- Describe how you are settling in at school.
Thursday 4th of September and it has just been over one month since I packed my bags and moved across the world. Within one month my residence room/apartment is starting to look like a home. Although it was a massive shock to the system moving and opening the door to our little apartment, which will be my home for next couple years, just looked so dull and empty even my room, but with a couple trips to Wal-Mart and bringing few photos from home I have certainly been able to make moving into this room a lot easier and almost feels like my room back home…
Loving the scenery around JCC as it has some much greenery and nice little pond in middle of campus, so there is always a nice spot to sit down. Being here a month before classes started helped let me get my bearings around campus and know where certain buildings where and rooms and where literally everything was.
2. What sort of things have you been doing with your new teammates/friends?
We have had a few dinners and movie nights at some of the girl’s houses bonding as a team, plus shopping and seeing movies all together. A week ago we went bowling with the entire team and was just a lot of fun to enjoy a night out with all the girls.
After a few training sessions during pre season we sometimes did trips to Tim Horton’s (Coffee Shop) or Subway for a meal all together all exhausted but all had same feeling… Hungry!
On our days off were always exploring Jamestown and New York State area. I’ve been to Niagara Falls, Ellicottville, Lake Placid, Buffalo and Pennsylvania to name a few. All have incredible scenery and amazing shopping so a girl cannot complain! Other days we meet up in the gym and have extra workout sessions and runs to keep pushing ourselves and constantly improving one another and the team!
Along with all the touristy attractions and team bonding nights the soccer girls have made this transition one of the most enjoyable and easier then expected moves.
3. How are your classes?
Classes this semester are a very nice range, I am studying English Comp 1, Math (Algebra) Biology (Health Science) Art (Intro to Art) English (Reading) and Student Success Seminar. All are helping me towards my degree of Primary School Teaching, or as they call it here in America, Childhood Education.
a. Describe your schedule
Monday, Wednesday and Fridays start at 10am. Finishing at 3:30 on Monday and Wednesday, with a break from 11:30 till 1:30. Friday’s however, at JCC, classes end at 12 so get an early start to the weekend! Tuesday and Thursdays start at 8:30 and finish at 2:30 but have a break from 11:30 till 1:30.
M/W/F- 10-10:50 Math, 11-11:50 Student Success Seminar (M&W) 1:15-3:20 Art
TUE/THURS- 8:30-9:45- English Comp 1, 10-11:15 Bio, 1:15-2:30 English Reading
In the afternoon, we have training Monday to Thursday its 4pm till 6pm and Fridays its 12pm till 2pm. Along with all our games in-between everything. Certainly learning to manage my time well and use my resources very wisely that I have available here on campus!
4. What’s your favorite subject?
Was same in high school and still is the same in college, Maths. Strange, I know, but I just love the subject. One reason being, you know there is always a right and wrong answer never in-between or maybes. However, I am extremely excited to start learning about the teaching side of my degree next semester and think they will become my favourite subjects.
- What’s been the best moment so far?
Best moment. That’s tough to pick one moment because every day is always great fun and there is never a dull moment, in class, my dorm room or at soccer training.
Best moment so far would be going to Niagara Falls. Was an amazing day and was able to go on the Maid of the Mist Boat and be 15 to 25m away from the Fall that was a lot of fun and incredible to think that I was in the middle of the Fall!
Another moment for me here in Jamestown was pre season training. First time meeting all the girls and seeing both coaches in their element made me know I made the right choice coming to JCC. Just simply from the way they welcomed me into their ‘Jayhawk Family’ and I honestly couldn’t wipe the smile off my face and still can’t!
- How are you getting along with your roommate?
I have three other roommates living with me. One is another Australian on the Soccer team, Abbie and then there is Chantel who is also on the soccer team and third roommate is Lexie. All four of us get along so well and bonded really quickly from the start and have a lot of fun within the our dorm room.
a. Where is she from?
Abbie is from Sydney as well, then Chantel is from Ellicottville, New York and Lexie is from Olean, New York.
- Describe your dorm set up.
