Greetings from Australia

Manuel Kühne Reports on His Semester Abroad at Charles Darwin University

Why did you choose this particular partner university?

I chose this partner university because I was very interested in the Australian healthcare system and the associated Social Work institutions. I found the courses “Communication Skills” and “Human Service Organizations” particularly exciting, as they gave me a different perspective on Social Work.

On the other hand, I was attracted by the idea of living in a climate zone close to the equator: I wanted to know what it was like to live in a city with such a diverse landscape and biodiversity. Especially for me, having never been outside Europe before, this was a very impressive experience.

Last but not least, the different language was another factor that motivated me to study in Darwin. I wanted to improve my English skills and get to know Australian culture.

How do you like the university city? How do you experience the culture of the host country?

I can highly recommend Darwin as a city. The city is very diverse due to its diversity (there are over 100 different nationalities represented in Darwin) and its artistic culture. There are many different art exhibitions, weekly markets, and other events to visit, which are particularly plentiful during the dry season. In addition, Casuarina Beach is located right next to the student residence, where you can enjoy beautiful sunsets. In terms of scenery, a trip to the Outback with its many national parks is a must!

The culture is very diverse and the people are very open-minded. Most people are very approachable. However, it is very striking that there is a large gap between non-indigenous and the indigenous people. The discrimination against Aboriginals, which is noticeable in many areas, has been very difficult for me to bear. In addition, racism unfortunately often plays a role.

Where do you see the biggest differences between your host university and the MCI?

The biggest difference is in the structure of the university. At the university, most of the courses are online. There is more focus on literature work and follow-up work on the topics prepared in class. This means that a large part of the coursework has to be done independently. In addition, the campus is much emptier because many of my fellow students are completing their studies online. With only 8 hours of attendance per week, it was difficult for me to connect with the university campus at first.

In terms of content, courses such as “Communication Skills” or courses related to migration are hardly any different. However, the structures within the institutions in Australia are completely different. The biggest difference, however, was the size of the groups in the courses (200-300 students).

The support provided by the Exchange Students Program is very good; there are also direct contact persons. However, in my case, only six other people completed a semester abroad. So there are no large exchange bubbles.

What has been the biggest challenge so far during your semester abroad?

The biggest challenge for me personally was in the early days. Because there were only a few networking meetings and few other exchange students, I found it very difficult to make friends. In addition, there was little campus life. As a result, I often felt isolated at first and it took some time before I could really enjoy my everyday life there. It was only as my stay progressed that I got to know new people through external clubs and events and was slowly able to build a social circle. Looking back, however, this phase also taught me to be more patient when approaching others, to master new situations on my own, and to give myself more time for this process of getting to know people and settling in.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

Favorite places: Mindil Beach Market, Lee Point, Litchfield National Park

Cultural attractions: Darwin Beer Race, Darwin Festival