After going abroad to Australia to teach for a year at Avondale College, Professor Lisa Clark Diller returned to Southern Adventist University for the winter semester.
What did you like most about being abroad?
I enjoyed the sunshine and beach culture, as well as the interesting birds. Travel always calls us to be more attentive to our surroundings and notice the culture and nature. When we’re at home, we get on auto-pilot and aren’t always as “present.” I enjoyed the chance to really tune in to where I was and who I was with for a little while. I also really love the food in Australia, especially all the dark vegetables that they use in their cooking. Did you have to change your teaching style to accommodate with the curriculum? Yes, I did. Attendance wasn’t required and students don’t usually buy or read textbooks, and there isn’t the ability to assess if they read. That meant I ended up doing lots more lecturing rather than discussion. Also, spending time with students outside the classroom wasn’t part of the educational culture, or having departmental events or departmental clubs. I’m used to a large part of my job being mentoring students, individually or in groups and getting to know them well.
What were some key differences between Australia and America that you noticed?
Australians are really safety-conscious. There are extremely few road accidents and they seem to all abide by the speed limit—this was hard for me as I’m a bit of a lead-foot/speed-demon. They also like to joke and tease a lot and have a very hard time being affirming or appreciative, so I learned to do a lot more teasing. They are also very hospitable, and I spent a lot of time eating homemade food at many different homes I was invited to.
Was it hard to transition back to America after being away for a year?
I unfortunately got back just as winter came and the temperature dropped. But I’m very glad to be back home.
What did you miss the most about America?
I missed knowing the cultural norms. It was hard to know sometimes if I was being rude or what sorts of things were within the acceptable bounds. So I missed being comfortable in social contexts. I missed peanut-butter-flavored things, as peanut butter isn’t something Australians like as much as we do. Also, cinnamon-flavored candy or food. That’s not a thing there. I missed being able to drive fast. And I missed knowing my students outside the classroom.