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Emily Turitto
Home country: USA
Emily Turitto decided to Study Abroad at USC because a friend recommended it to her.
“My friend recommended USC to me, and I love everything about it. I have the greatest roommates in the world here. The school is very nice, and new. Plus you get to see kangaroos everyday!” says Emily.
Her favourite course is ‘Australian Wildlife’.
“I knew very little about the animals here (in Australia). I still get excited every time I see a kangaroo on campus,” she says.
“I love animals and it is so fun to learn about the very, very different animals here. We have deer and cows where I come from, not kangaroos and koalas!”
Emily has noticed differences between classes at USC and her home school, University of North Dakota.
“At home I have a lot of tests and quizzes. Here, we have a final at the end of the year, and the rest of the work is just writing papers. It is really different,” she says. “Kids in class here are much more willing to speak up if they have something to say.”
Emily participated in the orientation activities at the start of semester including a trip to Fraser Island.
“So far my favourite experience has been the trip to Fraser Island during O-week. It is the coolest place in the world. I saw more amazing things in one hour then I have in my whole life combined!”
USC International staff have provided Emily with support prior to, and during, her stay at USC.
“USC International staff are always there to help out with whatever I need.”
“Even before I came I had a lot of questions and they were more then willing to help me right away. I would email my question and within hours they would respond to me.”
Emily has found plenty of active ways to spend her leisure time on the Sunshine Coast.
“I participate in ‘Rec Plus’ activities. I play games about three times a week from 12 to one. I don’t want to brag, but my team won the touch rugby championship a couple of weeks ago,” she says modestly.
“I am going to participate in boot camp, and my roommates and I all got long-boards and we like to go skating around town. Also, my friends and I really enjoy climbing the Glass House Mountains. We are going to try to climb all of them. Then there is the obvious activity . . . surfing. I’m not any good at it yet, but by the time November comes I hope I will be amazing.”
A highlight for Emily is her ‘resort-like’ student accommodation and getting to know her roommates.
“I live in UniCentral. It has made it really easy to make friends. I love it here. It is like I am staying at a resort,” she says.
“My roommates are the coolest people I have met in all Australia. They are more than willing to help with anything. They know everything fun to do around here and make everything so much fun!”