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June 1st marked a major turning point in our study abroad journey. Not only was it the end of our first week in Australia, but it was also our last morning with our host families. Saying goodbye was bittersweet. They were incredibly welcoming, and having home‑cooked meals all week made their house feel like a second home.
It was also our first official day in Sydney, which made the morning feel even more exciting. Once we arrived, we dropped all our bags in one of our instructors’ rooms since we couldn’t check in yet. There wasn’t much time to settle in because we needed to head straight to TAFE NSW Ultimo for a campus tour with Fumi.
Our day started with a walk to the bus stop as we headed toward the Blue Mountains. Since we were close to downtown Sydney, I spent the walk and ride admiring the architecture, which reminded me a little of Chicago. The bus ride itself was an adventure with the winding roads made me nauseous, and my ears kept popping as we climbed higher into the mountains.
Before reaching the Blue Mountains, we stopped at Sydney Zoo in Bungarribee. We saw grey kangaroos called Buru, native Australian plants, and eucalyptus trees that filled the air with a fresh, earthy scent. The zoo also had a nearly 20-foot-long crocodile and what felt like most of the cast of Madagascar, minus Gloria! The very playful half brother elephants easily stole the show for me followed by the roaring lions.
One of the best moments of our study abroad adventure in Australia was visiting the Museum of Human Disease in Sydney today. A couple of my classmates and I got to explore this fascinating museum, where we learned about various diseases and medical conditions through real human specimens. It was such an eye-opening experience that really brought our classroom lessons on anatomy and pathology to life. Seeing how different diseases affect the human body deepened our appreciation for the importance of prevention, treatment, and educating patients. Even though we couldn’t take photos out of respect for the donors, the experience was truly both fascinating and educational, reinforcing so many concepts we've tackled in our program.
Today marked the end of our study abroad and looking back, this trip was so much more than visiting a new country. We had the opportunity to learn about Australian culture, education, and business practices while also stepping outside of our comfort zones. Through our attendance to TAFE, and visits to local businesses, and industry's, we were able to see how different career fields operate in Australia and how they prepare students for the workforce. As a marketing student, I especially enjoyed learning about the different ways businesses connect with customers and build their brands in such a small country.
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