Australia - APDesign - Kansas State University

Australia
Country Quick Facts Official name: Commonwealth of Australia Population: 22,507,617 Capital: Canberra Prominent Language: English Type of Government: Federal Parliamentary Democracy and Commonwealth realm Money: Australian dollars (AUD) Time Zone: EST – 15 hours ahead of CST Location: Oceania, between Indian and Pacific Oceans Food/Meals Breakfast is between 7am‐9am, lunch is 12pm‐2pm, and dinner is between 6pm‐7:30pm. Australians consume a lot of seafood with a lot of influence from England. Good to Know Southern hemisphere so seasons are reversed; cash is used more than cards; table manners: hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating. Cultural tidbits Australia is defined by its Aboriginal heritage, modern mix of cultures, love of sports and the outdoors, and arts scene. Australian Rules Football is the number one watched sport, but rugby, cricket, swimming, surfing, and tennis are also popular. Australians are not very formal. Greetings are casual and relaxed. If you are invited to a “barbie” (BBQ) or a large party, arrive on time, do not arrive more than 15 minutes late. Ironic nicknames are popular. Additional Resources www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global‐
etiquette/australia.html www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations http://www.australia.com/ Climate The weather ranges from tropical to chilly beaches to deserts. The south has cold winters and warm summers. Central Australia’s desert has hot and dry days with cold nights. The coasts have a moderate and comfortable climate. Since it’s in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are opposite. Holidays Australia Day, 26 January; ANZAC Day (commemorates the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April Communication Emergency Phone # is 000 Cell Phone Companies: Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, Virgin Mobile, TransACT, Southern Cross Telco To call to the US from Australia, dial “0011”, then press “1”. Then dial the US # including the area code. Transportation The train, bus, and tram systems make travel within the cities easy. The rail and bus systems are very organized and punctual. US Embassy Moonah Place Yarralumla, ACT 2600 Canberra, Australia Phone: + (61)(02) 6214‐5600 e‐mail: [email protected] Web: canberra.usembassy.gov Hours: 8:00am‐5:00pm Monday‐Friday Vocabulary Arvo ‐ afternoon. Esky ‐ cooler Footy ‐ Refers to Australian Rugby G'day ‐ Good day Mate – Friend: It is usually used to refer to male friends Onya ‐ Well done. Cuppa ‐ refers to a cup of tea. Advice from former students “Bring a rain jacket; it was the best clothing item I packed.” Study Abroad Office ‐ Office of International Programs‐ Kansas State University‐ 304 Fairchild Hall ‐Manhattan, Kansas 66506 Australia
“Learn the Aussie lingo; some of the words they say can be confusing because they have different meanings here.” Electricity 240 volts (110‐120 in USA) Common plug shape Clothing If you’re going to Australia during June to August, make sure to prepare for cold weather. Australian youths tend to dress very informally, so t‐shirts and flip flops are very common attire in the summer. Visa You must get a student visa prior to leaving. The university to which you are studying abroad will provide you with the necessary information to apply for a student visa. For more information, check out the Australian consulate: Australian Consulate‐General 123 North Wacker Drive, Suite 1330 Chicago, IL 60606 Phone: 1‐312‐419‐1480 For Visas and Immigration: 1‐613‐216‐7603 http://www.usa.embassy.gov.au/whwh/ChicagoCG.html Traveling while there Traveling by air with airlines such as Jetstar and Virgin Australia is relatively cost‐efficient, although buses and rail services are available. More information can be found at these websites: http://www.greyhound.com.au/ http://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au http://www.virginaustralia.com/us/en/ http://www.jetstar.com/us/en/home There are numerous things to do and places to explore! Planning in advance will save you money. Films Some of the most famous Australian films include: Australia (2008), Crocodile Dundee (1986), Mad Max (1979), Muriel’s Wedding (1994), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), Rabbit Proof Fence (2002), and The Castle (1997). Music Australian folk songs influenced the country genre and artists such as Slim Dusty and Buddy Williams. Recently, alternative and indie as well as rock music have become popular. Academic Culture The actual class structure of Australian “unis” is slightly different than American ones. There tend to be fewer exams, but more emphasis is placed on the final exam, and there might not be many assignments throughout the semester. Addressing teachers and professors by first name is common as Australians are more socially informal and casual. Class may only meet a couple of times a week. Health and Safety Students going to Australia to study are required to purchase Australian health insurance, called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Your host university will send information on how to get the insurance. All travelers should be current on routine vaccines. Money ATMs are widely available. More rural areas will rely more on cash, so always be prepared to have cash on hand. Note that the Discover Card is not used in the country of Australia. Though the AUD typically runs 1:1 with the USD, for a current exchange rate, see www.oanda.com. Study Abroad Office ‐ Office of International Programs‐ Kansas State University‐ 304 Fairchild Hall ‐Manhattan, Kansas 66506