Nagihan in Sydney

A Stay That Changed my Life

I had set my eyes on Australia after meeting an exchange student from Brisbane and becoming good friends with her. As I was researching the options within Australia, particularly after having a look at the courses offered, it piqued my interest academically as well. There were just too many interesting courses I could take. The whole process, from the first application to the International Office to the very last minute in Australia, went smoothly.

As a culture and history student, I was spoiled with the course options and could therefore manage my weekly schedule as I wished. Some courses are specifically designed for exchange students such as: Australian sports, in which you will watch several Australian games; Australian stage and theatre, in which you will go to theatre plays and watch and discuss Australian films and culture; and outdoor learning like camping in the Blue Mountains. These courses are both a lot of fun, and it is a good starting point to get to know the Australian culture. Outside the courses, there are numerous organized leisure and orientation activities for exchange students, like walking tours to major attraction points of the city, or parties in the Manning Bar at the campus. Both Sydney and the University of Sydney host a number of events, conferences and festivals. There is always some special event going on at the campus and/or in the city. Getting bored or having two identical weeks can hardly be justified in this city.

I had applied for the exchange program in Australia with the expectations of seeing somewhere new and exciting, improving my language skills and meeting new people. My actual stay, however, has far exceeded my expectations and provided me with a unique experience that I will forever be thankful for. It also wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that it changed my life.

From academic perspective, I changed my mind about my future profession after having a course about historiography. I found it most influential and appealing, and I am now resolved to pursue my studies in classical history. I would definitely consider applying to University of Sydney for graduate/post graduate studies in the future. I think that going for this exchange year was one of my best decisions. I’ve learned and experienced more than I expected, both about Australia and about myself. It was a continuous journey of exploration, an almost constant feeling of discovery and adventure, learning something new, meeting someone new, making (hopefully) life-long friends. Whatever reservations you might have about going to Australia, don’t let them intimidate you. In the end, it will be your best decision as well – I am sure of it.