Christian Schipma
1/20/2025
After finishing my first week in Australia, I have experienced and learned so much about Australian culture and society. My favorite memory from this week was when we went on a walking tour of The Rocks. Although the day started with a downpour, the sky opened just in time for an amazing walk through of the rocks, and view of the Sydney Opera House. After experiencing the amazing tour, I was able to make various connections between the tour guide’s presentation and the information me and my classmates have learned in our class, Aussie Life and Culture. These connections were not only interesting because it has given me insight on Australian culture stemming from British colonization, but also about Aboriginal culture and history.
The beautiful views of the Sydney Opera House will surely stay with me forever. The unique shapes remind me of the fins of a fish, expressing the significance of Australia’s location in the Pacific Ocean, and the significance of Sydney as a port city.
My second favorite experience during our tour of The Rocks and the Sydney Opera House were the presence of four cars. Towards the end of our tour, our group was directed around a street corner below The Rocks, which was filled with a significant insight on car culture in Australia. As an avid car enthusiast from the United States, the influence on Australian car culture runs deep and shows many similarities to America. In the image below, four very influential American muscle cars were on display. The deep connection between American and Australian car culture represents a more significant bond between American and Australian culture as a whole.
