Submitted by Anna Hintz on the 2024 Winter NURS program in Australia …
As I wrap up my final week in Sydney, Australia, I reflect on all the amazing experiences that I have had in these past 3 weeks. It is bittersweet to leave this beautiful and lively city to come back home. My favorite place to spend time in the city was Circular Quay, which is home to the famous Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and The Historical Rocks. My group had the pleasure of spending Australia Day in this area, where we watched the fireworks above the Opera House. An interesting thing that I learned about on this trip is the complicated history of Australia. Similar to the US, Native people inhabited the land of Australia before it was invaded and taken over by the British. This day is known as Australia Day, but to the Native people of Australia named the Aboriginals, they call it Invasion Day. Although it is called a holiday in Australia, we realized that not many people celebrated it this year, and it was not similar the the American 4th of July. Many celebrations focused on remembering and respecting the Aboriginal people of Australia. My group had the opportunity to go on a guided tour in Circular Quay, led by an Aboriginal tour guide who taught us about the rich history of the Aboriginals called Dreamtime. I learned a lot about Australian history and have gained a lot of respect for the Native people of this country during my trip to Sydney. (Submitted on January 29, 2024)