Australian student dodges "kangaroo questions" to find joys of Commerce

Australians are often thought of in America as slightly different than the rest of the predominantly English-speaking world. Stereotypes that involve their supposedly crazy attitude toward life, their multitude of exotic and dangerous animals, and their sports can be found throughout U.S. media. For A&M-Commerce students, a source of how life really is Down Under can be found on campus every day.

Self proclaimed "sophomore-and-a-half" and psychology-biology double major Anna Carmichael came to Commerce in 2008 from her home country of Australia.

"Commerce was my first experience of being overseas," Carmichael said. "I didn't even get to go to Dallas first. They picked us up from the airport and drove here. It was a mixture of, ‘Oh God,' and, ‘It's not as bad as I thought it might be.' I feel like my mom prepared me for the ultimate worst, because she'd been Googling Commerce."

Carmichael grew up around Melbourne, a major city in Australia.

"I come from Mt. Eliza, it's on the beach, and it's the last suburb of Melbourne before it gets rural," she said.

Carmichael said her decision to come to A&M-Commerce was based on a mixture of wanting to see the world, pursuing an education, and getting the chance to play her favorite sport, soccer.

"It was originally going to be a gap-year, which is the year you go overseas after you finish high school," she said. "I thought I could do it at college, then I thought I could do it playing soccer, which just randomly led me to Commerce through a scouting program. Then I enjoyed it, so I stayed."

She spent a year on the women's soccer team roster, and is also a member of the Honors College. Carmichael said she likes the university for its more intimate setting.

"Everyone always hates on Commerce, but I actually enjoy it," she said. "It's a lot smaller. I went to university in Australia for a while, the university in Melbourne, and it was gigantic. I had to commute an hour and a half there and back each day, and my lectures had, like, 600 people. Commerce, it's not."

There's always a chance international students at A&M-Commerce will run into questions about typical stereotypes Americans give to different countries, and it has been no different for Carmichael. She spoke about the questions presented to her by American students when they discover she is Australian.

"I guess kangaroo-related questions," she said. "Honestly, I think I've seen one in my entire life. I'm not exactly an expert, but everyone asks me."

Carmichael said her native country is much more similar to places in the U.S. than what might be imagined.

"I don't think it's that much different from a lot of places in America," she said. "People seem to think it's the outback, desert, or like what you see in "Australia" the movie, which I've never seen. People just reference that movie constantly as Australian life, and I'm pretty sure that was 100 years ago anyways."

However, Carmichael admitted there are a few differences between Australian and American culture.

"I know Australia is a lot more laid back," she said. "Here, people are much more prompt. And my sarcasm, people absolutely don't get it. I'd say that'd be the major difference."

Carmichael said she has an idea of what she wants to do after completing her degree at A&M-Commerce, but has not decided whether to do it in the U.S. or return to Australia.

"It's crossed my mind either way, but I definitely want to go to grad school," she said. "Whether I do it in Australia, America or Europe, I'm currently undecided. I'll think about that when I graduate."