tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19206515388694865412011-11-23T18:30:20.924-08:00The Upside of Down UnderAustralia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.comBlogger891100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-37979700851570506052011-09-25T16:49:00.000-07:002011-09-25T16:51:59.899-07:00

According to the Australian Government, 91% of Australia is covered by vegetation, it has the third largest ocean territory in the world and it is incredibly biologically diverse. The people of Australia certainly have a lot to take care of, especially with such a small population in comparison to the size of the continent. The government has of course done things to protect the environment but

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-91002340288468135592011-09-12T22:32:00.000-07:002011-09-12T22:33:46.359-07:00

Before I left the United States, I received an email from my host “mum” exclaiming how excited she was meet me and my other housemates. She introduced herself and described a little bit about her family. She mentioned that her family was Greek and that they enjoyed preparing Greek inspired food, which made me even more excited to meet the family! When I arrived in Australia, and met “my”

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-4430329255706524632011-08-14T20:54:00.000-07:002011-08-14T21:05:09.461-07:00

Sydney and NYC, who knew two of the most beautiful cities in the world, could be so different? Living in a city I am used to hustle, bustle, and a fast pace, but here everything is a lot more relaxed. Walking along the Sydney sidewalks people just walk at a leisurely pace, whatever suits them, no hurrying, no power walking, and no checking of the watch to see if they are on time. In New York it

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-29129102943949482792011-05-29T17:35:00.000-07:002011-05-29T17:37:58.783-07:00

Do you remember what the first band you fell madly (and possibly obsessively) in love with was? Not going to lie, in elementary school I was a fan of Point of Grace; but my first real, deep, passionate, own-every-song-from-every-album love was Switchfoot. I’ve come a long ways since my Switchfoot obsession of 7th grade; played a lot of roles. I feel like I’ve been like the apostle Paul when he

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-38214309291899662612011-05-22T16:26:00.000-07:002011-05-22T16:43:17.795-07:00

There exists only architecture in Sydney that contains the sheer physical presence necessary for an appropriately grand performance of Handel’s Messiah.That building is St. Andrews Cathedral, an Anglican church located on George Street by the Victoria building in the central Sydney area. The oldest cathedral in Australia, St. Andrews presents visitors the finest example of the Gothic Revival

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-47065032401979142102011-05-15T19:29:00.000-07:002011-05-15T19:36:24.994-07:00

Last week, over our spring break, we spent four nights and two full days on a sheep station near Louth, New South Wales. Or, as more Australians would probably know it, out “back of Burke.” When I found out that our outback trip wasn’t taking us to Uluru or the Northern Territory, I was at first a bit disappointed that we weren’t going to “the real outback.” But after a 12 hour drive each way, I

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-69950015389931414332011-05-08T18:53:00.000-07:002011-05-08T18:56:05.489-07:00

Imagine yourself taking a stroll along the beautiful streets of Sydney Harbor. It is a slightly warm 26-degree weather day (79 degrees for all the American’s out there) and there is a soft breeze rolling in. You will hear birds chirping and a deep bellowing tune coming from the didgeridoo of the bosking Aborigine. The water is glistening and the streets are strangely clean. Wait, a city with

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-83049274734540629712011-05-01T15:48:00.000-07:002011-05-01T16:01:16.725-07:00

Australians are smarter than Americans. Coming to Australia, I thought that college here would be similar to college back home. False. There are several small distinctions between higher education in Australia and in the United States that end up making a pretty big difference.On the surface, the most noticeable difference is probably in how many people attend a university. In the United States,

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-83574969470245900162011-04-26T18:49:00.000-07:002011-04-26T19:07:06.275-07:00

This was a question asked by someone in the United States to my parents in their early years as missionaries in Brazil. Missionaries in Rio de Janeiro. In one of the top ten most populated cities in the world.The astounding thing is that this question was likely asked in a manner that would not allow the notion of "home" to be something possible if they had lived in a hut. A hut, in the mind of

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-51684284192449710322011-04-17T16:25:00.000-07:002011-04-17T16:32:18.048-07:00

A handful of high school students chose camp, where they spend eight hours a day in a gymnasium…studying. Students in Australia must take a test at the end of their 12th year in high school, similar to the United Sate’s SAT or ACT. The test is called the High School Certificate, which is comprised of roughly 10 tests, one in each subject that the student has taken. Depending on the student’s

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-86462715183621460122011-04-12T22:03:00.000-07:002011-04-12T22:07:36.571-07:00

“The Prime Minister is living with her hairdresser and they’re not married,” was one of the first things I heard about the political world in Australia by one of the ASC host mums. Although this was quite amusing, I wanted to find out more about the political process in Australia and figure out how similar it was to that of America. I discovered that the ‘game’ of politics in Australia was quite

