Hi everyone, my name is Anna Michnik. I am a junior studying Marketing and BIS with an Econ and French minor, and an international business certificate. This spring semester I will be studying abroad in Sydney, Australia through the Pitt Business GBI program. Through this program, I get to take business classes with other students from Pitt and a ton of other schools. I chose to study abroad in Sydney because I love the hustle and bustle of a large city combined with a relaxing beach option. I wanted to get away from the cold and explore Sydney and other parts of Australia, a place I’d probably never spend this much time in otherwise. This program gives me the opportunity to acquaint myself with the other side of the world and immerse myself in a new culture. My goals for this program are to explore all the neighborhoods of Sydney and travel as much as I can. I would also love to expand my social network by getting out of my comfort zone and interacting with new people. These goals will help me to improve and further develop my cross cultural skills which will aid me in my future career and personal life.

My new university is extremely welcoming and helpful in all areas whether it be academic, personal, or professional. Some differences I have noticed is that the faculty and staff come from a variety of backgrounds and many can relate to navigating a new city on your own. The professors are also more laid back and informal than at Pitt which definitely makes for an easier transition and a more comfortable learning environment. However, I’d say that both Pitt and my host institution have similar expectations when it comes to attendance and classwork. 

My new neighborhood is in Ultimo and so far it has been very convenient as it is in close proximity to many popular neighborhoods and attractions in Sydney. I’ve found that I can walk pretty much anywhere if I allocate enough time which is great so I can explore more areas by foot and see sights along the way. It is near another university so it is comforting to see a large student population all around me. I live in a dorm with 7 other roommates and it has been a great experience so far! Having a lot of roommates helped with the social aspect of the program and it allowed me to meet a lot of new people right from the start. I’m adapting to my living situation well as I’m used to living with others as I share an apartment with other students at school.