I was born in Perth on the west coast of Australia, to parents who emigrated 9 years before my birth. At the age of three my dad was transferred to New Zealand and thus began our international moving spree –- or as I like to call it: serial moving. Spending the semester at the University of Sydney has represented so much more than just academic exchange from the very beginning. Attending USYD, has provided the chance to reconnect with the country I've been wondering about for more than 20 years, while being a part of the CEMS community and living in a truly world-class city.
“Flying into Sydney. Can’t believe I’m finally here!”
Sydney itself has been an absolute dream — a ‘paradise.’ It’s the perfect combination of city and beach, hustle and chill, urban jungle and national park. For those of you who aren't familiar with the the city, Sydney is a bustling metropolis of around 5 million people located on the eastern coast of Australia. It is Australia's largest city, and is the capital of New South Wales, Australia's most populous state. The University of Sydney, Australia’s oldest university, is gorgeous with its Hogwarts-esque architecture coupled with grand modern buildings. As a Masters of Management (MMGT) student, I also had access to the modern and perfectly located “CBD (Capital Business District) campus” with panoramic views of the surrounding skyscrapers and Darling Harbour. It was hard to believe sometimes I was still just a student as my classmates and I piled into the elevator and heading up to the 18th floor early on weekday mornings. It seemed like we were already living the “corporate life.”
“Panoramic views over Darling Harbour from the CBD Campus.”
“Looking at the Quadrangle Clocktower — Sydney Uni’s oldest building.”
My semester in Sydney started quickly mere days after ending my IGL experience in India. We began in mid-July with our block seminar on the topic of ‘Doing Business in Asia,’ which we soon realized essentially meant doing business with China due to the current dynamics of the Asian-Australian relationship. The entire CEMS cohort then picked up and traveled down to 7 Mile Beach for a weekend long-surf camp and the true “Australian welcome.” It was back to Sydney that Sunday night and into the classroom not even 12 hours later. Needless to say it was a fast-paced start to the term, and it's been jam-packed ever since.
“CEMSies at Surf Camp!”
“Surfing like a pro.”
“Beginning of semester CEMS-MMGT Boat Cruise on the Harbour.”
Between coursework, my CEMS Club involvement, and my other extracurriculars, I've also managed to squeeze in a fair amount of exploring and traveling. Sydney itself provides an incredible amount of options for things to do and see. It seems there is a never-ending number of beaches to be explored, cafés and culinary hot-spots to try, and new and exciting cultural events and festivals to check out. The transit system is also remarkably well-connected to the surrounding national parks. I have taken advantage of that for many half, and full-day hikes, especially on Sundays when you can travel all day for only $2.60!
“Sydney’s very own paradise: the famous Bondi Beach”
“CEMS hiking trip to the Blue Mountains.”
In September, I was able to spend one week in Melbourne being a tourist, reuniting with family friends, and seeing a bucket-list item of mine: the Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road. Just weeks later it was time for a mid-semester break where I embarked on a road trip up the east coast of Queensland, from Brisbane to Airlie Beach and back. Nine other CEMSies and I went on a four-day adventure where we sailed the Whitsunday Islands, chilled on the picture-perfect white sands of Whitehaven Beach, and went snorkeling/diving in the famous Great Barrier Reef. Another bucket-list item, check! I also managed to spend a weekend in Canberra, Australia’s capital — a hidden gem of a city filled with trendy art galleries, fantastic post-modern architecture, foodie cafes and of course all the nerdy government buildings one could desire.
“Views of the Melbourne CBD from the Botanical Gardens and Shrine of Remembrance.”
“Windy day along the Great Ocean Road!”
“A typical Aussie morning: chilling with kangaroos on the beach at sunrise during our East Coast road trip.”
“All smiles in the sunshine at Hell’s Gates while hiking in Noosa National Park.”
“Looking particularly attractive after snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef!”
“Chilling on Whitehaven Beach — considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world!”
“CEMSie love on our Whitsundays sailing trip! 🇨🇦🇮🇳🇷🇺🇩🇪🇵🇰🇺🇦”
“Parliament House, Canberra, Australia."
“Panoramic views over Canberra from Mt. Ainslie."
One of the other aspects I've cherished immensely during my time in Sydney has been the opportunity to be involved in extracurriculars both within the CEMS community, and the university as a whole. I involved myself in 180 Degrees Consulting: a student consultancy that works specifically with not-for-profit clients to provide a meaningful and impactful change in their organizations. This experience perhaps brought the most opportunity to interact with local Aussies, and has been a welcome addition to my coursework through pushing my comfort zone, and teaching me many new, applicable skills through project work, training seminars and mentor meetings. My best piece of advice to incoming CEMSies, would be to involve yourself with the larger university community as a whole — that can deeply enrich your experience and ability to interact with your host school and the host country.
“Weekend 180 Degrees training session on Storylining at the 41st floor Sydney BCG offices.”
I was chosen to be part of the CEMS Club Sydney Corporate Team, and assisted in organizing five different events with our various corporate partners and network in the Sydney area. I was also on the organizing committee for the CEMS Asia-Pacific Forum (one of the four annual regional CEMS Forums) — which is being held at the University of Sydney directly following the Annual Events and CEMS Graduation ceremony festivities this year.
The opportunity also presented itself to attend the annual CEMS Career Forum held this year at Hungary’s Corvinus University in the beginning of November. Though the flight was far longer than I’d like to remember, the experience itself was incredible — converging on Budapest along with 400-500 other CEMSies to take advantage of skills seminars put on by corporate partners, interview opportunities, and lots of networking. I chose to stay a few days longer as the Forum happened to coincide with our Study Vacation (“STUVAC”), put my touristing skills to use — exploring much of the city, and grabbing coffee with as many Europe-based CEMSies as possible!
“Ivey takes the CEMS Career Forum in Budapest!”
“Cheers, ‘Straya! It’s been an amazing semester!”
It's hard to believe that in just a few short days I will be writing my last exam at Sydney Uni and that the months of planning regarding the CEMS Annual Events and Asia-Pacific Forum, will all be worth it. I won’t be jet-setting off just yet though, as I decided to take advantage of my dual citizenship and relatively late start to my final semester. Over the next two months, I will be staying in Sydney for another internship, therefore getting to experience Christmas on the beach, and a “true Australian summer.” I’ll leave Sydney at the beginning of February, just in time to start my final CEMS semester at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. It’ll be from the beach to the mountains for me. It’s it's incredible to think how time has flown!
Until next time — in snowy Switzerland!
Katy