Simply put, Australia is one of the single most interesting and alluring locations in the world. Whether it's due to the positioning at the opposite side of the world from the traditional West, the legendarily friendly and fun-loving people with the appealing accents, or the ruggedness of its landscape juxtaposed with the supremely cosmopolitan cityscapes, Australia is a destination desirable to both travelers and students.

For students who are considering studying abroad in The Land Down Under, there are a number of factors that can help make your decision easier. First and foremost is the culture: Australia has the benefit of being both exotic and recognizable: "The primary basis of Australian culture up until the mid-20th century was Anglo-Celtic, although distinctive Australian features had been evolving from the environment and indigenous culture. Over the past 50 years, Australian culture has been strongly influenced by American popular culture (particularly television and cinema), large-scale immigration from non-English-speaking countries, and Australia's Asian neighbors" (www.en.wikipedia.org). In this sense, then, living in Australia is both brand new and comfortingly familiar.

And though Australia was considered a secondary player on the stage of world culture for a long time, it has begun to emerge as a force to be reckoned with in the world of the arts. "The vigor and originality of the arts in Australia - films, opera, music, painting, theater, dance, and crafts - are achieving international recognition" (www.en.wikipedia.org). Australian films have become incredibly popular and well-respected in recent years, as have several movie stars from there, including Oscar-winners Russel Crowe and Nicole Kidman. Literature, too, is being exported to the rest of the world in a way it never has been in the past, and such luminaries as Peter Carey and D.B.C. Pierre have both been recipients of the Booker Prize, one of the world's most prestigious literary awards.

However, it is Australians' love of sports for which they are most famous. They are "an important part of Australian culture, assisted by a climate that favors outdoor activities; 23.5% of Australians over the age of 15 regularly participate in organized sporting activities. At an international level, Australia has particularly strong teams in cricket, hockey, netball, rugby league, rugby union, and performs well in cycling and swimming. Australia has participated in every summer Olympic Games of the modern era, and every Commonwealth Games. Australia has hosted the 1956 and 2000 Summer Olympics, and has ranked among the top five medal-takers since 2000. Australia has also hosted the 1938, 1962, 1982, and 2006 Commonwealth Games. Other major international events held regularly in Australia include the Australian Open, one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, and the Formula One Australian Grand Prix. Nationally, other popular sports include Australian rules football, soccer, and motor racing" (www.en.wikipedia.org).

Australian history goes back more than 40,000 years, when it was originally settled by the "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples," who lived throughout the land. "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...It was not until 1770," however, that "Captain James Cook, aboard the Endeavor, extended a scientific voyage to the South Pacific in order to further chart the east coast of Australia and claim it for the British Crown," which it soon turned into a penal colony (www.dfat.gov.au). Modern-day Australia has come a long way from its admittedly humble beginnings, and is now one of the most advanced nations in the world. Students benefit from this, and many colleges and universities run terrific study abroad Australia programs. Whatever your major or purpose for studying abroad, spending a summer, semester, or longer in Australia will not only be academically rewarding, but enriching to your life in ways that few other places can be.