Why Australia

I didn’t think I was ever going to study abroad. It seemed like a fairytale far away in the sky because it wasn’t something I could afford. I did a lot of research and surprisingly the cost was going to be much lower in Australian currency! So finances were a huge reason why I decided to go to Australia. Secondly, I wanted to skip a year from the cold Michigan weather :). Thirdly, one of my favorite YouTubers, Jess Conte, grew up in Brisbane Australia and since watching her from the age of around 13 I always wanted to visit her hometown or country. Lastly, I kept hearing amazing things about Australia, from the people to the beaches, and I already knew it was my 2nd home.

What I learned while being in Sydney

My time studying abroad was really special. I felt like I took a break from my life in the States and was able to figure out/become who the deep down inside of me truly was. It was a time when I could say goodbye to the old me. My independence skyrocketed and I became more confident in myself, like being able to go places alone without my family and friends. 

Tips for settling into Sydney

1. Credit card
I wish I had ordered my credit card sooner before going to Australia so my parents didn’t have to send it in the mail which takes around a month to send or receive mail between the States and Australia. Having a credit card is convenient so you don’t have to convert US & AU money/worry about the foreign currency exchange rates.

2. Housing
I had to find my place and I found it with Primus Property on the UNSW’s housing page: https://studystays.unsw.edu.au/. Flatmates is a very popular website to find roommates and a place to live. Two of my friends were staying for only 4 months from January to April so they stayed in Airbnb which is another option. Also, I wish I had a roommate match to have company, someone close by for emergencies, or for times when I want to have a late talk/I last minute want to go somewhere with someone.

3. Transportation
You do not need an Opal card to take the bus, light rail, train and ferry. You can use your credit/debit card!

Favorite class

Psychology Science of Wellbeing class was similar to a therapy session. One assignment was to pick 5 values from a value list and explain why these are my top 5 values in life. There wasn’t too much reading. Most of the reading questions will tell you where to go in the textbook so you don’t have to read the entire chapter for one question. The modules last for 2 weeks each, so you get two weeks to do about 12 questions/1 per day.

Flight, hours, cost details

My first time flying to Sydney I traveled with Qantas. My route was from home, Florida, to Texas to California to Sydney. It was overall good. The flight from LAX to SYD was around 14 hours and I would have enjoyed it much better if I had sat in first class, but there were I think over 200 movies to watch. On my way home I am going to fly from Sydney to Hawaii so I will be flying 9 hours straight and then I can get a break before heading to NYC and then home to Florida. The flights are in the $1,000’s for a one-way trip. I was blessed to receive scholarships to cover my flight costs. There are deals once in a while for a $500 trip one way.

Length of stay

I stayed from August to May in Sydney. I went home for the holidays in December which was nice.I did the tailored terms: fall 2023 tailored term (visiting) & winter 2024 tailored term (visiting) term 2C (August to September, 1 class) term 3 (September to December, 3 classes) summer term (January to February, 1 class) term 1 (February to May 3 classes)

*Visiting refers to being an out-of-state student at UMich.

Why you should visit

I had the best time. It encouraged me to continue to travel, do as many things in life that make me happy, and live like it’s my last day.

You never know what your life will be like after you study abroad, how you will change, and who you will meet.

Places to go

  • Royal Botanical Garden Sydney
  • Centennial Park
  • Little Bay Beach, Coogee Beach, Bondi Beach
  • Ferry to Taronga Zoo Sydney
  • Ferry to Manly: manly Beach Manly Farmers/thrift market, Butter Boy Cookies
  • Westfield Malls
  • Harris Farms grocery stores
  • Cali Press - smoothies, acai bowls
  • Outdoor movie cinemas!!!

The hardest part of the process

Being far from home and knowing that I can’t just get on a plane and be home in a couple of hours.Going by myself. Making friends takes time, especially overseas, and if you’re not going to stay there for long.

 

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