After a 24-hour journey from the JFK airport in New York I finally arrived in Sydney, a place I will call home for the next 5 months. With my flight landing at 6:10 AM I was immediately rewarded with a sun-soaked view of a bustling city seemingly built into the ocean. Sydney is a beautiful city nestled in the coast of the New South Wales province, located in the southeast region of Australia. I could not wait to stretch my legs, unpack my bags, and begin to explore.
The Sydney airport was easy to navigate with high tech systems that expedited the customs and off-boarding process. Once my passport was scanned and I found my bags and followed the signs to the train platform. The train ride from the airport was short, although I felt out of place as the only traveler lugging around large bags surrounded by natives dressed for the work day. My apartment was only a short walk from the train station and is located near the city center. It was easy enough to find with directions I had printed out at home. For reference, I am staying at Urbanest Sydney Central which is within walking distance from the University of Sydney’s campus. This is a great accommodation for students as it comes fully furnished, minus bed sheets, and is close to everything a young person might need. After exploring my apartment and unloading my things, I decided to go for a run. This decision helped to combat the overwhelming jet lag and to explore the neighborhood. A short hike brought me to a sprawling open area built around the water and connected with a pedestrian bridge. This area was dotted with small restaurants, shops, and bars. The sun was shining and people were out enjoying the sun-soaked Australian winter. I later found out that this was the famous Darling Harbour – a large recreational and pedestrian zone that connects Chinatown to the central business district.
Eager to explore I continued my journey, meandering through the city streets. Curiosity provided unwavering energy and I soon found myself lost in a unique neighborhood filled with craft shops and food stands. Sydney was proving to be a place filled with culture, great food, and cheerful people. I continued my trek until I reached a familiar yet foreign site – the Sydney Opera House. This magnificent piece of architecture dominated the surrounding landscape and captivated the entire harbour. Nominating this as the pinnacle of my solo adventure I decided to turn back and attempt to find my way home. On the return trip, I realized how much of a tourist I was. I frequently looked the wrong way when crossing the street and walked on the wrong side of the sidewalk. Everything in Australia is the opposite! People walk on the left side of the sidewalk and the cars drive on the left side of the road. Although I received a few disgruntled looks and honks, a few friendly locals noticed my confusion and pointed me in the right direction. When I arrived back at my apartment I collapsed on my bed. Even though it was 3 pm Sydney time, my body was still running on separate internal clock and I slept through the rest of the day.
I spent the next few days adjusting to my new home and acclimating to the new city. Close to the Sydney Central Urbanest is the Broadway Shopping Center. This accessible mall has everything a student could possibly need. It is home to two food stores. Cole’s has everything under the sun but is relatively pricey and Aldi is a more rundown version with better prices. A real sense of culture shock hit me when I discovered that Australian food stores do not carry most of the brands I grew up on. Not only that, but the American brands they do carry taste noticeably different. For example, one of my favorite snacks – Doritos – tastes remotely different than the cheesy flavor I have grown to love back at home. This small nuance brought on a bit of homesickness as I realized that I could not even find comfort in the snacks that I love. However, I soon came to realize that Australian cuisine was unique and flavorful in its own way. For example, kangaroo burgers although odd at first do taste good. The Broadway Mall also contains a Target and a K-Mart where students can buy items for the kitchen, bedroom, and to decorate their new apartment. I could outfit my room with blankets, towels, posters, and other amenities to make myself feel more at home.
Although the exchange rate is favorable for an American student, Sydney is extremely expensive and I found myself spending more than I thought I would in the first few days. As tempted as I was to eat out for every meal to get a taste of the local cuisine, I bonded with my roommates by cooking meals together at home. This helped to save money and get closer with the seven people I will be sharing the apartment with. My apartment, or flat as the Aussies call it, is composed of six Americans and one British exchange student. The absence of a communication barrier was welcoming and we bonded over shared experiences and the excitement of exploring our new city.
The next day I walked 15 minutes to the University of Sydney’s main campus to get a sense of the school and find my classrooms. The University is a gorgeous combination of gothic architecture and modern buildings. The main quadrangle looks like a resemblance of Hogwarts and dominants the highest point on campus. The rest of the campus is sprawled out across several acres, creating a large enclosed space between city streets. There are several eateries, coffee shops, and two bars spaced out amongst the campus creating a welcoming sense of community. The Abercrombie Business school, where I have three classes, is brand new and outfitted with technology. Its spiral staircase and aesthetics reminds me of Northeastern’s new Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex. I am excited for classes to start and cannot wait to learn more about this country and settle into my new home!
