Am I a Monash Student?

So, its that time of the year when the assignments and tests are piling up. Today I took another music listening test, it was so difficult. I think for me it was hard, because I just can't get used to this "taped lecture" style of learning, where the professor barely interacts with the students and only reads his lecture notes during tutorials. 

But there is good news too. I'm almost done with my major research essay for my Contemporary Australia class. I've been avoiding it to be honest, but now that I'm 1400 words in, I'm actually quite excited to be learning more about Australia history. My paper is on Anzac Day, and whether or not it should be considered Australia's National Day. Its quite a controversial topic. I'm somewhat in the middle on the subject.

With that almost out of the way, I have to catch up on drawing and painting, and do one more presentation, then its smooth sailing until final exams and home. This has given me some time to reflect lately on what I want to take from my experience here. I spent the first two months traveling around the country, seeing things, doing crazy things I never thought I'd do like Skydiving, Swim under a waterfall in the Daintree Rainforest, Feed Kangaroos, See The Littlest Penguins waddle ashore at night, Learn to Surf, See the 12 Apostles, and Dive The Great Barrier Reef.  I spent April being homesick, shopping, and doing assignments. Its made me realize what a great first two months I've had, and what a not so good April that I've had. I know that actually "studying" while abroad is important, and its allowed me to meet some really great people, but the Abroad part is more important. I say this because I want to encourage everyone who is about to embark on a similar journey, to not get too focused on the wrong things. Enjoy the things while you are away. Be a tourist. Do touristy things. The things I've seen and done are the things I treasure most.

after this period of unending work closes, I'm going to Sydney, and hopefully I'll have time and money to go back to either Cairns, Perth, or Uluru. I'm not sure yet. But I have to do something that gets me out of this current rut and back to how things were in February and March, because those are the experiences that make 30 hours on planes and in airports worth it.