Current Release: September 11th, 2007 | Vol. XXIV Iss. 10

Photos Courtesy Andrew Langis

Abroad in Aussieland

By Tim Homa

tmhoma@vwc.edu

Tropical climate, white sand beaches, seducing accents, no homework, and no fast food are not typical descriptions of a college student’s semester, especially not at Virginia Wesleyan. Junior Andrew Langis begged to differ after spending his fall semester abroad in Sydney, Australia.

Langis traveled to Manly Beach in Sydney, along with former Wesleyan student Kevin Scott, to the International College of Management Sydney last semester. At ICMS, Langis enrolled in four classes: business finance, business ethics, principles of marketing, and strategic management. Business finance and principles of marketing were taught by Australian professors, while his other two classes were taught by English professors. Langis said that he liked the format of his classes. Each class grade was based on one oral presentation, one group presentation, and a final exam. Notice the absence of homework in the curriculum. Maybe the Wesleyan professors should take notes.

“There was no homework, bro,” said Langis with a huge smile.

Aside from there being no homework in paradise, the school was set up similar to here at Wesleyan.

The actual school looked like a giant castle. The dorm rooms were small, but lacked air conditioning, heat, and internet. All of which were quickly replaced by the view which “was like no other,” according to Langis.

With the absence of homework and the addition of lots of free time and a drinking age of 18, Langis was really able to really explore Australia inside and out.

“We went out every night,” explained an animated Langis. “There was a bar on the first floor of the dorm building.”

Langis wasn’t the only one taking full advantage of the opportunity. His posse consisted of guys and girls from over seven countries, not including friends from the United States.

“It was a small school like Wesleyan, so we all hung out together,” said Langis.

The nightlife consisted of going to club after club which proved to be more strenuous than fun at times.

“You had to dance to get around,” said Langis.

Not only would the clubs be too packed to move in, but Langis found out early that they don’t always follow the same customs as we do in America: Halloween, for example.

“We were the only people dressed up,” said Langis, who was dressed as a Greek God and was accompanied by a grandmother, John McEnroe, and a few thugs.

“You wouldn’t believe the conversations I had that night,” recalled Langis.

Langis said that your night wasn’t complete in Australia until you went to Manly Kabob’s and got a very popular late night platter. As far as the food in Australia, there was one main difference Langis recalled, “the food was definitely quality not quantity.”

“I was always hungry after I ate a meal there,” said Langis.

Australia wasn’t all about the nightlife and late night kabobs for Langis. He also spent his time sight seeing and getting to know places other than Sydney. Langis and his posse took a four day road trip to see Surfers Paradise, Brisbane, and Byron Bay. In Surfers Paradise they went surfing and body boarding. They were also fortunate enough to be in the water with some professional body boarders.

Langis and his crew got to share some waves with Matt Lacky, who was the number one ranked drop knee body boarder in the world at that time. The beach scene in Australia is a little moremain stream than Langis anticipated.

“There were cameras everywhere on the beach filming guys surfing,” said Langis.

Other than cameras being everywhere, Langis experienced yet another custom different from the United States.

“Um, clothing optional at the beach,” said Langis with a smirk.

Langis visited Whitsunday Island thanks to a ride from the Avatar, a trimaran. Whitsunday Island is home to some of the whitest sand beaches in the world. He also made the trip to Cairns where he went scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef.

“I found Nemo,” explained Langis.

Out of the water and away from the white sand beaches Langis experienced some culture not entirely

Australian. On Sundays Langis and friends would have a barbeque, play cricket and snorkel. At night they watched Brazilian Fire Dancing. At dusk the Brazilians would play music on their bongo drums and once it was dark the fire dancers stole the spotlight.

“It was a giant beach party and the Brazilian Fire Dancers were unbelievable,” said Langis.

Surrounded by exotic beaches, energetic nightlife, and seducing accents Langis calls the trip a success.

“I only fell in love once,” said Langis. “Dude, the girls were gorgeous!”

Whether it was diligently working to ace his classes, experiencing the Australian nightlife, exploring the white sand beaches, or watching Brazilian Fire Dancing, Langis said he made the most of his experience abroad and would do it all over again.

“Hell yeah, I would definitely do it again!”