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-47155641069238268412011-04-04T17:13:00.000-07:002011-04-04T17:15:23.104-07:00

There I was, standing on the steps of the Sydney Opera House when all of a sudden: DOUBLE RAINBOW: All the way across the sky. I kid you not. It consisted of two complete arches--one of which I could clearly see hitting the ground just beneath the Botanical Gardens. These two rainbows were the best rainbows I have ever seen in person. A bit later, everyone's attention was drawn to the sky once

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-77607029185346814062011-03-27T15:43:00.000-07:002011-03-27T15:45:35.979-07:00

Would you like to make less money? It seems like a ridiculous question but it’s one that many individuals are answering in a surprising way. One such individual is Ross, my “Host Dad” for this semester abroad in Australia. Ross is a downshifter, a term utilized heavily by Clive Hamilton and Richard Denniss in their 2005 book Affluenza: When Too Much Is Never Enough. According to Hamilton and

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-11734513146471825292011-03-20T15:20:00.000-07:002011-03-20T15:23:30.918-07:00

You may or may not be aware that I come from a land of stay-up-lates and party-all-night-longs. Southern California knows how to keep it real all night. 24 hour fast food, malls closing at 9pm at the earliest, clubs open 'till the early hours in the morning, we know how to have a good time. Hungry at 3am? no problem. Run down to Taco Bell and get some burritos. I have found that this cannot be

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-64422759453891005942011-03-13T14:50:00.000-07:002011-03-13T17:47:16.836-07:00

More than 250 birthplaces and over 225 spoken languages makes Australian’s population of 22 million one of the most culturally diverse populations in the world (Australian Bureau of Statistics). The other morning on my way to school I stepped onto an overly packed bus and found myself sitting next to an Australian with Greek heritage. He asked me, before I started talking and gave away my

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-79326757683528475532010-11-07T13:53:00.000-08:002010-11-07T13:56:26.196-08:00

A few nights ago, I was over at my Australian friend Julian’s house with two of my three roommates and we all decided to watch a movie. During the decision making process (Julian has a lot of movies), I asked Julian what his favorite Australian film was. He said it was Beneath Hill 60. None of us Americans had heard of it so we decided to watch it. As he was putting the DVD in the player, Julian

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-82770157876473600282010-11-01T20:33:00.000-07:002010-11-01T20:39:40.779-07:00

Australia often gets tucked away in that "Laid-back" "Easy-going" category, and the place where this stereotype is very evident is at uni. After a while, it is easy to notice a general lack of self-discipline and work ethic. Being held to an overall standard is a foreign concept it seems. Some of the ways this is seen are: Eating in class Using your cell phone in class. Doggin' out during the

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-70679647170927122212010-10-24T15:10:00.000-07:002010-10-24T15:21:20.262-07:00

Australia is home to one of the oldest and most weathered soils on this earth. Throughout a vast majority of the country, only a very thin layer of sandy soil lays over a hard layer of clay subsoil. It is a land that is deplete of minerals, a victim of increased salinity (salty soil), and exposed to harsh erosion due to the lack of vegetation. Rainfall is scarce, scattered, and very unpredictable

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-20037258058134791602010-10-17T14:23:00.000-07:002010-10-17T14:28:39.614-07:00

In my mind, Sydney is on par with New York, London, Paris; all of the big name cities around the world. Only after coming here did I realize unlike New York Sydney really is. Yes, Sydney is a big city, and in most every way feels like many big cities do, except it doesn't - all at the same time. New York is known as the city that never sleeps. I would call Sydney a sleepy city. It’s one of the

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-42473901945754314392010-10-10T15:26:00.000-07:002010-10-10T15:30:45.648-07:00

I have never thought that the land we live on can affect our outlook on life. But if you think about it, Americans feel blessed by God for their amazing country that they have dominated from shore to shore. People who live in the Arctic Circle are affected by the light patterns. And the British felt the need to expand their power and colonize every new piece of land.Professor Manning Clark wrote

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-22560116177423815852010-10-04T15:52:00.000-07:002010-10-04T15:53:23.366-07:00

The Australian Outback.It’s one of those places I never really believed existed. In my mind, it was like Narnia, or Middle Earth. I’ve heard so much about it, but never expected to be there.But after riding in a bus for a day and a half, we were there. We bounced along the red dirt road and had arrived at Trilby Station. TRILBY STATION FACTS:1. Liz and Gary Murray live there, and they have lived

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-5397924388854553152010-09-26T16:16:00.000-07:002010-09-26T16:21:31.260-07:00

Within my first few weeks in Australia, I was walking home at night alone and was slightly on edge. I was in a new place and I didn’t completely know what to expect. I knew it was a safe area but you can never be too careful! All of a sudden I heard people approaching quickly and a light shining my way. When they seemed like they were right behind me, I was startled. I let out a slight yelp and

