Expectation of Studying Abroad

There are so many different locations that I want to see and visit while in Australia. Australia is a completely different country compared to the United States and has so much to offer that might not be in the United States. While in Australia I would like to see…

1.Sydney Opera House – In all my years of schooling, any time Australia was mentioned, the Sydney Opera House was talked about and shown. I am so happy that I will be seeing this figure first hand and be able to experience a huge piece of the Australian culture. The Sydney Opera House has so much history and education that I am interested in seeing and learning as much as I can about it.

2.Sydney Harbour Bridge – I love going to new heights and seeing new challenges and climbing a top the Sydney Harbour Bridge is going to be one of these challenges. I have climbed Tower Bridge in England, gone up in the Arch in St. Louis, gone up and climbed lighthouses throughout Michigan, and gone up into tall skyscrapers of buildings in Chicago, but there are not many places in the Chicago land area that allow you to see great views of the city like this will and I am so pleased that I will be able to see Sydney from a new height and in a new light. I am also interested in learning the history of the bridge and how it came to be in the Australian area.

3.Sydney Aquarium – I love water animals and ocean creatures and am excited to see and learn more about these animals that are common and popular to the Australian culture. I am interested to know how the Australian community feels about specific animals and how they feel about the workings of these animals.

4.Zoo (any type) – Zoos are a great way to see and experience so much about a culture and the animals of a specific culture. I have seen some Australian animals at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, but I am looking forward to the great zoos that Australia has to offer. Seeing specific Australian animals in their native habits will be great and to learn about them from a native Australian will be better then learning about a different culture from someone who is not from that culture to begin with.

5.Food – Food is a universal way of connecting with people. I am quite interested to see what types of food are original to the Australia culture and what types of food are not offered in the United States. I am interested in seeing how food is prepared and offered to people in at restaurants.

6.Great Barrier Reef – This was another piece of Australia that I have learned about since I was in grade school. I am excited to go here and experience something I have never seen before or experience before. Seeing this underwater creation of creatures and coral will be great and educational for me to see and experience.

7.Education system (schooling) – Schools are completely different from state to state and country to country. I am greatly looking forward to visiting some schools throughout Australia and see how they differ and how they are similar to that of the United States. I personally went to all co-ed schools my entire life and am interested in seeing how schools work when they are a specific gender.

8.Capital of the Country – I already know that we will be visiting the Capital of Australia, Canberra and I am thrilled to see a new type of government system that is different from what is used in the United States. I know that they are ruled by the Royal family in England and have a Prime Minister who helps with many of the daily government issues that a country might have that do not need the direct attention of the head of state.

I expect to gain a lot more knowledge on the culture of Australia and how they function as a country and as a population. I am expecting to gain this knowledge through class instruction and exploring on my own and seeing the many different elements and levels that are throughout Australia. I am looking forward to all the trips and extrusions that are planned and am hoping to hold a true Australian animal at the zoo. But I know that no matter what happens I will take everything I do and learn in Australia with me for the rest of my life.