Hi everyone!
My name is Olivia Jackson and I am currently a junior at Pitt studying Marketing and Supply Chain Management. I am participating in Pitt’s Global Business Institute program with CAPA. I chose this program because I feel that having an internship while abroad is an incredible opportunity to build a global network of connections and immerse myself in a culture other than my own.
This semester, I am taking three classes in addition to my internship. I am taking international marketing, intercultural communications, as well as a class focused on exploring the city! So far, I am really enjoying my classes and have already gained a greater cultural understanding of Sydney as a global city. For my internship placement, I have been working as a social media strategist for an online portal for a new women’s healthcare brand. So far, I enjoy working with my supervisor and have been gaining a lot of great insight on effective healthcare marketing.
Although I have only been here for a few weeks, it is safe to say that I am loving my new home for the next three months. As far as where I am living, we could not have been placed in a better location! We are located right in the heart of Chinatown in Haymarket, New South Wales. I live in a super nice apartment with four double rooms, a kitchen, and a living room. I get along well with all of my roommates and can definitely tell that we will stay close even after the program is over. Our building has access to a gym, a rooftop lookout, a game room, and even a cinema room! The area of the city that we live in is bustling with lively people and there has yet to be a weekend where something fun hasn’t been going on around us. Upon our arrival, it was the start of the Lunar New Year. Being right here in Chinatown, there were amazing celebrations each night for a week long and lots of delicious and authentic food for us to try.
Since arriving in Sydney, I have learned quite a lot about Australian culture. I learned that ordering coffee in Australia is completely different than in the U.S. If you ask for an iced coffee, it comes with a scoop of ice cream on top – super delicious but definitely not what I was expecting! I’ve learned something new every day and I plan to continue immersing myself in the culture here as often as I possibly can. In my free time, I enjoy going to the beaches (Manly and Coogee are my favorite ones so far), trying new restaurants, and shopping at all of the small boutiques around the city. My friends and I have a lot of fun plans coming up, such as weekend trips, going on a dolphin watching tour, and attending a weekend surf camp. My experience in Sydney thus far has been nothing short of amazing and I can’t wait to see what new adventures await for me here!
Until next time!
Olivia
