Looking at Australia

[SunDancer]

I got accepted to two study abroad programs in Australia today for a semester in a year and a half. The two programs are Newcastle and Macquire. I love Sydney alot from pictures and what I've heard/read. Seems like it's a cultural heaven with the building artitect, restaurants that are excellent, and many things to do. Not to mention nice weather. I was wondering, is this Australia worth going to for those who been/live in down under? Does it seem to have a isolation from the world? Is their anti-american in the country? What kind of country is it in terms of democracy, free-market, or is it a socialistic country that is like Scavandian countries?

[Suicane75]

The women have accents that make even the ugly ones seem hot, that's all I know about Australia. Oh, and the Kangaroos.

[Young Drachma]

Australia is more like the US in terms of its economics. It's certainly nothing like Scandavia, politically. In terms of foreign policy, the nation is something of a regional superpower and has immigration policy that despite an influx of Asians and others to the country, the government seems pretty opposed to a huge infusion of outsiders.

The country isn't anti-US, in fact, the Australians were one of the few countries to support Bush in his "war on everyone" (sorry, couldn't help it) But yeah, they're pretty US friendly. The country actually had a vote a few years ago to become a republic like the US (rather than a parliamentary democracy that it is now - like Canada and other Commonwealth countries) but it was shot down.

I don't why I brought that part up, but oh well. Its certainly a place worth going, if you have the opportunity.

[SunDancer]

I'm not too "knowledgeable" on the Scandavian countries, but they are pretty big on a free-market economy, but your income is shared? The economy and incomes are basically like the US then? You earn it, then it's your money I take it?

[Young Drachma]

Here is an albeit biased view on the Scandinavian economic model.

The Scandinavian model (http://www.lysator.liu.se/nordic/scn/faq28.html)


A study released in 2002, showed that the median Swedish household income is actually less than than American blacks.

posted somewhere (http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg02915.html)

[rdo]

Australia is more like the US in terms of its economics. It's certainly nothing like Scandavia, politically

I would say that Australia is somewhere between US and Scandavian with regards to economic policy. We have a government healthcare program and a quite extensive welfare program (accounts for about 45% of the governments spending from memory).

The country isn't anti-US, in fact, the Australians were one of the few countries to support Bush in his "war on everyone" (sorry, couldn't help it) But yeah, they're pretty US friendly.

Our government supports/ed Bush's war the Australian people did not, something like 70% opposed to the Iraqi invasion. But any anti-US feelings are aimed at your government, you won't personally be treated poorly because you're an American.

The country actually had a vote a few years ago to become a republic like the US (rather than a parliamentary democracy that it is now - like Canada and other Commonwealth countries) but it was shot down.

The republic proposed for that referendum was very different to the US model. It was basically just a change of name for Head Of State from Governor-General to President. It also would have removed the mechanisms for the English monarch to interfere with our politics, although it never has and the current Queen has said she never will. It was defeated narrowly on a "if it's not broken don't fix it" platform.

I would strongly recommend Macquarie over Newcastle. Not only is Macquarie the more academically prestigious university, Newcastle University has the unfortunate disadvantage of being situated (not surprisingly) in Newcastle.

[21C]

is this Australia worth going to

Hell, yeah!

Speaking as someone who lives in Newcastle - if you have a choice to go to either Newcastle or Macquarie universities then I would suggest Macquarie. Especially since you said that it would only be for a semester, with Macquarie you would be in the middle of Sydney and have an infinite number of choices for having fun - Newcastle is a bit limited.

Does it seem to have a isolation from the world? Is there anti-american in the country? What kind of country is it in terms of democracy, free-market, or is it a socialistic country that is like Scavandian countries?
I think the best way to answer those questions is to come here and see for yourself. You will see very little difference between the US and Australia except for the obvious language differences ( Crikey! ) . . . and there are fewer guns.

[Mac Howard]

Congratulations SunDancer. I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay over here and you'll find the people very friendly. Don't restrict yourself to Sidney though. Take a trip to WA and Queensland and sample the sun, surf and beach laid-back lifestyle that California used to enjoy.

There are anti-Americans here but they're in the minority - noisy but a minority nevertheless. Politically the country is half way between the USA and Britain - not as right wing as the US but not as left as Britain. It's bearable :D

Culturally you'll find little difference to the USA, particularly in Sydney which is very cosmopolitan. Get yourself some flip-flops, baggy shorts and teeshirt and no one will notice you're not Australian - there are American accents around already. On the other hand you may find being American goes down well with some of the girls particularly if you have some of that legendary affluence ;)

If you have time, come over to WA sometime and I'll fire up the barbeque :)

[Young Drachma]

I forgot there were Australians on this board. Hehe..now, I'll save this thread and take what I've learned.

thanks for correcting me where I was off...

still dig your country, tho.

[SunDancer]

Thanks guys...I haven't accepted yet. I have to figure out costs (airline travel is quite expensive alone), plus couping with a potential long-term surgery this summer, I'll have to check out my financial end. I am very interested in making Australia my "home" after college. I like that the income/economical policy is along the lines of the US/G. Britian. I want to start my own business hopefully. Just something about it that makes me want to see it up-close through a study abroad semester. Sounds like Australia is a very culture, but laid-back country. Is it represented that way through the sense of fashion, sense of tastes, ect. Is the weather as nice as it sounds? The Aussie women as nice as they seem, physically and persoanlly? Are any American sports popular? I know that Aussie Rules and Rubgy are big.

