Category: Oceania

Taking Care of Yourself in a Different Country

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It’s easy to get swept up in the rush of things; when you’re traveling abroad, everything feels fresh and exhilarating. The sights, the sounds, the flavors—every moment presents an opportunity for discovery. Sure, it’s important to immerse yourself in new experiences, to say “yes” to adventure, and to embrace spontaneity. However, in the whirlwind of excitement, it’s just as easy to lose yourself in the chaos. Between the fast-paced itineraries, cultural differences, and the constant push to make the most of every second, you might find yourself feeling overwhelmed or disconnected.

Last weekend, I decided to have a “me” day, and honestly, it was the best decision I could have made. I locked myself in my room, put on some of my favorite movies, ordered takeout, and just let myself unwind. No plans, no obligations—just me, doing whatever felt good in the moment. It was exactly what I needed to re-center and reconnect with myself.

I’ve realized that when I don’t carve out time for myself, I start to feel overwhelmed and anxious, like I’m constantly running on empty. And if you’re someone who thrives on social interaction or adventure, it can feel like you should always be out and about, especially when you’re in a new country. But here’s your reminder: It’s okay to stay in. It’s okay to take a step back, recharge, and just exist. Whether you’re traveling or at home, prioritizing your well-being isn’t selfish—it’s necessary.

So, from now on, I’ve made it a goal to dedicate at least one day a week to myself—to do whatever I want, completely on my own. No schedules, no obligations, just me choosing what makes me happy in the moment.

That following Tuesday, I put my plan into action. I hopped on the bus, put on some good music, and let the world fade into the background. I treated myself to a mango and papaya smoothie (which, by the way, was amazing), then made my way to the beach. There, I sat in the sun, listened to the waves, and let myself just be. I even spent some time collecting seashells, something I hadn’t done in ages but found incredibly peaceful.

It was a simple day, but it was exactly what I needed—a reminder that solitude isn’t lonely when you enjoy your own company. Taking time for yourself isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity. And I’m excited to keep this promise to myself, week after week.

I need to stop jumping into the ocean with my clothes on.

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It seems that I have this silly little habit of jumping into the ocean no matter the circumstances, and I know for a fact that my dorm washing machine hates me. I’m fully clothed? I’m getting in the water. I have nice white pants on? Doesn’t matter, ocean here I come! I just washed my hair? Looks like I’ll just have to wash it again. It doesn’t matter where I am, who I’m with, or what I’m wearing – if someone even jokes about getting into the water, I’m there (socks and all). I have only been in Perth, Australia for about two weeks now, and the amount of times that I have had to do laundry because of this habit is getting concerning.

So far, I have jumped into the ocean fully clothed three separate times. The first was on one of the first nights of O-week; my new friend, Kallarni, and I decided to go visit one of her hometown friends that was staying in another dorm. All three of us chatted, laughed, and hung out late into the night. Later, we decided to go and meet up with a larger group of friends, some of whom are from all over the world (Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, and some locals, too). It was really cool being able to talk to people that I otherwise wouldn’t have to chance of meeting. Anyways, we all decided to walk down to the Swan River to look at the stars, and long story short, we all jumped in at the end of the night to celebrate the start of O-week. The Swan River is a part of the river delta, meaning that it leads out to sea. Because of this, the water is filled with large brown jellyfish. Thank God it was dark outside, because otherwise I might not have gotten in!

The second time I jumped into the water fully clothed was when my dorm won the fresher dance! What is the fresher dance you may be wondering? Well, each of the dorm houses compete in a mega dance-off at the end of O-week on the shore of the Swan River. This event is a huge deal – we spent close to four hours a day perfecting our 7-minute dance, and the hard work clearly paid off! Anyways, its tradition for the winning dorm to run into the river right after being announced, and we did exactly that! Thankfully, I took off my shoes just in time.

The third time was just this past Sunday. Kallarni and I went out to a dance club that was located right by the beach. We were celebrating a few different people’s birthdays, which was so much fun (side note, there are some great dance clubs here, if you’re into that!). After a good long night, we decided to walk down to the beach, considering that it was literally across the street from the dance club. Once again, long story short, I ended up being (quite easily) convinced to go headfirst into the water, despite having to get in an Uber 10 minutes later.

Being from Colorado I have never gotten the opportunity to live so close to the ocean (or even a large body of water), so I think it’s important to take advantage of my location while I can. I went into this adventure with the goal of saying yes to more opportunities, more adventures, more everything! I don’t regret jumping into the water (I’m convinced I was a mermaid in a past life, despite only being able to hold my breath for 30 seconds max), and I definitely will do it again. Hopefully next time I think about packing a change of clothes!