Penn Abroad Ambassador Taylor Whitehead

Program:

• SA: University of New South Wales (UNSW)

Ask me about...

• Community immersion when your program mostly introduces you to other Americans

• Finding solo housing while in-country

• Searching for internships/work for the Summer while abroad

• Traveling while abroad

• Being a minority in a rustic locale

My Experience Abroad:

I chose Australia because I wanted to be independent. For context, I am a native Philadelphian, although I have a decent amount of travel experience in my background. I did a Summer program in London after my freshman year, and then another one in France the Summer after my sophomore year, so I had experience studying in foreign nations and felt as though I was ready for a bigger jump to a country that I would likely not otherwise see. My main goals for my Australian excursion were separation, immersion, and variety. I wanted distance from the large small-town that is Philadelphia, I wanted to feel as though I was a part of a new community, and I wanted to be somewhere that offered a multitude of different activities and environments. I also wanted to go somewhere warm, but that was a secondary desire. I found that Sydney fulfilled all of my needs. By the end of my time there, I had seen seven different cities with unique identities, made new friends both at Penn and other schools, partaken in extracurricular activities that built relationships with locals from all walks of life, and learned new skills. These factors turned my semester abroad into an unforgettable chapter in my life, and made it one of the best and most fulfilling decisions I have made in my time at Penn. 

Other Highlights:

• Wandering. I cannot overemphasize the value of seeking out non-tourist towns, entering things like antique shops and bookstores, and chatting with the people you meet. These will be more memorable than any club or party.

• Kangaroo Island. I spent a weekend on an island with little to no power and it felt like something out of a Hemingway novel. Also just traveling in general.

• Classes. I took acting classes and learned to surf. Things like these help you meet interesting folks and teach you new skills. 

• My neighborhood. I lived outside of campus, which took a whole complicated search I'm happy to talk about, in a darling little neighborhood that I got to know quite well.