It took a trip halfway around the world but Nikki Heidt has discovered what she wants to do the rest of her working life.

Heidt, a senior studying marine biology at URI recently returned from a five-month study abroad experience at the James Cook University in Australia.

While there, she had some extensive hands-on experience in what she termed were “Level 2 labs” that convinced her that after her graduation from URI, she will be heading to veterinary school because she wants to work with marine animals.

In doing so, she says “I will be able to combine my interest in marine microbiology and my love for animals.”

Heidt, 21, whose home is near Ithaca, N.Y., went to the James Cook University (named after the famous explorer) because as she put it “it’s the number one marine biology university in the world.”

Located in Townsville, on the northeast coast of Australia, the university is also a short distance from the huge Great Barrier Reef where she was able to do some scuba diving.

Her studies were in upper level classes, she says. While she found the Australians very friendly she did find a few things that were a little jarring. Air temperatures were measured in Celsius and in that tropical city where it was extremely hot it took her a while to get used to the weather forecasts (100 degrees F translated to 37 C). When she left it was the start of the winter season and the only discernable difference was that it was somewhat cooler at night, she explains.

She also found the grading system in Australia to be disconcerting. “You earn points in their system and they don’t use A to F, they use other letters. When I got my first paper back, it was marked “D” and I panicked.”

She said she found that Australians are “more laid-back. Some professors came in dressed on shorts and sandals.”

Heidt said she really appreciated the hands-on labs she had and those helped her make her career choice.

“I had an amazing time there,” she says. She had a waitressing job there and got to meet lots of natives. “Every one is so friendly.” Townsville is not as big a tourist destination at Sydney or Brisbane, she notes. As for going back, she would like to but the $2,000 flight is a bit of a deterrent. “Actually I am happy to be home to be with family and friends.”