One Month in Sydney, Australia

How does one begin to sum up an entire month lived on a different continent? That is the question that has been on my brain for the past week or so. Every time I have had the urge to sit down and write something to commemorate the midway point of my time here in Sydney, I have had to stop myself because I couldn’t quite find the words to do it justice. 

So, instead of searching for the perfect opening sentence that can describe the entirety of my past 31 days in a single line, I am going to take the easy way out and write a list. Here are some of the many things I have learned in Sydney this past month:

• The Opera House is absolutely the most stunning monument I have ever seen. The Eiffel Tower, Colosseum, even the Acropolis all cannot hold a candle to the Opera House’s beauty. (As I am writing this, I am currently sitting on the harbor looking right at the Opera House, how cool is that??)
• The seagulls here are extremely aggressive. I have seen a crazy bird or two in my day, but these things will swoop down and snatch an entire slice of pizza from your hand if given the opportunity (I may or may not be speaking from experience.)
• The typical Aussie stereotype is only partially real. They are definitely more laid back than most Americans, but not every Aussie bloke spends their weekends catching waves at Bondi.
• Australia gives America a run for their money with the “melting pot” title. Most of the people I have met who live here aren’t actually Australian, they’re Canadian, Greek, French, British, Middle Eastern, and the list goes on, but somehow, they all ended up in Sydney.
• If you work in Australia, there is a 99% chance you will be drinking at the office at least once a week. (This is one I highly recommend America adopts, an excel spreadsheet is a lot less boring with a glass of wine in your hand.)
• They don’t hate American accents. Shocking, I know.
• Each part of Sydney is like visiting an entirely different country. The earthy-vegan vibe of Newtown could not be further from the typical surfer aesthetic of Bondi or the upscale, classy feeling of The Rocks.
• The train (or Light Rail) is the fastest and cleanest form of public transportation ever created. It’s truly God’s gift to Sydney.
• Australians are lazy. Everything and everyone has a nickname, there is no time for the full pronunciation of “biscuit”, “afternoon”, or even the word “Australia.”
• TV shows here are either weirdly and unnecessarily complicated (I’m looking at you, House Rules) or just bland and devoid of a premise all together.
• Unfortunately, there are not kangaroos everywhere you turn, at least not in the city. And, much to my dismay, I have yet to see an Australian ride one to work.
• The word ‘diary’ in Australia actually means ‘schedule.’ (Ask me how confused I was the first time someone at work said they were going to “put me in their diary.”)

 In a short amount of time here, I have already checked off an insane amount of things on my bucket list. I’ve seen kangaroos, koalas, and even wallabies, I’ve taken a cruise around Sydney Harbor, I’ve gotten the chance to intern at a top global PR agency, I’ve surfed at sunset on Seven Mile Beach, I’ve gone wine tasting in Hunter Wine Valley, partied at bars in Darling Harbor, walked the famous Coogee to Bondi Beach trail, and so much more.

Overall, nowhere I have ever been is quite like Sydney. I’m honestly not exactly sure what I was expecting upon my arrival to Australia but I can say with certainty that this city has exceeded my expectations. I can’t wait to see what else I learn with the rest of my time here.

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