Lumen Autumn 2017 - Flipbook - Page 35
There’s nothing like a backyard barbie or meat pie
to open up the conversation and help our overseas
students feel at home in Australia.
M
exican student Alejandro Román
arrived in Adelaide a year ago
and soon experienced both,
courtesy of alumnus Jeff Catchlove
and his wife Sue.
Alejandro is studying a Masters of
Engineering, specialising in mining, at the
University of Adelaide and has enjoyed a
number of local experiences while being
introduced to the Australian way of life
by the Catchloves.
They met through the Experience
Adelaide program which matches
international students with alumni and
staff in our university community.
“As long-term South Australians, we
feel proud and privileged to live here and
want our visitors to share the enjoyment
and benefits of experiencing such a
pleasant place and lifestyle. Experience
Adelaide provides a wonderful opportunity
for overseas students to get a little insight
into daily life for locals,” says Jeff.
Jeff and Sue have been part of
the program since 2014 when it
started and so far have met with three
other students from Kuala Lumpur,
Zimbabwe and Indonesia.
“The level of contact and the types
of activities they have shared with the
students have been quite different,
Jeff and Sue Catchlove
with Alejandro Román
Photo by Russell Millard
but this is very typical for the program
which allows participants to self-regulate
the contact and activities according
to how much time they have, their
interests and other needs,” explains
Experience Adelaide Program Manager,
Annette Wheatley.
Through time spent with Jeff and
Sue, Alejandro has enjoyed a number of
local places and Australian experiences.
They include Hahndorf, where they
stopped at Otto’s Bakery for a pastie and
pie, Semaphore beach, the Sculpture
Symposium in the Adelaide Hills,
several wineries, a tree planting day
in Second Valley and, of course, the
backyard barbeque.
“It’s absolutely imperative that
everybody experiences an Australian
barbeque,” says Sue. “Jeff is an excellent
chef and I think it’s important they try
Australian lamb.”
Alejandro says the time he has shared
with Jeff and Sue has been positive
and enhanced his stay in Australia. He’s
thankful for the opportunity to study here
to increase his opportunities as a mining
engineer and allow him to support his
family – mum, dad and two sisters.
“You do get a bit homesick, like at
Christmas time it was hard being away
from my family... but you can always find
very nice people and places that you
can go,” he says.
“I’ve really loved spending time with Jeff
and Sue and I’m very thankful – the time
I’ve spent with them has made time away
from home a little bit lighter.”
Although the final year of his masters
is a busy time, Alejandro, Jeff and Sue
continue to catch-up.
Next on the menu is some Mexican
culture with a home cooked meal
from Alejandro.
“I promised last time we had an
Australian barbeque that I was going to
cook a Mexican meal for them, just not
too spicy,” he says.
More volunteers are needed to help
the University meet demand for the
program. For more information email
annette.wheatley@adelaide.edu.au
The University of Adelaide | Alumni Magazine 33
