I have learned and developed many different skills over my time studying and working in Sydney, Australia. 

To start off, I developed soft skills such as adaptability and time management. When arriving in a new country, I had to adapt to the new environment and work culture very quickly. In my previous posts, I discussed how the Australian workplace culture is very different than American work culture. Therefore, I had to learn their communication and work styles quickly and be able to adapt fast as I was only there for a short amount of time. I had to adjust my communication styles in the workplace as well as the classroom. Also, when studying in Sydney, I only had each class class one day a week, which meant that our classes were longer and the workload was more spread out. Therefore, I had to adapt to this different class format as I was able to have more time to complete it, but it was a larger amount of work since there was such a big gap between classes. This also allowed me to develop the skill of time management. I had to adjust my normal schedule to follow a different schedule, and I had to balance working 20 hours a week along with taking two classes, while still allowing for time to explore the city and Australia in general. Having to balance work, school, and exploring allowed me to gain more time management skills which led to me being able to complete all of my work on time, study, go to work, and see all that Sydney had to offer. 

While in Australia, I also gained hard skills as well. While working in Sydney, I was able to develop my Excel and CRM management skills. I have had experience using both of these software, but working in Australia gave me more experience utilizing both and allowed me to gain even more knowledge and skills. Also, I was able to learn Search Engine Optimization and develop my Canva skills as well. I was able to have mentorship from my company and manager who helped me learn how the basics and from there I was able to develop my skills while asking for help when needed. Being able to work in a close-knit environment really helped me as I was able to feel comfortable enough to ask for help and guidance when needed. 

These skills will help me in my academic, professional, and daily life upon my return to Pittsburgh. I now have an international job experience to add to my resume which will help me when looking for jobs after college. I also will have a ton of improved and new soft and hard skills that will help me not only with school, but also with my jobs in Pittsburgh as well. I also have a new international travel experience that has taught me so much about myself and I feel even more confident coming back to Pittsburgh with so many great memories and skills.