This
summer, University of Missouri student Brittany Daniel studied
Australian animals in their natural habitats on a month-long
expedition. Every few days, she and 13 other students traveled to a
new amazing place, including veterinary schools, mountains and
animal sanctuaries, to learn about animals.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>It was all part of a study-abroad program through UM’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. And it was all paid for through her 2008 Dr. Donald M. Suggs Scholarship, which funds a study-abroad experience.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“The university gave us the opportunity to see things that we would never have seen if we toured Australia by ourselves,” she said.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The students visited ranches where farmers talked about working with native animals, and they also learned about the Aboriginal culture. Even though Daniel is not a veterinary student, she said the program was fascinating. This May, Daniel will graduate with a degree in communications science and disorders, and then she’ll go straight into graduate school to study audiology.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Daniel received the Suggs scholarship after graduating from Trinity Catholic High School in 2008. At the time she thought she would study pre-medicine and go into pediatrics, but she said after hearing about the audiology profession, she decided to switch her major.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Her study-abroad trip started on May 20, when the group arrived at the University of Queensland – Gatton for orientation. To her, Gatton was a small town.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“It was the size of Rolla,” Daniel said. “University of Queensland is an agricultural school, so there’s lots of farming in the area. It was really pretty but hard to get around.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Two days later, the group headed to the Helidon Hills to observe a captive wildlife restoration program, which cares for marsupials, monotremes, birds, bats and reptiles.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>On May 23, they traveled to Toowoomba to learn about a man’s experience farming deer and how the impact of mining has affected the region’s land use. Later that night, they went out in the field for night-spotting of wildlife.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“It was really beautiful,” she said.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The students then headed to the Bunya Mountains to walk through a rainforest with wildlife management guides, and look for animal tracks. And this was all within days of arriving.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The group traveled to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and Stradbroke Island, as well as zoos and museums. As far as earning a grade, all she had to do was show up and learn.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“We got graded on participation,” she said. “We had to write reflections each week and go to lectures. The lectures consisted mostly of activities.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>After a brutal spring semester, Daniel said she was ready for a break. She decided against studying abroad for a full semester, so the summer excursion worked out perfectly, she said.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>While the group was studying on the Australian campus, they met local students who challenged them to a game of rugby.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“We only had a couple days to learn,” she said. “But then we played a game of football, so it was fair.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>She said she learned a lot about Australian culture, and many things surprised her.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I realized how little we hear about Australian news, and over there, American news was everywhere,” she said. “It was eye-opening.”
