An Interview with Gabriela Borges

Gabriela is in her junior year of undergraduate studies here at Duke. She is from Perth, Australia, and is majoring in Math and Economics.

1. Why did you decide to study in the States?

I think one of the things that’s most appealing about the American education system is the liberal arts education. Everywhere else that I applied required applying to a specific major program. I really like the idea of having an education that has breadth as well as depth, which is something that Duke prides itself on. On top of that, Duke’s one of the best-ranked universities in the world. You’re looking at a full dynamic of career opportunities and extracurricular opportunities aw well as the academics, which is important to me as well.

 

2. What did your friends and family think of your decision to study here?

My family was very supportive. They figured that Duke would be a really good opportunity. Friends were a little bit surprised, I guess, because not many people in my high school decided to study abroad. But everyone could see the benefits of a liberal arts education and everyone could see the opportunity of America.

 

3. So most Australian students stay in the country for college?

Yeah.

 

4. Have you lived in Australia all your life?

No – So, I was born in the Middle East, in a country called Oman, right by Dubai. And then I spent my childhood between Oman and Australia. Then I went to boarding school for my last two years of high school in England.

 

5. Why did your family go from Oman to Australia? Or were the always based in Australia?

Yeah, Australia’s always been home. My dad’s in Oman right now for work. He does oil and gas engineering.

 

6. Growing up, how would you characterize Oman as different from Australia?

Oman is a very unique society. It’s a very unique culture, as well. It’s a beautiful place – lots of beaches. So we spent a lot of time on the beach, beach barbecues, things like that. It’s very modern in the sense that I can wear whatever I want, women have a lot of rights, I can drive, etc. So it’s not at all backwards in a lot of ways, which is good – a lot of freedoms. But in terms of young people, there’s not much to do. There’s no grass, there’s no outdoors, there’s very little sport. So that’s one of the biggest differences, I think, between Oman and the UK/Australia in how you spend your time.

 

7. As an Australian, how would you say that spending so much time in Oman has impacted you?

I think there are obviously advantages and disadvantages to having lived in a lot of places. One of the biggest advantages is I feel that it’s broadened my perspective on the world. The majority of my friends back home have never even left the state, let alone the country. And so, being able to have these firsthand experiences in the Middle East, which is on people’s minds due to oil and its emerging economy, and now England and America – it’s very much a big picture perspective, which I think helps me a lot with relating to people and working with team dynamics and understanding diversity better. Diversity is something that Australia has certainly had to deal with, now as well as in the past, because it’s almost a cultural melting pot in the same way that America is. We have a lot of people come in from Southeast Asia and further abroad.

 

8. When you came to Duke from boarding school, what were some of the changes you noticed besides the actual educational system?

So, culturally, it’s not that different because they’re both very Western cultures. The biggest thing I noticed was the drinking age – that has a huge effect on the social life. And, of course, Durham is a little bit different than Cambridge, which is where I was – a little bit slower. A lot of the things that you do on the weekend after school happen on campus here as opposed to out in the city. But, yeah, I think the drinking age has a really huge effect. I was really used to going out to pubs and bars with friends on the weekends, and you can’t really do that here. It’s very different. And Greek life, too, I guess. Greek life is the other thing that I’d point out, in terms of culture. I was completely unfamiliar with that sort of system. And it’s good, as a freshman, because you’re exposed to it, but you’re not dominated by it in the sense that you don’t rush until your second semester. But that was something that I was still unfamiliar with and surprised by.

 

9. And when you’re here at Duke, what do you miss most about Australia?

I miss home food a lot – I miss home cooking. On top of that, Australians are known for being very laidback and chill. I miss the beach. And I miss the nightlife. Perth isn’t the biggest city – it’s got a population of about 2 million – but there seems more to do than in terms of shopping, arts and entertainment, going out etc.

 

10. How do you think Americans view Australia?

I get a lot of comments about spiders and scorpions and dangerous creatures. And I guess that’s part of the  Steve Irwin stereotype– completely wild. The beach is pretty representative, given that a lot of the population lives on the coast. What else…shrimp on the barbie is a big one, Outback Steakhouse. These stereotypes are true to an extent, but they’re also a little bit limited.

 

11. So here on campus, what organizations are you involved with?

I’m really proud of my position as Vice President of Programming for Duke University Union. It’s a lot of fun – I get to play a part and inspire some of the really exciting programming we have that goes on here. Everything from the major speakers program to the radio station, to campus-wide cocktail parties and big-name bands. It’s a great team to work with, as is the International Association, for which I’m Directory of Marketing– slightly different events, but still really great, really fun programming that brings different groups of people together. And I’m also part of the Duke Sailing Team.

 

12. And in your past three years at Duke, do you feel that you’ve changed any?

Yeah, of course I have. I think, regardless of where you are, that time from 18 to 21, that’s a huge time of growing up and learning a lot about yourself.

 

13. Do you have any plans after graduation?

Not specifically. Ideally, find a job. I’m a little bit flexible as to where I want to work. I think I’d still be up to travel a little more before I go back to Perth and settle down – if I do end up going back to Perth to settle down! I think it’s nice that I have options and I don’t have to be limited by my geographic location. I’m excited to explore the possibilities.