One Backpack, One Planet;
When I flew from London to Melbourne for my exchange program, I was mostly excited about the adventure. I packed my bag with clothes, snacks, and way too much confidence. I wasn’t really thinking about the environmental impact of such a long trip—it just felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
But somewhere over the ocean, it hit me. One flight across the world = a lot of emissions. I suddenly realised this amazing journey came with a cost—one that wasn’t just money, but the planet’s health.
At first, I tried not to overthink it. I mean, what difference can one student make, right? But once I settled into life in Australia, I started noticing things. People here care a lot about the environment. My uni, Deakin, runs heaps of sustainability programs. I joined a beach clean-up (we found more plastic than shells), started using public transport instead of Ubers, and swapped out takeaway cups for a reusable one. Slowly, these small changes became part of my routine.
Of course, not everything was smooth. Adjusting to a new lifestyle was tough at times. I once ate Vegemite thinking it was Nutella. Big mistake. I also struggled with finding food that reminded me of home and had to get used to the Aussie habit of saying “how ya going?” instead of “how are you?” (It took me a week to figure out how to answer that.)
But those surprises and challenges helped me grow. I started seeing things differently—not just about sustainability, but about how we live and travel. I realised that studying abroad is a privilege, and it comes with responsibility. I can’t undo the flight I took, but I can do my best to reduce my impact while I’m here.
I’m not perfect—I still take the occasional road trip and forget my reusable bag now and then—but I’ve learned that sustainability isn’t about being 100% eco all the time. It’s about making better choices, learning from mistakes, and staying aware.
This whole experience has taught me a lot, not just academically but personally. If I can inspire even one person to think twice about their daily habits or travel choices, then I’ve made a difference.
Studying abroad changed how I see the world—and my place in it. And now, I want to do my part in protecting it.
