This year, our school hallway got a little more global with the arrival of Jessie, a junior from Australia!
Jessie grew up in Kingston, a suburb in Canberra, ACT. It’s a place where the city and nature can coexist. “Walking trails, lakes, and parks are always filled with children and adults. Unlike cities such as Melbourne and certain parts of Sydney, Canberra has more wildlife where animals are commonly seen.”
So when she first found out she was moving. She had mixed feelings. “I felt really sad about leaving my home, friends, and my family, even though I was very curious about life in the United States. One thing that nobody prepared her for was how “New York” doesn’t automatically mean skyscrapers and the subway. “People from Australia, including me, have the stereotype that “New York” is filled with city life and urban lifestyle, so I was definitely surprised when I found out that New York is much more suburban in most areas.”
Jessie says school here feels massive compared to back home. Way more clubs, sports, spirit weeks, and a tighter schedule. “Australian schools are much slower paced, focusing on outdoor activities. Also, I miss how classes were less stressful, without constant testing and exams. I also miss my friends from Australia, and how concerts and carnivals were much more common there.”
Of course being from Australia does mean she has had some culture-shock moments. People decorating their houses for Christmas and Halloween in the United States was something she thought only happened in the movies.
As we know, moving countries isn’t just about learning new slang. Jessie said “the hardest part has been feeling homesick and adjusting to all the small cultural differences — from slang and accents to everyday routines.”
She also wants to clear up one stereotype about Australia: “Not everywhere in Australia is filled with kangaroos, crocodiles and spiders! Life in the city is very normal, only some parts of Australia are as scary as it seems online.”
I asked her where she would take her American friends if they ever visited Australia: “I would definitely take my friends to Gold Coast, Queensland! The city is filled with wild life, animals, beaches, many amusement parks, and filled with water sports. It’s also where most Australian celebrities live!”
Jessie wishes people understood that moving countries as a student can be tiring and that it’s hard to navigate the differences in academic levels each country has. Adjusting to different standards, getting to know new teachers, different teaching styles, and catching up, takes a lot of effort. “My advice for someone would have to be staying open minded when it comes to getting to know different people, even when they are completely different to what you’re used to. You never know if they are just the right fit for you, as getting to know people takes time.”
