No matter what culture one comes from or enters there are going to be similarities and differences. The important aspect is to be open minded and not come in with expectations. Even though I did this, some aspects took a moment to adjust to such as the sense of humor for most Australians, it is quite blunt. Growing up in the south I was not necessarily used to this form of humor, but overtime I learned to just laugh. After talking to one of my Australian friends, I began to understand their way of life better. They are lighthearted and use jokes as a form of expression. Another aspect is their view on their lifestyle. In comparison to America, Australia holds a greater active population per capita. As a result, I walked most places, went on many runs, hikes, and attended the gym often. Overall, my lifestyle shifted and personally I loved it. However, the aspect I would like to talk about is me working in Australia. I am an individual who will travel to a new spot 1 hour or more away to work at a cafe or library just to explore during my free time. I once wrote an entire paper at the beach with a rock as my desk. Many Australians said I was working too hard and don’t need to bring a work environment into a non-work environment. Conversely, many American family members and friends said I was barely ever working, this was disproved once my mom visited me. With all of this said, exploration is encouraged while you are abroad. Additionally, adjusting to the lifestyle of the culture you are in encourages the immersion process. Also, don’t assume a sense of humor that is different to your own is offensive. The last adjustment that took place was the grading scale. I wrote an entire paper for my journalism class on this. I interviewed numerous study abroad students from countries like Germany, America, China, and Netherlands. Out of 25 students surveyed 95% expressed an adjustment occurred. For instance, the passing grade at USYD is a B for Rollins transferred normally. Additionally, exceptional quality was considered unheard of; viewed as “publish worthy.” Therefore, many students struggled especially since there were only 4 grades that went in for some classes. These classes required you to put in substantial effort in an efficiently timed manner.
If I attempt to view an outsider’s perspective on my experience, they will validate that these were common adjustments many must make. For instance, when I asked my Australian friend Aalyia her opinion on their lifestyle, sense of humor, and work life balance she understood how there was a learning curve. Additionally, after I explained our learning system she said how it was drastically different. With all this said, if you study at USYD it will not be super easy, but it will be the best time of your life. You will grow immensely in one of the most beautiful campuses in the world and meet wonderful people. Therefore, my advice is to go to USYD, live your best life, and take the sports and learning class.