By: Ethan Craxford, Osaka University, Faculty of Social Sciences
I learned countless lessons that fostered growth such as becoming independent, meeting people from around the world and embarking on adventures beyond my wildest dreams. I always thought I knew how to be alone and independent, but it turns out I didn’t. You will spend a lot of time alone—during school days, meals and weekends. While this can be lonely, I embraced it by exploring the city, going on day trips, visiting cafes to write papers and navigating transit systems. I had a lot of fun! Ultimately, I built a strong relationship with myself without any external influences or distractions. This newfound independence has made me feel empowered and confident that I can conquer anything. Being alone allowed me to reflect on my values, wants and the direction I want my life to go. I have gained a new sense of self, and for that, I am grateful.
Meeting people from around the world truly made my exchange complete. I expected to have Australian friends, but I ended up leaving with best friends from Scandinavia. Learning about their culture, language and perspectives was unique. My biggest advice is to put yourself out there, introduce yourself and say yes to opportunities. You can be anywhere beautiful in the world, but what makes it amazing is the people you share it with. These friendships taught me what true friendship and respect are, and I will bring these lessons home to my own relationships.
Despite all the worries and expectations, exchange ended up being nothing like I thought, yet better than I could have imagined. Did I think I would spend so much time alone? No, but it was one of the best things to ever happen to me. Did I think I would leave with Scandinavian friends four years older than me? No, but I learned what respect and friendship should embody and cannot imagine exchange any other way. Did I think I would get stung by jellyfish and also get Dengue Fever? No, but I learned how to navigate hardship, and now I have a good story to tell.
It would not be an exchange reflection without mentioning the amazing travel. I feel privileged to have traveled to places like Bali, New Zealand, Japan, the Great Barrier Reef and more. When in doubt, simply say yes and you only regret the things you don’t do. Once it is over, you will be itching to do it all over again. So say yes to exchange, take the jump, it will forever change your life!