In my last post, I got to touch on our first week in New Zealand. This time, I wanted to write all about Sydney and my final thoughts on the whole trip!
Sydney was, as I’d predicted, a much livelier city. Our group had a great time exploring The Rocks (historic town on the coast), several popular beaches (Bondi, Manly), a cricket match, downtown sights (Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House), and lots of local eats (Yo-Chi and ButterBoy). Public transport was able to take us just about anywhere within the surrounding city, so we were able to take full advantage of our free time!
Because the holidays were coming to an end at this point in the trip, most major businesses were up and running, so we were able to attend several more company visits. These included a cochlear manufacturing facility, PWC, the U.S. Consulate, and an interactive wildlife park. Each of these businesses gave us a look into the differences in industry standards between the U.S. and Australia and the global markets that they are able to cater to. We also got to hear from a couple of speakers that gave us great insights on marketing and small business practices, highlighting how they’ve used what they shared in their careers and how it may be applicable to our own.
Overall, I’d say that my experiences in New Zealand and Australia matched my expectations pretty closely! The biggest shock was the work-life balance that the corporate world of the Down Under embraces. Long holidays and shorter hours sure do look nice!
Studying abroad through CIBS was an unforgettable experience. I made so many great connections with my peers/professors, checked a few things off the bucket list, and gained a greater sense of independence and perspective on the opportunities ahead of me. I highly recommend it!
