In spring of 2006, I was given the opportunity to go on a study abroad program for one semester at the La Trobe University in Australia. The University is situated a bit outside the city of Melbourne in a suburb called Bundoora. Bundoora is a very friendly and exciting place with a flourishing student life.
One of my main reasons to go on this great adventure was not only to share my own experiences with other students, but also to take part in different cultures. My semester spent in the "land down under" has taught me so many valuable things and has definitely had a positive impact on my growth as a human being. Looking back, I consider my semester at La Trobe University as a big part of who I am today.
The University hosts students from all over the world. During my stay I met people from Japan and all the way down to Brazil. Never before had I been given the chance to encounter this wide range of cultures, all at the same time and place. The experience is definitely something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Studying at La Trobe, one can either live on or off campus. I myself stayed at the "Graduate House" which is situated on campus. Living on campus has, according to me, several benefits. Not only is it close to the University, but it also gives you a sense of comfort and kinship. There is always someone one can talk to and always some exciting event going on. Campus is never boring!
At the Graduate House we were about 40 students all living under the same roof, which meant several different cultures having to respect and adjust to one another. This turned out to be quite challenging in many aspects. During my stay there I experienced both ups and downs with a few culture shocks every now and then; however it was never something that wasn't manageable. It was certainly a great learning experience and it brings back wonderful memories when looking back on it today.
As far as the student life goes, Melbourne has many exciting things to offer. It is a vibrant and very alive city with an interesting mixture of different cultures and people. Here one can enjoy, among many things, nice small cafés, museums, beaches and a great nightlife. Furthermore, whenever not in school, students can find lots of activities going on in the city. Besides the big city, the state of Victoria is worth travelling around. Every year the University arranges several trips around the state which gives the students a chance to see and experience more than just the city.
The tuition at La Trobe University was composed mostly of group seminars and different group projects, complemented with individual assignments as well. The tuition gave room for mixing theoretical knowledge with practical implementation in case studies, in an international environment. For me as a student, I considered this as highly instructive and rewarding. As a whole the tuition was very positively surprising.
Studying abroad is such an interesting and gratifying experience and I am more than glad that I was given the opportunity. Having done one semester of abroad studies has left me with a sense of pride in my achievements at La Trobe University. Not only my achievements as far as the academic part goes, but also my personal growth and the many different experiences and lessons I have brought with me from that time. My stay at La Trobe University in Melbourne is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my life so far and would therefore most warmly recommend other students to go on exchange.
