5 Things I Wish I Knew Going into Arcadia Orientation In Sydney, Australia

You’ve just touched down at the Sydney Airport after a grueling flight of stiff legs and a sore back. The time has finally come for the best semester of your life. But first things first; you have to go through Arcadia orientation. Here are 5 things that I wish I knew going into orientation: 

1. WhatsApp is your best friend 
   Prior to your arrival in Australia, the primary means of communication is through WhatsApp. Sure, your Arcadia points of contact preach exactly that, but let me tell you as a student who has gone through it that I 100% agree. Through WhatsApp, Arcadia team members will give you information about where to meet at the airport, and it will continue to serve as everyone’s way of communication throughout orientation. 
2. Orientation is straight from the airport
   There is no break from landing to orientation. Essentially, you wait in the airport meeting location until everyone arrives, so be prepared to wait for several hours, depending on when your flight arrives. Once everyone arrives, you go straight on the bus to begin orientation. You will feel jet lagged. You will feel tired. 
3. Orientation is not in Sydney
   I can’t speak on what it will be in the future, but at least for my Arcadia orientation, it took place at a glorified campground called The Tops, an hour south of Sydney. It was a beautiful place that had common areas for students to socialize, a big lawn to play games or tan, and even a basketball court. They do provide you with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so don’t worry about any of that. 
4. You room with 4-5 other people during orientation
   A question that was thrown around a lot on the bus on the way to orientation was “What is the sleeping situation going to be?” The answer is that you share a room with 4-5 other students in bunk beds (across the board, it seems to be the people that you will be living with for the rest of the semester). Linens, blankets, a pillow, and a towel are all provided for you. Also, you have your own bathroom and shower. While they do give you bar soap, shampoo and conditioner are not provided, so keep that in mind. 
5. Orientation is fun!
   Between the people you meet and all the activities, orientation is a great time! You meet a bunch of people from other schools who will also be studying in Sydney. I made a bunch of new friends to whom I later reached out to and explored the city with. Also, the activities they have planned are super fun. Our group went on a very short hike to a local beach, saw the Australian wildlife at a zoo, and took surfing lessons. While there are presentations containing lots of information, it is the perfect balance of welcome, information, and enjoyment. 

Overall, Arcadia Orientation might be a little overwhelming at first, especially when you’re running on little sleep and a lot of nerves, but it ends up being a great way to ease into your semester abroad. Knowing what to expect ahead of time makes the whole experience feel much less intimidating. With a little preparation and the right expectations, orientation becomes less of something to worry about and more of something to look forward to. So take a deep breath and trust that the chaos of orientation is just the beginning of an unforgettable semester.