Final Blog Entry - Life After Exchange

So here I am writing my final blog entry about my exchange year. I have really enjoyed writing my blog over the year and being able to share my experiences, it has been amazing to hear just how many of you have been reading and appreciating it!

I have been back in Australia for around 2.5 months now. But honestly, it feels like longer than 2.5 months ago that I was in Denmark, so much has happened since I got back! I am starting to understand why some past exchange students say that at times their exchange year almost feels like a dream. I was surprised by how normal being back felt. I expected everything to look/feel different and for things to be different, but it all felt so natural and easy. In a lot of ways, it even felt like I had never been away.

I haven't experienced any reverse culture shock or difficulty in returning to the Australian way of life and to being back with my Australian family and friends. I have been so busy with new and exciting things. Four of my friends also travelled last year, with 2 having also been on exchange, so I am not the only one with lots of travelling stories to share.

 

 

For the first week back, I was still thinking in part English- part Danish, but after that it has become English only. I have only had the chance to speak Danish once since returning, with a Danish exchange student that I met up with. Other than that the only time I use Danish is when I read my Danish friends' posts on Facebook or write with anyone from Denmark.

  

I have been back to my sponsoring club, the Rotary Club of Caboolture and given a presentation about my exchange year, which they definitely enjoyed. I have also been to a Rotary de-briefing day where I got the chance to catch up with the other exchange students that went out last year. It was great to hear about their different stories and experiences.

After about 1.5 months of being back and living at home with my family, at the end of February I moved to Brisbane, to live with my aunt and uncle, so that I can go to university. I started at the University of Queensland, doing a double degree of Law and Business Management. It is all very exciting, and actually good to be using my brain again! But I am finding it a bit difficult getting back into the routine of studying and concentrating after a whole year off. Another thing that I find tricky is adjusting my body to be used to less sleep again, after a year of averaging 8-10 hours of sleep most nights. I am sure it won't take too long and I will be used to all of this again!

I am really enjoying living in Brisbane. Everything is so close, I can drive to the shops, gym and basically anywhere in under 5 minutes.

Toga Party to start the university year

While the Queensland weather can be quite unpredictable compared to the Danish weather (which can be annoying when a day changes from being 19'C and raining in the morning to 30'C and sunny by midday), I have been enjoying the sun. I always took the sun and warmth for granted before I left Australia, never appreciated the freedom and energy that they seem to give; this is one of the many things that being away for a year taught me to appreciate about Australia.

  

I had something very funny happen, I was waiting at the bus stop when a group of young people walked up talking another language, at first I didn't think anything of it, then I realised that I could understand what they were saying! They weren't speaking Danish, but I assume it was Norwegian or Swedish, because I could understand most of it. They were only chatting about hair and clothes, but still it was funny to be able to understand it when they had no idea that anyone around them could understand.

Caiden's Year 12 (Senior) Tie Ceremony

While I had an absolutely amazing time in Denmark and will treasure the memories and friends that I made forever, I am happy being back in Australia. It is exciting to be embarking on the next stage of my life and attempting the next set of challenges. It feels good to be able to apply the things that I learnt in Denmark about life and myself, to my life here in Australia.


I would like to say once again a big thank you to everyone that made my exchange year possible and was a part of it, as well as a big thank you to everyone who read and followed by blog through the year.