GRIP, Internships Abroad A New Perspective

University of Sydney, Australia

Interning abroad in Sydney, Australia has allowed me to gain a plethora of new experiences, both inside and outside the workplace. I tried a meat pie for the first time, saw Sydney Harbour light up during the Vivid Festival, saw koala and kangaroos at a local wildlife reserve, experienced Christmas in July – all things I would not have been able to do if not for the program. Although I’ve found excitement every day in some way, one of the most rewarding experiences during my trip was hiking in the Blue Mountains, an experience that definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone. 

I’m not an inherently outdoorsy person – growing up in the suburbs of New Jersey, there were minimal opportunities to immerse myself in nature and go hiking. For me, a free weekend meant going into the city or relaxing on the beach, not trekking through mud or climbing a mountain. However, when I asked my family, peers, and colleagues about the best things to do in Sydney, almost all of them mentioned the Blue Mountains, which is a two-hour train ride from Sydney and renowned for its beautiful scenery. Although I had minimal hiking experience, I wanted to try something new and planned a trip to go on a Sunday with a few other GRIP interns. We chose to do the Grand Canyon trail (reminiscent of the Grand Canyon in the United States), which was one of the most challenging trails but also the most scenic.

We woke up early on Sunday and took a train to Katoomba, the chief town in the Blue Mountains. Once we arrived, we had some trouble getting to the start of the trail, as the bus only ran two times a day: at 8 AM (which would require us to leave from our residence before 5 AM) and 4 PM, which would be more dangerous considering that it was winter in Sydney and it gets dark by 5 PM. We ended up taking a taxi to the start of the trail and started what would be over a three-hour trek. As soon as we started walking, we realized that it would be more difficult than expected as it had rained the day before, meaning the rocks we were walking over would be slippery and more dangerous. However, we were also instantly struck by the gorgeous natural views and knew that although the journey would be a challenging one, it would be completely worth it. 

The scene throughout the trail reminded me of a vibrant rainforest, with creek crossings, gorgeous waterfalls, incredible rock overhangs, and impressive sandstone walls. My friends and I stopped several times to take pictures of the beautiful nature that surrounded us and take in the gorgeous environment. One of the main highlights was taking pictures by a staircase near the end of the trail – the sun would shine down on us, creating a prism effect that looked beautiful in photos. The final part of the hike was the most difficult – we were all hungry and almost out of water and had to climb up what seemed like an endless amount of stairs. We were at the brink of exhaustion when we finally reached the top: Evan’s Lookout. We were suddenly revitalized by breathtaking views of the entire Grose Valley – the perfect end of our hike and culmination of everything we’ve seen. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to effectively convey how beautiful the scene is, through words or through pictures. 

After finishing our hike, we took a train back to Katoomba to eat at the Yellow Deli, a highly rated café run by a religious sect called the Twelve Tribes. Although we were initially perturbed by this fact, after waiting for almost an hour to be seated, we ended up having an amazing meal – probably one of my favorites in Australia. A delicious deli sandwich, a cup of hot cider, and a slice of strawberry cheesecake was the perfect way to end a long day of hiking.

This trip to the Blue Mountains was definitely one of the best trips I’ve had in Australia. In addition to the spectacular views and amazing food, I also was able to grow closer to my friends and reflect on myself while surrounded by nature. Although I still don’t consider myself an outdoorsy person, the excitement I felt on this trip has motivated me to find more opportunities to immerse myself in nature once I get back to Penn.