What an experience at UQ and in Australia! Over the past few months, I have surely had a wonderful study abroad experience while at UQ. I’ve enjoyed such UQ opportunities at Mates@UQ, ICC sports and events such as rowing, basketball and Dance Fest, and college life at IH. Concerning Brisbane, I’ve ridden the City-Cat to downtown, walked down Queen Street, ventured to South Bank, and attended the Ekka.

On the 19^th, I will be leaving IH for Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. After soaking up a week in the sun and spending Thanksgiving by the ocean, I’ll head to Melbourne. For about three weeks, I’ll spend my time in Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney. In mid-December, I will be going to New Zealand for a South Island adventure (I’ll spend Christmas there…somewhere). Then just in time for New Years, I’ll go back to Sydney in the morning of New Year’s Eve to spend an unforgettable New Years in Sydney. A few days later, I’ll be back in the USA in DC. After a couple days rest and eating everything I can imagine (well, actually I have a list of foods I can’t wait to have when I go back), I will be driving back to school at USC. In total, it’ll be about 45 days to cover both Australia and New Zealand. I’ll be traveling with just my school backpack, which will surely be a challenge and an adventure. I’m incredibly excited to continue to explore Australia and see New Zealand.

Finals. I hope I passed all of my classes, I think I did. After a few months of trying to understand the grading system at UQ and what Tuts are looking for, I was able to apply what I’ve learned. I was a bit surprised how strict the exams are, it reminds me of taking the ACT/SAT or AP exams. Desks are evenly placed apart and announcements about time, all the forms, and more are done over a microphone. I had one of my finals in a Building 27A, which is like a field house (its where we played basketball, so 3 courts of room). I have to say, with my first final, the forms were a bit overwhelming at first. One thing I didn’t exactly like was how there were volunteers administering the test (or maybe they’re not volunteers but faculty members that I have just never seen before). Since they were volunteers, they couldn’t answer any of my questions about something related to the content of the test. Though, I asked one woman if she could define a word for me and she said she wasn’t sure if she was allowed. I just wish I would have been able to get some clarity on a few questions.

During finals, I also went to the Gold Coast, or Surfers Paradise. I’ve been in Australia for months and haven’t really seen the ocean; I finally did! It was gorgeous and very relaxing.

There are some topics I haven’t covered yet, the currency and the libraries at UQ. I love how the bills here are colored, it makes it so easy when finding the right bill to pay with. Though, I don’t like how the $2 coins are so small (they’re about the size of a penny), they’re so easy to lose!

I’ve also spent a little bit of time at the libraries at UQ. They don’t organize their books by the Dewey Decimal system, so it was a bit of a challenge at first to find a book. I’ve also checked out a movie and tried to check out a book. You can’t put your name on a waiting list for movie here, so it took me about a month or so of routinely checking to see if they had this one movie (it was a film production of one of the pieces of literature I read in ENGL1800). Also, I tried to check out a book but never got it. The way they do it at UQ is that you waitlist for a specific book. So someone could return the book you want, but there is a separate list for each book; there is no master list by the title. That’s kind of hard to explain, I hope you readers understand. I’ve also done some studying, but really found it too loud at times. The libraries really cater to group work areas, which is great, just not when I want it to be really quite. The buildings also have really open floor plans, so one can typically hear what is happening on the floor above/below them.

Thanks to everyone at UQ that has contributed to a wonderful experience. I also have to give my parents a shout out- without you both, I wouldn’t be in Australia on this crazy adventure. Thus far, I’ve had a wonderful time. I’ve learned a lot about UQ, Australia and myself. I would certainly recommend studying abroad to any student. It has really broadened my view and has just made me a more well rounded person.

G’day mates.

-KLG

p.s. Today I’m finally going to Lone Pine to hold a koala and see some of the native Australian wildlife like kangaroos!

