Before I left for my study abroad program in Sydney, I expected my living situation to be one of the most difficult parts of the trip to acclimate to. I knew absolutely no one going on this trip with me. This meant, my roommates would be complete strangers, which scared me. However, my worries quickly subsided when I arrived. Everyone was very nice and we all hit it off right away. Beyond that, I also had the expectation that my classes would be different from the ones I was used to in the U.S. I expected the class sizes to be smaller than what I was used to, and I thought the classes may be structured differently. I was correct in my assumption that there would be smaller classes. In my Global Cities class, there were only 11 students, and in my Operations class there were only 6 of us. I had never had class sizes like this before, even in high school, so it was a change of pace for me. Back at Pitt, it can be difficult to really develop a relationship with your professor in such a large class. Due to these smaller class sizes I felt like I really got to know everyone, including the professor, which really enhanced the learning experience. In terms of the class structure, both classes were set up much the same way that my classes at Pitt are. Both classes consisted of lecture for the majority of the class time, with class work mixed in at times. My tip for future study abroad students, would be to stay on top of your work. There’s plenty of time to explore the city, just make sure you get your school work done first.
So, I thought I’d end my blog with some takeaways from some of my first weeks here. First off, culture shock is real, even in English speaking Australia. For me there was no real big culture shock moment, where I felt out of place or disoriented, it was more just the small things. For example, the first time you go to the grocery store and you try to order your deli meat in pounds, only to have to deli associate look at you with a wry smile. As time passes, things get easier as you acclimate to these differences. My second takeaway is that in general, Australians have a very down to Earth. When you are talking to someone here, you know exactly where you stand with them. It’s a refreshing experience. Lastly, you grow more comfortable in your new city with each day you’re here. The first week, I felt a little lost. I didn’t know where anything was, or how to get around the city. Once you get that all figured out, it’s smooth sailing. Well, that’s all I got for this post. Hope you’ve enjoyed, stay tuned for my final blog when I’m back in the states.