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-32528461313835889402010-09-19T16:08:00.000-07:002010-09-19T16:22:16.167-07:00

“Screams of pain and fear piercing the night. Children roaming dark streets afraid of home where sexual assault awaits. Parents taking money to let their children be abused.” These are the words of Michael Anderson describing daily life in an Aboriginal community. Australia has a significant history of aboriginal hardship but it still continues today and this is something not many people are

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-70432859119380853822010-09-12T19:03:00.001-07:002010-09-12T19:06:07.610-07:00

22 million. Remember this number.The other day on my walk to Macca's (aka McDonalds) to use the free wi-fi, I passed by a large billboard on the side of the road for the movie Inception. I had seen the brilliant and mind-bending film the day before I left for Australia, and I guess it was opening that week here in Australia. I looked up how the movie was performing in the box-office, hoping that

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-65473421264158615702010-09-05T16:20:00.000-07:002010-09-05T16:22:25.421-07:00

While riding the train home from downtown Sydney, a stranger’s exasperated exclamation proved a beautiful fact about modern Australia. When asked what an Australian looks like, most Americans would respond with stereotypical images of blonde and bronze beach bodies. Upon arriving here in Sydney, and its surrounding suburbs, I found this depiction to be refreshingly wrong. Modern Australia is a

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-51875478283496768752010-08-29T16:04:00.000-07:002010-08-29T16:10:16.384-07:00

When a theology professor, Mark Stephens, at Wesley Institute discovered that I am a student at Wheaton College, he oohed and ahhed over just the size of Wheaton’s campus. And not only the number of students (2300 undergrad in comparison to Wesley’s roughly 300), but he talked about how much physical space Wheaton takes up. Upon hearing this, I questioned his reaction considering Wheaton is

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-84806806416397625142010-08-22T15:54:00.000-07:002010-08-22T15:58:45.601-07:00

Honestly, I haven’t suffered much of a culture shock since coming to Australia. I mean, yeah, Australians use an accent that makes me glance around, hoping to see a passing Kangaroo and the first time I got in a car I almost sat in the driver’s seat thinking it was the passenger’s side of the vehicle, but besides that it hasn’t been too bad. In fact, the biggest culture shock I have suffered in

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-31627752216121179392010-08-15T16:23:00.000-07:002010-08-15T16:28:25.010-07:00

When one pictures a successful adult with a steady career, and involved in a serious relationship, they automatically imagine them in a nice apartment or small home providing for themselves. This is exactly what I always thought, until I arrived in Australia just a few weeks ago. I was very surprised when I learned my host family, the Pemberton’s, were still housing their 27 year old daughter. I

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-71511265649171659512010-08-09T16:22:00.000-07:002010-08-09T16:24:11.868-07:00

Two Greek AustraliansTwo AmericansTwo IraniansOne JapaneseThese are the people that currently make up our home. A mix of people as different as they come all coming together in one home and sharing life together as one family. Living with this diverse group of persons has been so eye-opening and beautiful. Everyone has their own culture, language, and practices yet we are all able to sit down and

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-53232903101402601402010-07-04T15:50:00.000-07:002010-07-04T16:01:12.486-07:00

I watched “The Castle” upon my host brother's recommendation. He's thirteen and quite a character. When I asked him what the greatest Australian movie was, there was no hesitation as he blurted “The Castle! You will love it. It's so funny.” My host dad then made him clarify. He went on to say that it is sort of a stupid humor movie and not everyone likes it. Needless to say, going into this movie

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-45640248442918887822010-06-27T16:00:00.000-07:002010-06-29T16:43:21.808-07:00

The Australian History of Immigration has been just as diverse as its present day citizens. “Today, nearly one in four of Australia's more than 21 million population were born overseas (Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra. 2009. Fact Sheet 4)". Some of these migrants came early on in Australia’s History when the laws for immigration were not so closed or strict. However, other

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-62907254145110792882010-06-20T16:53:00.000-07:002010-06-20T16:59:55.178-07:00

Over and over again people from home ask, "Is the movie Australia real? Did all of that stuff really happen? Is the scenery as beautiful in person as it is in the film?" So here are my thoughts on those questions after being in Australia a few weeks and having seen the film. False: Well first of all, I have yet, unfortunately, to see the ruggedly handsome Hugh Jackman strutting around Sydney or

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-81126519431034773712010-06-14T16:51:00.000-07:002010-06-14T16:57:29.629-07:00

When I set off writing this post I was expecting it to be on an Australian musician or band. I really enjoy listening to music and one of my goals in Australia is to learn about Australian musicians. It seemed like a natural choice to write about a band; however, as I quickly have learned during my time here in Australia things don’t always go how you think they will. It is important that you