Classes are over, which is a great feeling, but that also means finals. It’s crazy how fast this semester has gone. I’ve enjoyed my classes, especially my HR class (MGTS2604), but this aspect has also been the hardest challenge of my time in Australia. I’m a decent student in the States and thus quite used to getting good grades. School just doesn’t come easy for me though, I really have to work at it. When selecting UQ and hearing that it can be difficult to get As or 7s here, I knew it was going to be a bit of challenge. I wanted to enjoy the out of class experience here too, and therefore felt okay about settling for a 6 instead of a 7 (grades are on a 1-7 scale, 7 being an 85% and above). Honesty, I haven’t come near a 7 this entire semester. I’m sure I’ll pass all of my classes, but I never imagined that I’d be just trying to pass my classes. I’ve sought out all the resources possible: the Director at IH proofreads papers, I’ve talked with my tutors and conveners, I’ve had other students read my assignments, and I’ve have consulted with people from home. It’s the last week of class and I still can’t really understand the academic structure here. At first it was quite frustrating, but it has become more humorous. Other American students have shared this common experience with me; just the other day, I was talking with a friend who got a 90% on an assignment but then a 37% on their midterm. I just feel like assignments, usually essays at UQ, are just subjectively graded. Marks are not based solely on content but depth of research and sources- it is basically who can research the best, in my view anyways. And just two more things about school- I’m surprised how many assignments are group oriented, even the 3rd year classes. One of my classes is structured with two 50% assignments that are group written essays, 2000 and 3000 words respectively. By the time one is in a high level class, I would think individual work would be more stressed than group work. Lastly, I was surprised about the classroom interaction between teachers and students. Even in large lectures at USC, there is still a bit of interaction with asking questions or having clickers to poll the class on questions. All of my teachers at USC have known me by name, weather in a class room of 20 to a larger lecture size. At UQ, I feel the lecturers are simply lecturers. They all come prepared with a prewritten lecture and just simply conduct it. There is little if any interaction with the class. However, at UQ lecturers are like guest speakers at USC, so in that regard it is understandable. Well that’s enough about classes. I don’t mean to be rude too when writing about UQ’s academic structure. The whole point of a study abroad experience is to be in a different environment. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to study at UQ and have truly enjoyed it. The greatest aspect of studying at UQ has been the technology in the classrooms. All lecture rooms include overhead projectors and computes/monitors to connect to the internet and display power point slides for the lecture itself.

Earlier this week I also attended a focus group for study abroad students. I like how UQ has this, it allows for honest feedback and a way to meet other international students. I have really enjoyed the ability to have an international student network. Doing this blog, I was able to see past blogs. I saw one that was done by a student who went to my school from UQ- we soon met and have become friends. They are actually going to Canada next summer and they are going to stop in DC for 4th of July and stay with me (if I’m in DC, which is pretty likely). Additionally, on a Quest trip, I met fellow blogger Steven. We have both attended Quest activities, conducted student blogs, and have gone to the focus group. We’ve even planned a trip to Cairns after school gets out, I’m so excited! This little network of students has been wonderful. It has been great to meet people who want to travel and explore Australia too.

Friday was the last formal dinner for IH. It was a dinner to give out a bunch of awards and to begin the Executive Board of 2012. We had a Christmas dinner, which was actually pretty good. Although the usual food is pretty iffy and it costs way too much to live at IH, I’ve really enjoyed my time at IH. I’ve been able to contribute to some ICC sports and have had a wonderful time watching IH compete in Dance-Fest and other ICC events.

On Saturday I went to the Victoria Golf Complex. I participated in a long drive competition at UQ and made it to the finals. Although I had the longest drive for the girls, it didn’t occur during my 3 swings (I came so close to winning at Cobra drive, ugh). It was still fun though, we also played putt putt and had lunch. They were very hospitable, and I hope there are more opportunities for students at UQ to play golf.

Halloween. I didn’t really know that Halloween isn’t too big in Australia. I was still able to celebrate by attending Quest’s Boat Party. I went as a construction worker, wearing jean shorts and a hazard vest. I didn’t want to buy anything for this one night, so I just used what I had. It was a really fun night and I met some great people.

Well, that’s about it. Finals begin next week and then my time at UQ officially ends on the 19th. This semester has certainly gone by fast. It has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride, but I’ve enjoyed it throughout the entire time. I’ve learned a lot about the UQ and Australian cultures, and look forward to learning more as I begin to travel. G’day mates!

