Almost every peer advising session, usually between doing homework and counting the Lonely Planet books, one or more students come in wanting to know more about studying abroad in Australia. I cringe. It's nothing against Australia. I'd love to go there someday and it looks/sounds like an amazing country to visit. But the fact is, that studying abroad in Australia is usually done as a vacation, not a once in a lifetime experience. I want redirect there attention to somewhere less conventional. I want to tell them that although Australia sounds fun, they will gain more out of a less interchangeable culture. I want to tell them I've never been to Africa so you have to go for me. But then I'm left with the question: What if Australia is that ultimate new and life-altering place for them? Everybody is different, maybe Australia is where they will learn and grow the most.
I've found that peer advising the "Australia situation" is like walking a fine line. I answer their questions and help them with whatever it is I can relating to Australia, but I also ask why they want to go. Usually that can open the conversation up to other locations offered abroad. It is the best I can do to withhold my bias. I don't want to steer them away, because that is not what peer advisers are here for, but I do make sure they know there are other options.
If all goes well they leave with information on Australia as well as stacks of paper about many other, less conventional places; and I move on to playing with the Glimpse magazines.
Posted by Ian, Salvador, Brazil, Summer 2007
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