Q: Initially, what made you decide to study abroad? Why did you choose your program?
A: Australia has some of the best beaches, sickest surfs, and gnarliest animals. It also has some stellar universities and academics particularly in engineering which made it perfect for my study abroad. I've traveled through multiple other countries, particularly across western Europe, and nothing comes close to the welcoming people and culture of Australia. The environment of Australia is incredibly unique and the ecosystem is like nothing else in the world.
Q: What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?
A: One of the most famous surf beaches in the world is Bells Beach which houses a beautiful point break and some of the cleanest big waves in Australia. Towards the end of my trip I was able to take the beautiful great ocean road down to Torquay/Jan Juc and surf some clean big wave Bells with some 2 meter waves. An absolutely amazing experience and something I will always remember.
Q: What was your greatest challenge abroad and how did you overcome it?
A: In the modern day it isn't as difficult to stay connected with friends and family, which made keeping in touch with similar people frequent and enjoyable. However, it highlighted how some cultural identities are difficult to mesh. Despite Australia being one of the most similar countries to the US I've encountered, fully understanding culture beyond the surface level is difficult at first. Manners, interactions, and social moments can sometimes be grating when things don't click. I overcame this simply with time, understanding and mimicking the mannerisms and identity of the Aussies I met made things slowly fall into place.
Q: How did your coursework abroad compare to your courses at UC Merced?
A: Lectures, assignments, and exams were less frequent and typically graded much harder than UC Merced coursework. The 3 year system that most universities use also created some interesting comparisons to the work I do in the US. One example is aerospace propulsion which had two assignments both over 20 pages long and each worth 50% of my grade. I was in this class entirely with Australian grad students which offered some insight into the longer university experiences people have in the country.
Q: What did you gain from your study abroad experience?
A: I was able to experience some grad school classwork, have more perspectives on the ways people live, and meet people who follow the same hobbies and interests on the other side of the world. Truly a remarkable way to spend the semester and meet new friends gain new hobbies, and grow further as a person.
Q: What advice do you have for students considering study abroad?
A: DO IT. Financial aid is there for those who struggle, the experience is once in a lifetime, and nothing will compare to the delight of experiencing a completely new world. This is the most affordable encompassing option and it is right in your lap, ready for the taking.
Q: Describe a typical day abroad.
A: I wake up at 10AM, roll out of bed, get dressed and walk to the university to attend my first class. I get a coffee and chat before heading inside to see an amazing lecture on aerospace propulsion. I finish up and head to my wine tasting class I have next. Then I have lunch and spend the latter half of my day doing an outing to the zoo, the pub, the beach, or hanging with friends I've met.
Q: If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why?
A: Switzerland. It's the most beautiful place I've ever visited and has some amazing wilderness and mountains to explore. Traveling between Zurich and Geneva by train would be enough to see the absolutely gorgeous countryside. Spending time seeing the alpine streams and the amazing lush valleys brings out a piece of your soul. There is nothing like it that I've found.
