Postcards from Australia

By: Kate Slade, University of the Fraser Valley, winner of the Fall 2023 BC Study Abroad: Stories from Abroad Scholarship

Study Abroad Destination: Australia

It has been almost two months since I started my study abroad semester; wow, it has flown by! I am living in downtown Melbourne, Australia, a sharp contrast to the slow living of Vancouver Island. The first two weeks of my journey were spent in surf towns and definitely eased me into my new life here in Australia. These funky towns are something that feels familiar to me; I spent the two weeks visiting friends who have moved here. I think without that support, I would’ve definitely felt a lot more homesick. After two weeks, it was off to the big city of Melbourne! I typically don’t feel a whole lot of culture shock while traveling, and even claimed I wouldn’t especially in Australia. But seeing this bustling city where I was supposed to live for the next 6 months was shocking, to say the least. I am, in fact, eating my words. Imagine my surprise when they told me I was living on the 17th floor; the town I lived in on Vancouver Island didn’t even have a building over 4 floors!

I also underestimated the schooling system; I had heard that school here was easier than at home. Overall, I would agree that the evaluation systems are easier because there is very little testing; it is easy to overlook the small things! I am studying exercise science, and I didn’t even think about the fact that I would have to understand their health system, terminologies, new abbreviations, practitioner titles, and so much more. Things that are common knowledge to the students around me stump me during class. While I feel like I have the hang of it now, it's definitely something that never crossed my mind when thinking about my studies overseas.

I am very happy here; it is beyond beautiful, and I am very lucky to be in the position I am. Particularly from a future healthcare practitioner perspective, it has been so interesting to see how this culture approaches the concepts and challenges within health and wellness. I do miss the friendly Canadian smiles back home, but I know they will be waiting for me when I return. I look forward to what the next few months of what has already been such a rewarding experience will entail.