cultural difference and Miscellaneous advice
Please note information supplied on this page is for the benefit of Fulbright Scholars travelling to Australia, to assist with travel preparations and also to support Scholars in their transition to life in Australia. Please note: the information has been extracted from recent Fulbright Scholar Final Reports and is not necessarily the views or recommendations of the Fulbright Commission.
| Once in Australia, the Fulbright Commission in Canberra is the point of contact. |
| Ensure you have project approval from the appropriate authorities, particularly within Aboriginal communities, prior to arrival. |
| Community Libraries are free to join, with proof of Australian address required. |
| Emergency Number in Australia is 000. |
| Investigate quarantine laws if you plan to bring pets to Australia. |
| Investigate joining a Student Union for information on clubs/associations, event/activities, transportation and media. |
| Fee waivers - speak to the scholarship department and Fulbright Commission for assistance with this. |
| There a quite a few more public holidays in Australia than the US. |
| Keep copies of all documents and receipts of anything posted to ensure you have proof if your documents are misplaced or lost. |
| I would also encourage them to seek out Australia’s famously bizarre plant and animal life. I’ve seen koalas, emus, echidnas, platypuses, and of course many kangaroos in the wild, not to mention the many species of parrot and cockatoo that live in Canberra. I even saw a cassowary on the beach at Cape Tribulation. For plants there are banksias, grevilleas, and a bewildering array of eucalyptus species, and every major city has a public botanical garden, as well. It would be a shame not to experience some of the world’s most unique and interesting organisms while in Australia. 2006 Postgraduate Scholar |
| Happy hours are quite popular here, but don’t feel pressured to drink if you don’t want to. People are quite accepting of non-drinkers. There are also many non-academic activities that may be of interest. 2006 Postgraduate Scholar |
| Many people abroad have a strong disdain for Americans. Be prepared for people to ask you to justify recent American administrative actions on the world stage, whether you agree with them or not. It seemed to me that most people were comforted to know that the actions of the administration do not necessarily reflect the will of many American citizens. 2006 Postgraduate Scholar |
| The Fulbright experience has allowed me to build my professional network not only within Melbourne, but all of Australia, and has even given me international resources and contacts in Singapore, Papua New Guinea, and Brazil! 2006 Postgraduate Scholar |
| It helped to get a mobile phone as quickly as possible (pre pay plans are suitable for 1 year, contracts usually last 24 months). |
| A little bit of culture shock is to be expected...Be sure to take time away from academic resource to enrich yourself in the culture and natural beauty of your host... Be sure to take time away from academic resource to enrich yourself in the culture and natural beauty of your host country... 2005 Postgraduate Scholar |
| Future scholars should ensure that the Fulbright Commission is involved in the (tuition waiver) process. And, of course, ensure that any tuition waiver agreements are in writing. 2005 Postgraduate Scholar |
| In many ways I feel as if I never fully understood what it means to be an American. I've certainly never had so many people asking me about it! It can be a bit intimidating to be the sole representative in the room of a diverse country of nearly 300 million people, particularly when asked questions such as "what do Americans think of X?" or "how could Americans elect politician Y?" It took a long time for me to realize that the best, indeed the only, way for me to represent my country is to speak for myself and no one else...2005 Postgraduate Scholar |
| In general, Australians speak more softly, are more reserved about their personal lives, boast less about their personal achievements, and 'whinge' less about their problems. As with any new experience, it's best to listen more than you speak until you know more about the lay of the land - although I personally have a great deal of difficulty with this! Before you leave, try to do a little reading on American history and civics, because odds are excellent that you will be asked about the political system, how people are elected, past presidents, and so on... 2005 Postgraduate Scholar |
| I would advise prospective Fulbright Scholars that when studying overseas, they should break out of the traditional academic study which often is limited to the library, laboratory, or classroom. They should invite members of the faculty for coffee to chat exchange ideas about research, attend conferences and seminars, speak to members of the professional community, give lectures both in the university and the community. I would also encourage future Fulbright Scholars to become involved in an activity outside of their studies... 2005 Postgraduate Scholar |
| I would generally advise future US scholars to be polite and patient. Americans are pushier than Australians and are used to demanding efficiency and speedy in everything they do (at least where I live on the east coast). You will be immediately stereotyped as one of these ignorant, obnoxious Americans. Try to dispel this stereotype and relax. Also, in Australia, each person buys a round of beer (not like in the US where most people just get their own). Buy a round (“my shout”) and make some friends. 2005 Postgraduate Scholar |
