IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK: Essential beach things like sunglasses, hats, and bathing suits.

ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU CAN LEAVE AT HOME: Sunscreen. The sun is very different in Sydney, so they have a specialized sunscreen that does a lot better than ones you get here. 

WHERE TO LIVE: Maroubra or Coogee. Both are close to UNSW campus. Coogee is more of a nightlife, where Maroubra is good if you’re interested in surfing.

BEST PLACES TO EAT: I never had a bad experience with any local places, but I will say I did not have a good hamburger anywhere so watch out.

BEST PERSONAL HIDEOUT: The end of the Bondi to Coogee walk in Coogee has a lot of benches in a park and it is very peaceful.

FAVORITE PLACE TO STUDY: UNSW library was pretty good.

MUST-TRY LOCAL DISH: It’s not that foreign for Australian Pizza is interesting just because of egg on a pizza.

BEST PHOTO OP: Anywhere in the blue mountains

BIGGEST FAIL: Plenty of times, I took the wrong bus trying to get to class.

BEST PURCHASE: Personally, I bought a surfboard so that I did not need to rent, and that forced me to go surfing more.

MOST INTERESTING CLASS: MSCI0501

BEST PART OF THE PROGRAM: The program does a lot of events for you to meet other people studying abroad.

MOST MEMORABLE TRIP: I camped in Mount Solitary in the Blue Mountains, and it was beautiful.

BEST LOCAL EVENT/HOLIDAY: They had a vivid light festival where everything around the harbor was lit up and very cool.

FAVORITE LOCAL WORD/SLANG: Something I still say is “no worries” as a response similar to “no problem” or “forget about it.”

IF I COULD DO IT OVER AGAIN… I would try to find different housing. I was in a rented home with other foreigners, but not other students so it was annoying to not have that outlet to also meet people.