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Natalie Bell
Natalie Bell is an Ambassador who studied abroad in Australia.
Briefly describe a specific cultural experience you had on your trip that made a lasting impression.
For part of the week-long study break I went on a road trip with 6 other people. We drove north along the west coast and stopped at different campsites every night. At each stop we had something planned that was a big part of the area. We made four stops and our activities included sand boarding, exploring gorges, hiking around national parks, and seeing wild dolphins come to shore. Throughout the whole trip we met other travelers as well as local people. That was one of my favorite weeks because the scenery was different each place we traveled to and we all were exposed to Australia's wilderness and native animals. One of the coolest parts was seeing wild kangaroos and a wild emu at two of the campsites.
Why did you choose the program in which you participated?
I wanted to study abroad because I love traveling and wanted to live in a different culture. I felt that study abroad would help me learn more about myself and make me more independent. The reason I chose Australia in the fall is because I was able to take courses directly related to my major and minor. I also like that I would have classes with Australian students instead of only CSB/SJU students.
Describe your overall study abroad experience.
I would tell them it will be the highlight of their life so far! Everything is new and exciting and Australians are extremely friendly and open to talking with you. It is like living with 30 of your best friends and although there is a lot of studying, there is a lot of time for having fun, traveling, and exploring areas around Fremantle and Perth.
How has the trip affected you? How are you different for having completed the experience?
I have noticed that I am much more adventurous and outgoing because of Australia. Going there, I only knew 2 people well that were also going on the trip. I am so glad that I didn't know many people at first because now I have so many new life-long friends. I am much more open and comfortable talking with new people as well as taking on new opportunities and experiences.
What advice do you have for future Study Abroad Students?
Be open to anything. We had a saying within our group, YOLO, which stands for You Only Live Once. This just was a way of putting into words that you can't pass up the opportunities that arise because who knows when you'll ever get the chance again. I would tell them that, although money may be an issue, don't pass on things that you really want to do because it may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. To go along with that, I would tell them to plan out what they are thinking of doing there as far as traveling, activities, and other things and make a budget to know what they should spend their money on that is most important to them.