Submitted by Nicole Curnan on the 2024 Winter BUAD program in Sydney, Australia…
The first week has brought on a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions! We have been on some fantastic adventures already including a trip to a wildlife reserve, a walking tour of the Rocks, and a four mile hike along Sydney’s coast. I am also doing an internship with a local startup that has been incredibly engaging and insightful! The work culture here is vastly different from that of the U.S. and I could not be more pleased with the work-life balance. My colleagues have all been incredibly helpful and friendly, we even had a traditional Aussie BBQ on the office patio to get to know each other a little better! The experience so far has been nothing short of wonderful and I am so excited to continue to push myself both professionally and personally in this beautiful city! (Submitted on January 13, 2024)
Submitted by Sam Urspruch on the 2024 Winter HSBM program in Australia and New Zealand…
Traveling from the US to Australia was super exciting! The first day was a little overwhelming being so far from home, but after meeting the locals with their warm hospitality, I felt better! Trying new things has been my favorite part so far. We had dinner on the water which was 9 courses! Australia has opened my eyes to new flavors and dishes. Exploring iconic landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and the Botanical Gardens showcased Australia’s diverse beauty. I love learning about the cuisine and culture around me! Furthering my studies down under is such an amazing opportunity to embrace new adventures and create lasting memories! (Submitted on January 11, 2024)
Submitted by Matt Sternheim on the 2024 Winter BUAD program in Sydney, Australia…
Myself and Arnie the koala at the wildlife sanctuary about an hour out of Sydney. He was a very nice guy (koala).
Coming into my study abroad experience, I did not know much about what to expect. While I did do my research, I was not actually in Australia yet, and I found a lot of contradicting information. One of the main themes I picked up on was that Australia, and even more so Sydney, is a lot like the US in terms of people and culture. After being here for a week, I can say that this is both true and false at the same time. One of the main things I have noticed is Australians are certainly more laid back and reserved compared to the fast paced and in a way, high stress environment that the US produces. However, this was not necessarily something that shocked me and made me have to change anything I usually do. The biggest adjustment I have had to make is something that happens everyday, multiple times per day. Before coming here, I knew that Australians drive on the left side of the road, but I am not driving here so that aspect does not affect me too much. What I was unaware of was that they actually walk on the left side too. Countless times, I have found myself walking straight into or through large groups of people since I am just accustomed to walking on the right side; it is just muscle memory. This is the biggest culture shock I have found so far that I am still getting used to; I wonder if once I am back in the US, will I be used to walking on the left side, and have to readjust all over again? I guess we will find out. (Submitted on January 10, 2024)
Submitted by Sonthia Manolakos on the 2024 Winter ENGL program in Australia…
A thirteen hour bus ride seems like it wouldn’t be that enjoyable. However, the Great Ocean Road tour that my group took the first week of our trip, was quite the opposite. We started the drive to various parks along the route until we reached the first beach on our trek. The beaches along the Great Ocean Road are widely different from the East Coast beaches my friends and I are used to. Cliffs hold the beach in an encasement that spans the whole coast line. Algae and grassy moss hang from parts of the cliffs and become a beautiful little ecosystem in itself. Bugs were somewhat of a complaint amongst the group, as they also don’t parallel our east Coast comforts and land on you without remorse. However, the clouds didn’t take away from the awe we experienced from the beaches and the small towns that were built around them. (Submitted on January 10, 2024)
Submitted by Emma Morandi on the 2024 Winter program in Australia…
After over 25 hours of travel, I made it to Australia! It is beyond amazing here and I am so grateful to be a part of this trip. My first impression of Australia is that the locals here are so nice. Each interaction I’ve had at a coffee shop, restaurant, shop, or even in public has been amazing. The workers here are so hospitable and make you feel like your experience is the most important thing. I definitely had a culture shock when I learned that people don’t tip here. It shocked me because the service is fantastic and everyone treats you with respect without the drive of earning money. The locals don’t judge you for being a tourist; rather enjoy starting a conversation about our culture and travel. They have welcomed us to the city and have made the transition process much easier.
