It’s so easy to get caught up with everything while being abroad. Hanging out with new friends, missing old friends, uni work, regular work, saving money, spending money, trying everything, going everywhere, et cetera. Whatever it may be there’s always something going on and, on top of that, time is flying by so quickly!
I find that the best way to ground myself when I get wrapped up in everything and distracted by materialistic situations is to slow down for a little and spend some time alone, outside, observing and exploring my new home.
Yesterday I decided to take the long way to the library. I followed the paths with the prettiest trees and the roads closest to the water with the most expansive view of the sky. I stopped to observe how different the leaves and the bark are on the trees compared to the ones back home. I noticed that there are quite a lot of red brick buildings and that, although I’ve been here for three months already, I’m still surprised at the fact that the sun doesn’t set on the water.
I took my time walking around — no pressure getting anywhere and no need to hurry. I let the breeze run through my hair and the Aussie sun tickle my eyelashes. I’m in freaking Australia!! How liberating to think that just last year I decided that I wanted to come here — and now here I am, casually carrying out my everyday life on the other side of the Pacific.
I’m so overwhelmed by gratitude and proud of myself for making my most impulsive desires a reality. Paying attention to the simplicity within my surroundings allows me to take a step back and meditate on the power that we have to create our most desirable life paths.
Notice how beautiful the power of simplicity is and you will overflow with gratitude. I can’t express how appreciative I am of this experience.
Reut Golan is a marketing major. She is studying at the University of Technology, Sydney in Australia for a full semester.
The global experience, as told by SDSU students 
Comment on this post