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-85401727437191079332010-06-06T15:27:00.000-07:002010-06-06T15:35:05.380-07:00

Australians, as a people, consider themselves pretty lucky. I gather this from the news, conversations with my host family, and even my new Aussie friends. Australia’s economy is doing well. In fact, it handled the blow of the global financial crisis better than most other developed nations. It also made an outstandingly quick recovery. With such a strong economy some may ask, as Peter Singer,

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-65050452412947601112010-05-30T16:39:00.000-07:002010-05-30T17:01:24.773-07:00

The “true story” of Swimming Upstream begins in narration with the lovely voice of Jesse Spencer, an Australian actor most known for his role in the American television show, House. American viewers may recognize the young actor, but the film gives a fresh insight into the Australian culture of the 1940s and 50s. While circumstances may change drastically because of location and culture, stories

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-30548877666794192692010-05-26T17:06:00.000-07:002010-05-26T17:10:14.534-07:00

You are at the checkout the cashier is placing your purchases into bags. One of your items is particularly heavy and fragile. You pay the clerk and collect you vast assortment of bags. The plastic handles of one bag begin to stretch; you know the heavy fragile purchase is in that bag. You try to shift the bags around hoping that you make it to your car before the handle breaks. Then you feel it

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-77280335854748596782010-05-16T15:37:00.000-07:002010-05-16T15:39:14.207-07:00

Growing up, I never knew what to think about homeless people. Whenever my family would travel to a city and I would see a homeless person, I would always want to give money or help them in some way. Yet I was told most of the homeless were just people who were trying to get money for drugs. I felt hopeless and powerless. Somehow I knew not everyone was trying to get money for drugs. Some of them

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-17271825603381706122010-05-09T15:40:00.000-07:002010-05-09T15:52:14.740-07:00

Being what some might call a music connoisseur, I was so excited to delve into the Australian music culture when I first got here. I was hoping to discover upon my arrival, a myriad of unique Australian bands with original lyrics. I was eager to simply witness creativity in another country. Imagine my surprise and disappointment when I stepped into my first Australian stores and pubs to be

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-86245424419993326172010-05-02T15:42:00.000-07:002010-05-02T15:53:50.946-07:00

As I walked into the cool gallery from a brisk autumn afternoon, I was confronted with walls full of large frames that housed the sweeping, panoramic photography of Ken Duncan. The well-known, internationally acclaimed photographer specializes in magnificent landscapes that capture both the shy morning sunlight and the bold, artificial lights of Sydney at night, and everything in between. As soon

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-9385834913380824182010-04-26T16:53:00.000-07:002010-04-26T17:00:19.063-07:00

Imagine with me for a moment: After a 14 hour flight followed by a disorienting bus ride on the wrong side of the street, you and thirty-six other bleary-eyed travelers are herded toward a room called the “Toilets”. After using this aptly-named facility, you turn around to flush with a vague recollection that water is supposed to go down the opposite way here on the other side of the world. This

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-36234647346601387892010-04-18T17:42:00.000-07:002010-04-26T17:01:36.966-07:00

I recently heard on ABC News that the Federal Government has announced that Australians will again be allowed to adopt children from Ethiopia. When I heard this I was astounded that Australians were at one point forbidden to adopt these children. The adoption program was put on hold last year due to concerns over a request from Ethiopia for Australia to enter into a formal aid agreement to

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-69816256505785051722010-04-11T15:42:00.000-07:002010-04-11T16:15:11.865-07:00

When I told my family I would soon be traveling to the magical land of Oz, aka Australia, many of them commented on the distinctive wildlife I would be seeing or the accent they hoped I would return with. However, my oldest brother, Matt, found that the one wonder I would be able to experience in the foreign country was a rock band by the name of, Midnight Oil. To most Americans, Midnight Oil is

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-13909786565292212852010-04-04T17:40:00.000-07:002010-04-04T17:53:20.547-07:00

I have always been passionate about art, yet at times I find myself taking it for granted. The culture which I grew up in was surrounded by the arts, yet didn’t seem to be dependent on them to any degree. While I have been here in Australia, I have felt a very strong pull toward the Aboriginal culture and their traditions. Just like any other culture, Australian Aboriginal people are very much

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-67527610100950945232010-03-30T16:13:00.000-07:002010-04-11T16:13:55.816-07:00

Recycling advocates always seem to have the same slogan that “every little bit helps.” In all practicality, this is true, however, it is not very motivating. Recycling is a process that prevents the overflow of materials in our landfills and keeps the harmful materials out. This process has many positive aspects including preventing the execution of thousands, even millions of trees each year.

