BSCI Down Under 2026

Today we went to the Immigration Museum, and it ended up being a lot more interesting than I expected. I really enjoyed learning about the history of immigration in Australia and how it compares to immigration in the United States. Seeing the different waves of immigrants and the reasons people came here made me realize how much immigration has shaped Australia’s culture, economy, and identity, similar to the way it has in the U.S. At the same time, it was interesting to see how Australia’s policies and attitudes have changed over time, and how some experiences were very different from what we usually learn about American immigration.

One of the parts that stood out to me most was hearing personal stories from immigrants. Instead of just reading dates and facts, the exhibits focused a lot on individual journeys, challenges, and contributions. That made the experience feel more real and helped put the history into perspective.

After the museum, we had the chance to visit a completed building project that previous groups had seen while it was still under construction. It was cool to compare what we were seeing now with photos and descriptions of the project when it was in progress. Being able to walk through the finished space really showed how much work and coordination goes into taking a project from planning and construction all the way to completion. It made the whole process feel a lot more real and rewarding to see.