Week One in Brisbane: Settling In, Letting Go, and Learning to Stay Open
After spending six days in Fiji with my family, a kind of soft launch into this big life shift, we arrived in Brisbane, where I’ll be living and studying for the next few months. My family came to help me get settled, but more than that, I think we all needed a bit of extra time together before the actual goodbye.
We made the most of our days here. Walked a lot, my step count is about triple what it usually is. Explored different neighborhoods. Took the train up to the Australia Zoo, which was worth every second of the trip, wildly beautiful and surprisingly emotional. I’d seen the zoo and been once growing up, but being there in person, watching how people interacted with the animals and with the land, hit a bit differently now that I’m living in Australia, not just visiting.
I am absolutely blown away by the public transit system here. It costs 50 cents to get anywhere in the city on all forms of transportation including the trains, buses, and the river ferry system. It is also incredibly easy to navigate. The bus schedule is consistent and there are plenty of vehicles to support the usage and need of citizens. The public transit here puts Bellingham to shame.
I moved into my apartment last Sunday, and honestly, it’s better than I expected. The view from the balcony sweeps across the entire city skyline. At night, it doesn’t feel flashy or overwhelming, just steady and present, which is how I’ve been trying to feel too. I have my own bedroom, living space, and bathroom but share a kitchen with one other person. My roommate is from Scotland, and we’ve clicked in a really natural way. She is so amazing. I didn’t realize how comforting it would be to share space with someone else who’s also navigating a new place.
Making friends has felt less intimidating than I expected. I’m trying to say yes to things, even small ones, like grabbing coffee or going out to events I usually wouldn’t. Nothing too performative. Just showing up, seeing what happens. Most people are also looking for connection, which helps.
I have a lot more time here. At home I am constantly doing so many things I feel like I don't have time to breathe but I don’t have that here. I am in one club called “Quest”. I don’t remember what the acronym stands for but its essentially a club for international students to get to know each other and form a community. They hold weekly events that I have gone to a few of. I have also rediscovered my love for painting and am in the process of decorating my walls with art because they look a bit sad without decorations. I really enjoy having time to be creative.
I’ve also taken up a fun volunteer position working with koalas through a wildlife hospital. They are scarier than you would think but still cute. I can’t share a whole lot online because of pretty strict privacy and media policies but I love it and am so excited to be working there.
My family flew home last Thursday. The goodbye was quiet, but hard. There’s something about walking away from people who know your rhythms and routines better than anyone, it creates this gap that feels a little disorienting at first. I already miss them. But I’ve also been reminding myself: I’m not supposed to be fully comfortable right away. That’s not the point.
Classes have started, and I’m genuinely enjoying them so far. There’s space for curiosity here. I like how the conversations unfold, less about ticking boxes, more about ideas and perspectives. It’s early, but it feels like I’m in the right place.
So far, this week has been a mix of newness, quiet grief, and slow confidence. And for now, that’s more than enough.
