After a long day of flying across the world, we finally landed in Australia. The flight was exhausting and uncomfortable, but stepping outside into the gorgeous weather made it all worthwhile. The warm sun and vibrant, tropical flowers and trees were a stark contrast to the freezing 20-degree winds we had left behind in New Jersey. Before arriving, I set a goal to make this semester the best of my life. I want to dedicate time to self-care and self-improvement. Back home, with all my campus activities, self-care is often the first thing to fall by the wayside. Here, with just two classes a day and hardly any responsibilities, I’m determined to make the most of these four months.
Having class the day after we landed was less than ideal. I had to wake up at 6 a.m. for my 8 a.m. class because of the long commute on public transportation. Thankfully, my experience in Ireland made me feel at ease navigating public transit here. Coincidentally, our first week happened to align with train strikes, which made the journey even longer. To top it off, Sydney experienced its worst rainstorm in years during that same week, so while we didn’t get much sunshine, watching the lightning from the 14th floor of our apartment was absolutely breathtaking. Even with the rain, we managed to find enough breaks of good weather to visit the famous Bondi Beach. Especially with the 2 degree weather back home, I’m even more grateful for the bits of sunshine we’ve had here.
This weekend, we had the chance to explore Sydney’s history by walking through the Rocks district. Although the day started with rain, the incredible tour of the city more than made up for it. The highlight was getting to see the iconic Sydney Opera House, which was even more breathtaking in person. However, the best part of this weekend was visiting the Wildlife Walkabout Park. We got to pet kangaroos, wallaroos, wallabies, and emus that roamed freely throughout the park. My favorite animal was Arnold, the koala. I loved him so much that I brought home a stuffed animal version of him home with me! Even though the weekend started off a bit rocky, it turned out to be amazing in the best way. Plus, I’ve met some incredible people on this trip! I’m so excited to see what else Australia has in store.
