Kristin Jahn

Kristin got out and explored the outback during a 5 hour layover.

Semester Abroad: February 2009

Host University: Edith Cowan University
Home University: University of Cincinnati
Academic Major: Special Education

Please describe how you made the most of a 5 hour layover.

It was day 4 of my trip to Australia and I was scared to death. The orientation leaders had dropped a group of 9 of us off at the airport at 4:30am and we didn't know what to do now. We flew out of Cairns and made our way to Ayers Rock where we had a 5 hour layover. When we landed in Ayers Rock there was nothing to see except a tiny airport and a giant rock in the middle of the desert. I thought I would kill myself if I had to be there for 5 hours! So one of my fellow students headed to the desk and asked if there was anything we could do to kill 5 hours, and apparently that was funny. Thankfully a bus driver over heard our predicament and decided to help us out. He told us that he drove a shuttle to and from the resort about 10 kilometres from the airport and that we could go out there and walk around for a little while if we wanted. The group of us decided that we had nothing better to do but that we had to be back on time for our flight. So it was settled, we threw our bags onto the bus and hopped on. By this time my overly organized self was going crazy since this was not on my original agenda for the day, but since one of my goals at orientation was to get out of my comfort zone I decided I might as well give it a go. We drove through the desert for a while until we came to a resort and the bus driver said this was our stop. So we got out and the first thing I thought was, “Man, its HOT!”One of the local store owners pointed us in the direction of a small lookout where you can take pictures of Uluru, the indigenous word for the giant rock in the middle of the desert. So we started hiking towards where he pointed and in the midst of 42 degree weather (that’s Celsius people, so it was over 105 degree Fahrenheit in the DESERT with no moving air!) and the terrible sand flies. Eventually after swatting flies for about an hour we made our way to the lookout and it was amazing. The view was gorgeous, but the feeling of accomplishment is what overcame me. Here I am standing in Australia, in the middle of the desert with a bunch of strangers. We had no plan, no map, no real sense of direction to be honest, but we did it. Never in my life had I done something without planning every aspect of it out. I had been planning for my trip for months and here in one afternoon everything I thought I knew about life was completely different. We snapped a picture and moved on to catch our flight but that moment of realization will stick with me forever, even if the scars from where the sand flies bit me won’t.

How did you find out about this opportunity?

Honestly the only way we found out about the opportunity was getting actively involved and asking the locals. We were bored and we knew that it was an option to sit in the airport for 5 hours, but when you fly across the world it makes you want to do and see everything. It makes you take chances you normally wouldn’t and it makes you into the person you will become in the future.

What did you learn about yourself personally through this experience abroad?

For me this was a truly enlightening experience. It taught me that although planning the future can be the responsible thing to do, it’s not always the best for me. Because I randomly went exploring in the outback of Australia it helped me to let go of my need to control everything all the time.

How will you use this experience in your future professional endeavours?

I think this realization will help me to take more chances and learn more about myself. While I have been in Australia I have tried everything from spear gun fishing off a kayak in the middle of the ocean, to playing Aussie rules football with the West Perth Women’s team. I now want to go everywhere and see everything. Before studying abroad I was happy and content with boring Ohio. I would get up, go to class, go to work, and go home. It was routine and normal. But here in Perth, everyday is something new and I am continually trying new things and experiencing the culture.

What advice can you give to future students who are interested in being an active participant in their study abroad experience?

DO EVERYTHING! If a mate rings you up and asks you to do something you have never done, like play footy or go surfing, DO IT! Your time is limited and you may never have another chance to have these experiences again in your lifetime! Leave nothing to regret, do and try it all!