Student Voices

It’s been another full few days Down Under.  At the end of last week, we visited the Queensland Police Headquarters to hear from their Cultural Support Unit.  It was fascinating to learn how they work to accommodate diverse cultures.  Today in class, Professor Burgess talked about mass media and its role in culture.  In the afternoon we toured two major Australian radio stations:  Triple M and Hit 105. Over the weekend some of us went to a professional “Aussie Footy” game also known as Australian Rules Football.  It is only played in Australia.  Sadly, Brisbane Lions lost, but it was very exciting to watch.

One of the assignments this week was for students to write for this blog.  Here are a few excerpts:

From Cameron:

It has been quite a joy to get to know the people in Australia in the little time I have been here. Whether it was on the bus, at an AFL game (Australian Football League), or simply passing them on the street. I haven’t met one of them that seemed ill mannered or less then friendly. I remember passing a giant of a man. He looked as if he would tear your arms off for looking at him the wrong way. Bald with a handle bar mustache, sunglasses, black tank top, heavily tattooed. I was ready to walk widely around him when he singled me out asking for the time. I didn’t bring my phone on the trip and don’t wear a watch so that’s what I told him, and in a big Santa Clause chuckle he laughed and went o as to how he couldn’t even figure out his new phone. I showed him what to do and we talked for a while about Australia and the States. Couldn’t have talked to a nicer guy if I tried.

From Adam.:

In order to get to the koala sanctuary, we had to take a boat ride down the river. During the ride we were able to enjoy listening to commentary over a speaker that gave a history lesson about the historic sites that we passed on our way. During the trip one of my friends invited me to come on down to the front of the boat to get a feel of what it’s like. Standing on the front of the boat was awesome. It was easier to get a sense of how fast the boat was going and it was nice to feel the powerful wind blowing. While on the boat we also were able to view lots of beautiful homes along the river with a few that had some interesting history to them.

From Ray T.:

My educational experience so far in Australia has been nothing short of amazing. I have learned a plethora of information about its history For instance, two days ago we visited the Aboriginal cultural centre, a place dedicated to teaching young white Australians about Aboriginal History and culture.  He explained Aborigines are the true native of Australia who arrived here over 60,000 years ago.  In 1820, British prisoners began to occupy Australia while pushing the Aborigines onto reservations. Furthermore, one hundred years later, white Australians assimilated the Aborigines by removing them from their homes forcing them to live in white home and attend white schools under the Protection Act. In 1974 the protection act was abolished. However Aborigines and historians call this cultural imperialism the “The Stolen Generation”. Now members of that generation have become assimilated but, are struggling. According to Joseph Lyodon, Aborigines are the poorest ethnic group in Australia, currently live twenty years shorter then white Australians and lopsidedly commit suicide more than any other ethnic group in Australia. Even though their history is grim the Aboriginal at the centre are proud of the culture and feel responsible that others are aware of Australia first people.