KLG

I can’t believe school is almost over; it is crazy to think about.  A lot of my lectures andr tuts are canceled this week too.  There is still so much of Brisbane I want to see and experience before leaving.  Today I went to South Bank and saw the Queen.  She is doing a 10 day tour in Australia and is in Brisbane just for today, October 24, 2011.  It was definitely packed but I think I got some good pictures.  When attending, I learned a little bit about the Australian flag.  The large 7-point star represents the Australian states/territories.  The other five stars form the Southern Cross.  This constellation can only be seen in the Southern hemisphere.  Although I’ve been in Australia for over 3 months, it still hasn’t totally sunk it- it did a little today.

KLG

I can’t believe it, classes end next week and most of my tuts end this week! My exam schedule is okay: November 11th, 12th, and two on the 17th . It is kind of strange ending in November, whereas in the States exams go till right before Christmas (well, the semesters and seasons are opposite). During the week of studying between the end of classes and exams, I plan to visit some of the local attractions. I haven’t gone to Koala Sanctuary yet to hold a Koala or to Surfer’s Paradise.

After exams are over, it will be Halloween. Most Australians just know it from the movies, which is kind of funny to me. It seems that a lot of Australians know American things from movies. The other day I attended a study abroad session, where I met UQ students going abroad and some going to the USA. One of the first things I was asked by this girl was if the frat parties in the States are like how they are in the movies. I simply said “yeah, pretty much” and she just became so excited. She told me how she just wants a red solo cup. I couldn’t help but smile a little.

Once classes end, I will be traveling to Cairns and then to Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, and New Zealand. One of the things I really wanted to do while in OZ is be in Sydney for New Years; somehow I was able to plan for this! I’m so excited and just simply can’t wait.

Today I attend a session about returning home and the reverse culture shock that can happen. The USA and Australia are certainly different in terms of culture and academics, so I’m sure this will happen when I return. I already have a list of foods to eat once I get back to the States.

I’ve also been walking around campus lately and noticing all the flowers and things in bloom. The attached picture shows a tree with purpleish/blueish petals. They are really pretty and all over campus.

KLG

It has now been about 3 months since I have been in Australia, and I have about 3 months left.  Australia has been amazing, but of course I have missed people from home.  However, with the use of skype, email, facebook, and the regular old mail, I have been able to stay connected.

I’ve also had to start arranging things for when I return back home or at USC, that is.  With the time difference, if I want to make a call back to the USA, I have to call after 11pm to make it 9am or later there.

Although school is ending soon, I will be staying longer and traveling throughout Australia and New Zealand.  To my surprise, a lot of international students will be returning home immediately after classes end.  I would have expected them to stay longer and travel- when will they ever be in Australia again!?!?  I had also expected to meet Australian students from all over Australia; however, students here don’t really venture away from home, so most students are from Brisbane.

As a Hospitality Management major, I have been a bit observant with how this industry works in Australia compared to that of the USA.  To my surprise, there are many differences.

1)      Weddings.  In OZ, there is no rehearsal dinner.  I’ve attended a wedding in OZ, and the ceremony is quite similar to that of the USA.  However, my Mates@UQ family has a son that is getting married to an American.  We were talking about their planning for it and I found out that weddings here just consist of Hens and Buck’s nights (Bachelorette and Bachelor parties), the wedding ceremony itself, and then a reception after the ceremony.  In the USA there would additionally be a rehearsal dinner and usually a brunch the day after the ceremony.

2)      Customer Service.  I’ve been hung up on so many times when calling a company (lodging, transportation, entertainment, ect.) for information or booking.  The main reason for this seemed to be that other people were calling and the employee who answered was just “too busy.”  I was sent flowers the other day and the sender from the USA even mentioned this poor customer service when they tried to place an order.  The employee they were talking to was also helping someone else and was getting things mixed up.

3)      No tipping.  There is no tipping in OZ, which I believe contributes to the fact that the customer service can be a bit lacking here since they are not working for tips.  So there is no tipping expected at bars, restaurants, and with taxi drivers.

4)      Restaurants.  In the USA, it is perfectly okay to send back a meal that is not cooked properly, over seasoned, ect.  The customer is generally right, if the description in the menu said it was not spicy and it is, then there is an issue.  In OZ, customers would never send back a meal for treating their “mates” like that would not be respectful- saying they messed up.  My HR teacher used this example in lecture and I confirmed this with my Mates@UQ family.

