Submitted by Gabriella Van Winkle on the 2019 spring semester program in Sydney, Australia…
I have been here in Sydney, Australia two days shy of three weeks. Not a very long time, although it feels like way longer! I have seen so many beautiful sites, it is nearly impossible to pick just one to be your favorite. This city as a whole is so beautiful, it is overwhelming because you want to see it all at once! I think that I have finally started to adjust to my life here. I have gotten more accustomed to the public transportation, because I got lost one too many times in the beginning! I have learned more about the culture and where the “hot spots” are for food and coffee. The food here, I have found, is mostly like in America, but just way better. Everything is made more extravagant or just plain better. I’m not a big coffee drinker, but the coffee here is to die for. I didn’t think I would like it because it is much stronger, but somehow that just makes it better.
I have also learned some good sites to go see, but we haven’t made it to many yet. We have mostly been living at the beach lately and have visited four different beaches so far. Manly, Bondi, Coogee, and Bronte are the beaches that we visited and they all each have something equally special to love! I live in an apartment close to Darling Harbour, which overlooks the Harbour near the Sydney Bridge. My favorite thing is seeing the Harbour at nighttime. The lights are so pretty and it looks so peaceful. It is nice to go and look at on a relaxing night, when we all don’t want to do much, but don’t want to sit home. It is especially nice on Saturday nights when there are fireworks as well!