GRIP, Internships Abroad A New Perspective

Business in Sydney, Australia

A summer of core memories. That is how I would describe my GRIP experience in Sydney, Australia. I grew up putting together puzzles of the Opera House and watching the fireworks in Sydney as Australians celebrated the new year. I watched countless videos of the Great Barrier Reef and the diverse marine life it held. I dreamed of cuddling with a koala or boxing a kangaroo. All of these experiences seemed so far away that I never imagined that in my lifetime I would get to experience them. However, this summer I was able to check all of these off my bucket list and more. I saw Madame Butterfly at the Opera House and frequently walked along the harbor because the sight of such an iconic building never failed to excite. I snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef, seeing all types of coral, fish, and even a few turtles along the way. I’ve always loved the ocean, but to witness firsthand one of the 7 natural wonders of the world was breathtaking. The trip to the zoo where I pet a koala and shortly afterward watched my friend get punched by a kangaroo was yet another memorable moment in Sydney.

Even experiences that were not on my lifelong bucket list became special memories. The feeling of standing up on a surfboard and riding a wave into the shore cannot be described as anything but pure bliss. Discovering new gelato flavors or earl grey macarons became simple delights. Finding a pair of homemade earrings in a thrift market and knowing that I was supporting a small, Australian business became more meaningful. Even trying vegemite for the first time is a memory that I will not soon forget. Swimming in an ocean pool after work or watching a sunset from a secluded beach made me feel as though I was living in a dream. Living abroad, even for just a short amount of time, has given me a new perspective on life. While there were certainly experiences that would have been special regardless, Sydney has taught me to appreciate the small moments in life. Whether it’s a new latte flavor, watching the rain roll into the harbor, sitting on the train and looking at the diversity of vegetation, or any number of moments that at one time I would have taken for granted and seen as mundane, I have learned to appreciate small moments and look for the special moments in the world around me. It is so easy to get caught up in our routines and to forget to appreciate where we are, and I am appreciative to have been able to go abroad, break out of my routine, and have my eyes open to how extraordinary even an ordinary moment can be.