Karla Schommer

Karla Schommer is an Ambassador who studied abroad in Australia.

Briefly describe a specific cultural experience you had on your trip that made a lasting impression.

While on our Broome trip we had the opportunity to meet some members of the Aboriginal community and one of the elders let our group come visit one of the beaches on his land, we called it "Bunde's Beach". That was probably the single most beautiful beach I have ever been to. The water was so incredibly crystal clear blue. The shells that lay on the beach weren't smashed from being stepped on, a few of us even found perfect starfish. If that had been a beach in the US or if it wasn't protected from tourists by Aboriginal land rights, it would have been sold to a company for a lot of money and a resort built on it. But it wasn't because these people care more about preserving the land for future generations than they do about making a profit.

Why did you choose the program in which you participated? 

I chose Australia because I wanted to go to a place that I would probably never go if I didn't take the opportunity now. I wanted to go to Australia to experience and see the majestic scenery that is present nowhere else in the world.

Describe your overall study abroad experience.

Studying abroad in Australia was way different than what I thought it would be like, but I wouldn't change it. During my trip my eyes were opened to a wider world outside of CSB/SJU, outside of MN, outside the US, a world I never knew existed. My time abroad was a journey of self discovery.

How has the trip affected you? How are you different for having completed the experience?

I remember sitting around the campfire one night on our Broome trip and looking up at the stars. The sight was absolutely spell bounding. And I remember thinking this is something that I will more than likely never see again in my life and these are stars that I will probably never see again. In that experience it hit me harder than ever the value of living in each moment because it's a moment that you'll never be able to get back.

Coming back from Australia I have learned to appreciate the little moments in life and not to fill my life so full that I don't have time to stop and think about what I'm doing and more importantly why I'm doing it.

What Advice do you have for future Study Abroad Students?

Expect the unexpected. Go into your trip with an open heart and mind and you'll come away with a whole lot more than you ever imagined.