Exercising an international exchange
by Geraldine Hinter
Having
access to the Aztec Recreation Centre was the best resource at San Diego
State University, California for UniSA exchange student Belinda Norton,
who is in the final year of her human movement and health studies degree
program.
"The largest gym in California, Aztec has everything from a rock climbing wall and group classes to unlimited machines and equipment. Because I lived on campus, it was so easy for me to get there and I made full use of it," Norton said.
While initially reluctant to take up the exchange because of very close ties and friends here, encouragement from family and friends convinced Norton to move out of her comfort zone and head to the US.
Norton gained a scholarship through IDP and a travel grant from UniSA, which paid for her airfares and more.
In the American tradition of university life, Norton decided to live on campus in a small apartment with two Americans and a French exchange student
"Students in the apartment complex were friendly and there was always a happy atmosphere. Whether it was cooking, going to games, swimming, shopping and parties together, or exploring San Diego, there were always things to do," Norton said.
"I had to choose two undergraduate and two postgraduate courses to match my UniSA study program. While the postgrad courses were really challenging, I got so much out of them," she said.
"Some of the best parts of my exchange were the weekends away. I organised my timetable so that I had Mondays and Fridays off, which enabled me to see and do things that I had never dreamed of like going to San Francisco, New York and other places. Flights were cheap and people from uni who lived there invited us to stay and experience some amazing things. Everyone there loved the Aussie accent so that was a big bonus – people were so interested in us," Norton said.
"When we weren’t travelling, it was just a 15 minute drive to the beach, or an hour by trolley (similar to a train). ‘Cali’ has good weather and is very beachy, similar to Australia.
"This exchange has been amazing and I would encourage everyone to take up an exchange. I’ve made lifelong friends, had the time of my life and have become a stronger and more independent person in general.
"Now I’m looking at a postgraduate exchange. My aim is to be an exercise physiologist, preferably developing programs to improve wellbeing for people with diabetes or disabilities."