Tell us about an experience you had that you could not have had at home.
Erica: I decided to go with TEAN because it was one of the programs available for me to go on through my university. TEAN had lot of choices on where to study and seemed to have a grasp on every aspect of the study abroad process. They take care of you every step of the way, which is extremely helpful and takes a lot of pre-planning stress away. When I finally narrowed my decision down to Melbourne, TEAN just seemed to be the natural program to choose. They have a program with Melbourne University, which is a great school in Australia. The university had a lot of courses that I could transfer back to my home university and was a fun school as well. I also liked that TEAN provided housing for you that way you didn’t have to worry about it when you arrived.
I had so many great experiences in Australia I could have never had home! I think one that sticks out is the orientation TEAN provided in Sydney. We got to climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge and eat lunch at the Sydney Opera House. It was absolutely incredible! Also, after my study abroad experience I am fortunate enough to now have friends from all over the world. I not only met Australians while in Melbourne but people from Canada, Scotland, England, France, and many more places. I loved experiencing the Australian culture and sharing this adventure with the friends I made there who I believe will now be in my life forever.
What is one piece of advice you'd give future TEAN-Melbourne students?
Erica: My advice for future students would be to create a budget…then add wiggle room. It is inevitable that you will be spending more money than you originally planned. Australia is more expensive than America so students should be ready for this before they arrive. I also advise to take every opportunity possible! Don’t be afraid to try new things. You’ve already decided to study abroad, which is already out of a lot of people’s comfort zones, so make the most of it! Five months really flies by and I know I wish I could go back. Savor every minute of the abroad experience because before you know it, it will be over.
Tell us about any interesting cultural tidbits you noticed about your country.
Erica: Australians are extremely friendly and like to joke around with others. They are a bit more straight-forward than Americans and poking fun at each other is a form of endearment. I loved the Australian culture and thought it was much more relaxed than in America. It’s also interesting to note that you don’t have to tip service industry workers in Australia because it’s already included. This causes a little bit of difference in service compared to America because they don’t have to work for their tips. Australians are also more comfortable with curse words, which is a random thing to notice but they really seem to love them!