Exploring Griffith University and the Gold Coast

I started the day early and spent most of it at the beach, relaxing and exploring. While I was there, I got to see more of Australia's marine life up close. As I was standing in the water, a few fish swam right up to me. They were surprisingly easy to spot in the clear water. Later, during a walk along the beach, I came across a huge blue jellyfish that was about the size of a dinner plate. Experiences like that quickly remind you why people in Australia always say, "Only swim between the flags where lifeguards are present, and don't forget to read the signs!"

Later in the day, I returned to my apartment and got ready to tour Griffith University, where I'll be studying during my time in Australia. To get there, we took the tram, and the ride only took about 20 to 25 minutes.

While exploring the Griffith campus, I spotted my first giant Australian spider sitting in a massive web. Just a few minutes later, I found a second one. It was definitely an experience I won't forget! Overall, I really liked the Griffith campus. The biggest difference compared to Marist is its size. The campus is much larger, which will take some time to get used to.

One thing I learned during the tour that I found particularly interesting is that in Australia, where you attended college doesn't seem to matter as much as it does in the United States. People are often more interested in where you went to high school. Australians also tend to stay closer to home for college, which means many people maintain strong friendships with their high school classmates. Even the college application process seems simpler and less stressful than what I'm used to in the U.S., which definitely made me wish my own applications had been that easy.

To wrap up the tour, I learned the famous Australian sports cheer: "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, Oi, Oi!" It was a fun way to end the day, and so far my experience in Australia is off to a great start.