GRADstory: Traveling abroad as a graduate student

As a PhD student, Pershia was able to travel to Sydney, Australia to work at the University of Sydney as a visiting research scientist for a six month stay. In Sydney, Pershia is working with Professor Simon Lewis at the Brain and Mind Centre to investigate interventions with parents who have Parkison’s Disease and freezing of gait (FOG). In particular, she plans to deliver an intervention in virtual reality that aims to address the allocation of attention under conditions of anxiety in these patients. 

Pershia explains that there was a significant amount of preparation that went into this extended international experience, including obtaining a visa and finding accommodations. To work and stay in Sydney for six months, Pershia shares she required a 408 research activities VISA. It took her a few weeks to gather the documents (invitation letters, health coverage information, etc.), and then a few additional weeks for her paperwork to be processed to receive the Visa. Then, came the more challenging task of finding accommodations. Pershia shares that many rental units in Australia are unable to be secured without an in-person viewing, which is challenging to manage from abroad! As a result, Pershia arranged for an Airbnb to start, and planned for several in-person viewings her first few days in Sydney, which helped her secure more appropriate accommodations.  

Once Pershia was able to settle into her accommodations, she shares she has been able to explore the beauty of Sydney, including the beaches and nearby mountains. “Growing up in a small town in Hamilton”, Pershia says, “I was overwhelmed with the endless experiences available”. Despite being across the world, Pershia was also able to find many aspects of Sydney that reminded her of home, and shares, “as an Iranian Canadian, I was able to find Iranian suburbs in Sydney where there were restaurants, grocery stores, and bakeries that catered to Iranian culture”. Though she could find things that reminded her of home, staying connected to home was a challenge due to the time difference, but Pershia shares she was able to address this by establishing a daily routine and time to keep in contact. 

Saying in touch with those at the University and other researchers has also been important to Pershia and she shares, “the support of my supervisor and lab back home, the department, and fellow colleagues have been tremendous”. Her department has also been helpful in providing her with consistent communication about important dates and deadlines. Finally, she shares she was fortunate to connect with other researchers who work in Sydney through the International Society of Posture and Gait Research (ISPGR) who were incredibly helpful and supportive.

Although moving aboard alone can be daunting and scary, Pershia says “the opportunity to learn from people in other regions of the world who have diverse backgrounds of knowledge is truly incredible”. Pershia describes the experience as one that supports growth in research and education, but also personally, “you grow to learn more about yourself each day and how to manage your work and life balance independently and courageously”. One thing Pershia learned, which is helpful for other students to remember, is that “it is okay to lean on your support system while still pushing yourself to try new experiences”. To other students, Pershia says, “don’t be afraid to take the opportunity to challenge yourself in new ventures across the world!”