Open the front door and kitchen set up is one left, dining table on the right straight in front is the living room with couches and a coffee table and table for where the TV is. Then two short hallways (guess you could call it that) lead to two rooms each side plus a bathroom. Abbie and I share one side and Chantel and Lexie share the other. The room includes a bed, bedside table, desk and chair plus chest of drawers and a wardrobe (to hang few jackets and dresses.) My window looks out to the back car park, but have a nice green hill before the car park so it’s nice to wake up and see some greenery.
Bathroom includes massive mirror with basin and sink, then another room leads to the toilet and shower. Overall, it’s really big and spacious plus everything is practically new or in really good condition!
- Have you been keeping touch with your friends/family back in Oz?
With technology today and all the type of social media, yes, I am keeping in touch with family and friends back home! With Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Viber, Skype and FaceTime, I am always replying to messages to my friends about how it is all going here plus what they are up to back home! I’m always talking to my family letting them know how I’m getting along and how they are back home. Having free Wi-Fi in dorm rooms and around campus makes it that easier to talk to everyone back home and send photos of what the campus looks like.
- Did you experience homesickness?
I am the youngest of three in my family so it was a massive move for me to make as well as a massive shock to my family. Every day I remind myself that it is an amazing opportunity and I get to go back home over the summer holidays in May.
First night/ first full day here in Jamestown hit me pretty hard. Just been flying for 26hours, my luggage got ‘lost’ (stuck) in Chicago Airport and wouldn’t get it for two days, plus being in an unknown place. It can be pretty terrifying not having mum and dad by your side guiding you through what you have to do. Once moved into the dorms, it was a bit quiet at the start just Abbie and I in the one building by ourselves, Noni and Wendy in the other dorm building. We didn’t really have that much to do. However, coach helped make the days go by a bit quicker by introducing us to some of the soccer girls who are sophomores and we would go off and hang out with them getting to know the area and about themselves and the team.
As soon as I met all the soccer girls and started training things became a lot easier and once classes started, I have just been non stop busy haven’t had time to think about homesickness. Of course I miss everyone back home, but it’s not to the stage where I feel homesick. Talking over social media helps a lot, especially Skype as seeing and talking to them makes me realize not much is changing back home (all still the same) So helps make me push myself here and keep working hard.
Without a doubt everyone gets hit with homesickness and many people experience different levels of it. For sure it sucks being away from the family and your everyday norms, but being pushed out of my comfort zone into an unknown area has certainly helped build me up to be more independent and strong individual.
10. Is the USA what you thought it would be like?
Yes and more. Everyone said to me before I left I’m living a movie dream! It sure does feel like that, but better. I’ve been to the USA 6years ago, but went to California area then up into Canada so stayed in more touristy sites. But being in a New York State and in a town that’s very different to Sydney City or my area back home makes it that much better and also enjoy everything it has to offer to me. Everyday, I feel like such a tourist, seeing a yellow school bus, school kids not in school uniform, Starbucks drive through, Driving on the other side of the road, not many traffic lights, cost of things here (so cheap!!), all tourist attractions. It has certainly reached above and beyond what I thought I was going to experience and it’s only been one month!! I have two years here at Jamestown, cannot wait to see what is next and later down the track!
11. What’s the one thing you miss about Oz?
Obviously my home and family, but surprisingly actually miss the food options and cuisines available back home, a lot of the food here is processed and what we would classify as ‘unhealthy’ back home, they do have some similar brands and types of food just not the same as back home. Oh, and the weather. I am going to miss Syndey ‘winter.’ Everyone here is warning me of the winters they get here. I am so excited to see snow again but scared of how much there is going to be plus how cold it is going to get down to… -25F (-30’s Celsius)
12. How are you adjusting to the time difference?
The first week was pretty rough. The first night I probably slept for about 5hours but wasn’t a constant sleep. Kept waking up and at one stage freaked out and had no clue where I was. Took me a second to realize I was in Jamestown. But now I have adjusted very well and think helped training three hours a day when it came to bedtime as soon as I fell asleep I was out. But its not that bad, especially when talking to everyone back home, it’s quite easy to work into my schedule! My body clock has clicked and changed, adjusting now to Jamestown, New York time… 14hours behind Sydney Australia!