Greetings prospective study abroad students! My name is Kyra Lester, and I am a sophomore majoring in finance and accounting and getting a certificate in international business. I studied abroad over winter break on the International Business in Asia Pacific program in Sydney, Australia.  

Going abroad to Australia this winter was not initially part of my four-year plan. As a freshman, I did come into college wanting to study abroad. I grew up in a small, rural town called Colfax, Iowa, but was originally born in China and adopted at the age of one. I have always felt called to something larger than myself and found great enjoyment in exploring new places. However, since deciding on my major and academic plan, I began to focus more on prioritizing on-campus and internship opportunities in place of studying abroad. As a first-generation student, I wasn’t sure about how to go about the application process and was a bit intimidated. It was still very much a desire, though, so when the opportunity arose to participate in the Sydney program, I jumped on it. I am extremely grateful to have been able to participate thanks to the Global Access Ambassador Scholarship.  

Truthfully, I didn’t have much of an idea of what to expect in Australia. I approached the program with the goal of pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I had never been out of the country for such a long period of time, and I had certainly never been on a nearly 16-hour flight before. When I touched down, at first things seemed relatively the same as in the U.S. Customs were as expected. Getting my new SIM card to work was easy. English was everywhere. Once outside of the airport, I started to notice small, but significant differences. One I remember quite plainly was when my friends and I were heading to our hotel. We were getting some strange looks, which I chalked up to us pulling huge suitcases through the city. As walking on the right side is customary in the U.S., walking on the left side is the norm in Australia. Another such example is the Australian term take-away for restaurant orders, something we typically refer to as to-go.  

"As a first-generation student, I wasn’t sure about how to go about the application process and was a bit intimidated. It was still very much a desire, though, so when the opportunity arose to participate in the Sydney program, I jumped on it. I am extremely grateful to have been able to participate thanks to the Global Access Ambassador Scholarship."

Once I settled in the first couple of days, I started to notice the abundance of multiculturalism within Sydney. Thanks to Australia’s unique history as a penal colony and its immigration policy, people from all cultural backgrounds flocked to the country. During our class sessions, we focused heavily on how this diversity has influenced international trade and commerce in the Asia Pacific region. Because of this, it seemed to me that Australia is even more of a “cultural melting pot” than the U.S. As an Asian-American woman, I was nervous about potentially facing local prejudice. During my time studying abroad, I quickly realized those concerns were for naught. I never felt like I stood out, and in fact, felt comfortable and secure even at night. That gave me the confidence to take multiple hiking daytrips, explore both the northern and southern beaches, take advantage of Sydney’s comprehensive ferry system, and even take a surfing lesson at the world-famous Bondi Beach.  

Overall, the biggest surprise to me was the culture. Australians are generally more laid-back than Americans. As a business student, this attitude was even more apparent when speaking to working professionals during the company presentations we attended. This was an unexpectedly welcome revelation. Oftentimes, it’s easy to get caught up in the continuous hustle of day-to-day life. I know I’ve been consumed at times in taking things much too seriously. In Australia, I learned that when chasing after your goals, whether they’re professional or personal, it’s equally as important to take time for yourself and practice self-compassion. I gained a new perspective on life and priorities through experiencing life in a new country.  

If you have any inkling that you want to study abroad, I highly encourage you to do so. Thanks to this experience, I am already planning to study abroad again during my senior year fall semester. Spending the winter in Australia was life-changing, and I eagerly anticipate returning to explore more of the country in the future. 

LEARN HOW YOU CAN APPLY FOR A GLOBAL ACCESS AMBASSADOR SCHOLARSHIP

The Global Access Ambassador Scholarship program provides awards to study abroad for a summer, semester, or academic year. The scholarships are intended to support students who study abroad with the intent to serve as Global Access Ambassadors upon return to the UI campus. Upon completion of the study abroad program and return to UI, award recipients are asked to submit a photo and an open letter to prospective students or suggest an alternate means of sharing with prospective students.

Please note that the opinions and views expressed by ambassadors are solely those of the students and do not reflect or represent the views of International Programs or the University of Iowa.

International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement.  IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.