to Wisconsin Appreciating Home After Life Abroad

BY EMILY BEYER APPRECIATING HOME AFTER LIFE abroad

For all twenty years of my existence, I lived in one place: Madison, Wisconsin. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lovely city, but I always knew that I needed to escape one day. Remaining in one place for so long made me feel trapped and suffocated; I yearned to experience the world beyond the boring and lifeless Midwest. My opportunity to flee home arose when I found out about the UW-Madison’s extensive study abroad programs. My options were overwhelmingly endless-- the world was my oyster.

Although I could choose almost any destination, my heart had been set on going to Australia for as long as I could remember. The Land Down Under was incredibly appealing to me: the draw of the Outback, the beaches, the warm weather, the chance to live in a big city, and also witness some of the world’s most captivating wildlife... it all seemed too good to be true. The magical land of Australia was finally within arm’s reach! The most exciting part was that I was not simply going to visit, I was going to live there. I was about to go from living in the same city my whole life to living alone on the opposite side of the world, and I could not have been more ready.

As soon as I arrived in Australia, I was smitten with my new home. As someone who values nature and the great outdoors, the chance to finally live somewhere with

endless outdoor opportunities, and a consistently warm climate was a much-needed respite. In my hometown, the destinations were stale and the bitter winters were unbearable. Finally, I had the chance to enjoy the outdoors no matter what time of year and I was happier than ever.

My new home was about an hour’s public transportation ride from the heart of Sydney. My new life consisted of daily excursions: I visited some of the world’s finest beaches, explored the city, took advantage of the nightlife, hiked in the Blue Mountains, and traveled the surrounding areas including Melbourne on the southern coast. Compared to my monotonous life in Wisconsin, I was in my own personal heaven.

Along with my adventuring, one of my favorite parts of living in Australia was experiencing a different culture and way of life. It may seem as though Australians and Americans are very similar, but Australians approach life with an entirely different mindset. Though they don’t all fit the “chilled out surfer” stereotype, their mentality regarding work and play is much more balanced than it is in the U.S. Instead of allowing their work to consume their lives-- which commonly occurs in America (and is something I am certainly guilty of)-- Australians make time to relax and do what they love. They put less pressure on productivity and success, and instead, emphasize pleasure in daily life.

Unfortunately, disaster struck after about a month of living my best life in my dream home. As it raced around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic forced me to make an important decision: whether I should take the risk and stay in Australia where I had never been more content, or come home to the very place I needed so desperately to escape. After

ALL I NEED IS TO BE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT I LOVE, DOING WHAT I LOVE, WITH PEOPLE THAT I LOVE.

many hours of tears and stressful debates, I decided that the chance of being unable to return home to my family in case of an emergency was too great. So I made the hardest and saddest decision of my life to return home. Already dreaming of the day I would return, I grudgingly packed my things and left the Land of Oz. Although I was traumatized by having my paradise ripped away from me, I was forced to look for silver linings in order to survive quarantine. Armed with my new repertoire of experiences and recently refreshed outlook on life, I began experiencing life in Wisconsin from a new perspective. Despite the Wisconsin landscapes being significantly less magnificent than those of Australia, I was able to recognize their distinct beauty. I also began to appreciate Madison as a city unlike any other. With my newfound appreciation of Wisconsin’s charm, my previously mundane home was now a place to cherish.

My biggest realization from my time in Australia is that I don’t need the perfect career, or a high paying job to be happy in life. All I need is to be in a place that I love, doing what I love, with people I love. There is no onesize-fits-all life path-- I know now that life is ever-changing, and achieving happiness is most important. I can lead a life that balances work and play wherever I go. I will enjoy the little things that are exclusive to each destination, including my own home. Even though I know Madison won’t be my home for much longer, knowing that I will eventually be able to travel and return to my favorite place has made me appreciate my home more than ever.

Souvenirs is a collection of travel and multicultural experiences from students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Souvenirs’ mission is to provide a platform for students to share lessons they learned while traveling and to provide readers with quality information while inspiring wanderlust.