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-13657756403276599942010-03-21T17:21:00.000-07:002010-03-21T17:36:42.666-07:00

I would venture to say that most Americans have heard the song, “Waltzing Matilda,” Australia’s most popular bush-ballad. But I also reckon that most of us are unaware that it was once a nominee to become the Australian national anthem. This is a peculiar idea when you stop and examine the actual plot of the song. Mind you, this was impossible for me without first becoming acquainted with the

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-59080317339582863492010-03-09T16:50:00.000-08:002010-03-21T17:37:20.669-07:00

It’s a new year, new semester, and I’m the new ASC Program Assistant. I wasn’t entirely sure what that would mean when I took the job in early February, but so far it’s been a blast! We have 37 amazing students this semester, who are enthusiastic, eager to learn and heaps of fun. Their induction into Australian culture began with Orientation, when they competed in a scavenger hunt around the

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-37512332448456952812009-11-11T18:34:00.000-08:002009-11-11T18:41:07.224-08:00

Frank Hurley seems to me to be an inspiring, haunting man with more talent than could be imagined from a photographer. Many photographers can capture a moment or a second in time, but it takes a true artist to capture the feelings and emotions at the one split second in time. Frank Hurley was born in 1885 in a suburb of Sydney, a defiant young boy who ran away from home at a young age to work on

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-51954745272752228092009-11-01T18:52:00.000-08:002009-11-01T19:01:07.911-08:00

One of my favorite contemporary artists, Ron Mueck creates amazingly realistic, almost to the point of grotesque, larger or smaller than life sculptures of human beings.His early career was as a model maker and puppeteer for children’s television and films, notably the film "Labyrinth." Mueck then moved on to start his own company based in London, creating photo-realistic props and animatronics

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-47939645330082899382009-10-25T22:22:00.000-07:002009-10-25T22:28:52.644-07:00

I love searching for new music to add to my collection, whether it’s discovering some new relatively unknown artist, or rediscovering a known artist that I just never bothered listening to before. I was excited about the prospect of finding heaps of new music while here in Australia. So, the other day I looked through a friend’s CD collection and came across a Delta Goodrem album. I recognized

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-38811879746609017932009-10-18T14:30:00.000-07:002009-10-18T17:09:23.286-07:00

During this years Canberra trip, I stumbled across a book while in the National Museum of Australia. It was book that jumped out at me because a well-known woman’s saying was tweaked to imply an artist’s perspective, “I am woman hear me draw” by Judy Horacek. This book looks innocent at first with a rudimentary drawing style; however, on closer inspection you see that this cartoonist has a

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-36612045119003011912009-10-11T21:24:00.001-07:002009-10-11T21:26:57.311-07:00

Growing up, I’ve always known what it’s like to be different. My parents, Mohammed and Bazigha, came over to the United States in the 80s, when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. They were Muslim. I was adopted into a white, American family when I was only 3 months old. I had no problem talking about my heritage, as my American parents were proud and taught me as much as they could about

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-31976605570274830012009-10-05T15:24:00.000-07:002009-10-05T15:30:07.876-07:00

You can walk into an office and you might have the opportunity to see Ken Duncan; you can walk into a home and Ken Duncan might be there, as well. He will most likely be hanging on a wall, and he will almost always catch your eye. Ken Duncan is a capturer of God’s beautiful creation. He is known worldwide as Australia’s “premier panoramic landscape photographer” and a recipient of the Medal of

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-63056751936868311292009-09-29T19:36:00.000-07:002009-09-29T19:46:40.051-07:00

As spectators looked on at one of the most highly-watched broadcasts of the 20th century, Australia rejoiced, and maybe even gloated a bit—but rightfully so. Without their help, the images of man’s first steps on the moon would have been missed altogether.Released in Australia in 2000, the movie "The Dish" describes how the small town of Parkes, New South Wales played a major part in tracking,

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-17601435781827546562009-09-21T16:37:00.000-07:002009-09-21T17:03:28.509-07:00

Put together four Australian guys, some big piano sound, a little rock n’ roll, and you’ve got yourself the Whitlams: a band hailing from the small Syndey suburb of Newtown. The band consists of Ted Freedman, Terepai Richmond, Warwick Hornsby, and Jak Housden. So far, the Whitlams have released 6 albums and won Australian Record Industry Awards for Best Group, Best Song and Best Independent

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-54541949167450922252009-09-09T17:03:00.000-07:002009-09-09T17:16:56.916-07:00

I have found the Australian political system to be extremely fascinating.More often than not, I have heard an expression like, “If you profess to be Christian, then you are committing political suicide.” I take a step back from that comment and wonder: can a God-ignoring policy truly thrive? How does a political system function when the leaders shy away from expressing their core beliefs? How

