BOSTON UNIVERSITY SYDNEY PROGRAM THE SYDNEY Shout! SEMESTER3’07 CONFESSIONS byA Amber True Piper Australiansurprised at Lovewhat I found. Australia, Affair Ecuador, and OF AN AUSSIE After nearly eight England were all destinations to which I could travel IDOLIZER months of living in the with Boston University and earn credits throughout PAGE 6 land “Down Under,” I the summer and fall semesters. The most exciting have concluded there thing about studying abroad, however, was the is no other place like fact that I would be able to intern somewhere GIRL ON FILM Australia. As home interesting and teach children with quirky accents. PAGE 8 to some of the most By going away for two consecutive semesters, I interesting wildlife, charismatic personalities, and could fit in everything I had wanted to do at Boston visually stimulating surroundings, Australia has proven University but never seemed to have time for. So I BEST OF OZ: a unique destination with so much more to offer applied. STUDENT PANEL than I ever imagined. But, how, you ask, did I decide on Australia—the Page 7 Following three years of snowy winters and furthest locale possible (and for two consecutive PHOTO: Ross Peizer academic stress at Boston University’s home campus, semesters at that)? That’s easy: a boyfriend on Snaps” “Happy I decided I needed a change of pace. I soon began exchange from Sydney University. Not only was I 2007 ended with a fantasic collection of photographs from PHOTO ESSAY: researching my study abroad opportunities as an moving to Australia, but my true love was already students on the BU Sydney Program. The end-of-semester WICKET SMAHT Elementary Education major and was pleasantly there, anxiously awaiting my CONT. Page 2 photo contest saw Ross Peizer (BU COM 08) take first Page 3 place for a shot of fellow student Ben Friedman (BU COM 08) along the Great Ocean Road tour. byGetting Chris Jordan Political wherewith it will be inPalfreeman the future. BRINGING “Australia has just 20 million people and As a country with the Alicia Hull (BU COM 08) THANKS TO physical size of the United represents only 0.8 per cent of the world’s AUSTRALIA economic base. The United States, on the other came in a close second with a States, but with a population very “Aussie” action shot of Ross Alicia Hull : Page 6 of less than 10% of the US’s, hand, has nearly 300 million people and nearly half of the world’s economic base. This makes it Peizer learning cricket. For more OTO Australia has been forced to PH interesting for a lot of students,” says Palfreeman. of Alicia’s work check out her question where it fits in with photo essay on Page 3! SEMESTER Stats other, larger countries. In In addition what he teaches in his course, Page 2 Palfreeman believes that it is essential for students his course, “The Australian Allison Lavey (BU SED Political System”, Boston to experience cultures different from their own while studying. Palfreeman says, “Students get a 08) made sure COM didn’t University Sydney Program sweep the contest with a THE FINAL completely different view of how people think. Allison Lavey : lecturer Tony Palfreeman breathtaking shot from the WORD They won’t get that living in the United States their OTO Palfreeman during PO350 class. examines Australia’s current Page 8 entire lives.” edge of Kinsg’s Canyon. PH BU Sydney Photo Archive role in global politics and CONT. Page 6 1 experiences traveling and living abroad Thus, if there is one piece of advice I Aussie Love Affair that I was never going to meet or be would like to offer future students of any (Continued from Page 1) accepted by Australians if I was one of Boston University study abroad program, arrival. As is to be expected in the sixty Americans hanging out at a club. So, it would be to put yourself out there. I romantic lives of modern college students, I went out on my own. I traveled on my easily could have let my over-traumatic Sydney Internship Students63 three days into my Outback adventure own. I joined a gym on my own. I often break-up early on in my travels or feelings my boyfriend and I were already kaput, socialized on my own until I began to of homesickness destroy any hopes of but my meet and become making my time abroad worthwhile. Hell, Australian “In just a few weeks, I saw myself friends with a growing for that matter I could have let the fact stats love drifting away from my American number of that Australia’s SED Program Students affair was comfort zone and emerging into the locals. Although ‘tomato sauce’ only just lonesome and tastes remarkably 12 Australian