A 23-hour flight spanning approximately 9,600 miles separates Kane Grimster, junior in journalism, from his family and his dog Loki.
The distance between home and what one would assume of a student-athlete from Mt. Eliza, Victoria, Australia, and what actually is, is growing, and no one is more conscious of the loss of identity than Grimster himself.
His clipped, rapid cadence has the clear tones of Australia, but American slang bleeds through, interrupting the honey-like melodicism that is so popular to Americans.
"My accent has definitely faded a bit," Grimster said. "There's nothing you can do about that. I don't think people noticed too much, especially after my first semester."
Grimster also said he is beginning to drop certain idiosyncrasies such as slang.
"Heaps, wreckin', deadly serious, gnarly... you sort of turn it off when you get here," Grimster said. "If no one gets it, what's the point of saying it?"
However, according to Grimster, Alabama residents are not the only ones who believe stereotypes.
"When my [Australian] friends heard I was coming to the South, (stereotypes), of course, were there," Grimster said. "It probably more works the other way. Obviously, the really firm Christian (lifestyle) and the stereotypes with racism are some. I think anyone who has visited either place knows it's not that different."
While Grimster's identity as an Australian native is transitioning, another stronger identity has followed him from the shores of Port Phillip Bay: his track star status.
The No. 19 locker of the Auburn Athletics Complex houses the artifacts of the Australian student-athlete.
Stacked haphazardly on top of each other is a riot of colorful footwear as brilliant as the stained glass of a cathedral. Becoming progressively cleaner, as if their apparent disarray is actually meticulous thought, the four pairs of shoes range from a murky, muddy teal to a burnt Auburn orange that appear brand new.
Head cross country coach Mark Carroll, native of Cork, Ireland, provided perspective from his observations and personal experiences as an international student-athlete.
"The big part is, at 18 years old, you've made the decision to move to another country, go to college and to run. You miss your family that first year," Carroll said. "You're away from your family, and while we have the family here with the team, it's not home."
Two other international students accompany Grimster on the men's track team, including Niklas Buhner of Plettenberg, Germany, and Alex Main of Swindon, England.
Athletically, Carroll said Grimster possesses all of the qualities a great athlete should have.
"What sets most great athletes apart is their focus and commitment to the training, and their ability to visualize a goal and the path that you have to take, or the work you have to do to achieve that goal," Caroll said. "Kane has all of those characteristics. He's a very driven individual, and he's focused on the goal and the work that has to be done to reach those targets."
Carroll said Grimster is a standout on the Auburn cross country team, excelling in the 1500m with a time of 3:44, and placing 1st in the 2011 FSU Invitational and the 2012 Auburn Invitational.
Further, Carroll said Grimster's goals include joining the elusive 4-minute mile club and striding toward an SEC Championship title.
A running sports commentary as he played in the backyard of his childhood home set the stage for Grimster's infatuation with sports, and his decision to pursue a degree in journalism.
Grimster said Nicky Frey, his running coach at The Pennisula School in Victoria, was a major influence on his life.
"I think we learned from each other," Frey said. "Kane from my experience in the sport, and me from this incredibly mature young man who approached his training with such purpose, and treated every race as an opportunity."
Frey and Grimster's relationship began when he was an 11-year-old and continues eight years later via Skype conversations.
"One particular episode sits with me," Frey said. "Kane came down very sick the morning of an (important) race and could not compete. I could tell he was gutted, but he continued to support his teamates and carried out his duties as captain."
Grimster intends to continue his professional journalism career in Australia, covering his preferred sports: cricket and rugby.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