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-44542514661700986642009-05-20T22:51:00.001-07:002009-05-20T23:02:09.281-07:00

Rushing through the National Art Gallery in Canberra was torture! I love art and this building was a veritable treasure trove of extraordinary pieces: from the Degas exhibit, to the modern art section with its $250,000,000 Pollock painting, to the three dimensional display of Aboriginal art. They had variety, quality and quantity, everything an art museum needs. I found myself running past

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-1730060015069330712009-05-03T21:51:00.000-07:002009-05-03T21:55:46.522-07:00

I first discovered Peter Garrett, and his band the Midnight Oils, during the ASC Canberra trip. At the National Portrait Gallery, the impressive painting of the group caught my attention. The background of the painting is of the Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory, and “functions as a strong metaphor for some of the social and ecological issues in which members of Midnight Oil have

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-18957993600094532462009-04-20T21:29:00.000-07:002009-04-20T21:32:30.526-07:00

I have always been a political science nut about domestic United States government but coming to Australia has completely enlightened my perspective on global politics in terms of the United States’ international influence. Growing up in the typical American suburban education program, I was raised with the strong belief that the U.S. was not only the strongest, freest country in the world but

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-65366637556668532422009-04-13T17:21:00.000-07:002009-04-13T17:28:13.029-07:00

Angus and Malcolm Young, Scottish brothers who moved to Sydney in 1963, got together in 1973 and started a little band they called AC/DC. Known to the Australian people as “Acca Decca,” the band skyrocketed to the top to become one of Australia’s most legendary rock bands. This band has managed to sell out concerts and entertain rockaholics the world over. Their latest album, Black Ice, appeared

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-12072275594418366602009-04-07T16:40:00.000-07:002009-04-07T16:43:06.757-07:00

If you were worried about visiting the treacherous territory called Australia due to perilous beasts, then you can sleep more soundly knowing that one hazard to your health is hopefully lessening. Queensland is 900 cane toads less today thanks to toad-wranglers a few weekends ago who took their duty seriously. They captured these toads for local farmers who then humanely turned them into compost

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-34711609990836372652009-03-31T21:57:00.000-07:002009-03-31T22:15:03.808-07:00

In a country where many people look to the startling defeat on the shores of Gallipoli as the start of their nation, it is not surprising that a concert to raise money for the victims of the most recent tragedy - the Victoria bushfires - would unite Australians in a way that is seldom seen.For nearly two months, fires raged across southern Australia. Homes and businesses were destroyed, and

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-82262029666261681572009-03-31T21:37:00.000-07:002009-03-31T21:43:35.495-07:00

It is that time of year. I can’t go inside any Seven-Eleven or Woolly’s without finding a chocolate bunny staring me in the face and, though I happen to know the real meaning of Easter, I can’t help but enjoy a basket full of chocolate eggs every spring. But this year when I bite off a bunny head, why not take a bite out of crime as well?Something I have really come to respect about the ASC

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-31916562636195780772008-09-09T23:03:00.000-07:002008-09-09T23:05:24.891-07:00

Brutally realistic, when the first scene flashes on screen you are instantly transported from your living room to the Australian dusty outback, where the dirt from your boots will never wash off and the sun is more intense than you could ever imagine. The Proposition, an Australian movie from 2005, was directed by John Hillcoat and written by Nick Cave about an outlaw in the 1880s who is given a

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-48397355480355561502008-08-24T23:29:00.000-07:002008-08-24T23:40:57.324-07:00

Yesterday at my service placement I talked with a woman who asked me to predict the outcome of November’s presidential election. This conversation turned into her explaining how everything America does spreads to other parts of the world and how we influence countries we rarely give thought to. In the same way our politics cross oceans, other parts of our culture make their way around the world.I

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-29887974816570551392008-07-20T17:20:00.000-07:002008-07-20T17:39:26.287-07:00

Unfortunately, the time has come to leave Sydney. We all have ideas in our heads of what the last few days at school will look and feel like. The people who didn't quite know what to think of Australia at first are now saying that they don't want to leave or that they want to come back. The lot describes my feelings. I came to Australia with my bags and my person, expecting flat endless red earth

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-83328597374202829862008-06-11T23:49:00.000-07:002008-06-11T23:56:18.642-07:00

Every semester, each ASC student is required to fulfill 35 service placement hours. Before students arrive, they are assigned to a specific program or placement: whether that be serving food to the homeless, hanging out with elderly people, or working with kids. My semester was spent serving at Impact Kids, a program run by Hillsong Church for inner city kids in Redfern, an area in

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-31952514621937813322008-05-13T00:46:00.000-07:002008-05-13T01:02:21.782-07:00

