The University of Pittsburgh partners with CAPA: The Global Education Network and their staff; therefore, I do not quite attend a new University nor are my classes taught by PITT staff. Both my housing and the CAPA Sydney Center is located in the Haymarket District, and classes are taught in University of Technology Sydney (UTS) buildings. Since we do not take any classes with UTS students, I have not had the chance to meet Sydney Uni students in an academic setting. The CAPA staff is incredibly knowledgeable, creative, and diverse; being that they all come from various cultural backgrounds/nations, the cross-culturalism of the classroom fosters a unique learning experience. Since I am completing an internship in Sydney, the Global Internship Course will teach me how to contextualize the greater significance of my work and help me develop professional skills in a new social and cultural setting. My second course, Sports Marketing, will analyze the corporatization of international athletics and revenue streams in the broader domain of sport. There are five students in this class which supports greater discussion and a focused instructional approach. I am especially excited for our class trip to the Sydney Cricket Grounds to watch the Sydney Swans play the Geelong Football Club in an Australian Football League (AFL) game. The curriculum is really keen on reflection- critical and analytical consideration of what we experience should be used to promote forward-thinking.  

I live in a shared apartment building located in the heart of Haymarket; it has its own cinema room, laundry room, fitness center, rooftop space, and shared collaboration areas. There are eight people to a suite comprised of four rooms- two students per room and a shared bathroom. In the suite there is a large living room and full kitchen. I enjoy this structure because it promotes an invigorating learning and social environment.

Haymarket is a charming neighborhood that houses Chinatown, fresh food markets, a public library, schools, shopping centers, and countless restaurants. It is in walking distance to Darling Harbour and the Sydney Opera House. Haymarket is the community center for Asian cultures and the hub for the most delicious Asian food (highly recommend the fresh chicken & chive dumplings from Nine Dragons)! I am continuously discovering something new and exciting about this suburb, and it gets dreamier everyday.  

The Australian school system is very similar to the American system- there was no adjustment period nor challenges to overcome. The academic year in Australia starts in late January and ends in December for the summer holiday. They run on a 4-term schedule with winter break June to August, whereas the American system runs on a 2-semester schedule. Aussies highly value a work-life balance, and manage the demands of their job whilst also prioritizing personal/family/friend time. There are two notable tidbits to keep in mind when traveling to Australia: tipping is not common practice because of their higher, livable wages, and dates are written day-month-year.

My time in Sydney is close to halfway over, but I am far from ready to leave! This experience has truly been testament to “blink or you’ll miss it!”