I still have about a month left in Australia and though I did not come here expecting to be an American ambassador, I can think of some ways I have changed my new friends’ perceptions of American culture. The United States and Australia are very similar countries. We share similar histories, language, and governments, but the attitudes of the people are incredibly different. Australians see us as loud, elitist jerks. This stereotype is not helped by the exchange students who only spend time with others from America, or those who are, in fact, loud, elitist jerks (I have met a few). I am proud to say that my Australian clique has officially adopted me as one of their own. On occasion, they will bring up “the Americans” (other exchanges) in conversation, and quickly turn to me and say, “oh, but you don’t count.” I hope I have shown them that Americans, like Australians, are not all the same, and those of us who want to learn about and assimilate into another culture can do it quickly and easily. I also hope that through four months’ worth of conversation they have learned a little bit about America: its history, government, school systems, and so on. It is great to have so much knowledge about something by default, and we often find ourselves comparing and contrasting aspects of culture over meals. I believe that networking opportunities like those provided by studying abroad can result in understanding and prosperity for all parties involved.