We have been in Sydney for about four weeks now, coming closer to the end of our program. I am loving both Sydney and Australia as a whole, and the culture here. One aspect of the culture that I have grown to appreciate the most is the work/office culture here, especially the work-life balance. I have also grown to enjoy the more laid-back approach to life and appreciation for what’s around. At work, I enjoy that things are not as rigid and that there is a stoppage to the workday, allowing for more separation between personal lives and work lives. The more casual nature here is very peaceful and allows me to appreciate what is around me more and try new things.
Something that I have found a bit difficult during my time here is my experience with some of Australia’s deep culture, specifically with some aspects of the office environment. At my internship, there is both an independent and collaborative aspect to our work. For instance, on one of my first days, I was given a task to complete but with pretty much no instruction on how to do it, what they want it to look like, when it would be due by, etc. This was very unusual for me because I am used to receiving more of an outline to start and then just finishing, versus here I try my hand at it first, then it gets reviewed and worked on a bit together before it is finalized. I appreciate the aspect for independence and the encouragement of trying and possible failure, it was just an odd thing for me to adjust to, as I was brought up on following instructions and getting things right the first time.
Lastly, I have encountered many cross-cultural situations during my time here is Sydney. One of the main ones is the different points of view on work, life, sport, etc. I think that it is all very interesting, and it is allowing me to expand my own horizons on topics where I have hit a stalemate or do not know much about. Additionally, getting to know all of the different program participants has allowed me to appreciate my college and way of life at school. I have loved getting to hear about everyone’s home institution and what their lives are like there, and hearing our differences has allowed me to admire Pitt more.
