Motivation
Growing up on a cattle station, it was always a dream of mine to visit Texas and see the Western lifestyle over there. By attending Texas A&M, I figured it would be a good way of being able to really immerse myself in the culture and meet more people than I would've by visiting.
Personal Development
I made heaps of really good friends that I'll have for life. Through playing collegiate rugby, I was able to travel and see a range of different states and cities and try a whole range of new experiences. This experience helped open my eyes to the southern states of America and changed my previous view on the country as whole, mostly for the better.
Professional Development
I met a lot of people within my industry and made some key contacts that I may be able to lean on in the future if I was to relocate back to the United States for employment down the track.
Budget
My budgeting consisted of setting a weekly spending limit and trying not to go above that. My major expenses were accommodation, food and health insurance through the university, however as I lived and ate on campus for the majority of my stay, you can definitely do it cheaper if you were to live off campus and provide your own meals.
The funding I received was very beneficial in enhancing my experience, as I used it for things such as sports passes for football games, covering the cost of university rugby tours and travelling around Texas.
Accommodation
I found out about my accommodation on campus through the university. My living arrangements were satisfactory, regardless of the fact that I shared a dorm room with another student. My advice to incoming students would be to apply for apartment living off campus if you are not comfortable sharing a room with someone you did not know prior to the exchange.
Highlight
The highlight of my experience was probably our rugby tour up to Colorado Springs and Boulder. We got to play some good teams, see some beautiful scenery, and celebrate a little bit after games. If you play rugby here in Australia, I would definitely recommend giving the A&M rugby team a crack. Another highlight was the night football game at Kyle Field, the atmosphere was electric.
Advice/Top Tips
Just throw yourself into as many different things as possible without feeling stretched. Join a team or an organization, its a great way to make mates. Everything is bigger in Texas, so there's no shortage of things to do.