5)      Flexibility.  Depending on the venue, in the USA hospitality managers would try to be accommodating.  For example, Ritz Carlton managers have an allowance to spend each year to satisfy or remedy customer issues.  Additionally, the term of “comping” or complimentary service or meal is used in the USA.  Typically, the goal in the USA is to satisfy the customer.  This is a hard topic to give examples of, but basically the hospitality industry here is not very flexible.  I’ve called for store hours once and they were not sure and didn’t offer to go find out, or I asked for this makeup thing to be opened since there was not a really good description about it but the manager gave me a hard time saying that was an absurd request (if there is no description of what powders/colors are inside except for a name of the item on the front, how can you expect me to buy it?!?!).

I understand now how some foreigners view Americans as people who complain and are never satisfied.  However, as one approaching the real world of the hospitality industry, I would rather someone tell me how to improve the company than not.  If someone’s meal is not right, then it is the manager’s responsibility to fix it.  Or if a guest checking into a hotel needs to use a pen for a minute, it would seem logical for the hotel employee to just let the guest use their pen for a minute rather than make a fuse about it.  It’s the little things.  I understand there are cultural differences between the USA and OZ, I just hope to encounter some more hospitable people/services when I travel after school gets out.

KLG

Where do I begin?  This past week or so has been quite busy.

Friday: Soiree.  This annual IH event was a blast.  The night was filled with students showing off their musical talents, food from around the world, animals and Hannah tattoos.  I am not so musically talented, so I was amazed with all the talent at IH.  I have been learning guitar, but nowhere near ready to perform anything.  A lot of the food was Asian inspired, but there were also other things– the Belgium waffle dessert was amazing!  There was also a display of different animals- I saw a Wombat!  It looks like a huge stuffed animal, it was so cute.  I also got a Hannah tattoo of a fish on my shoulder.

Saturday: China Town and Mates@UQ.  I had all day Saturday to just pack and relax, so I decided to go to China Town (the Valley) with one of my friends here.  There were a lot of craft-type booths and fresh markets.  Saturday night I went to a BBQ with my Mates@UQ family.  The house we went to was someplace in the hill side.  It was a simple and lovely home, built by the husband of the family.  They also had goats and sheep!

Sunday:  Mid-Semester Break.  I was up by 3am to catch my 4am cab to the airport.  I was in a cab of 8 other people from IH.  While I was up and ready to go, one of the other 8 was hardly awake and barley packed- so that delayed us a little.  Then once we were driving to the airport, one of them forgot something so we went back to IH.  Once I arrived at the airport I went to the Qantas area to go through security.  After passing through (security by the way is quite relaxed here compared to the USA), I looked for the gate of my flight.  For some reason, I couldn’t find my flight on the screens.  I went to a counter and they informed me that my first flight was an international flight and that I had to go to the international terminal, go through customs when I landed in Sydney, before continuing on to Uluru.  Ugh.  However, I was able to change my first flight and fly domestic- it all worked out.  Finally, I got to Uluru.  I didn’t have any luggage with me, so I went straight to the shuttle busses to take me to the resort.  (Somehow I managed to get everything into my school backpack- I have no idea how I did this!).  The first evening, I just walked around to get the lay of the land and went to bed at a decent time so I could wake up for the sunrise on Monday.

Monday:  I woke up early for the sunrise at Uluru.  It was quite chilly in the mornings, but it warmed up as the day went on.  Once I got to Uluru at about 7am I decided to do the base walk.  This took about 4 hours, and it was SO peaceful and beautiful.  After finishing up around 11am I had my standard meal for the week (PB&J).  I wasn’t sure about climbing Uluru, since it is a sacred sight.  However, I decided I would try.  I certainly respect the area as a sacred sight, but it is also a tourist attraction!  So I did it, I climbed Uluru.  It took about 2 hours round trip, and it was exhausting.  I have done a lot in terms of sports and everything, but reaching the top was one of the greatest physical accomplishments ever.  The views were amazing from the top, so I just sat there for a little before going back down.  I then went back to the resort, jumped in the pool to cool off, and then went back to Uluru for sunset.  For my real first day, it was amazing!

Tuesday: Besides Uluru, I went to the Olga’s.  I thought Uluru was amazing; the Olga’s were just as incredible.  The different views were just spectacular.  I did the Valley of the Winds walk, this was quite challenging but so worth it.  It was so nice to just be one with nature. In the afternoon I then did the Walpa Gorge walk and sunset.  This walk too was pretty.

