Q&A With Study Abroad Student

Jacqueline Olney is a senior Hospitality student at University of New Hampshire, who traveled to Australia last spring.

Why did you want to go abroad?

Jackie: I have always loved to travel and have been fortunate enough to a lot of places. In the past, I have visited Hawaii, Jamaica, Mexico, Canada, the Bahamas, St. Martins, St. Thomas, among a number of the contiguous states. I wanted to spend time learning about diverse cultures on different continents. Studying abroad in Australia provided me with the opportunity to experience an entirely new part of the world.

What made you choose Australia?
Jackie: When looking at my choices for study abroad destinations, one thing sat at the top of my list: where can I be fully immersed in an environment where the hospitality industry is highly distinguished? Australia, known for its tourism, naturally became my first choice. I have always loved to travel and I was eager to study in an environment where I felt most comfortable, while still providing a refreshing experience in a new country.

How much money did you spend in total?

Jackie: $27,550.00
Program Costs: Tuition - $12000; Room and Board - $5000.
Airfare/Transportation: Airfare - $2100 (roundtrip Boston/Australia). Plan on additional airfare for traveling around Australia and outside countries (i.e. Fiji and New Zealand) - $2000.
Spending Money: $8000 (including extra traveling expenses, food, etc).
Additional Expenses: Internet - $100; Visa - $350; Passport - $100.

What kinds of activities did you do there?

Jackie:I traveled everywhere I had the opportunity to! Traveling consumed most of my weekends, including places like Cairns (Great Barrier Reef), Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Fraser Island, Fiji, and New Zealand. Some other exciting activities that I was able to do was go scuba diving twice (once in Great Barrier Reef and once in Fiji) and also go skydiving (in Byron Bay)! These activities were amazing and were definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity (in the location at the time) and is something I will always remember. Furthermore, going to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world was just breathtaking. Australia is a very active “outdoors” place because of the ideal weather and availability of different terrains (beaches, desert, etc). Sightseeing in itself is a great way to spend time, seeing the most eastern point of Australia, Sydney Harbor Bridge, Sydney Opera House, taking hikes, surfing, concerts, shopping, aquariums, zoos, wildlife, and Mardi Gras festival are just some of the activities I partook in while spending my time in Australia.
How is Australia different than the U.S.?

Jackie:Education wise, the academic format in Australia is different than here in the U.S. There are lectures with tutorial sessions for class sessions. This is similar to UNH classes that have a large lecture for the main class and then a lab for the smaller breakout sessions. There are usually exams given a couple of times per semester (midterm and final). Also, there are a lot of group projects throughout the semester that require a lot of outside classroom work. The people and culture in Australia and the U.S. are very much alike, but also different in many ways. The Aussies are very laid back and “go with the flow.” The service is a lot slower than we are used to here and there is no tipping for waiters. Also, although they speak English, they sometimes use different words than we do.
Would you go back to Australia? Why/why not?

Jackie:Yes, I would love to go back to Australia! I definitely learned a lot about myself while I was there and discovered my different living likes and dislikes. I think that Australia is an amazing country that has a lot to offer. Because of my limited time there, I have many places in Australia that I would LOVE to go back to again, Sydney being #1. There are so many great places to travel to and with enough funds and time, you can really make a lot out of your experience there.
Do you have the desire to travel to any other countries? Which ones?

Jackie: Any opportunity I am given, I will take on with full force to travel and gain a broader knowledge and appreciation for other cultures. I would love to travel to every country if I am fortunate enough, but I would really like to go to England, Italy, France, Greece, and Egypt.
What would you say to other students who are looking to travel abroad?

Jackie:First and foremost, I would recommend to other students who are considering going abroad to DO their research. Going abroad is a huge undertaking and responsibility. You will be LIVING in another country for four or so months and there is not much around you to make you feel “at home” or in your comfort zone. Be passionate about where you want to go and study somewhere that you will benefit from. It is important to embrace this amazing opportunity and take on every experience you encounter with an open mind and attitude.

Photo compliments of Jackie Olney