For my second reflection of the semester, I attended the School of Environment and Natural Resources Australia Study Abroad interest meeting on October 17, 2019. The meeting took place in Mendenhall Laboratory. This event counted as an academic event. The program focuses on human impacts on the natural environment and encourages students to engage in hands-on learning projects.
The program is three-week course that occurs over the month of May, taking place in several locations across the country of Australia. A spring semester course is required, and the study abroad technically counts as a summer course. The program allows students to research environmental issues such as water scarcity and quality, the impacts of rising ocean temperatures, and wildlife conservation. Activities involved in the study abroad include snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef, hiking in the Wet Tropics rainforest, completing a “farmstay” with an Australian family, a strenuous but rewarding hike to the base of Wallaman Falls, and learning about the history of Aboriginal Australians pre- and post-colonialization.
The event was very informative, taking us through many of the individual days of the trip and the activities that would be completed on those days. Two students who had gone on the trip previously were also present, and their insight into what to pack, where to eat, and how much money to budget was a great asset to the event. The coordinators were also extremely knowledgeable, answering all the attending students’ questions quickly and with detail. The presentation covered all the academic work that students are expected to complete over the trip, including giving a detailed outline of projects, their instructions, and due dates while in Australia. The students were able to weigh in on the difficulty of the projects and time management while on the study abroad, explaining that the trip was rooted in academic learning. The presentation also explained the cost of the trip and how to apply for funding, which was extremely helpful. The presenters even passed out a printout of both university-wide scholarships and Office of International Affairs specific scholarships.
This event relates to International Affairs in many ways. I think it is extremely important for every student to study abroad, especially those who are involved in organizations with an international slant. Study abroad experiences give students opportunities to engage in hands-on learning, teaches students how to navigate international travel, and imbues students with an immense amount of self-confidence. Most importantly, I urge students to consider study abroad experiences that may be outside of your specific major. I am an English major and an Italian minor, and there are a multitude of exciting study abroad programs that fit inside those boxes. While those programs are absolutely something for me to consider, I firmly believe that students should at least look into programs that are simply interesting to them. It is important to gain academic credit from study abroad programs, but it is also important to expand your knowledge of the world and create environments in which learning is a joy, not a chore.