Category: Australia

Submitted by Hannah Scheck the 2024 Spring program in Sydney, Australia…

All good things must come to an end. Today I celebrated my final day in Sydney. Tomorrow morning I will wake up and fly home. This week I finished up all of my projects at work and celebrated a great Internship with my coworkers. I ate at my favorite restaurants for the last time. I took my time walking around saying goodbye to the city, the Opera House, and the beaches. It was very emotional. I had time to reflect on my experiences here. I believe I have accomplished a lot and grown as a person into a more independent self. I have been dreaming of Sydney since I was in third grade. Coming here was a dream come true. Leaving is bittersweet. I am so excited to see my friends and family again, and tell them all about my experiences here. I am very sad to leave this beautiful country and all of the memories I have made here. This was truly a remarkable experience and I am so fortunate to have been able to be part of it. My time in Sydney has changed my life for the better and it is something I will never forget. (Submitted on May 10,2024)

Submitted by Hannah Scheck the 2024 Spring program in Sydney, Australia…

I am entering the final stretch of my study abroad. I am feeling both excited and sad to leave. I have been working hard at my internship and trying to enjoy my last couple days in Sydney. The weather has been and continues to be rainy and gloomy, which is unfortunate, but I am making the best of it. This weekend I went and saw Challengers in the movie theater. My roommate and I got dinner and ice cream together. On Saturday, I went to six different markets for some last minute souvenir shopping. I went to Kibrilli, Glebe, Paddy’s, The Rocks, and the Paddy’s Night Market, which hosted several food vendors. I was able to try some delicious Greek Souvlaki and enjoy one of my last trips touring around the city of Sydney. (Submitted on May 5,2024)

Submitted by Hannah Scheck the 2024 Spring program in Sydney, Australia…

A successful week at work! I had to say goodbye to some friends this week, but my sister came to visit! We went out for breakfast at Pancakes On The Rocks. We went on the Big Bus Sydney Tour. I showed her the Queen Victoria Building. We did a tour of the Opera House accompanied by seeing their outdoor performance of West Side Story. I took her to Paddy’s Market to shop for 

souvenirs. We met two celebrities walking down the street, Keegan Michael Key and Tony Shalhoub! We pet and feed some local Australian animals at Featherdale Wildlife Sanctuary. We rode the rides and enjoyed the shows at Luna Park. As sad as I am that this trip will be coming to an end soon and I have to say goodbye to my friends and Sydney, seeing my sister was just the push I needed to power through. (Submitted on April 21,2024)

Submitted by Jake Kalinowski the 2024 Spring program in Sydney, Australia…

This photo is of my friends and I at Sydney Harbour overlooking the Opera House. It is a beautiful area, both to enjoy during the day or in the evening. It is bursting with people grabbing lunch or catching the sunset. There are cruise ships docked every so often with people from all over the world taking in the beauty of Sydney. 

I am so grateful for this opportunity to study abroad in Australia. I have made wonderful friendships and had memorable experiences I will take with me for the rest of my life. I have loved exploring Sydney’s beaches and taking new adventures throughout the city to new museums and restaurants. I have become a new person after studying abroad here which I am thankful for. 

I would love to return to Sydney someday and I know I will. It is too full of beauty to not. I plan to soak in every last moment here while I can. From studying abroad I have learned patience and the power of an open mind. I have learned the importance of stepping outside of your comfort zone. Talking to strangers leads to cute memories and putting yourself out there comes with a risk, but is usually met with a reward. (Submitted on April 17,2024)

Submitted by Hannah Scheck the 2024 Spring program in Sydney, Australia…

Still hard at work at my internship, but that doesn’t mean there still isn’t time for fun. This week I was able to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Theater Royal Sydney. It was a very fun performance and everyone in it was very talented. I was able to see another act of live music at a pub in The Rocks. I tried a Greek Pita wrap, some of Wingboys famous wings, a cookie 

sundae from Kuki, and a spinach and cheese Turkish Gozleme at the markets in The Rocks. I ended my weekend with a free yoga class held under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We had a perfect view of the Opera House and it was very relaxing. It was such a great way to reset and get myself ready for the week! (Submitted on April 14,2024)

Submitted by Jake Kalinowski the 2024 Spring program in Sydney, Australia…

This photo is from Manly Beach at the start of the Manly to Spit Bridge walk. This spot is simple and serene and is why I love it as much as I do. The photo makes me feel calm. I love the archway and how it leads to the water. It is magical. I adore the plants as well. I feel it adds a nice, earthy touch. It felt like I was walking into a photo when I was there. Reminds me of Greece in its architecture and light colors. 

This walk from Manly to Spit Bridge was one of my favorite things I have done here in Sydney. Gorgeous views of the water and even of the Sydney skyline. It was a long walk – about 4 hours, but rewarding and well worth it. Along the way I passed several quaint beaches including Reef Beach and Castle Rock Beach. These were some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. The most clean and clear water. It was a particularly hot day when I did the coastal walk and it felt so refreshing taking a dip into the water. 

I love exploring new places and that Sydney has so much to offer. There are constantly new beaches to explore, new museums to visit, and new food to try. I am in awe of this spectacular city and all of its hidden gems. (Submitted on April 10,2024)

Submitted by Hannah Scheck the 2024 Spring program in Sydney, Australia…

I ended my Easter weekend at The Royal Easter show at Olympic Park. I saw some really cool animals, enjoyed some food, and enjoyed some rides! I had a great week at work. I had some really good meals. GAV took us out for dinner and I tried some prawn pasta! I went out with my 

company and we tried many different pizza types! My company and I spent our Friday at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. We were supposed to go sailing, but due to weather conditions it was canceled. That did not stop us from enjoying the beautiful space and getting a nice lunch, while completing presentations about what we are up to. Saturday, I was supposed to go camping with some friends, but again due to weather conditions, that was canceled. My roommate and I went out for Malaysian food for lunch. Then I had my friends come over. Despite not being able to go camping, we all still got together to sleep outside on my balcony and pretend we were camping. We each brought food, watched some movies, and enjoyed an outdoor sleepover. We woke up the next morning, made our way to palm beach for the views and some relaxation! Even though this week was nothing like I had anticipated, we still made the best out of our situation and had a great time! (Submitted on April 7,2024)

Submitted by Jake Kalinowski the 2024 Spring program in Sydney, Australia…

As part of the CEA CAPA program, we went on a trip one weekend to the Featherdale Wildlife Park. It was really neat to get to not only see Australian wildlife that we typically don’t get to see, but to also interact with the animals. We saw kangaroos, lots of parakeets, wombats, emus, koalas, and more! The park had lots to offer and it was a lovely experience walking around. 

Oftentimes, I don’t love zoos because I don’t believe in them and how animals are kept in enclosed spaces, but this specific park was really well designed where visitors could interact with the animals and they had room to roam around. This made me happy to see and I would notice a difference in the animals and the visitor’s experience, as it was more of an interactive experience rather than just staring at a cage and taking a quick photo. 

Here is a photo of me with some kangaroos. It was a little scary getting so close up to them, but they were calm and relaxed. I even fed some of them as well! Such a cool animal that you only really get to experience in Australia. (Submitted on April 3,2024)