[Groundhog]

Is the weather as nice as it sounds?

Pretty much. I mean, it isn't sunny ALL THE TIME (like today, in fact), but it's never really unbearably cold. There are days during winter where you will find yourself at the beach.

The Aussie women as nice as they seem, physically and persoanlly?

Well, not all Australian women are uber-attractive (we aren't Sweden :) ) but most people are easy going, women included.

Are any American sports popular? I know that Aussie Rules and Rubgy are big.

There is no shortage of places to watch the superbowl live, and the world series and the like, so those kind of events are big. On the whole, American Sport doesn't get a good deal of coverage over here, but if you get cable television you can get games on the ESPN channel.

The biggest sports in Australia would definately be Rugby (both rugby league and rugby union), AFL (Aussie Rules) & Cricket.

[Logan]

I have friends who studied aboard both last semester and this semester. They loved it, although they went to Brisbane and Melbourne. Basically you'll have a good time wherever you go. And remember that you're gonna be surrounded by Americans, so it shouldn't be that big a deal.

[SunDancer]

Thanks,
I read the Scandavian model of economics. For some reason, I can't find myself liking it that much. Is Australia formal like the British, or have the mix of the American culture of causal and formal?

[Mac Howard]

>I'll have to check out my financial end.

The plight of the US dollar at the moment isn't doing you any favours - was worth 2 Aussie dollars around 2 years ago but only about A$1.25 now. I'm not sure how the cost of living compares with the USA - I find it much cheaper than Europe (I'm from the UK some 8 years ago) and of course, being very much an outdoor culture, you can live pretty cheaply. Food is cheap, alcohol certainly cheap but I suspect manufactured goods more expensive than you're used to.

>I am very interested in making Australia my "home" after college.

You don't say what you'd be doing over here. There are now immigration rules which no longer favour people from US or Europe (the "white Australia" policy is now only operated surrepticiously) but if you're going to obtain any qualification then I read only last week that there's a 100% acceptance rate for those who successfully study at Australian universities. There is a "wanted qualifications" category for "resident" acceptance and if those qualifications are obtained here then that goes down very well.

Of course, if you hitch up with an Australian girl then you're in anyway :) (that's I how I got in)

>I like that the income/economical policy is along the lines of the US/G. Britian. I want to start my own business hopefully.

The economy is buoyant - while the rest of the world has stagnated over the last couple of years Australia has steamed ahead with 4% growth. Incomes are probably not as high as the US but adequate for the cost of living.

You're encouraged to start up businesses - even get some government assistance in that sometimes. But I have found that there's more red tape than I experienced in the UK and, surprisingly, Aussie bureaucrats can be very dificult (the tax man's a b*stard). Government still likes to interfere more than I suspect you're used to.

>Sounds like Australia is a very culture, but laid-back country.

As a Brit I wouldn't call mainstream Australia "cultured" - but I'm just a "whingin' pom" ;) Sport is a very big part of Aussie culture and I suspect Sydney is more cultured than I experience here in WA. You can find culture if you go looking for it.

Mainstream culture you'll find pretty much the same as the USA - today's big film is The Passion of the Christ, the biggest grossing film of the last 12 months The Return of the King. TV will look like USA TV - Frasier, ER etc - but with British stuff in between - Absolutely Fabulous, The Bill - mainly on government funded ABC. Macdonalds everywhere you look, Ford/Japanese/Korean cars clogging the roads, Harry Potter and John Grisham on the bookstalls. Home from home.

Australians are not only "laid back" but also very down to earth. BS, pomposity, political correctness won't wash here. Respect is something you earn not something you get for merely existing. You will be told in no mean terms if you overstep the mark on any of this.

Australians are much less religious than Americans. There's really no "religious right" or "moral majority" here - the nearest thing is the Catholic church, with Irish and Italian support, which tends to make a noise over abortion, IVF, cloning etc. But religious groups do not have much in the way of political influence.

>Is it represented that way through the sense of fashion, sense of tastes, ect.

Queer Eye for a Straight Guy is going down VERY well here. :)

>Is the weather as nice as it sounds?

Sydney is on the same longtitiude (or is that latitude?) as LA (but reversed). It's generally warm to hot. Rain is sporadic but can come down dramatically when it does rain (I really speak for WA which is BETTER than "over east"). But very pleasant.

>The Aussie women as nice as they seem, physically and persoanlly?

Probably the same as the US. Most will be pretty "modern" in their outlook - not many will tell you they're saving themselves for their wedding day. Sydney is also the gay capital if that interests you ;)

>Are any American sports popular? I know that Aussie Rules and Rubgy are big.

Basketball is the only specifically American sport that is popular here and I think that will depend on the area you're in. Baseball maybe. Not much gridiron.

Cable/satellite tv covers American sports pretty well though. ESPN is available and two Sky Sports channels. You can see a couple of live NFL matches a week and baseball, basketball and hockey are very well covered there as well. But Aussie Rules, Rugby Union and Rugby League are the major football codes much to my disappointment (soccer is very much the poor relation).

You could even get to like cricket! (that must be the right note on which to close) :D

[SunDancer]

Hey guys,
Thanks. Sadly, I will have to temporarly say no. The money is out of my reach by alot now, and I am schedule for a long-term process surgery this summer/fall. I would love to even try to hook up with a internship if I could for a summer.

[Fidatelo]

Isn't Australia kind of like Canada except it's warm instead of cold and the people aren't bitter about the state of hockey? That's always been my perception.