American college-goer Jerome Reimers is not your average 21-year-old. The home-grown Mildura athlete and academic is back on Sunraysia soil to spend time with family before going back in August to start his senior year. Jerome sat down with Lauren Adcock to share what life has been like living overseas.
How old are you?
I’m 21 years old and going into my senior year at college.
Where did you grow up?
Five minutes down the road actually, I’m Mildura born and raised.
Where are you currently living?
I live in a residence hall on campus at Graceland College in Iowa.
What do you study at Graceland College?
I am studying a Bachelor of Biology, with minors in chemistry and environmental studies.
What is your future aspiration?
I hope to work in the environmental field, somewhere outdoors where I can use my hands instead of sitting in an office nine to five. However, I plan on doing further studies after college before entering the workforce.
What is your favourite Australian food?
The second I get back home, the first thing I do is get a meat pie. There’s nothing like that in America.
I guess you must have a favourite American food too?
Pizza, greasy American pizza.
Growing up in Mildura meant:
Spending time in the outdoors, particularly by the river swimming and fishing with family and friends.
What does living in the United States mean to you?
It means that I get to immerse myself in a new culture, surrounded by friends I’ve made throughout college.
What is the best part about attending an American college?
I love the student activities and social setting of college. It’s just such a unique environment and so different to what my experience would be if I studied in Australia.
What does a week in your life look like?
Classes are scattered throughout the day and I usually take part in organised campus or social activities too. Sometimes at night, my friends and I will go as a group down to Walmart and buy late night snacks. The college is very focused on community living and sometimes I’ll spend the afternoon watching movies or playing board games.
How about the worst part about living in Iowa?
I would have to say the lack of four true seasons is the worst part about living there. The wind chill in Iowa is brutal and winter seems to go on forever. There’s certainly no snow in Mildura!
What is the biggest difference between the United States and Australia?
Well, the temperature for starters! I think the way people are in general differ by country. You have people in America who are wildly conservative and wildly progressive. It’s much more amplified in America than what it is here in Australia.
Will you look to pursue work in Iowa or Mildura?
That’s an ongoing conversation between me and my girlfriend. Ideally, I’d like us to move to Mildura together after our studies but she’d like us to move to Ohio where she lives. We’ll see, watch this space.
