Hi my name is Michelle,

I’m a junior at Endicott College in the USA and I decided to study at ICMS as a study abroad student for one term due to the impressive hospitality program they offer. At Endicott I’m a major in hospitality with a concentration in events management. I wanted to study abroad at a school that would look good on my resume when I apply for jobs after I graduate, but also wanted to be in a good location. The school is absolutely beautiful. I’ve heard some people refer to it as a “castle”; and it is. When you look out some of the windows at the school there is a very clear view of the ocean and the beaches.

I’m here a month before the semester starts because I decided to participate in the internship program ICMS offers. I’m interning around the school; one week in marketing/recruitment, one week in functions, and one week in housekeeping. I’m currently in the first week interning with the marketing/recruitment department.
The school is very business oriented and professional. Students are required to wear business suits to all their classes, which is good preparation for after graduation and also makes packing a lot easier. This school not only has great classes, but also helps to teach students professionalism.
Someone thinking about studying here may think that Australia is not much different than America, but that would be wrong. The people here are much more friendly and helpful than in America. My friends and I have already met people who have told us that they will help us out in any way once the semester starts. The food is also very different. Most of the restaurants near Manly Beach and Manly Wharf are seafood restaurants, but there are some very good pizza resturants around Manly. Australians also use a lot of different words than what Americans use. In America we say “flip-flops,” but Australians use the word “thong.” One thing to be aware of though is that although the American dollar is currently stronger than the Australian dollar everything is much more expensive in Australia. The shampoo I use in the US costs twice as much in Australia.
So far I have had a blast here and am looking forward to the start of the semester and visiting all the different beaches in the area. The weather is gorgeous, as well as the sites surrounding the school. Australia is in its summer right now, and that is a good change from the winter in the US. I’m really happy I came a month early and am able to experience the warm weather.

I’ll blog some more in the upcoming weeks to let you know what I am doing in Manly, Australia so look out for more updates!