Thinking of studying abroad down under? Then read on. QS Top Universities speaks with Shiddhantha Rajbhandari, from Nepal, also known as Bunny, about Australian BBQs, Mardi Gras festivals and becoming responsible.

Profile:

Name: Shiddhantha Mani Rajbhandari (Bunny) Home country: Nepal Degrees: Bachelor of Business Administration (Thailand), Bachelor of Commerce (Australia), Masters of Professional Accounting (Australia) Countries of study: Nepal, India, Thailand, Australia Career ambition: To be a top corporate travel agent and leading marketer in the travel industry.

If you're invited to a BBQ in Australia, bring your own meat for dinner otherwise you might just be eating salad. As an international student studying abroad in Australia, Bunny learnt this the hard way.

'The first time I was invited to a BBQ, I turned up with a bottle of wine and some beers. I then realized that you were supposed to bring your own meat as well. I never imagined that you would be invited to a BBQ party and have to bring your own meat!

Bunny learnt a few other things while studying abroad for his undergraduate degree in Australia. 'I discovered music festivals, theme parties, looking after yourself, being open minded and tolerant of other religious view and cultures, new food and beautiful women,' he recalls.

But there were a few more culture shocks in store for him. 'Back in Nepal I had maids doing all my work, cooking, cleaning, washing, etc. I had a driver to drive me around town. When I bought my first car in Australia I didn't know how to put petrol in it.'

Three years later, with an undergraduate degree and a master's degree under his belt, Bunny feels more at home in Australia and is working towards his goal to become a top corporate travel agent and leading marketer in the travel industry.

'Coming from Nepal, it is very common for students to go and study abroad, be it in India, USA, England or Australia. So it was a very normal thing for us to say, 'after I finish my high school I will go to 'this country' and study there.' My parents also encouraged me to study abroad and my elder brother was already studying in Germany at that time. He would come back with all these pictures of weird, crazy and wonderful moments in his university and that made me really want to go abroad as well.

Bunny began his study abroad experience in Thailand, the main attractions being to 'get out of Nepal' and the 'promise of adventures' that lay ahead. But after a few years, Bunny found he had done most of what he wanted to do in Thailand, applied for an exchange program at the University of Wollongong in Sydneyand was accepted.

'The exchange program meant I could finish my degree in Australia in two years instead of three, save thousands of dollars, improve myself and of course experience new adventures. Moreover, I would learn new things and the idea of living and studying in an English speaking country was a big attraction after having struggled to feel comfortable in Thailand.'

It took a while for Bunny to become accustomed to the Australian education system, but once he did, he found it suited him more so than the Nepalese, Indian and Thai systems he had experienced. 'One big challenge I faced as an international student was the difference in education systems. I completed my high school in India where it was very theoretical. Exams consisted of writing 1000-1200 words on specific topics that you were taught in class.



'However, in Thailand we had multiple choice exams and perhaps a few group projects which I thought was so easy. In Australia it was a big challenge for me. We were just guided through the subject and you had to write research papers, do group assignments, sit multiple choice and long questions. In the beginning it was really hard getting used to this system, but after one semester I found that it was a much better way of learning.'

Bunny also learnt about plagiarism for the first time after completing an assignment and getting a zero for it. 'I learnt about globalization, which is very prevalent in Australia. I joined Unicrew, a volunteer group conducting marketing activities around the campus and learnt some great things about university life.'

Once he got the hang of university life, Bunny's next challenge was making 'local friends'. Despite being a self confessed 'friendly, outgoing person', Bunny found it hard to make friends with domestic students. 'I can understand that this is their home country and they already have friends and groups, and yes, the onus lies on me to make the first move and try to make friends but again and again youfeel that you aren't really wanted around.'

Bunny believes this is an important point that other students considering studying abroad should be aware of. 'Yes, you will make many friends but most of them will be international students.' But this doesn't have to be a bad thing. 'One amazing experience I had was when I organized a party at my place and invited about 20-30 people. During the party I just observed and counted that there were people from over 15 countries sitting around having a drink, talking about the same topics and ideas.'

Other points Bunny recommends prospective international students consider are, 'what educational and social ties there are between your country and the one you want to go to and are the subjects you are going to in enroll in going to be accredited towards your degree?' Financial costs, language, food and work opportunities should also be considered, he says.

'I would definitely recommend studying abroad to anyone who can afford it. Even if it is just for a semester I would recommend anyone to get out of their comfort zone and try something new. Especially in today's world where the world is getting smaller and smaller I think it is very important to know what lies out there. A study abroad program will educate you. Like my rector used to say in school, 'Do not let your studies interfere with your education.' The overall experience is just awesome.'