This week was unusually rainy for Sydney. With the sun not making an appearance until Saturday, I had to find some other activities suited for the poor weather to occupy my time.
Putting the Study in Study Abroad
At the beginning of the week, my workload had increased and I had to dedicate more time to my studies. I focused my attention to working on my Corporate Finance midterm and preparing for my Global Management presentation. Of course, I could do none of this without caffeine. One of my favorite things about Sydney is the cafe culture. You can’t walk more than 5 minutes without passing by a coffee shop. I have been trying various coffee shops trying to find the best chai. The best by far has been the Terrace Cafe by UTS.
Cliff Walk
By Thursday, I was tired of being cooped up inside and decided to go to the beach. I took the bus to Bronte Beach and did a portion of the Bondi to Coogee Cliff Walk. Even with the sun hidden behind the clouds, the views were gorgeous. I walked along the path until I came across a set of stairs that took me down to a beach of large rocks that I scaled. In the crevices between the rocks, there were little pools of water filled with sea life. I was surprised by some small black crabs that appeared from the cracks and scuttled by my feet. About 45 minutes into my walk, it began to rain. So, I made my way to the nearest bus stop but was on the wrong side of the street and missed the bus. Sopping wet, I had to run uphill for 10 minutes to another stop to catch the next bus home.
Saturday
On Saturday morning we went to the Paddington Market. It was filled with various vendors. There were people selling art, clothes, food, and my favorite: jewelry. I ended up buying myself a handmade blue opal ring. Blue opal can only be found in Australia, so I felt it made the perfect souvenir. I also bought my sister a pair of beautiful Australian pearl earrings.
In the afternoon we went to Tamarama Beach. It is my favorite beach I have been to. Framed by cliffs on either side, Tamarama is much smaller and less crowded than other beaches nearby. I tanned while reading my book and then went for a swim in one of the natural pools created by the large rocks along the cliffs.
We then walked along the cliffs to Bondi for dinner at Pompei’s, where I got a mushroom fettuccine. Sitting around our dining table, we ended the night back at our apartment playing “salad bowl”, a game Alexa introduced us to.
Sunday
Sunday morning, Stella, Sienna, and I went to Hillsong Church and then brunch. As we sat in church, I found myself thinking how comforting it is that in a time when my life is ever-changing, God remains constant. Following the service, we went to Bennett St. Cafe where I got eggs benedict. It was my favorite meal I had here so far. For the afternoon, we took the ferry to Manly Beach. The Manly waters were much more calm than those of the local beaches, so once I got too warm I went for a swim.
As my time here continues I find myself falling more in love with this country and looking forward to the weeks to come.
– Maddie