Hi Everyone, I'm Riley Hausler! I'm a junior Economics major studying abroad in Sydney, Australia! Why did you choose to study abroad? I chose to study abroad because I knew this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity, where I could travel to different places within my host country and abroad, meet new friends, step outside my comfort zone, and try new things I would never be able to experience back home in America. I love to travel, so I knew going abroad was a great opportunity to both travel and continue my academic career. I visited Australia back in 2016 and I immediately fell in love with the country, people, and culture. I always wanted to go back, so I chose Sydney to live here and attend school for an extended stay! I have always wanted to travel around Asia as well, so studying in Australia will give me this opportunity during breaks and long weekends. What was Australia like? I have found Sydney to be a very active, environmentally-friendly, and an outdoors place, which I love. Everyday, you can catch thousands of people relaxing and swimming at our world famous beaches like Bondi Beach, surfing, taking walks, playing with their dogs, and exercising outdoors. The weather here in the summer (Opposite from home) is beautiful, so I fully take advantage of this as well. Sydney is a much bigger city than I thought, but public transportation is so affordable and easy, which is super nice to get to all the places I need and want to go to like university. The food and coffee here is truly incredible. Everything is so fresh. I have never had better coffee in my entire life! What was your favorite cultural tradition you learned or took part in abroad? I loved doing the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk throughout my semester in Sydney. This two hour walk down the coast of Sydney goes through many beautiful beaches here. The views of the ocean are incredible! Did you experience culture shock in any way? I did experience culture shock here in Sydney to my surprise. I did not think I would experience this, but I did. The little things like going into the grocery store and not finding the traditional American foods I would normally buy, the different words Australians use, and driving and walking on the opposite side of the world. Small things like these would cause me confusion and surprise. What types of classes did you take while you were abroad? Which one did you like the most? I took three introduction level classes here at UNSW Sydney, but to my surprise, they are quite challenging. I am taking global development, social perspectives in education, and human geography. They are all very interesting, but I must put in a lot of work. There are only 2-3 assignments for each class, so they are weighted very heavily, which was very stressful for me. That is a major difference. Also, professors in Australia are not as easily accessible like professors at Siena and there are no office hours. We have 1 lecture a week and 1 tutorial, which are small group discussions with a tutor (Or TA as we call it). The tutors do our grading, not professors. I really like my education class the best because I get to learn about the Australian school system through a sociological perspective and it is interesting to compare Australia and the USA. Are you panning to Travel during your stay abroad? If so, how will you navigate expenses and planning the trips? I have planned two international trips from Sydney. I will be going to Thailand and doing the cities of Bangkok and Phuket. I am also going to Queenstown , New Zealand! I am also traveling around Australia as well. I went to Cairns, Australia where I took a trip and swam at the Great Barrier Reef. I am going to Mildura, Australia as well to visit family friends for Easter, this is about a two hour flight from Sydney. I am going to the Blue Mountains, which is like our version of the Grand Canyon. I might be going to Port Stephens, two hours north of Sydney, to swim with wild dolphins! I am traveling with friends and never alone. My friends and I researched and budgeted our travels, so it was easy to keep track of and plan. I have found it pretty expensive to travel here just because of Australia’s location. Even in Australia, flights are more on the expensive side. What did you learn about yourself through study abroad? So far, I learned that I am capable of doing lots on my own, more than I thought I could. I was very afraid of traveling across the world on my own, but I was totally prepared. I can manage a lot on my own and I have gained so much independence while being here. I enjoy spending time alone as well. I learned how important it is to take up every opportunity I can. Every trip or travel experience I could go to, I took. I wanted to make the most of my abroad experience, so I traveled as much as I could. What advice would you give to students interested in studying abroad? Do it! It may be really scary and stressful at first moving away from where you are comfortable and where your family is, but it is so worth it! Honestly, the first few days, I was very scared and sad and regretted my decision. After a week or so, I was much more settled in and began appreciating Sydney and why I was here. It is 100% worth it to step outside your comfort zone and travel! You may never get an experience like this, so it’s wise to do it now! Research countries where you are thinking about studying abroad and look into what you want to do in these places.
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AuthorShowcasing international experiences of the Siena community. For more info, visit the Center for International Programs in Foy Hall 301 or check out our website, siena.edu/studyabroad Archives
March 2024
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