You would think that city life is very much the same in all cities across the globe. We view city dwellers as having a rushed pace of life, in cramped living conditions, who are struggling to get by since everything in the city is notoriously more expensive. This way of life may be a little too much to handle for those who have lived in the country side. People who grew up in the country have to

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-49536830971067711092008-05-13T00:31:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:04:44.764-08:00

It’s hard to imagine a city that is built for the purpose of housing the government, but I, along with many other students, sure tried as we drove the four hours towards Canberra. When the leaders of Australia were trying to find a suitable location for Parliament they found themselves in a bit of a bind when Melbourne and Sydney both declared that they should be the capital. As a bit of a

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-56275709898663220752008-05-07T16:04:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:04:45.050-08:00

Here at the ASC, we’re all about processing. It has become our favorite past time. If we have any free time, we like to gather in groups and discuss the world until we run out of breath.Please note the sarcasm with a little hint of truth.As painful as it can be sometimes and as much as Kimberly must occasionally force us to do this as we complain about it along the way, thinking through things

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-26429936752038907332008-04-09T19:53:00.000-07:002008-04-09T20:06:21.944-07:00

“I’m always amazed to see God working in new ways. It seems like His transcending and faithful presence shouldn’t come as a shock to me anymore, but I continually find myself in awe and wonder at His orchestration of events. It’s not easy, breaking away from the comforts of familiarity, and traveling so far from what is known. But for some reason, I’ve felt such an overwhelming sense of peace

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-45617409835036036462008-04-02T15:19:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:04:45.196-08:00

I have found that every year, Easter Sunday is more beautiful and more meaningful than the year before, the realization of what Christ had done becomes more real to me. This proved true as I spent my first Easter in Australia. My Easter Sunday started at 3:15 am when I woke up to my blaring alarm clock in a pitch black room. I hate waking up if the sun is not shining brightly into my room but

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-34985908464274914652008-03-26T15:17:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:04:45.809-08:00

Before the tripAnticipation runneth over me. Okay, that was pretty bad but I'm too excited about going on the Outback Trip to care. Alex, a fellow resident and ASC student, and I have decided that we are going to stay up all night tonight on the the eve before our departure for the Outback. We are certain that we will not be able to sleep but, also there is some sort of logic in not going to bed,

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-8615990563743669822008-03-02T20:34:00.000-08:002008-03-02T21:01:00.106-08:00

It's crazy, I feel the world spinning at a million kilometres per hour but I feel like it is spinning from behind me, pushing me into life, causing me to strive forward into the unknown. Everything and everyone is new. My brain cannot process all of the exciting things that flash before these dashing eyes. The first faces I associate with Australia are the smiling faces of the Wesley Institute

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-34525745581522918732007-12-02T17:00:00.000-08:002007-12-02T17:12:45.285-08:00

Expectations Part 1We leave for New Zealand in less than a week. I’m leaving Australia. It is happening. I am not ready to say goodbye to Sydney, but it has to happen before next Wednesday. I’ll say goodbye to the Harbour Bridge, The Rocks, public transportation, the Opera House, Darling Harbour, the art store by the Queen Victoria Building, Studo, Leichhardt, the Italian coffee shops, and lastly

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-90813435723756933712007-10-28T20:32:00.000-07:002007-10-28T20:42:05.004-07:00

It seems like just yesterday I found out I would be spending my semester serving with Hillsong Impact Kids- its hard to believe that I have finished serving my required 35 hours with this organization. As a part of the ASC program, we are required to serve at various organizations throughout the semester. When I first heard of this requirement, I was excited because service is something that I

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-12959665419859724182007-10-16T15:46:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:04:45.936-08:00

About a week ago, Wesley Institute finished putting on their production of Fiddler on Roof, which details the life of the small village of Anatevka, as they struggle to keep their traditions. It was performed by a combination of Wesley students (including 4 ASC students), Wesley alum, and other members in the community. The performances were held in the York Theatre at the Seymour Centre, in

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-76588436011452833772007-10-14T22:10:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:04:46.191-08:00

The Rabbit Proof Fence...where do I start with this beautiful film? I don't want to give a synopsis of the film because I want everyone to watch it for themselves and form their own ideas of themes and ideas presented in the film. I was in the 10th grade the first time i watched and was moved by The Rabbit Proof Fence. I knew nothing about indigenous history in Australia and this was the first

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-33623825341477516642007-10-12T00:10:00.000-07:002007-10-14T22:29:55.348-07:00

#1: The Lessons We LearnLast week we had the amazing privilege to interact with a panel of people who were members of the Stolen Generation or Protection Era here in Australia. For more than fifty years the Australian Government had a policy that resulted in the removal of Aboriginal children from their homes. The Aboriginal Protection Act was accepted in 1909 and amended in 1915 to allow the

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-30047014154835924842007-09-19T21:02:00.000-07:002007-10-12T00:10:32.648-07:00

Part IWritten September 6So tomorrow, I and 34 fellow ASCers will embark on our journey to the Outback, and no, I'm not talking about the restaurant. We've been assigned "Can You Drink the Cup?" as a mandatory reading for the trip. I've read the book twice actually. It is very interesting to me how it touches upon then dives into the subject of drinking the same cup that Jesus drank from.

