I wanted was "hot chips," which are fries. Then he asked me if I wanted plain salt or chicken salt on my chips and then I didn't know what he was talking about! Little things like this happen all the time and remind me that I am American and still a little bit of an outsider.

But, back to culture shock, the Mastery phase is when you feel like you fit in, you can call this place your home and you feel connected to the culture and "a part of." I was really starting to feel this way until the middle of September. On Sept. 15, there were violent riots at Hyde Park and Martin Place, which is where we were just hours before. The riots were associated with the ones that killed Christopher Stevens, a U.S. Ambassador, as well as the other anti-American riots that broke out in major cities all around the world. We were advised by USF, the U.S. and Australia to stay away from the city and avoid wearing clothing that associates us with the U.S. I have NEVER felt unsafe because I was American at any time in my life. Feeling the very real threat of violence was a very life-changing experience. Not only did it, sadly, make me feel less a part of the culture here, it really put things into perspective for me. I live in a country where I am free and hate crimes are illegal. I never thought that I would ever feel unsafe for being American. And I would bet many other Americans feel that way too, and it really is quite arrogant and ignorant. I have learned about unearned privilege and differences in women's studies classes all through college. But after I actually was put in the position that many people from all kinds of backgrounds and places are put in in a daily basis, my world has truly changed. I am fortunate that out of this situation I was able to learn a lesson that impacted me so greatly. Experiences like this are why I truly decided to study abroad. I only hope that I can use this experience in a positive way, not only for myself, but for all students, both international and American, at USF.

-Molly

 

Entry No. 2 | Oct. 6, 2012

Before I left for Australia, many people, including advisers and teachers, told me that I should prepare myself for a more challenging curriculum. Currently I am taking 9 credit hours through Macquarie University. My classes include Queer Theory, Reading Gender in Everyday Life and Media Identities.

I have no exams this semester and all three classes have only about three assignments, each which are heavily weighted. The whole class structure is different because you meet for a lecture and then go to a tutorial, equivalent to a lab, and it is only once a week. Anyways, I received my first graded assignment back and received a "pass." Our tutorial instructor told us if we received a "pass" not to worry because it means you are learning the material still and trying to figure it out. So, I am sitting here thinking I did average on this assignment and when I looked at the conversion it equated to a 60 percent in American university grading scale. Not good. I know that classes are more challenging here in general, but I think the fact that I am in another country with so much to do and explore just makes school feel even more difficult. Going into Sydney and trying new cafes or bars, experiencing the night life of King's Cross, taking the ferry on the Sydney Harbor to Manly Beach or even going to the zoo are just a few activities that are right at our fingertips at all times and that's why studying just isn't as appealing. But I am starting to find a balance, probably more out of necessity and desperation for good grades than out of maturity, but I am learning!

And speaking of the zoo, Tory and I went to the Taronga Zoo recently, and I got to hold a Powerful Owl. Owls are my absolute favorite animals, and it was an amazing experience. I love all birds and lucky for me, Australia is called the land of parrots. The other day I was walking to class and a parrot landed right in front of me and started chirping at me. They are so playful. Rainbow Lorikeets, Cockatoos, Galahs, and Kookaburras are some of the birds that I see on a daily basis and it brings me so much joy. We even saw wild Little Penguins at the beach. I truly think when I return to the states these birds will be the thing I miss most.

-Molly

 

Entry No. 1 | Aug. 9, 2012

G’day mate! Cheesy, I know, but the Aussie way of life really grows on you. I’m Molly and I am starting my senior year at Macquarie University. I am here on exchange and am finishing up my minor in women’s studies. I have always wanted to study abroad, but it was one of those things that I didn’t really know if it would happen or not. It was definitely meant to be, because after I applied everything fell into place. It didn’t just work like that for me, but for my best friend, Tory, too. It seemed almost too good to be true, but here we are! All the way in Australia…two Florida girls who have never really traveled out of the country.

There is a lot I hope to gain from this experience. I am passionate about journalism and women’s rights and it seems to me that to really succeed in making a difference you have to know about the world. I have only been here for a short time and already have learned so much about so many different cultures. It has been such an eye opening experience. Most interestingly, I have learned that people of other countries are formally educated about the U.S. to such a higher extent then Americans learn about the rest of the world. I don’t remember ever learning about Australia. So, when I went to an Amnesty International (Macquarie student org.) today and they asked me what I thought about Australia’s refugee rights I was quite embarrassed. I had no idea what was going on in Australia especially with refugee rights!!!

I also hope to grow and mature as a person while here. When we first arrived, we had no place to stay. We turned our housing applications in a bit late and then had really bad luck getting placed into campus housing. Bad luck as the housing office would call it. So every day we dragged our luggage to a different hotel or put it in the housing office break room while we looked for a place to live. Being in a foreign country, with no parents and a limited amount of money while having no place to live, will give you a huge dose of maturity almost too big to swallow. But incase you were wondering, we did find a place to live at a very good price. It is just behind campus. Think of the location like the apartments on 50th street at USF. We are basically on campus, but paying a cheaper rate with a bigger room.

So, the journey through Oz (Australians call it Oz) is just beginning. I hope that you will follow my posts to see how Tory and I grow, change and learn through this experience. 

-Molly