Jan. 23, 2008

- Saint Joseph's women's rowing standout Debbie Bateman studied in Australia during the Fall 2007 semester. The senior from Longport, N.J., recaps her experiences exclusively for www.sjuhawks.com.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - I spent the fall semester studying at the University of Queensland in Australia. The university is located in Brisbane, a major city on the East Coast of Australia known for its proximity to beaches, ideal weather, and ongoing festivities. My apartment was located on the outskirts of the city and it overlooked the Brisbane River. I shared the apartment with two American girls, one from Tennessee and the other from Georgia. It was a very different set-up than what I was used to at Saint Joseph's. I was a few miles from campus, living with new faces, and thirty minutes from the other American students in the international studies program. For these reasons and many others, the five months that I spent in Australia was exceptionally challenging. The daily onslaught of new people, places, and perspectives left me struggling to adapt to a lifestyle completely different than what I had in America.

My greatest difficulty was adjusting to a new academic system. The University of Queensland's huge student population made bonding with classmates and teachers nearly impossible. On campus I rarely saw the same person twice and teachers were quick to redirect me when I asked for help. The size of the school also heightened competition, not only for grades, but for asking questions in class, acquiring a computer in the library, finding a seat on the bus to campus, or meeting with a teacher. These challenges added to my stress, but they also tested my perseverance and encouraged me to develop problem-solving skills.

Traveling and attending classes taught me a lot about the country. Though Australia has a high-degree of diversity, everyone interacts as a single culture. For this reason, there is a great deal of global awareness and obligation. Each day that I attended classes I was bombarded with flyers about foreign relations, global warming, animal rights, and poverty awareness. In addition to this, many of Australia's citizens are receptive to environmentally friendly requests such as limiting their water consumption, taking public transportation, "going organic," and purchasing reusable grocery bags. In my classes, teachers stressed worldwide issues with respect to their subject matter similar to the way that professors at St. Joe's emphasize ethics in their lectures. Initially the thought of being proactive seemed like another stressful responsibility, but as things became more familiar to me, I found the outlook comforting and inspirational.

Culture is not the only aspect of Australia marked by diversity. The country is home to a number of unique environments including the Outback, the Daintree Rainforest, the Glasshouse Mountains, and the Great Barrier Reef. In my travels I visited caves and waterfalls, snorkeled over the Great Barrier Reef, hiked through rainforests, and surfed in waters teeming with dolphins. As fortunate as I was to have these opportunities, I could not help but feel nostalgia for Saint Joseph's University.

My stay in Australia was an eye-opening experience that helped me develop an appreciation for other cultures as well as my own. In the span of five months my tolerance was tested, my independence was strengthened, and my resilience was called upon. Despite the many opportunities and experiences that I had, I was eager to return to St. Joe's for early mornings on the Schuylkill, classes in Mandeville, and familiar faces around every corner.