Foreign Correspondent

Second year student Katie Morton reports from Down Under during her semester abroad at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

AS A Geography student I am inherently enthusiastic when it comes to experiencing the sights, sounds and smells of new countries and am naturally curious about other cultures. When an opportunity to study abroad emerged last year, I was determined to win a place. Before leaving the UK I had high expectations of Australia, mainly fuelled by too many episodes of Neighbours. Images of beautiful weather, surfers and obviously kangaroos featured high on the list. What I hadn’t anticipated however was the rich and diverse cultural history Australia proudly lays claim to.

Despite arriving in one of the coldest winters Melbourne has seen in years, and accepting it was going to be a few months before I could wear flip flops, I quickly took to life in the self-titled ‘cultural centre’ of Australia. As the weather began to warm up, so too did my fondness for Melbourne.

Coupled with my studies and an interest in the local and national media I became intrigued by Aboriginal culture. This seemingly controversial topic featured heavily in the news, particularly preceding the official ‘apology’ made by the Australian government for the mistreatment of the indigenous population. My curiosity led to a realisation that this subject verges on taboo within Australian culture, and few were willing to constructively comment on the issue, a stark contrast to the friendly atmosphere I encountered throughout the remainder of my time in the country. 

Whilst in Australia I encountered a wealth of unforgettable experiences; snorkelling with turtles and reef sharks, road-tripping on the Great Ocean Road, exploring the remote landscape of Western Australia, and my first taste of kangaroo, to name but a few. Leaving behind new-found friends and an incredibly diverse city was a challenge, but more positively, my horizons have been broadened and my passion for travel has been fuelled. I’m now left to learn from my experiences, and plan my next trip, all in the name of ‘Geography’ of course.