This past fall, Elliot Arthur Stein ’11, had the opportunity to study in the land down under. Elliot is a Third Year Electrical Engineering major who studied abroad at the University of Wollongong, in Wollongong, Australia; through TCNJ’s Study Abroad Program and Center on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). Studying abroad gave Elliot a new perspective on engineering, American culture and an international view of America and American issues.
According to Elliot, “In today’s world engineering is an international field, going out and seeing a different part of the world will have a huge impact on me when I am an engineer in the work force and in the classroom. I learned how to adapt to a new culture and adjust to an environment different from my norm.” While at Wollongong, Elliot took four classes: Power Engineering, Communication Systems, Introduction to Aboriginal Australia, and Text and Gender. Of course he studied hard and even earned “grades of distinction” but he also had time for adventure.
From surfing everyday to learning Aussie slang and from taking classes at a beautiful top notch university to traveling all over the country, when reflecting upon my trip I can truly say I did it all,” he said. His adventure started with meeting kangaroos on an Australian beach and ended in his final week with a camping trip to the Outback with four of his “mates.” While in the Outback, Elliot saw landmarks such as Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and Kings Canyon. Before his camping trip he went to Sydney where he did the “Sky Walk” at the Sydney Tower which consists of a glass platform at 300 meters overlooking Sydney. Later in the same he day climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge, which gives a breathtaking view of Sydney Harbor and the Opera House.
The only way that Elliot was able to do so much while traveling around the country was by learning to manage every second of his time. He traveled all over and still got good marks because time management was crucial if he was to accomplish everything he wanted to while abroad.
In addition to Australia’s many recreational and educational opportunities, Elliot had the opportunity to interact with people from around the world both in and out of the classroom. Not only did he make many new Australian friends, but he also met people from Germany, Norway, China, and UAE just naming a few. Meeting all these cultures allowed Elliot to step out of the box and look at engineering problems from as many perspectives as possible. Doing so will allow Elliot to better adapt to the challenges of design.
Going to Australia is not only a breathtaking experience, it could also be immensely educational and according to Stein, “This brief overview only touches the surface of the great experiences and memories I created Down Under. Australia is the place to go if you are looking for the adventure of a lifetime.”
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