Wednesday:  My park pass was 3 days.  So on this last day I went back to Uluru to do the Mala walk and to see the culture center.  The Mala walk was conducted by a park ranger and an indigenous person.  I really liked hearing about the different stories of Uluru.  The culture center was great too, since I was able to learn more about the history of Uluru and the people who view it as a sacred sight.

Thursday:  After all the hiking and sightseeing, I had a day off to do the typical break activities of lying by the pool and soaking up the sun.

Friday: King’s Cannon.  I decided to go on a tour to King’s Cannon since it was so close to Uluru.  Earlier that week, there had been a bunch of wild fires in the area that resulted in road closures and evacuations of that area of the Northern Territory.  Ayer’s Rock Resort had prepared for an evacuation, but thankfully we didn’t need to.  The descriptions for this rim walk were a bit intimidating.  They talked about needing hiking shoes and being in peak physical shape.  However, I thought this was one of the easiest trips of my entire week.  The views again were great and the guide was quite informative about the area.  On the way there and back, I saw wild kangaroos, emus, and camels!

Saturday:  Thursday afternoon, I met two very nice ladies on a girl’s weekend from Sydney.  They were incredibly kind and offered to drive me to sunset and other areas.  On Saturday they invited me to Mt. Connor.  We drove about an hour to see it- we couldn’t get very close since it is on private property.

Sunday:  My flight back to Brisbane was around noon, so I didn’t do much on Sunday but travel.  The airport in Uluru has only two gates!  My first flight was delayed, which was a bummer.  Then, I didn’t realize that Virgin doesn’t pass out meals or snacks on their flights.  So the flight to Sydney was quite long.  Once in Sydney, my connecting flight was delayed and then delayed again.  So a total of 3 delays for the day.  I was incredibly hungry, and decided to get a cheeseburger from McDonalds (I haven’t really had fast food since being here).  It was amazing, one of the best meals since being here- it just simply reminded me of home.  Once in Brisbane, I was picked up by another student at UQ- they went to USC a year or so ago.

Monday:  Ocean!  It seems like every other student at IH has gone on a field trip except for me, but not any longer.  On Monday I went on a geology field trip to the coast, and I finally saw the ocean.  It was a bit chilly, but a great afternoon.

The past week or so has been quite busy, but a lot of fun.  I had a great time traveling and can’t wait to do so again after school gets out.  I can’t believe classes end on October 29^th.  The final exam schedule was recently posted- my schedule is okay, it is what it is I guess.  I might plan to travel a bit between the end of class and exams, we’ll see.

KLG

Mid-Autumn Festival – This Chinese tradition was celebrated at IH the other night. I was able to try some different types of Chinese teas and desserts. Additionally, there was a Chinese dragon performance and martial arts demonstrations. I was even able to get my name written in the Chinese symbols.

I have to be honest, I came to Australia without the sliest idea of how much there is an Asian influence here. At IH, every meal is Asian inspired- rice and curry are the standard. I even feel like such a foreigner sometimes when everyone around me is talking a different language and I have no idea what they are saying.

I have one more week at UQ until mid-semester break, and I am SO excited! I will be going to Ayers Rock or the Red Center. This trip will be a good warm up for when I backpack after school gets out. Thus, I am only taking my regular school backpack and whatever I can fit into it, for this 8 day trip.

Before I leave, I will also be going to IH’s annual Soiree event. Soiree is a cultural event where I will be able to try different types of food and drinks from around the world.

I have two more papers due this week and then I’m free! Lately, I’ve been quite busy with school work, so I am really looking forward to this break. Since I will be without a computer when I travel, I will be able to update my blog once I return (it will be October by then- wow time is flying!).

KLG

While there might not be a huge cultural difference between the USA and OZ (Australia), most people can pinpoint that I am American from a few things. Here is a small list of some of the adjustments I’ve had to make/ differences between the USA and OZ.

1. Paper size. The standard paper size is called A4, which is 210×297mm. In the USA, 8.5×11inch paper is used. The first time I printed something off, I told the employee that there must have been some mistake; I wanted the “regular, standard paper.” She kindly informed me that A4 is the standard and was confused by the 8.5×11inch dimensions I was talking off. I then pulled out a sheet of paper I had from home to show her, and she just thought I was crazy.

