Right from the time I was a little girl. I loved to explore. Shows like Diego and Dora were my favourites. I used to spread my toys on the bed and act like I was sailing on a ship to new adventures. My interest in exploration grew with every vacation my parents planned. Each summer break, I could visit new places, meet people, learn about their cultures, and discover excellent histories. It was a wholesome experience for me. When I got the opportunity to study abroad, I was entirely grateful and excited for this opportunity. My first week in Australia has been action-packed. A good thing because this kept homesickness at bay. My first day waking up in Australia was accompanied by body aches and a slight confusion from the jet lag. But I shrugged it off as I got ready to explore. I navigated to my campus using my ever-helpful Google Maps. My first task was getting my student ID made. I smiled at the camera like I was getting my first-ever Grammy. And honestly, the picture came out better than my earlier ones. Next, I navigated to set up my courses and other registration stuff. I clicked some cool campus pictures, shared updates with friends and family, and lived in my influencer era.
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| My 'awesome' photography |
The next morning, my adventure took a sharp
turn when I realised I was feeling hot. No, I did not gain my cool 20s era
overnight; instead, I attained a high fever. On a positive side, I had no
thermometer to declare how worse my condition was. I spent the day tossing and
turning, feeling spent out. In times like these, I even realised that I had to
hunt. I totally relate to the struggles of the early inhabitants of the Earth.
Going out to hunt for food even when sick. The pain of getting out of your cosy
bed to heat soup is horrible.
When I finally combated my fever, the next
day brought heavy rains. The temperature dropped to super icy conditions. I was
totally bummed out. I hoped to explore everything today, now that I was well. Instead,
I just got to look around the underground parking lot to avoid the rain.
Eating plain old bread and jam the next
morning, I decided things had to change. I packed my bags and trudged up the
hill to my college. I wheezed up the incline somehow. Seeing even an elderly
lady jog around me made me conclude how much of a weakling I really was. I made
a promise to myself to be able to run this incline till next month. On campus,
I scrounged the free stuff during the introductory week.
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| Uni from the bottom of the hill |
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| King's Cross |
The next day, I went shopping with my aunt,
getting tips on rationing and living. I could have stayed at their place for
more time, but I knew like Pi Patel did on the floating Island. That safety is
only granted for a set time. If I do not learn to manage myself, I will never
feel ready to settle abroad. I need to know how to make my apartment more of a livable
home. I came back and set up a permanent shelter.
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| My breakfast |
Even though I had a sore throat the next
day, I reminded myself I had to survive. The amount of pep talk I give would guarantee
me a spot at TEDx. I knew where I had to be today, like a moth finding a light
source in the dark. I, too, gravitated to the one place I wanted to make closer
to heart: The Library. I am ready for all the labels you throw at me because I do
not care. Did I travel all the way to Australia to sit in the library? Yes, yes,
I did. The smell of the books, the click of pens, and the typing sounds of the keyboard
as multiple students huddled around to complete their assignments healed me
more than any medicine ever could. After a two-hour therapy session in the
library, my stomach returned me to a boring life. I went to try Gomez, the Mexican
restaurant, and I found my favourite dish: The vegetarian Burrito (yes, I am a
vegetarian, and yes, I will survive in Sydney). When I finished the entire burrito,
I felt proud of myself. I thought I had lost my appetite, my urge to survive.
But this just proved that the flame was burning as high as ever. Then I looked
up some groceries and medicines, before going to the sports area.
On the way, I saw many school children dressed
in fancy dresses. Maybe they were going to perform in a competition today. This
made me realise how strange life is. These kids have been born and raised on
this land. They probably know all about living here that I am still learning
about. As an international student, I do feel bummed out at times. My accent
seems funny when I talk to the cashier, and I often stay quiet and watch as I
see people interact. But it is all part of being an explorer. We need to be aware
of all the lands and learn to adapt. I cannot let my shyness end my adventures.
I felt hope as I walked back to my apartment with a glowing sunset at my back. It is okay. I am adjusting, and things will make sense soon. Now that my studies begin today, I am sure I will have much on my plate to help keep me engaged. I will have solo adventures, and each feat might not be so big, but that would be a massive leap for me. I will befriend all the animals here (and maybe the people, too).
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| Meet Snowbell, my first cat pal here |
I will learn about this land
and try to not just survive but thrive. I will keep you all in the loop of my
solo adventures, discovering new places, and finding myself, too.
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