This week in Sydney was our last. Saying goodbye to friends and to the city that I have had the pleasure of exploring was challenging. Because this was the last week in Sydney and also a journey unlike anything I have ever been on, I wanted to dedicate this blog to my key takeaways from my time spent in the city. What stood out to me the most was how unique of an atmosphere Sydney has. Not only is it outstanding in terms of the weather and food, the people in the city display traits that I have not seen in many places. I strongly believe that the people who are in Sydney are what make the city special. I remember exploring Bondi for the very first time the day we landed. On January 12th I was so jet lagged that I could barely spit out a proper sentence. Even then, I realized that something was obviously different about Sydney from other cities. The people cared about being happy. In Sydney the people do not work just to work. They work to live. They work so that they have the means to enjoy themselves and live a happy life. So when I stepped onto Bondi beach for the first time and the beach was filled with people either going for a run or enjoying the waves, I was amazed. Those who were not in the middle of a workout and were relaxing still appeared to be enjoying themselves. The happiness and enthusiasm which the people of Sydney and of Australia carry with them is contagious. Over the last eight weeks, I have fallen in love with the vibrant, active, and enthusiastic environment which Sydney has.
(Photo taken from Bondi beach, 1/12/2025)
Another thing which I believe makes Sydney special is the space it allows for people to do what they want. There is something for everyone in this city and the open and inclusive environment allows for that. In addition to this, there are communities structured to support such a wide variety of hobbies. This can range from the crossfit community, to the surfing community, to reading, and even rock climbing. The list is endless and I could easily name 20 more spaces for communities in Sydney. The one which I had the pleasure of getting a peak into was the scuba diving community. When I was getting certified at Dive Centre Bondi, I was amazed by how many people dove and all the events they held. At the end of the certification course, all 5 students (including myself) got invited to a weekly event held on Sundays. Divers will visit a site every Sunday and instead of diving for recreation, they will pick up trash underwater in order to support the marine environment. Following the dives, the company hosts a barbeque with all the participants. I found the openness to join the community fascinating. Sydney is a special city and my main takeaways were not the stunning views (such as the one posted below) or the great tasting food, it was the unique mindset and the friendly communities the people of the city incorporate.
(Photo taken from Athol Bay, 2/22/2025)