Nick Sutcliffe

Marketing and finance major, geography minor, from Topeka

Down under

He studied a year at the University of Woollongong. Why Australia? “I always had a fascination with Australia. That whole beach culture excited me.”

Hot memory

A summery Christmas on the beach—with shrimp on the barbie instead of turkey and stuffing. “But Santa Claus still dressed in the full outfit as if it were snowing outside.”

Pep talk for poor travelers

You can afford it if you stick to public transportation, hostels, and cheap meals. “I remember eating a lot of PBJ sandwiches. Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive.”

Last continent

The last frontier—at least from Nick's perspective as the only continent he hadn’t conquered—was Antarctica. That changed with a visit in December 2007. “We went during their summer, which meant the high was still below freezing the whole time!”

You can read his journal to learn more details about his trip.

Other activities

Fraternity vice president, intramural soccer and swimming, Frisbee golf, bowling league.

It’s a dirty job

Helped other Students for Environmental Action members recycle six tons of trash from the Wakarusa Music Festival. “They expect 15,000 people a day, so that’s a lot of waste we can divert from the landfills.”

The hippie factor

Does this tree-hugger/backpacker/Frisbee player deserve his frat nickname of Hippie? “For my internship last summer I sat in an insurance office wearing a tie. I don’t know too many hippies who do that!”

Study abroad journal

How many people can say they've visited Antarctica? Traveling with his parents, Nick got a taste of what life when you're really "down under" is like.

Read Nick's adventures to learn how to survive the Antarctic, from calving glaciers and whale graveyards to smelly penguin poo.

December 17: Un buen tiempo in Buenos Aires

December 18: Touring the city, Evita, and tango

December 19: Visiting the southern-most city in the world

December 20: Setting sail to Antarctica

December 21: Life in the freezer

December 22: Setting foot on land

December 23: Whale graveyards and hot springs

December 24: Sledding in Antarctica – who knew?

December 25: Merry Christmas, Ukraine-style

December 26: The not-so-paradise-like Paradise Bay

December 27: Couch potato in the Drake Passage