GRIP, Internships Abroad "Winter" in Sydney

StartSomeGood - Sydney, Australia

Now that I’ve been in Sydney for almost three weeks, I’ve finally adjusted to my environment and it is beginning to feel like home. This summer is such a unique experience because it combines interning in a company, studying abroad at a university, traveling as a tourist, and living with peers. In this blog post, I will be comparing and contrasting various aspects of my experience as an intern abroad vs. a student at Penn.

Learning opportunities: Although this summer isn’t a traditional study abroad experience, I am still given the unique opportunity to learn in a hands-on environment, which is just as valuable as knowledge gained in the classroom. There are no lectures, recitations, or homework like I had as a Penn student. Furthermore, my tasks and deadlines are sometimes vague, unlike the rigid structure of class assignments. However, I still spend my weekdays working and learning, and my tasks continue pushing me to grow. Through my internship, I am applying my skills in design and marketing, while exploring other aspects of business and entrepreneurship as well.

Schedule: As a college student, I felt as though I had a ton of freedom. However, my experience as an intern abroad has given me even more flexibility in deciding how to spend my time. Because my company operates out of a coworking space instead of an office, I only take the train to North Sydney twice a week. On other days, I have to manage my time to complete my tasks, which gives me both freedom and responsibility. I sometimes stay in my apartment, and on other days, I go to local coffee shops or study spaces at USyd. Aside from the not having classes, I also don’t have club meetings and other extracurricular activities like I do as a Penn student. Thus, I have more free time, which I choose to spend by hanging with friends, making art, journaling, and exploring the city (continued below!)

Exploring the city: Sydney has so much to offer, and I’ve been blown away by all of the amazing places I’ve been! Some of my favorites in the city are Darling Harbor, Chinatown, Sydney Zoo, The Star Sydney, and the Sydney Opera House. In addition to the tourist-y attractions, little things like Glebe Markets are so unique and a great way to learn about the local culture. Sydney also has a thriving art community, and I love seeing the huge museums and small local galleries too. Going on runs has been a great way to discover cute shops and murals around town. Overall, I think my favorite part has been taking the train outside of the city and seeing all the natural environments surrounding Sydney, such as the Blue Mountains, Bondi Junction, and Manly Beach. As much as I loved living in the city of Philadelphia for the past year, I think I really missed spending time in nature! However, my experience has made me realize that I have not yet explored Philadelphia enough, and next year, I will make more of an effort to leave the Penn bubble.

Housing: I’m living near the University of Sydney in an apartment with four other Penn students; each of us has a single room, and we all share a kitchen and living room. It’s super different from my experience living in a tiny double last year, and I enjoy having my own space. However, all of us get along very well, and we usually spend our time in the living room together!

Food: Sydney offers a diverse range of cuisine, especially a ton of Asian food. Some of my favorite things to eat here are Thai food, dim sum, and seafood. I enjoy having the freedom to choose where I eat, but restaurants can be quite pricey, so I also do grocery shopping and make my own meals, such as salads and pasta. This experience is quite different from being a freshman on the dining plan, but it’s good preparation for next year because I am learning how to balance my meals and budget.

General wellness: Overall, I feel so incredibly grateful for this opportunity. I couldn’t have asked for a better city, internship, or group of people to spend this summer with. Every day is an adventure, and although it’s only been a few weeks, time has flown by. At the end of each day, I make sure to set aside time to journal, look through photos, and talk with family and friends back home. I am so excited for the rest of my "winter" in Sydney!