Program and Location:
Fall, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
Major/Minor:
International studies major with a film studies minor.
Why did you choose to study abroad?
I love traveling and seeing new things. So, I knew I always wanted to study abroad in college, but I did not know how it would fit in. It was one of the reasons why I chose International Studies, because a part of the degree is to go abroad. Which helped in figuring out how I could go abroad. It was a wonderful opportunity and a reason to go. There are many other reasons to go abroad as well; the people, food, culture, and history are other factors that you could think about when deciding. These were all a part of my decision factors as well, but mainly I chose study abroad as a way to explore a country that I have never been to.
How did you pick your program?
I chose this program because Australia is a country I have always wanted to visit. This led me to look at the universities Australia had to offer. When deciding on which university to ultimately go to, I turned to YouTube. I watched campus tour videos and a day in the life of a student at the university to see what it would be like. This helps with the distance and not having a chance to go visit before choosing.
What is something you learned about yourself? How are you different? How are you the same? Or, what did you realize about your own culture by living in another one?
Going abroad to Australia has changed me in a good way. While over there, I became less attached to my devices and more engaged with the nature around me. It gave me more peace, and I found myself outside more often. Another thing I noticed was that I was waking up earlier every day. It could have been due to the sunlight creeping in through the windows in the morning, but I started my days early and enjoyed the morning air as I walked to my classes. The connection to nature that is present in everyday life there is abundant with the beach and mountains on either side.
What advice would you give to another student?
I would say to definitely look into it. The study abroad office has plenty of information and is always willing to answer any questions you have. They also offer scholarships to help with covering some of the costs when going abroad. It is a wonderful experience to learn in a different country and learn new and amazing things that only other countries have to offer. It never hurts to ask questions about something that you could potentially see yourself doing in the future.
How were your classes abroad different than if you would have taken them at NC State? Did you take any field trips or do anything outside of the traditional classroom?
The classes at the University of Wollongong were structured differently from those at NC State. Their classes were broken up into two parts: a lecture section and a tutorial. The lecture section was at a fixed, predetermined time on a weekday, and it was like a lecture you would go to. While the tutorial could be at a different time after the lecture, it would be more interactive with answering questions and doing group work. These two parts would make up the three hours they have allotted. The times for these would be broken up into a one/two-hour lecture and a one/two-hour tutorial, depending on what the class is. This structure is different from the NC State class in the times and days classes are offered. In one of my classes, we went to the on-campus art gallery and looked at the art and how it related to topics that we covered in class. I also worked on a group project where we had to interpret a topic and make a video on it. We took videos of the surrounding nature and sound recordings of birds, animals, and natural sounds. These were all group projects, but how we did it was something that I had not experienced before.
Would you do it again?
I would absolutely do it again. There are amazing people out there, and the opportunity to make new friends is always something to look forward to. Also, new adventures await you in new countries that you have to visit to find out what they are.
