The Johnsonian

Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: News

Australia was home for two Winthrop students who took part in the education abroad program in spring 2007.

Lauren Bohn and Rachael Ward attended Deakin University in Geelong, located in the southeast corner of Australia.

"I loved Australia," Bohn, junior political science and sociology major, said. Her voice filled with a tinge of sadness. "I miss it so much."

She said she liked everything about the trip and the country.

"I'll tell you what I didn't like because I liked everything else," she said. "In Australia, shops closed earlier than they do in the United States and I also had to pay for ketchup."

Ward, junior history major, also expressed her excitement about the trip.

"They have a high level of chill factor," she said with animation. "School isn't their top priority. What's more important is that they live and enjoy life."

University classes are also structured differently, with a strong emphasis on using the Internet.

"All work is available online so you don't have to attend class," Ward said. "The professors there understand students have other responsibilities."

The scariest part, however, was that the final exam could be worth from 50 to 75 percent of the total grade.

The two Winthrop students lived on campus, which they considered an advantage since it directly immersed them in the Australian culture.

However, they had to adjust to a few things.

"Living on campus at Deakin was weird at first since you only have to be 18 to drink over there," Bohn said. "So we were able to drink on campus. People were loud, drunk and crazy all over the place."

"That took some getting used to. I had to adjust," Bohn said. "It was just really fun. Everyone was really relaxed."

Bohn and Ward took full advantage of their weekends and holidays, traveling to every state and territory during their one-semester exchange.

Among the many highlights were seeing the Sydney Opera House and Uluru, diving in the Great Barrier Reef and visiting one of Tasmania's oldest breweries and chocolate factory.

Both also acknowledged the ease of getting round.

"Public transport is nicer," Bohn said. "If we wanted to go to Melbourne or even just downtown Geelong, we could just take the bus. Rachael went to 'Hook and Chook,' a chicken take-away venue, nearly every other day."

Other favorite foods included Tim Tams, a chocolate cookie covered in milk chocolate, and fish and chips.

On fashion, Bohn laughed.

"A couple of times before I went to Australia, I had heard Australians were 20 years behind," she said. "I laughed about it but I didn't actually think it would be true. However, it really was like the '80s. Boys wore bright orange and pink T-shirts and skinny jeans."

On a more serious note, Ward recognized the value of exchange.

"I grew as a person because I had to find out how to get to the grocery store by myself and how to use public transport," she said. "I relied on me for the first time in my life."

Neither Ward nor Bohn hesitated in recommending the exchange to students.

Bohn put it quite simply.

"Live. Learn. Leave."

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