lifestyle.” beginning. rather challenging different to After shedding my share of crocodile at times, my endurance paid off. I America’s Heinz tears and racking up a massive phone quickly began to get invited to friends’ ‘ketchup’ ruin any bill, I soon realized that I hadn’t actually parties and co-workers’ events. In just chance of making relocated myself across the world for a a few weeks, I saw myself drifting away Australia my new home, yet I didn’t. I boy toy. Rather, I had moved in the effort Universities Represented from my American comfort zone and arrived in Australia, accepted that I was semester 11 to escape the familiar and explore the emerging into the Australian lifestyle. It in a new country, and prepared myself by Students this Term unknown. This is exactly what I have was only a short time before Australia did, for new and exciting experiences. I spent the past eight months doing. in fact, become my home. encourage you to do the same. Be patient From interning at an AIDS clinic Don’t get me wrong, life in Australia and don’t be afraid to be on your own. to traveling all around the “sunburnt wasn’t always easy. I did get homesick on Avoid hiding beneath a cloak of worry or continent,” I have actively seen Australia’s occasions and often regretted being so skepticism. Try not to let vanity or fear or best and worst, the keyword being far away from my family unfamiliarity stop you 17 Total Faculty & Staff “actively.” When I arrived in Australia, for so long. Still, I refused “Be patient and don’t from making your study I made a to let these feelings of abroad experience the commitment homesickness stop my be afraid to be on your time of your life. Go to myself that enthusiasm regarding my own. Avoid hiding out there and milk it I would make time overseas. I replaced for all that it’s worth, beneath a cloak of Total Years Running every day of my them, instead, with a Boston University 16 worry or skepticism. stay worthwhile. growing appreciation of Try not to let vanity or included. After all, it’s From day one, Australia. Over the two not every day that your I was aware PHOTOS COURTESY AMBER PIPER semesters I spent abroad fear or unfamiliarity university puts you up in that things in Australia weren’t always in Sydney, I worked hard to stop you from making a beachfront hotel. And, going to be the way they were at home. live every day, long weekend, your study abroad who knows, maybe you’ll If I had wanted things to be the same, I and extended holiday to its experience the time of even find your very would have stayed in Boston; therefore, I fullest potential. I attended your life.” own Sydney University quickly engaged myself in Aussie culture foreign film festivals, learnt student. 2,557 and worked to make Australia my new how to throw an aboriginal Total Students to Attend “home.” spear, kayaked in the ocean at sunset, sang Amber Piper spent both her Summer and Sydney Program to Date In doing so, I chose to distance myself karaoke with bikers at a country pub, Fall Semesters of 2007 in Sydney and from a large portion of the Boston and became addicted to Australian Idol. is graduating in 2008 with her degree University community not out of malice And, in case you were wondering, I met in Elementary Education from Boston but out of necessity. I knew from other several new loves of my life. University’s School of Education. 2 “Sports Writing in Australia” is a recent addition to the curriculum in the Sydney Internship Program. The class, taught by professor Tony Hughes, combines the history, technique, and style of sports writing as well as a basic understanding of Australian sport. Sports enthusiasts and beginners alike benefit from field trips and guest speakers which provide a greater understanding of sports such as cricket, Australian Rules football and lawn bowling. One of the most memorable trips of the semester was to the Sydney Cricket Ground to learn how to hit and bowl for cricket. This full-day field trip consisted of a tour of by Alicia Hull by the facilities, hours practicing in the batting cages, and unwinding in a local pub. Overall, this was an educational experience that I will never forget. (clockwise) Photo 1: Boston University senior Ross Peizer (BU COM 08) practices batting at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Contrary to American baseball, cricket is bowled (pitched) by bouncing the ball off of the ground and up to the batter. Photo 2: Professor Tony Hughes leads a tour of the member facilities of the Sydney Cricket Grounds including tennis courts and swimming pools.