There is a wall in Pablo Garza’s room at Jane College that tells the story of his exchange semester.
When he first arrived in Hobart from Mexico City, the wall was almost empty. Just one photo of his family. A few months later, it has become a collection of friends, trips and memories from his time studying on exchange at the University of Tasmania.
It captures what can happen when you arrive somewhere unfamiliar and begin to belong.
Those photos are more than decorations. They are proof of a semester lived fully, and of the everyday moments that make a place feel like home.
Most of all, they reflect the community Pablo has found at Jane.
“I can say I'm very, very proud of all the memories that I've made because the community in Jane is amazing, and it's so worth it to be a part of,” Pablo says.
Finding community at Jane
Pablo arrived at Jane a week later than many other students, aware that friendship groups may have already started to form. But from his first days, he felt welcomed by the kindness of the people around him.
“When I arrived, everybody was like, yeah, come over here, join us, let's talk, where are you from? All of those things, and I really loved it. It was a great experience.”
For Pablo, Jane’s community is one of the best parts of his UTAS exchange experience.
“I love the community and all the friends I've made. That's my favorite part about Jane, how everybody just comes together and we're like a family, and I really love that.”
Meal times, college events and sport all helped Pablo settle into life in Hobart. He joined in with soccer, cricket, volleyball and even AFL, a sport he had never heard of before coming to Australia.
A room with a view
Pablo’s room gives him something special too: a view across Hobart, and a quiet place to pause between study, college life and exploring the city.
“In the mornings, you can see the sunrise, it's very beautiful. At night, depending on which stage of the year you're on, you can see the moonrise as well. You can see it reflect on the riverside. It's such an amazing view.”
Pablo’s advice for exchange students
Looking back, Pablo says his time in Hobart would be very different without Jane.
“If I hadn't come to Jane, it would be a whole different story. I am really glad that I came to Jane and became part of this beautiful community.”
His advice for future exchange students is simple: get involved.
“If you are going to go on exchange, you are leaving your comfort zone, you're leaving your home, you're leaving your family. That's part of it. You need to get out there, enjoy yourself, be social, try new things, be a part of it, make new friends. And if you do that and you're brave enough to just get out there, you'll have the best time of your life.”
For Pablo, studying on exchange at UTAS has meant classes, travel and life in a new city. But more than anything, it is the people he has met along the way who have helped make Hobart feel like home.
By the end of the semester, that sense of belonging is right there on his wall.
Coming to the University of Tasmania on exchange?
Find out how Jane College can help you feel at home in Hobart.
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