Alumni Interview with Maya Husted Davidsen

What inspired you to go abroad?

A lot of reasons! I wanted international experience and to improve my English. It is important to me, because my master’s degree is going to be in English and my future job is probably also going to be in an international work environment. I love to travel and get to know different cultures. I have been traveling a lot in Europe, Asia, and Africa, but this time I found Australia so interesting that I had to go here! I have been so busy and a bit stressed back in Denmark, actually I was getting a bit tired of studying, because it was so hard! So, I went to Australia to get new energy and have a break from my busy life back in Denmark.

Why did you choose Deakin University Study Abroad?

The main reason I have chosen Deakin is because of its creative and innovative profile. Back in Denmark, I study business and project management at a business university and it is not creative at all – and I miss that part of project management, because I dream about being a project manager in the creative industry. I have chosen Deakin because it is very hands on and focused on learning by doing. An example is the unite Design Thinking: We learn about the process by doing it, making our own project, which I really like. Back at my Danish university we would just read academic articles and discuss the process instead of learning by doing.

What is your favourite part about Melbourne?

I love Melbourne because of the creative profile. The days I am off university, I like hunting nice cafés, art galleries, and creative concepts around the city. It is a big inspiration for me.

What has made your experience abroad unique?

I have met a lot of lovely people. I live with locals in a shared house in St. Kilda, and it is amazing. I have also got many great friends from all over the world - now I have a big international network, which is very unique about this exchange.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

I only have classes/seminars Monday and Tuesday, which means I have two busy days of university and then I have a lot of spare time. It suits me perfect and I love it that way. On Wednesday to Sunday, I enjoy Melbourne, make assignments, or go on weekend trips. Here’s an example of a Monday – my most busy university day:

• Wake up in St. Kilda at 6:30 a.m. (It feels too early)
  
• I catch the tram at 7:20 a.m.
  
• Arrive at Deakin 8:50 a.m. and the first class starts at 9:00 a.m.
  
• Enjoy the first class with a cup of coffee.
  
• Have one-hour break between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. I normally go the corner café with two of nice girls from my first class. We catch up and eat breakfast together. Some days we have to do some assignments/homework too.
  
• I have the next class until 2 p.m.
  
• Eat lunch and chat with some friends (normally some other exchange students)
  
• I have the last class that day from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. Then I am crazy tired.
  
• Take the tram home (one and half hours!)
  
• Sometimes I eat with my roommates, sometimes with other exchange students, or just alone.
  

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I have been on a lot of weekend trips, including to Sydney, the Great Ocean Road, and Grampians Natural Park. Often with other exchange students, but I have also been visiting friends from Denmark who are on exchange in other cities. I love just walking around Melbourne, hunting nice cafés, and doing my assignments in a creative environment.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

The first month I stayed with another Danish exchange student in Prahran. Then I found a very nice shared house with some locals in Brunswick, but it was just for a month. Now I stay in St. Kilda in another shared house, which is very lovely too. It has been a bit stressful moving around, but it has been nice seeing/living in different areas of Melbourne. To me it has been very important to stay in nice area in the city, close to nice cafés and a lot stuff going on. The best thing about the two shared houses I have been living in has been being a part of the daily life of locals – whether cooking together, partying together, or chilling on the sofa together.

What should future international students know about Deakin?

That the Deakin Burwood campus is too far from the Melbourne city centre. I use almost three hours in public transport every day when I have classes or group work at the university. If they, like me, plan their time schedule to be only two days, then it is fine though. I really like Deakin as a university, but it is a bit too far from Melbourne for people who want to live and explore Melbourne.

How has your time in Melbourne impacted your life?

I have improved my English a lot, met a lot of great people from around the world, learned a lot about Australian culture (I find it very similar to the Danish/Western culture), visited a lot of awesome places in Australia, and learned new ways of thinking creatively because of the unis here at Deakin.

What’s one thing you wish you would have done differently?

If it was possible, I would wish that I have been here in the summer instead of the winter. It is so sad, that I have to go back when it starts to be summer.

Would you recommend Deakin University Study Abroad to other students? Why?

Yes, I really like Deakin University and I have had an amazing time here. I am really glad they made the “beach welcome program.” It was at that trip that I made very good friends among the other exchange students. We have had an awesome time together and it has been a strong network. The events they have made for us exchange students have also made the network between us exchange students even stronger. When I speak with my Danish friends who are exchange students around Australia, it sounds like we have the best network of exchange students here. People know each other very very well and invite each other to gigs, parties, and weekend trips. It is a very friendly environment, and it is very nice to recognize faces of other exchange students at Deakin.

Yes, I will recommend Deakin University to others, but I will tell them that it is winter during trimester two and that the campus is far away from Melbourne centre, which is two disadvantages.