Study Abroad

Oi, oi, oi! Aussie’s a real beaut – Spring 2010 Exchange to Murdoch University in Perth, Australia
By: Beatrice Benavides

Prior to my Exchange to Murdoch University in Perth, Australia, I was quite terrified of animals. After Exchange, I am amazed by the courage (and insanity?) I mustered to do some of the things I did. I fed kangaroos, petted koalas and a wombat, swam alongside a turtle, a mantra ray, and a variety of fish, saw one-ofa-kind animals, such as a cassowary and a Tasmanian devil, and had close encounters with quendas, possums, spiders and dingos. Literally, I faced my fears through this trip.

My exchange made me realize that life is so much more than allowing fears and worries to control you. Not only did I gain courage, but I became more confident in myself and my abilities. I learned about Australian history through my Intro to Australian Indigenous course and about various Communication topics through my Public Relations and Cultural Media Policy courses. And of course, I soaked up different cultures, starting with the different kinds of food I tried: German kartoffelsuppe, Japanese Okonomiyaki, Malaysian curry, a delicious taco dip from the friend of a friend, and of course, good ‘ol Australian kangaroo and Pavlova.

Learning more about myself, various cultures and seeing numerous animals and amazing sights were definitely huge highlights of my trip. However, the best part about this whole experience was certainly gaining new friends. It was the best experience ever.