Siena T. Exchange Ambassador

What is one word to describe your study abroad experience:

"This is an experience that you can't miss out on! You learn so much about yourself and the place you visit." 

SIENA T. 

Exchange student at RMIT, Australia
Winter semester
Studying Landscape Architecture 

1. What is the best thing that happened while you were studying abroad?

I went on a weekend surf camp on the Great Ocean Road. We camped on the beach, had bonfires and surfed all day.

2. What was the biggest cultural adaptation you had to make?

 Aussie slang is very interesting, it took me a bit to get the hang of all their sayings!

3. Where was the coolest place you travelled to during your exchange?

 I backpacked south east Asia for 6 weeks before heading down to Australia

4. What is something that you know now, that you wish you knew before you studied abroad?

 I wish I knew that jet lag is most DEFINITELY a thing

5. What was your best learning moment?

Don't go surfing with a concussion

6. Who was the hardest person to leave from home? How did you deal with that?

My mom. We made sure to keep in contact and Skype a lot to see each other!

7. Who was the hardest person to leave that you met while on exchange? How did you deal with that?

 My friend Kelsey. It was hard to leave her as she is from Australia. We have texted every day to keep close and have planned a trip to see each other within the next year!

8. If you were to recommend exchange to your best friend, what would you say?

I would say to my best friend that this is an experience that you can't miss out on! You learn so much about yourself and the place you visit.

9. Would it be helpful to learn another language for this exchange?

Nope!

10. Did you live on- or off-campus? Would you recommend it, and why?

I lived in student accommodation off-campus, in a building called Urbanest. I definitely recommend this option, as I met most of my friends in this building!

11. How did you finance your study abroad experience?

I made sure to keep track of all my expenses using an excel document to create a visual of where my money is going.

12. What interesting courses did you get to take while studying abroad? What was the title of the course(s)?

I got to take a 3D printing course! It was called 3D printing for creatives (GRAP 1037)

13. How are you including exchange on your resume?

I used the example from this website to add my study abroad experience to my resume. 

14. Is there any other helpful information you would like to provide to future study abroad participants?

Get an Australian number! The phone plans are awesome and super cheap!

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