Submitted by Alyson Markley on the 2024 Winter HSBM program in Australia and New Zealand…
On January 1st, I began my trip to Sydney, Australia. There were a few bumps in the road to start, my first flight was delayed 7 hours and I missed my connecting flight due to this and had to spend a night in the San Francisco airport instead. But then I caught my 15 hour flight and landed in Sydney. We started our first day pretty busy with class and lunch all together, we even had our first wine tasting. Then day 2 we had class and went grocery shopping during it to try some new snacks. We ended day 2 with a nice steak dinner at the Manly Grill. Day 3 we started off with some time in the classroom then we took public transportation to a brewery and distillery. We learned so much about the process of how to make various spirits and different beers. Now for day 4 we have a free day and we are going to spend the day on the beach and exploring the town of Manly. Everything and everyone so far has been so amazing and this trip has started so well. The locals are so polite everywhere we go and they are always smiling. We are staying in a beach town called Manly and life just feels so peaceful and simple here. I can’t wait to continue this experience and learn so much more about Australia everyday.
Submitted by Kayla Haynes on the 2024 Winter program in Australia…
When I first arrived in Australia, I expected to be most shocked by the time here being 16 hours ahead of the time in New York. I was not wrong in that assumption that it would be a shock. But it is not the thing that has made me most surprised. That honor belongs to the city’s free provisions for those within its streets. The tram system that runs throughout the city is like the New York Subway with different routes and stops, but it has one stark difference. Within Melbourne’s extremely busy Central Business District, the trams are free to use. Anyone in the district’s busy limits can simply get on and off, using the free transportation to get from place to place. When I learned that this system was used here, my native New Yorker brain immediately thought about how different the culture must be. Once I identified this difference, I began to see it everywhere. I saw a plethora of public bathrooms in the streets that were clean and clearly cared for, unlike many that I see walking through Manhattan. The city’s implemented systems have made me wish for more from my own home while also making me love this new one I get to stay in for the coming weeks.
Submitted by Stephanie Stapf on the 2023 summer program in New Zealand and Australia…
We are now at our final location, which is a town in Australia called Brisbane. We started off by attending a cultural tour where we learned about the Aboriginal people of the country. The tour guide provided us with extremely detailed and insightful information about indigenous practices, including those of her own tribe. I learned that the Aboriginal people were historically able to make use of the environment using knowledge equivalent to the present discoveries of scientists. Additionally, in Australia, the indigenous land is recognized in most public places, which is uncommon in the United States. I have realized how important and necessary this acknowledgment is, and am determined to educate myself on the historical and present indigenous cultures of my town.
Surfing in Gold Coast, Australia
The next day, we hopped onto a train and headed to the beaches of Gold Coast. When we arrived, the surfboards were out and ready for us. I was pretty nervous and did not think I would be able to come close to standing up on one. I ended up doing much better than I had anticipated, and rode a wave nearly all the way to shore! Surfing has never been an item on my bucket list, but I am so glad that this program pushed me outside of my comfort zone. Activities like this have made me so appreciative of this opportunity and all of the adventures I have been able to pursue. I do not think I would have signed up for a surfing lesson on my own before this, and now I can say that I am eager to surf again.
As our final week approaches, I am trying my best to embrace every moment. I am looking forward to learning more about Brisbane, as well as more about myself. Every day has been a new adventure, and I am not quite done exploring Australia yet.
Submitted by Stephanie Stapf on the 2023 summer program in New Zealand and Australia…
My final week in Australia was much more relaxed, but still allowed me to cross off numerous items on my bucket list. One of these items was snorkeling, which we did along a coral reef site on Moreton Island. I had no idea what to expect and was nervous about the logistics of being able to breathe. The experience ended up being less intense than I expected, and more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. I found it so amazing how clearly I could witness all of the sea life, including the vivid colors of the fish and the immaculate details of the coral reef. These sights felt like they could have come from a movie, and it is hard to believe that I was seeing such a beautiful display with my own eyes, in real-time. The experience was followed up with a presentation, during which we learned about the effects of global warming and what we could do to help protect these ecosystems. The instructor exhibited so much knowledge and passion, emphasizing how important and urgent these environmental concerns are.
