Submitted by Emily Whelahan on the 2016 winter session program in Australia sponsored by the Department of English…
This past weekend, I found myself the closest I have ever been to truly being “off the grid.” It all started when my study abroad group traveled to the Grampians and the Great Ocean Road last Wednesday. I was ready for a great weekend of exploring, and I was excited to see these famous Australian landmarks. However, that all came crashing to a halt when my phone suddenly shut off while I was hiking in 107 degree weather.
I assumed my phone had simply overheated, but after trying and failing to reboot it several times – panic set in. Here I was thousands of miles from home, and my one constant connection to family and friends was gone. Upon returning to my hotel room, I spent the afternoon trying to fix my phone, but nothing would work. Since I was in the middle of the Australian mountains, there really was nothing I could do in that moment. Once I accepted this, I tried my best to enjoy the rest of my time on our excursion.
Much to my surprise, my brush with going off the grid was not as horrible as I expected it would be. Yes, it was hard not being able to contact anyone, and it may have also easily been considered a risk to my safety; but it pushed me to grow in ways that I hadn’t before this program. I had no phone screen to block the view of what was lying right in front me, and each day I had no choice, but to be fully present. Also, I found that losing my immediate connection to everyone back home forced me to spend more time with the people on my program. I even found myself more immersed in my study abroad experience.
Five days and a forty-five minute adventure from the city to a suburban mall later, I finally have a new phone in my possession. My peace of mind has surely returned, but I will not forget the lessons this experience taught me anytime soon. Most importantly, I now know how positive being pushed out of your comfort zone can really be.