My time in Sydney, Australia studying at the University of Sydney was the most transformative and incredible experience of my undergraduate career, which I am exceptionally grateful to have had the opportunity to partake in.
I was initially drawn to Australia as an exchange destination based on the intuition that in order to properly experience the country, an extended period of stay was required. It seemed like a place that I would never otherwise get to visit if I was simply planning to be a short-term tourist, and if headed there on exchange, it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I would not get to repeat.
My intuition was partially correct: I can confirm that Australia (as a country and a continent) is a destination that requires a lot of time to explore. The physical distance between must-see locations (such as the Northern Territory, the coast of Western Australia, northern Queensland, Sydney and Melbourne) are vast but well worth the time and effort to get there. Regardless of whether or not I would have eventually made it to Australia as a tourist, I would never have been able to consider Sydney a second
home if not for my immersion into the environment which was made possible by living and studying there. Additionally, I am committed to returning someday, which I owe to the fact that I was able to experience Australia through such a unique lens.
While it is difficult to single out one thing as a defining element of my exchange experience, I have to say that personally, the people I was surrounded by truly made the experience all that it was. I was lucky enough to live in the Queen Mary Building, which is a residence-style accommodation inhabited mostly by other exchange students from across the world. I met incredible people here, who I was able to travel with, study with, and most importantly, share a home with. Outside of my residence community, the University of Sydney was filled with equally amazing professors, teaching staff and students, who enriched my academic experience in a way that I will never forget. The university itself and its academics are also of the highest quality: it is currently ranked 19th in the world and 2nd in Australia, and boasts a truly beautiful campus, which gave new meaning to the privilege that it is to attend a post-secondary institution.
For anyone worried about snakes, spiders, and other terrifying animals: unless you’re travelling far north, you have nothing to worry about! You will, however, be able to see koalas, kangaroos and other Aussie animals at almost any zoo, and hold or pet them depending on where you go!
My best advice for anyone considering Australia overall would be to thoroughly research where you would like to travel and make a genuine effort to create connections with people you meet while abroad. Exchange has the potential to feel isolating, but it can also feel like home. It’s all what you make of it!
