Observations

I have a new roommate! His name is Scott, 26 years old and an Aussie from a few hours south of Lismore. It’s nice to have both Tiana and Scott as the Aussies and then Matt, Kevin and myself as the Americans with “the funny accent” in their opinion. Although they said they’ve always been used to our accents because the large majority of movies and TV they watch, along with music they listen to, is in our “American” accent. Almost every Aussie I’ve talked to is planning a trip to the States within a few years. They all seem like it’s a dream place and some are even taking off uni for a few years just to travel around the US. Many are studying abroad next year in America, and a lot of them want to go to Eau Claire! How bizarre. I have no complaints about the lifestyle here. Unless you NEED the hussle and bussle of the city, it is an incredible place to live for the semester. I’ve caught on to pretty much all of the lingo, although some of my professors pronounce words very different. For example, my visual arts prof says “can-tra-vasy” instead of “controversy.” Anytime there is the letter “z” (like in the word “organization”) the letter “s” is put in place. There are so many subtle differences that make it interesting to pay attention. There are some HUGE differences as well. Aussies can’t believe how much we pay for education. I knew that they have a more socialized medicine and health care is better in Australia (many times, trips to the ER are FREE, along with x-rays), but I wasn’t aware of the government funding for education. They have a substantial part of their education (going to university) paid for by the government, and in most cases it doesn’t have to be paid back. It’s different from our FAFSA, because there isn’t the same criteria such as how much your parents’ income is. They all receive this money by the first week of uni, like today one of my Aussie friends had an extra $6,000 in his bank account from the government. To them, it is a foreign concept that the government wouldn’t pay you to go to university.  I’ve learned a lot about their politics as well, and realized that I haven’t met one person under the age of 30 that likes Julia Gillard, their current prime minister. This is because they are still in love with Kevin Rudd, the past prime minister who became controversial towards the end of his term. They think Julia Gillard is “too stiff”. I’ve talked to people over the age of 30, and they are mostly fond of the current health care situation, which Julia Gillard had an important part of shaping. In each age group, there seems to be a much more nonchalant attitude about electing their prime minister because each party is very similar except for in one or two issues.

People seem very open about politics here, and it’s nice to have conversations that aren’t labeled as a “taboo” subject.