Textiles Student Spends Semester Abroad with Sharks, Koalas and Kangaroos!

by Emma Delmontagne

Annie Corah, a junior Textile Engineering student at the Wilson College of Textiles, spent a semester studying abroad in Australia. It was her dream to visit Australia, and she studied at the University of Adelaide which offered courses that aligned closely with her academic program’s requirements. Yet, Australia wasn’t all classroom learning! Corah also built new friendships and traveled to multiple countries. She hopes to work abroad following graduation. She shares her experience and highlights with us in the Q&A below. 

Why did you decide to study abroad?

Studying abroad was something I had always planned to do during my time at NC State. I wanted to experience a different country and its culture. I thought it would be a great way to gain independence and global perspective. I also had never really traveled outside of the U.S., so I decided to take advantage of the opportunity to live across the world for an extended period of time.

Why did you choose Australia?

I have always wanted to visit Australia. I thought that it would be perfect to study there because it is so far away and expensive to fly to, which truly made it a once in a lifetime opportunity. It also worked out that the University of Adelaide was the best option for my major and had courses that easily matched up with the ones I needed to take.

How was taking textile courses different abroad than on-campus?

Taking courses in Australia was slightly different than taking classes at NC State. There is a lot more self-learning, and there are fewer assignments that go into your final grade. It was a little more challenging because your whole grade was made up of the final and two or three assignments, but also beneficial because there was not as much homework throughout the semester.

What advice would you give other textile students who are considering studying abroad?

I would definitely encourage other students to study abroad, apply for a country that excites you and take advantage of every opportunity while you are there! It can also be nerve wracking going to a different country by yourself, but it is very easy to quickly meet new people and make friends because everybody is in the same boat. I have absolutely no regrets about my decision to go abroad and had such an amazing time in Australia.

What was your favorite part about Australia?

The relationships I built while abroad in Australia were some of the best I have ever had. The friends I met really made my experience in Adelaide the best it could possibly be. We also all were able to go explore other parts of Australia (such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Outback, Sydney, Melbourne), and even traveled to other countries (Indonesia and New Zealand) over some of our longer breaks. I had the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone the whole time I was there and try things that I would never have dreamed of doing before, some of the highlights including bungee jumping in Queenstown, shark cage diving, scuba diving in Bali, and riding camels through the Australian outback!

What are your plans after graduation?

After I graduate I hope to work at a company abroad that focuses on either medical or protective textiles.