Studying while Studying Abroad

Hitting the three week mark in Townsville and the dreadful realization has finally hit me; school is now in session. Although the past couple of week of socializing, partying, and relaxing has been amazing, I am more then ready for my Australian education to begin.

I spent most of my first week of classes analyzing the differences in the Australian university experience versus the American. Obvious changes, such as the grading scale, are simply technical and are in no way as interesting as the subtle differences in the student- teacher dynamic. Granted, the differences in each city/ university/ person in America are too vast to make grand generalizations that apply to everyone, but I can account for my own experiences.

Unlike my typical 300+ student lectures I attend at Oregon, I am enrolled in courses with no more than 50 students in each class. I am already reaping some benefits from the smaller environment such as being on a name-to-name basis with my professors and interacting with more students. However, I am most ecstatic by the way professors address students here. Australians are generally more honest than Americans… It is such a relief. This means that my professors are simply more real; there is no bullshit. If they think an aspect of their subject is boring they tell you. These characteristics make me feel in a much less formal educational environment and I can focus more on what I am learning, rather than what I have to learn.

American’s know that society expects its citizens to act in a certain way to fit the standard. And though teenagers rebel and join cliques to feel accepted, we generally learn to conform to succeed. In theory, this isn’t a problem. Everyone should want to succeed in his or her own fields in order to live a fulfilling life, however, I feel like we lose some of their authenticity in the process. Americans focus so much energy in appearing professional, positive, and hardworking that we put our real feelings and emotions aside in order to get what we want.

I know my abilities and I know I can be successful. But it is ludicrous to think that my strong opinions and pessimistic attitude makes me any less equipped to be a journalist. Nevertheless, I know that when I begin looking for work in The States I am most likely going to need to alter some of my personality to succeed in my field. This stress makes me all that more appreciative of the honesty and authenticity that Australians seem to hold.

I have another 12 weeks until the end of the semester, so I am sure my observations and opinions may change and grow, but as of now I feel right at home.