| ...encouragement and advice I received when I first arrived here: while you are definitely here to work on a project, everyone involved understands that the transition of your project from proposal to reality is not always as smooth as one might hope and making adjustments to deal with these challenges is as much a part of the journey as the project itself...2005 Postgraduate Scholar |
| Honestly, one of the most important things I did when I first got here was to accept every invitation to an activity that a friend or coworker made...I would say to future scholars, even if you don’t drink, it’s really worth just tagging along and getting a water or soda because this is often more about getting a chance to talk to people than going out and getting really drunk (as it sometimes is at home)... 2006 Postgraduate Scholar |
| I would suggest that prospective Scholars explain exactly to their mentors what the program is, and if possible refer them to the Australian-American Fulbright Commission in the case of confusion… 2005 Postgraduate Scholar |
| Sydney is an expensive city! One need not worry, however, if one learns how to navigate the city. Films are deeply discounted on Tuesday nights; Dendy offers one a year-long membership with discounted—and free—films. And even the Opera House supplies memberships at significant discounts, too (though one will still need to sacrifice a bit... 2005 Postgraduate Scholar |
| Customs: Always – repeat: ALWAYS – go through the red channel and declare anything which vaguely can be claimed. This ensures that (a) one will not be fined if one does have something which demands duty and (b) often ends up being much, much faster since the staff will look at what you’re claiming and waive you quickly through. The alternative, being fined for something small and seemingly innocuous (e.g., a stray apple – fine: $200) can be quite unpleasant. 2005 Postgraduate Scholar |
| Telephones: The difference between land-line and mobile-line rates in Australia are huge – and bordering on unconscionable. For these purposes, buy a pre-paid mobile card and secure a mobile phone upon arrival, but do not use it to make international calls. (Receiving calls is fine since they can be received for free, though the person calling will pay much more to call a mobile phone than a land-line.) For international calls—or even domestic calls more than 1 or 2 minutes in length—inexpensive “phone cards” are available for use from land lines. If you have a computer, then Skype is an extraordinary option: you can talk for free with others also on Skype at the same time, or buy some credit and use Skype to call others on their landlines for a pittance. Given the domestic phone charges in Australia, I often used Skype to call many Australian land-lines in far-flung places like Perth, Darwin, Adelaide, and Brisbane. 2005 Postgraduate Scholar |
| I cannot overstate the valuable information you receive prior to your departure from the states which I highly suggest (it’s not mandatory though) that you read. Its cultural/country specific information, helpful travel tips (attaining visa), etc. but the best advice I can give is make a conscious effort to learn from the locals. 2005 Postgraduate Scholar |
| The Fulbright experience, as expected, has proven to be one of the most pivotal times in my life. It has been a period of tremendous growth for me both personally and professionally as it has given me the time, the courage, and the freedom to embark on a journey of self-exploration and to embrace the tremendous opportunities that have been made available. 2006 Postgraduate Scholar |
| Personally, my year in Australia has had an equally profound impact. This year has provided the time and opportunity to explore parts of this vast and impressive country. The countless colorful Aussie idioms, swooping birds during nesting season, the endless parade of wildlife through my living room walls, buzzard turkeys, and record breaking hot and humid summer days in Queensland were all unexpected discoveries. A bit more expected, the astonishing beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree, Byron Bay and obscure outback trails are treasures which will remain with me forever. I had not been to Australia prior to commencing the Fulbright but the Aussie treasures yet to be seen and the friendships I have established ensure I will be returning in the not so distant future. 2006 Postgraduate Scholar |
Since most scholars will be affiliated with a host academic institution (i.e. university) upon their arrival, I found that joining (or simply learning more about) Student Union is ideal. This will be advantageous in providing useful information in terms of school clubs/associations, event/activities, and transportation media. 2005 Postgraduate Scholar Reflecting on my experience, I am struck by how I was able to overcome numerous, but rewarding, challenges on such a short time scale. It was enough of a challenge to establish and carry out a successful research program, but I was also able to establish myself socially and raise public awareness of my work.2006 Postgraduate Scholar Sydney has a good bus network though it does take a while to get around on buses. I ended up buying a car which was invaluable but expensive. An old used car runs about A$3000+, and it costs about A$500 to register an (old) car with minimal insurance. Gas is pricey as well. 2005 Postgraduate Scholar |