Series of Firsts (Part 1)

Series of Firsts (Part 1)

"This trip will be a life-changing experience." I heard these words repeatedly as I applied for the Group Study Exchange (GSE), prepared for this trip, and arrived in Australia. "You got to do this," said my friend Noemi. "This will change your life," said my team leader Mark. My host family has also reminded me that I won't be the same after this trip. 

And I couldn't agree with them more. Change doesn't always come in big bursts. Small, incremental changes can have a cumulative effect on how you see and experience the world. For me, this trip has included a series of "firsts." Firsts that are incrementally widening my view and experience of the world. Firsts that are making me deal with little insecurities and my introverted tendencies. And firsts that make me think of different ways in which I can advance social good and build social capital. So here is a list of firsts for me during the first few days of my GSE trip to Australia.  

-first time traveling overt the Pacific Ocean

-first time living abroad for a month - something I've wanted to do for a long time

-first time in a double decker plane

-first time using bathroom on a plane 

-first time flying over night (the night seem to never end with the time change)

-first time sleeping for an extended period of time on a plane, approximately 6hrs

-first time in Australia

-first time traveling with group of friends or colleagues outside of U.S.

-first time writing blog

-first time I had to stand in line and be sniffed by a dog - at customs

-first time in Brisbane (airport)

-first time in uniform with my GSE team

-first time in the Southern Hemisphere 

-first time eating warm food in plane

-first time dealing with jet lag

-first time stewardess hit my knee with the beverage cart while I was sleeping

-first time in a long time I did not sit in a window seat 

-first sunrise over the mountains in Dili, Timor Leste 

-first visit to an orphanage 

-first history lesson of Darwin's and Timor's involvement in WWII

-first time meeting a U.S. Ambassador (Timor Leste) 

-first time drinking Timorese coffee in (a growing industry in Timor Leste)

-first time saying Portuguese greeting - bom dia (good morning)

-first time - well, at least in a long time - trying to have a conversation with someone when neither of us speak the same language

More to come.