Snorkeling along the coast of Moreton Island
Encompassing everything I have learned on this trip into a paragraph would be impossible. I have discovered so much about the world and myself. This was my first time traveling outside of the United States, so I did not have any clear expectations. These thirty days have been the most eventful in my life. The sights of my first foreign country during the 6 a.m. bus ride from Auckland Airport will be ingrained in my mind forever. I embarked on countless educational opportunities while also experiencing bucket-list sights and activities. I floated on a raft through a cave in New Zealand, climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, pet a Kangaroo, and embarked on so many other once-in-a-lifetime experiences. New Zealand and Australia have a special place in my heart, and I am already planning my next trip back.
Submitted by Taylor Lynch on the 2023 summer program in New Zealand and Australia…
I can’t believe that my time on my study abroad trip is coming to an end. This has been an amazing trip, and I will definitely be leaving with lifelong memories as well as amazing friends. Going on a trip like this has been a truly unique experience, and I am very happy that I decided to go through with it and try something that was out of my comfort zone. The amazing people that I have met, as well as the new places and cultures that I was able to learn about and experience, made the long trip to Australia and New Zealand worth it.
During the last week in Brisbane we went to Moreton Island to snorkel along the ship ruins there. When we got off the ferry and walked onto the island, I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. The water was so clear and blue, and the actual island itself was covered in trees, and lots of white sand. There is a line of about 15 ships that were purposefully sunk in the water that surrounds the island. We were able to snorkel around them to see the wrecks as well as the wildlife around them. When we got into the water, it was so crazy to see how many fish as well as coral were around the wreck. Looking around at all of the different types of fish around me was such a cool experience. It was also astonishing to see all of the different types of fish there and how they all got along and were able to co-exist. On the shipwrecks, there were also many different types of corals that were growing on them, and the wrecks also acted as shelter for the fish. It was amazing to see the huge ecosystem that was able to be created from these wrecks, and how a new community of sea life is able to flourish there.
Walking off the ferry at Moreton Island
After snorkeling we were able to learn more about the history of the wrecks that we just saw. I was surprised to find out that the ships were purposefully sunk in that area. The Queensland Government purposefully sank fifteen ships over the course of a few years in order to create a place for boats to safely stop and anchor on the island. This was really interesting to learn about and something that I have never heard of or knew was an option. I always thought prior to this experience that shipwrecks would be harmful to the ocean and its ecosystems. However, seeing how all of the animals living at the wrecks were able to flourish, and that these ships were purposely sunk, it is apparent that it was a beneficial decision for both the people as well as the ocean wildlife.
For our last excursion as a group, we went kayaking on the Brisbane River. I have never been kayaking before so I was really excited to try it out. I was also looking forward to being able to see the city of Brisbane from a different angle. It was really cool to be able to kayak in the river and the views of the city from where we were was really pretty. The current of the river was going towards us, so it was a little hard to paddle down the river. On the way back, however, it was really easy since we had the help of the current. This was a fun last activity to do as a group, and I really am going to miss being able to experience new things in these amazing cities.
Overall, I had a wonderful time in both New Zealand and Australia, and have learned so much during my time on this study abroad trip. Learning about the culture and native people of both New Zealand and Australia was definitely a highlight. I think it is very interesting to learn about the history of other countries and see how it differs from the US. It was also amazing to be able to experience a new culture and a way of living. This was a good reminder of how different people chose to live their lives, yet are still able to be connected to the world around them. This was definitely a great experience, and I would recommend it to anyone to study abroad if they are considering it.
