GRIP, Internships Abroad Solo Traveling through Sydney

Business in Sydney, Australia

Boarding the LAX → MEL plane, I was extremely nervous. What was I thinking? Can I actually stay away from my family for 2 whole months? What if I don’t have any friends in Australia? I’m a huge fan of summer, and it's winter there! Will I get seasonal depression? The sun sets at 5:00 PM. Am I going to be miserable for two months?

These were the exact thoughts that circulated my brain 24/7 nearly every day leading up to my Business in Sydney experience. Yet, the moment I landed…I was in love. The sun was out, palm trees surrounded me, the city was extremely diverse, and best of all winter wasn’t actually winter—just a warm fall.
I entered my room and the smile on my face grew bigger. I could see the views of Redfern and Sydney from my window, had my own TV, a beautiful bed and desk set up, and the best part: my own bathroom! Lastly, how could I forget our floor-to-ceiling windows in the kitchen, overlooking the Redfern train station–great for people watching!

As an only child, I’ve spent a lot of time by myself, and I enjoy my independence. However, this was a new kind of independence. I was abroad and all by myself. Thus, I was determined to use this time to explore Australia on my own terms.

Within the first two weeks, I decided to explore a Hindu Temple. I hopped on a train, just to find out that the route was different because of flooding. Then, I transferred 2 buses and finally got to the temple 2 hours later. The story on my way back was just as anxiety-ridden. The first bus broke down. The sun was setting, and I was getting worried. Yet, miraculously, the train that was canceled all day was running again, and I hopped onto the train in relief. But…what I thought was a quick nap turned into me almost missing my station home!

The adventures don’t stop there. Yes, I’m an only child who spent a lot of her childhood playing with dolls by herself. However, I have never gone to the zoo by myself until now! One Friday afternoon, I decided to take a course at my workplace. However, that day ended up being one of the few sunny days after weeks of rain. My class ended early, and my mission was to utilize the day as much as possible. So…you guessed it! I got on a train and bus and an hour later I was at the Taranga Zoo. I ran through the entire zoo in an hour, asking strangers to take pictures of me, and admiring all the beautiful animals from red kangaroos to giraffes.

I took myself out to fine dining dinners, explored the city on Saturday mornings, and traveled to the many suburbs around Sydney—all by myself! Never would I have ever imagined that solo traveling could bring me so much joy. I used my Australia trip to find contentment in everything I do. Want to go somewhere but...? Just Go! That’s the motto I learned in Australia, and I plan to use it in all my experiences to come.