First Month Abroad in Australia

Today marks one month since I left Hawaii! It honestly seems
like I’ve been here longer, and that I’ll be returning home
in a few days. Nope. I’ll be here for the next eight months
in Brisbane, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come.

I’m not going to lie and say that it’s been easy. The adjustment
process has been quite the “adventure”.

First off, Griffith University is a HUGE campus… in the forest
(my legs were covered in bug bites!) During my first week of
school, I left 45 minutes early to get my coffee and find my classes.
I’m glad I’ve become familiar with the campus and that walking to my
classes is my daily exercise! The curriculum here is different as
well and I’m slowly (very slowly) navigating my way. Currently,
I’m learning to cite in Harvard style. 

When I’m not in class, I’m wandering around Brisbane city. There’s
so much to see here! I’ve been going to art galleries, museums,
street markets, and on walks along the Brisbane river. When I need
to study (escape the dorms)and run errands, I usually go to Queen
Street Mall. They have a variety of food and BOBA places, Starbucks
(love that free wifi), Target, Daiso and Asian markets! I plan to
explore more of South Bank once I recover from this fever!

       South Bank Grand Arbour

Running errands and exploring the city is pretty convenient here
because of the amazing public transportation system. Yes, I said
amazing. The buses have their own lanes here which already makes
the commute a lot easier. I usually take the 135 or 155 buses
since they’re the city express routes. The 135 has 6 stops and
the 155 only has 3 stops total!  

I could probably ramble about the buses here for hours, but here are
the more serious events that have been going on. 

Almost three weeks ago, I joined the Campus Christian Movement (CCM).
It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made so far. When I first moved
into the dorms, I found it difficult to connect with the people on
my floor. The majority of the people are locals and/ or returning
students so they already had their “clicks”. On top of that, I’m the
only person from Hawaii here. There have been many dark moments and
long nights of journaling. However, that all changed when I joined CCM.
I finally became a part of a community full of fun and genuine people,
who definitely will be one of the best blessings I gain from my journey
abroad. Because of this community, I’ve already begun to grow as a
person of faith. This year and journey for me are about growth and clarity, and the best is yet to come. 

    First CCM Event: Campus Unlock and Game Night

Well, this wraps up my first month here in Brisbane!
Until the next blog… 

P.S: I’m craving a spicy ahi poke bowl.