2. Cheers/ Thank you. Australians don’t really say “thank you” but rather use “cheers.” “Cheers” can be used when saying “thank you,” “good bye,” “okay,” and things of that sort. I’ve finally picked up on it, but it is still so strange to use it.

3. Keen. At least 5 times a day I hear this word. It essentially means someone is interested or excited about whatever. Again, it is kind of weird using it.

4. Wildlife. There are turkeys and birds everywhere. I was walking along a path my first day on campus and then randomly there was a turkey in the middle of the path. I wasn’t quite sure if it would run away if I walked toward it or if they are confrontational, so I turned around and walked another way. I’ve since discovered they don’t really pay attention to the people; they just spend their days digging in the mulch and making a mess everywhere. Additionally, the birds are extremely loud here and are quite big. There are these white birds (I forget their name) but they have long beaks and are always going through the garbage (rubbish bins).

5. Clothing. I am quite the fitness person and like to work out. However, even if I don’t work out one day, I still like to wear running shorts and a t-shirt sometimes. This confuses people SO much. I am constantly asked if I’m going to the gym because I am wearing running shorts. I guess it is not really an Australian trend.

6. Drinking age. In the USA the drinking age is 21, while in OZ its 18. As a result, there are tons of high school students out a lot, and accordingly they are a bit immature in bars (hotels). Though with drinking here, it is much more of a common thing. Most of the events at IH and at other colleges provide alcohol and there is even a bar on campus.

7. $. Pretty much everyone here views American commodities as being “cheap,” whereas I perceive everything Australian as ridiculously expensive. A Gatorade is typically $1.50 in vending machines in the USA, whereas a Gatorade is about AUD$3.90 in Australia. It is outrageous. Also concerning expenses, nothing is free here. There are fees for everything imaginable, quotas for internet, ect.

8. School spirit. UQ has two sweatshirt designs, well essentially the same design but in either a gray or blue sweatshirt. School spirit at UQ is more with the colleges, which is like American Greek life. I certainly miss Gamecock football (University of South Carolina).

9. Student body. Practically every student, with the exception of those that live at one of the colleges, is from Brisbane. Teenagers here don’t venture away from home. In the USA, it is about a 14 hour drive from my home to school- this is crazy to most Australians I’ve met.

There are tons of other things that I’m sure I’ll mention later on. Only a week and a half until mid-semester break; I am SO excited about going to Ayers Rock!

KLG

Riverfire- This past weekend, I went into downtown Brisbane to join thousands of other people at Riverfire. This annual event kicks off the Brisbane Festival. Fireworks are set off from the rooftops of the building and in the center of the River. The best view is from South Bank by Kangaroo Point; at this turn in the river, you get a great view of all the buildings and the firework show. Although it wasn’t as grand as I was expecting, it was still really cool to see.

Mates@UQ- Through Mates@UQ I signed up for this program to be paired up with someone in the UQ/ Brisbane area. This allows me to learn about them and Aussie culture, and for them to learn about myself and the USA. I was invited to Father’s Day brunch with her family this past weekend. Helen works at UQ, along with her husband and daughter. They were quite welcoming and I truly enjoyed my morning.

This weekend is also the 10th anniversay of 9/11. Might possibly do something with some other Americans for this occasion

KLG

Shonell Cinema & Live Theatre- Earlier this semester I won a movie voucher to UQ’s on campus movie theatre, Shonell Cinema. I saw “Love Crime,” which is a modern murder mystery; it was in French with English subtitles. All of the movies at the Cinema are in a foreign language, which is quite different.

Jodi’s Wedding- This past weekend the receptionist at IH, Jodi, was married at IH. The ceremony was quite similar to a traditional wedding in the USA.

Academics- School at UQ is very different than at USC. At UQ most grades (marks) consists of two essay and a final; at USC there are typically four exams, a project of some sort, hands-on activities, weekly assignments, or a combination of these formats. The essays at UQ are generally more research focused; for instance, I have an essay due soon for my HR class that must be 2500 words with 15 sources. Honestly, UQ’s academic structure is a bit frustrating since I learn better with repetition and thus having many grades make up my total mark. I haven’t quite adjusted to this yet.

KLG