A burning desire for international travel. Past Review
By Brett B (International Business., D'Youville College) - abroad from 08/28/2013 to 11/29/2013 with
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Sydney, Australia
I learned that in my life, I never want to stop traveling. There are so many places out there to explore, and I want to see them all. Traveling to Sydney and seeing how a whole new country lives was inspiring, and it leaves me wanting more. I took three vacations while visiting Australia and my last was to Bali, Indonesia which left me with a whole new cultural experience. Navigating a city such as Sydney is quite an accomplishment as it takes a good amount of due diligence to memorize routes and bus numbers to take. I will never forget the time spent in Sydney and would not exchange it for anything else.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes I took were very interesting and helped me learn more about my major in a different sense. The teachers were always available to help with questions we had or concerns with class. Our classes only met once a week so it gave you a lot of time in between to do homework and study. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The CAPA staff could not have been better. The office was right by where we had classes and they were there for any concerns we had with answers right away. The excursions they sent us on were a great bonus and really aided us in exploring this new paradise we had just encountered. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Couldn't be happier, the apartments were great and we even got our room cleaned weekly! The roommates were great and we had no trouble getting along. |
| * Food: |
The Australian food is not much different from America but we did try a few out of the ordinary meats such as kangaroo, emu, and crocodile. They were interesting to say the least. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Walking downtown on a weekend when there was tons of people around made me feel great. I felt like one with the Sydney-siders and they are some of the nicest people you will ever meet, and the accents sound great. Going to a pub for dinner or watching the big rugby or footy game was a great way to really get in to the sports culture of Sydney, and they are passionate. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I fortunately did not need health care in Sydney but we were covered just in case. A friend had to go to the doctor for a cold and everything worked out just fine. |
| * Safety: |
You could not be more safe than when you are in Sydney. Walking around I felt so relaxed and at peace because the Sydney-siders are a great kind of people. If you are venturing out, just use common sense and don't bring a lot of money or valuables with you. Late at night the streets are quiet and there is no threat of immediate danger, it's a very safe place. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
Finances
|
* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
It was tough spending money because things are a little more expensive than back here in Buffalo. For most of my time there, the exchange rate was good and we did just fine. As far as going out, a nice lunch at your average pub or restaurant was around $15-$20 Australian, but it could easily go higher. But, you don't have to tip there, due to the workers being paid such high minimum wage. It is very doable to manage your money, you just have to be careful how you spend it. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Around $70-$150 AUD. Some weeks you spend a lot, and others not as much. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Shop around at your grocery store, there are always deals you can find and try to buy something that you know you will use, cause wasting food is like wasting money. Think about the excursions you want to do, and give yourself an idea of how much you can spend monthly on fun activities. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Sydney is a destination desired by many and you are very lucky to have visited this paradise. Beaches are a huge attraction for Sydney-siders and they spend lots of time there. The night life is crazy and great, and can go well into the night. Adapters are cheaper once you get there. Golf is huge in Sydney, pack your clubs but expect to pay big time. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
