Submitted by Erin Malley on the 2020 winter session program in Australia and Thailand sponsored by the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics…
This past week, our group embarked on the 9-hour flight from Thailand to Sydney, Australia. When we first landed at the airport, it was raining in Sydney, a good sign for the bush fires that are still blazing across the country. The rain, and the minor jet-lag, didn’t stop us from exploring the city, though! On our first day, we walked to an area called Darling Harbor where there were shops and restaurants on the water. I could immediately pick up on the differences between Sydney and large cities in the United States. For one, it was much cleaner, and I noticed Australians put much more effort into being environmentally conscious. Throughout the week, we went on many excursions like climbing to the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge and visiting a wildlife park where we got to interact with native animals like kangaroos and koalas. We also have had the chance to visit many of the famous beaches throughout Sydney like Bondi and Coogee, that have some of the most beautiful cliffs and blue water I’ve ever seen! It’s been such an incredible experience to visit a country on the other side of the world and see how life can be so different, but also similar to everyday life in the United States. With only one week left on the program, I’m excited to see more of Australia and what else this country has to offer!
