Last year, Della embarked on an unforgettable adventure Down Under. I had an opportunity to interview her and get first-hand details of her journey. I believe it was important to share her experience with others so that they too are encouraged to take a leap of faith and get to learn and experience beautiful things.
Below is the conversation I recorded.
![A collage of a person wearing a mask.](https://kreatifbeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Seerat-Della-Diversity-2.jpg)
“Then, I was by myself.”
My student exchange journey began on a fully packed night at Changi Airport. I had taken a ferry from my Indonesian hometown, Batam, and arrived in Singapore ready to embark on my journey to Newcastle, Australia.
“My parents stayed with me at the airport until 5 PM, after that, I was by myself.”
Taking a British Airways flight to Sydney, I remembered sitting in the lounge and thinking how expensive the ticket was. There was no turning back. With quiet determination and optimism, I boarded the plane on July 26. It was a long time coming and I had faced several challenges already, just to get here. I was supposed to be there by July 18th, but my visa hadn’t arrived by then. Because it took longer than expected, it left me hanging in Indonesia.”
Since the time I was a teenager in high school, I had wanted to go to Australia. Because of the pandemic, my plans to go to university there changed but the exchange programme offered me the opportunity to experience a different lifestyle and culture.
“Thankfully, God opened a way for me to be able to go there to study, though not in the city I was originally thinking of. I ended up going to Newcastle rather than Sydney, but it was worth it.”
After landing in Sydney and taking a two-hour ride to Newcastle, things were still not smooth sailing. “When I first arrived in Newcastle, the sky was getting dark and my property agent wasn’t responding, so I had to wait outside the house, sitting on the deck stairs in the cold darkness with my stomach rumbling with hunger. At that moment, it hit me that I was finally in my new battle.”
Despite all the challenges, I settled in. I allowed myself to change while also staying authentic to myself. I met my housemates who took me to look around the city, and others who introduced me to a local church and encouraged me to become involved in a community. Even when I was nervous in class, I found friendly and supportive lecturers and classmates.”
![A picture containing outdoor, sky, road, tree.](https://kreatifbeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Seerat-Della-Diversity-3.jpg)
![A picture showing three people on a picnic on a sunlight day. Next to it a hand holding a half-eaten sandwich.](https://kreatifbeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Seerat-Della-Diversity-4.jpg)
This adventure was something I will never forget despite all the challenges. Upon reflection I wouldn’t change a thing about the experience. Assimilating into a different culture was one of the biggest highlights of my journey.
“It opened my eyes to how not only people from other cultures live their lives but also how I could possibly live my life in a different setting. It helped me picture what kind of life I wanted to live in the future while keeping the good I had learned from my culture and my new culture.”
Even when the culture wildly differed from what I was used to, I learned to appreciate the differences and use them as learning points.
“Some of the weirder things we don’t see in most Asian countries such as that most stores close at 5 pm, and that on public holidays, strangers would just say hi to you or that tap water is a common thing and is available anywhere though there’s no toilet bidet sprayer (so you’ll have to get used to toilet paper…)”
![A group of three women standing under a tree](https://kreatifbeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Seerat-Della-Diversity-5.jpg)
All these speed bumps along the road are what made the trip so memorable for me. I reflected that I did well in my struggle with a new culture and learned to always get back up.
When asked to say some words of encouragement to those on the fence about the exchange programme I suggested — “Apply, fly, ride on the roller coaster, you’re gonna feel differently when you return. Just make sure you’re in the right community since it affects a lot on your personal growth. Don’t feel pressured to be extremely outgoing, just be yourself, be confident and humble, yet also push yourself as needed.”
![A person walking on a beach on a bright sunny day.](https://kreatifbeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Seerat-Della-Diversity-6.jpg)
![A picture containing passenger seat in a cabin.](https://kreatifbeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Seerat-Della-Diversity-7.jpg)
![A building with trees in the background](https://kreatifbeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Seerat-Della-Diversity-8.jpg)
![A building with trees in the background](https://kreatifbeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Seerat-Della-Diversity-9.jpg)
![A person on an escalator in perspective](https://kreatifbeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Seerat-Della-Diversity-10.jpg)
![A group of people walking in a park with trees and buildings in the background](https://kreatifbeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Seerat-Della-Diversity-11.jpg)
![A pizza with mushrooms and cheese and other condiments.](https://kreatifbeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Seerat-Della-Diversity-12.jpg)
![A picture containing and artworkt that looks harp- like.](https://kreatifbeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Seerat-Della-Diversity-13.jpg)
![A picture containing posters of fonts on a wall indoors.](https://kreatifbeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Seerat-Della-Diversity-14-1024x1024.jpg)
![A picture containing craft work or printmaking, art, paint, art paint](https://kreatifbeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Seerat-Della-Diversity-15.jpg)
![A picture containing fabric and print of patterns](https://kreatifbeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Seerat-Della-Diversity-16.jpg)
All rights reserved. All images above are the © Della, 2022.