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-40651607177706658172007-09-19T20:47:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:04:46.290-08:00

Drama students running up to me asking me if I knew who Captain Cook was, musicians playing beautiful music all over campus, and the infamous sounds of the Wesley Praise Band getting ready for the Gathering are all typical sights and sounds of Wesley Institute of the Ministry and Arts. It is a small school that can be summed up as a place as a place to express yourself. It is a creative school

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-42315033132811168972007-09-12T15:57:00.000-07:002007-09-12T16:04:09.186-07:00

Your mission should you choose to accept it: Attend services at the following four most prominent Christian denominations in Australia: Catholic, Anglican, Uniting and Pentecostal. Do it quickly, quietly and report what you see. This message will self-destruct in five...four...three...(you might want to step away from your computer at this point) You’ll have to forgive me, The Bourne Ultimatum

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-86473154202790866982007-09-04T17:01:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:04:46.541-08:00

On our latest ASC field trip we went to visit an Islamic Mosque for our immigration and migration section of the class. Out of respect for the Islamic faith, all the ASC girls wore shawls to cover our hair. Once we had the shawls on we really felt like we were in for something new, challenging, and unfamiliar. All of us girls on the bus started taking pictures, laughing at each other, and

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-58650708962819289742007-09-04T16:35:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:04:46.652-08:00

Sydney, Australia. The city of...well, pretty much everything you could want. If it weren't for how ridiculously expensive the houses are here(and the whole moving away from my family thing), I would almost pack up bags tomorrow. I would miss snow, I think as well. oh well. If I felt like God wanted me here in the future, I would be ok with that I think. Coming from a small town of 1,200 in

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-92168799819267934932007-09-04T16:01:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:04:47.031-08:00

Imagine 30 people crammed into a small apartment, a night of fun, movies, and food. Well this is a reality and it is a very sweet one I should add. So far this semester we have had 2 movie nights. This is a time where our director Kimberly opens up her home to us and shows us an Australian movie. It is a great time to not only hang out with our ASC group it is also a fun time to see the cinema

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-88237577218240499642007-08-21T18:45:00.000-07:002008-12-08T23:04:47.115-08:00

With tours of both the New South Wales Parliament Building and the Old Parliament Building of Canberra, I guess I’m pretty much an expert now. Australians love to tell us their government is similar to ours. Don’t listen to them. Listen to me. ;) Our Friday morning tour of the NSW Parliament Building with Dr. Moyes was a privileged opportunity to get the inside view on Christians in the

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-47358705051740300772007-08-19T19:12:00.000-07:002007-09-04T16:31:28.446-07:00

Part I Written August 16, 2007 So this weekend we head for Canberra, and to get there at a reasonable time, we are leaving at 6:30 in the A.M….6:30 in the morning……that’s right, you can tell I’m excited. To be honest though I am actually pretty psyched about going, just not about waking up that early. We’ve been in Australia for a month now and this is really our first time out of Sydney and it

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-55267210255828905802007-08-15T16:30:00.000-07:002007-09-04T16:32:30.786-07:00

Canberra Trip, Part 1 - ExpectationsWritten: August 15, 2007 Until very recently, my knowledge about the city of Canberra was non-existent. I knew that the capital of Australia was not Sydney, or Melbourne, but I could not tell you where the actual capital was located. Therefore, to my deep satisfaction, I was relieved when the first step in the ASC program - before our first step off of the

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-72237961839175643282007-08-08T23:53:00.000-07:002007-09-04T16:33:46.725-07:00

Welcome to Sydney, Australia Studies Centre Fall 2007. It's been almost three weeks since thirty-five Americans braved a twelve and a half hour flight to New Zealand, an hour layover, and another three hour flight into Sydney. Since that crazy two-day day (according to the calendars, thanks to crossing the international date line), we've been doing the best we can to settle in and adjust.That

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920651538869486541.post-36348047637656379712007-08-08T19:12:00.000-07:002007-08-13T18:18:00.905-07:00

Welcome to our blog! We are a group of college students from all over the United States who have come together for one intense action packed, adventure filled, life altering semester in Australia. We are studying at Wesley Insitute school for the arts in Drummoyne, New South Wales. Through this blog we would simply like to invite you to journey with us through our experiences this semester.We

Australia Studies Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509671143053085241noreply@blogger.com0