Before we heard of didgeridoos, at one point the only thing anyone knew about Australia was, well, kangaroos. The continent's raw, unexplored wildness was why early explorers dubbed Australia the "Terra Incognita," the unknown land. But modern-day Australia is well-charted and famously friendly to another breed of explorers: Study-abroad students.
While Australia is located at the planetary opposite from the United States, similarities make them feel like neighbors. So if you wish to study abroad in an exciting new country yet are reluctant to venture into too-exotic territory, study Down Under. From a stable political system (constitutional monarchy) to pre-20th century Anglo-Celtic roots to shared pop culture, Down Under ensures you'll never feel too far from home.
Australia has 7.7 million square kilometers of landmass, and it's getting bigger: Thanks to a 2008 agreement with the United Nations, Australia's continental shelf has grown by a million square miles. Size lends to a lot of regional variations. For instance, a 375 mL bottle of beer is called a "middy" in New South Wales. In South Australia, it's a "longneck." In Queensland and Victoria, it goes simply by the name "pot." Even the famous (and endlessly parodied) Australian accent varies from region to region. To blend in, elongate your vowels and add "o" to the end of certain phrases. You find out that you are innately Australian!
From whence did the accent come? Down Under and its aboriginal tribes date back to over 40,000 years, but Australia truly became the Australia we know in 1770. That was the year Capt. James Cook of the Endeavor took a voyage to chart Australia's east coast and claim it for the British Crown. Since then, Australian denizens' friendliness, multicultural tolerance and respect for nature haven't wavered. "Each people spoke one or more of hundreds of separate languages, with lifestyles and cultural traditions that differed according to the region in which they lived. Their complex social systems and highly developed traditions reflect a deep connection with the land and environment." (www.dfat.gov.au)
What has changed is Australia's undisputed global status as one of the most advanced nations in the world (as well as leading supplier of vegemite). Academically, this makes Down Under a perfect place to study for a summer, semester, or the rest of your life. Want to study hard, play harder, but not sure where? We'll quickly highlight five major cities for your cultural understudy:
Brisbane:
Keyword: "Bris-Vegas"
What happens in Brisbane need not stay in Brisbane. As the third-largest city and Queensland's capital, Brisbane is an economic and political powerhouse that doesn't shy away from its edgy, progressive identity - its nightlife, districts, concert halls and venues have earned it the title of Bris-Vegas, or Brizzie (www.lonelyplanet.com). It's the perfect town to study if you crave mental, artistic and sensory stimuli to wind down after class.
Gold Coast
Keyword: Surfer Reef Bum
Hugging the eastern coastline, Gold Coast is aptly dubbed "Surfer's Paradise." It's filled with rainforests, bushlands, beaches, national parks, wilderness, and, for those yearning to get away from the city, wide open spaces (www.oztravel.com.au). While not busy with outdoor "extracurricular activities," you may be studying at Gold Coast's Griffith University. Established in 1971, it's one of the fastest growing universities in Australia with five campuses (including one at Gold Coast). Unlike the other four campuses Gold Coast has more sand than natural bushland.
Sydney
Keyword: Friendly
Aussies are famed for their laid-back dispositions, and Sydney is no exception. Combined, the 4 million denizens in Australia's largest and oldest city come from plus-180 countries and speak 140 languages. But it'sn not just for beach bums, underlying its mellowness is a fierce entrepreneurial spirit and academic rigor. The University of Sydney is Australia's first university (founded in 1850). You'll be in good company at this internationally renowned school: Of 45,000 students, 8,600 are international. Nearby, University of Wollongong is ranked in the top 10 universities in Australia by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Higher Education.
Melbourne:
Keyword: Competitively Cosmopolitan
Melbourne is Sydney's nearby, competitive sibling. Established as a cultural powerhouse, the city boasts the National Gallery of Victoria, which houses traditional Australian paintings and modern Aboriginal artworks. The University of Melbourne is Australia's second oldest university, with global reputation and local attractions (art centers, libraries, sanctuaries and beaches). Swinburne University of Technology and Monash Unversity also have campuses here.
Perth:
Keyword: Country-town Jewel
Remote but more than remotely pretty, Perth is the home-away-from-away kind of college town. But don't be mistaken - you'll find respectable bars, clubs and beaches. Just a few decades ago, millionaires made their home there to invest in abundant minerals. But the most abundant "mineral" Perth can claim is, in fact, annual sunlight that rivals Hawaii and San Diego. Education is another rich resource. The high-tech campus of Arcadia University (University of Western Australia) is situated only minutes from downtown Perth and from the Indian Ocean.
So there you have it - Australia's Big Five. Not planning to study abroad? Your options are still plentiful, if you get involved with conservation volunteering, adventure expeditions or overland travel. Whatever your choice, you can be sure to be smitten by Australia's "work hard, play even harder" approach to life.
