I attended an Orientation Day for the UK/FRANCE Study Tour. Our first homework was to write a about our future trip. What were our expectations, our goals, our concerns, our interests? This is what I'm submitting.
This will be the very first time I feel that I am travelling ‘alone’. Technicially, I am alone since I will be going with 11 strangers to 2 countries I have never been to. I have never flown and travelled by myself so this experience is most definetly out of my comfort zone. Infact, the idea of this tour was an impulsive decision.I applied on the very last day and had to be encouraged to get out of bed for my interview. I was hesitant I could actually do this. I wanted to go, but would I really?
Four months in and my parents are still against me going, they are against me doing anything they wouldn’t do in their old age. They were even against me going on an exchange program to Korea - my life long dream. I listen to them because discouraging words are hard to ignore when they are drilled in your brain on a regular basis. The applying of this trip was an act of rebellion and frustation.
And now this trip is a reality. I really am going. If this tour goes according to plan, I will prove to them and to myself that, against all odds, I can do anything I want to do. My self confidence will have grown and hopefully my voice of self-doubt will be nothing but an annoying whisper in the back of my head. The feeling of independence will be immense. I will have the secret pleasure of accomplishing something my parents were so passionately resentful of.
I expect a great adventure. I want to learn everything, I am a sponge. If I was a cow, I’d open up all four stomaches so I can digest the information thrown at me. My travel journey will be well documented as I do not want to forget anything. I will be overwhelmed with possibilities in a new city and run out of time, energy and perhaps money. I will have numberous sleepless and restless nights. There is no time to sleep. I will leave Paris and London regretfully.
In terms of design education, I don’t know what to expect. I don’t know much about Paris or London design so everything I learn will be new to me. I don’t think I will be interested in seeing paintings, even if they are historical or famous. What I would like to see are street magazines, advertisments, shop displays and graffiti. I’d want experience rather than looking at artefacts inside a museum.
I think the experience of design will come after the experience of culture. Design without a context is just a symbol without an explanation. I am interested in learning about the relationship between the histroy of the city and public design pieces and street art.
I think London will feel more like home than Paris. In Paris, we have to speak a language other than English and I will be unfamiliar with the culture. In other words, I think I’ll offend more people in Paris than I will in London by being an ignorant tourist.
But I don’t want to be ignorant. Teach me!
Homesickness may be the death of me. I have never been alone like this before but I think by regular contact through mobile phone and internet I will get my fix. Note to self: buy a mini laptop
I hope I cope alright in the freezing cold weather. I am like a cat or snake, I like to sit on rocks with my eyes closed and feel the heat of the sun burn my skin and give me more moles. I was told conflicting stories of how cold it will be so I don’t know how to pack. I just want to be warm and comfortable and at the same time fit in with the crowd. I don’t want to feel self-concious in the clothes I bring, that will ruin my trip.
- I hope I can pack as little as possible so I can bring back as much as possible.
- I wonder how I will find the locals.
- I wonder if I’ll get desparately lost or have my things stolen.
- I hope I get along with the other students.
- I hope the day I get back to Melbourne, it will be a beautiful 29 degrees.
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