STUDY ABROAD (JAN 2023 – DEC 2023)
In January 2023, I began my 11-month study abroad journey in Australia! I completed two semesters at the University of Tasmania alongside two fellow TRU students from my program. I took courses to grow my knowledge on Australia’s history as I wanted to be more familiar with the land and where I was living. I lived in a university dorm with roommates from countries all over the world including Japan, Germany, and Denmark. Our dorm often shared family-style meals, played games together, and even planned our own “roomie road trip” to Bruny Island. Experiences like these strengthened my intercultural communication skills, as there were sometimes language barriers during conversations and differences in cultural norms that I had not previously been aware of, such as food habits and mealtimes.
Throughout my time abroad, I also planned trips during school breaks, experienced new cultures, and learned how to grow my independence. While in Australia, I had the opportunity to visit cities outside Tasmania including Melbourne, Sydney, Byron Bay, Surfer’s Paradise, Brisbane, Mooloolaba, and Noosa. I tried surfing (emphasis on tried), went on breathtaking hikes, and visited some of the most beautiful beaches while I have ever seen. Tasmania holds a very special place in my heart, and I am incredibly grateful for the time I got to spend exploring the island.
VIETNAM/JAPAN TRIP (DEC 2025 – JAN 2026)
In December 2025, I took on a five-week solo backpacking trip through Vietnam and Japan. Originally, I was meant to complete my TESOL (Teaching English to Other Languages) practicum in Ho Chi Minh City, but due to low registration numbers, the practicum was cancelled. With my anticipated excitement for this experience, I decided to take matter into my own hands and booked flights to Vietnam. Before leaving, I roughly outlined the cities and route I wanted to take, but I also wanted to maintain a flexible, “go with the flow” attitude. I wanted to meet new people and I did not want my itinerary to stop me from spontaneous adventures. This was my first ever time in Asia, which opened the door to an entirely new set of cultural experiences which included different foods and, at times, very questionable bathrooms. My trip began in Ho Chi Minh, and I travelled north by sleeper buses to Da Lat, Hoi An, Da Nang, Phong Nha, Ninh Binh, Hanoi, and Ha Giang over the course of 3.5 weeks. During my time in Vietnam, I stayed in a mix of hostels and homestays where I signed up for activities like caving, ziplining, food tours, and a 4-day motorcycle tour through rural Northern Vietnam. These experiences pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped me build confidence, adaptability, and independence as a solo traveller.
From Hanoi, I flew to Tokyo, Japan to meet up with my roommate from Tasmania, Elisa. She had previously visited me in February 2025 and I was able to show her Canadian life as she stayed at my family’s home in Langley. This time, I stayed in her family’s home in Toke for nine days and learnt about her daily life in Japan. Her mom was an amazing cook who prepared traditional Japanese meals and always made sure I never left the table hungry! While in Japan, I also got to meet up with another friend from Tasmania, Kyoka. We loved trying different cafes in Australia, so it felt special to continue that tradition in Japan. This trip taught me the value of international relationships as my time in Japan became even more meaningful through experiencing the country from a local perspective while reconnecting with friends.
