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Ever since she was in high
school, Mackenzie knew she
wanted to study abroad.
She had previously travelled with her
family to Europe but hadn’t had the
opportunity to enjoy her independence
and explore on her own. After discovering
that Study Abroad worked out with her
class schedule at LeTourneau University in
Longview, Texas, she took the chance.
The second year Civil Engineering
student arrived at Concannon College,
a Residential College on-campus in
Toowoomba, in February and immediately
immersed herself with the college and
wider university communities. Mackenzie
spends her spare time playing community
volleyball every week and volunteering
with the Red Frogs and Rosie’s Friends on
the Street.
Mackenzie has noticed a few differences
between Australia and the United States.
She says that Australian culture tends to
be more informal than American culture.
‘At USQ I call all of my lecturers by their
first name. At uni in America, earning the
title of ‘Dr’ carries a tone of distinction.
Out of respect, it is socially acceptable to
refer to a professor as Dr Smith instead
of John.’ She says she was thrown off
guard the first few times she tried to get
into the driver’s seat, thinking it was the
passenger seat and, ‘dr