Submitted by Elias Tapia on the 2024 Winter Winter BUAD program in Sydney, Australia…
Week 3
Sydney is a city located within the state of New South Wales, Australia, where life is constantly booming, with people constantly on the move as there is so much to do and see within Sydney. This introduction to the city came from the historical landmarks all around, as their statues are everywhere, commemorating the different aspects of its history, ranging from inspirational stories to very controversial ones. The culture that is found in Sydney is very individualistic. All the people that were commemorated had some form of aspiration or individual goal to improve themselves or the country itself. This remains true when participating in various Australian customs and activities, as even though it is meant to be a group effort, it rather feels as though it all relies on oneself rather than the group. This is captured perfectly through the Botanical Garden in Sydney, as this garden doesn’t go out of its way to look extravagant but rather shows the beauty that is found within the country to speak for itself as it doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone.
Sydney as a city is massive, filled with buildings reaching the highest points in the sky, with its local plant life adding to the atmosphere of the city as if it were in a different world in itself. The city provides so many different forms of transportation with buses, trains, light rails, ferries, etc., giving the person different options on how they want to get around this stunning city. The mode of transportation that I preferred was the light rail. It was easy to follow, easily accessible as you were able to see where you were going as the windows made it simple to find where one was all the time, and came every ten minutes or so. The light rail’s final stop is at Circular Quay, which led to the Sydney Opera House, which had such a rich history, with the building now being used by various artists, shows, etc., with it constantly booming with different interpretations of the arts. This was an amazing place to be, as the Opera House is one of the many landmarks that Australia is known for, and so finally being able to see it in person wouldn’t have been possible without this study abroad experience giving me this experience of a lifetime. (Submitted February 3, 2024)
Week 4
The last week within Sydney, Australia, was bittersweet, as I had grown used to the buildings, the beaches, transportation, etc., so the thought of leaving it all was very surreal. One of the highlights of this trip was that I was able to try a Kangaroo dish within one of the restaurants the group visited, where I was served cooked Kangaroo meat, chips, salad, and soy sauce with a knife to cut through the meat. The dish was not for me personally, as it was later explained that the reason kangaroo meat is not usually consumed is because these animals are very healthy in that they have very little to no fat composition within their bodies, meaning their meat can never be cooked to a crisp like steak, pork, etc. Due to this reason, kangaroo meat will always be very chewy and only to the liking of a select few, with many Australians refusing to eat it out of principle as the kangaroo is their national animal.
There are many places to visit within Sydney, and one of the places that I was fortunate enough to visit was Bondi Beach, with the scenic ocean views and the people being more friendly and laid-back than those in the main city. This captures what day-to-day life is like for most people, as the beach is close by for many, with active surfing classes and groups, with the area to actually swim being small as the rest is occupied by the surfers, with everybody just wanting to relax and just have a good time.
One of the most memorable moments of the trip was the Sydney Bridge Climb, with the group being able to take advantage of this opportunity with the tour starting late in the afternoon and ending towards the night. This experience was able to give the most beautiful view of Sydney possible with all the city lights, with each part of Sydney being able to be seen, such as Bondi, Manley, etc., and flying foxes flying around these gorgeous buildings. The tour guide with the group was very energetic and very helpful throughout the entire process as they explained the history of the city and the bridge itself, as some parts of the bridge serve no architectural purpose but are there for more of an appealing design. This was amusing as even though certain parts serve no purpose, the people of Sydney kept it as a way to remember how far they have come, which really felt inspiring as not many people would think like this in similar circumstances. As I was at the top of the bridge, it became a reminder of how important it is to go out and try different experiences, as this view wouldn’t be possible if I only stayed with what I knew. (Submitted February 4, 2024)
