Submitted by Sara Merton on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Australia sponsored by the School of Nursing…
With my short time in Sydney coming to an end, I find myself reflecting on the ways in which our countries are similar and different. For our last tour in the city, we did a walk around an area called “the Rocks” learning about Aboriginal culture and history. The stories sounded eerily similar to that of our history with the “first” settlers and the Native Americans. Just like in the United States, Europeans claimed to have been the first to discover this new land and disregarded the native peoples and their customs. The Australian Aboriginals were forced into new ways of life that did not align with their cultures and beliefs, and still to this day they struggle with the clashing differences in how the Europeans view life and how they view life. The biggest difference, however, were the intentions of finding this new land. In the United States, there was a hope for a new and better life, but Australia was used by England as a place to send their convicts to serve their sentences. England sent thousands of people convicted of mostly petty crimes to Australia to build and develop the country. The free settlers came much later.
Being in Sydney for the past two weeks has been an invaluable experience. I have had many new experiences and the opportunity to meet new people. I will miss being, here but will cherish the memories made with my new friends and classmates.