Week 1 & 2: Making the Unfamiliar, Familiar

As I approach the end of the second week in Sydney, everything is starting to make a little more sense. Each day I find a new shortcut to the harbor, the streets I walk begin to intersect, the trip to the beach becomes seamless.

I have found a sense of slowness despite being in such a large city. So far, I have managed to average about 8 miles of walking every day, something I could not have said back home. This time alone, in conjunction with the abundance of green space, has added to this slowness I have felt so far.

In the few days I have been here, I have already had such fulfilling experiences, one of them being a walk I had with Charlie. On our third day here, and first day off, we were determined to make it to the beach. Charlie and I headed over to Bondi Beach via train and planned to meet up with some other Bucknell people at Coogee Beach. We set off on what we thought was going to be a quick twenty minute walk which turned into a longer four mile walk all along the coast. This walk was accompanied by nice conversation, a scenic view, and a scrapped knee. That day we spent nearly seven hours on the beach and watched the sun set over the hill.

I have spent nearly all my free time on the beach, I am not sure if it will ever get old. I put my blanket out, my hat on, sunscreen from head to toe, and just relax for hours. Along with exploring more beaches, I am looking forward to traveling a bit further out of the main area of Sydney to go on hikes and explore new neighborhoods, each with their own charm.

Being the foodie I am, I have been very appreciate of some of the food I have had. Given where Australia is geographically, there is a great Asian influence present, most of which I have experienced through food. My favorite so far has been the Bahn Mi sandwich I got in Newtown after going thrifting. I am eager to explore everything Sydney has to offer and hopefully make some new friends along the way.

Week 3: Reconnect

To my surprise, Sydney has also offered the opportunity to reconnect with people. One of my friends from high school who I have not seen in nearly two years is also studying in Sydney for the semester. This common place has allowed for us to reconnect and reflect on our relationship. I was able to meet some of his friends from college and see how much he has changed. There is something about being able to see old friends that you knew in such distinct points in your life as they almost serve as a little time capsule.

Along the note of making connections, another one of my old friends from home reached out saying that her friend was doing a solo trip in Sydney for the next couple of months, so I decided to message her and see if she wanted to meet up. On Sunday we got to go to the Art Gallery of NSW and get dinner after, the perfect activity for the rainy day.

The rain did not last long because on Tuesday I caught up with my college friend’s hometown friend and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast and restful morning on the beach. With the weather on the gloomy side in the days prior, it felt amazing to be soaking up the sun by the ocean. This continued when the group got a tour of the iconic Sydney Opera House in afternoon.

I did not even know it until I arrived, but we got the chance to be in Australia on Australia Day. I started the morning off with a beautiful sunrise run around 5:40AM and got to catch the projection of Aboriginal artwork on the Opera House. The Sydney was flooded with activities and ceremonies today and lucky for us, Charlie and I were able to catch a bit of a ceremony by The Rocks where people were acknowledging the holiday and its history. We explored the Museum of Contemporary Art for a bit before we got Syrian sandwiches, quite possibly one of my favorite things I had so far. To conclude the evening and the nearly 20 miles of walking, my roommate and I headed back over to The Rocks to watch the fireworks over the harbor. I am looking forward to going on some type of coastal walk on Saturday and then hanging on the beach!

Week 4: Little things

How has it already been a month here? It is exciting to reflect on my experience so far as I spend this new year in a new place. I am always looking for new food to try, so I was so excited when I finally for over to Emperor’s Puff in Chinatown to be able to try their cream puffs that I have been seeing all over TikTok. I would definitely say they exceeded my expectations, but I wish I got the fresh batch out of the oven. I also took advantage of to 10 cent wings at El Camino over in The Rocks; nothing special but could not pass up the deal.

My highlight from the week would have to be the day I spent at Bronte Beach by myself. Despite not having class on Thursday, I got up early and got a morning run in to start the day. There has yet to be a time here that I have not felt great after getting out for a walk or run. I got myself a coffee on the way to the beach and spent nearly 5 hours on the beach. I would say it is probably my favorite beach so far since it is a bit smaller and has a great little swimming. I have been reading Daisy Jones and The Six, so I just a few pages in between the my beach nap. Finished the day off with a falafel wrap and a nap before I headed back home. I have always valued my alone time, but my time here has really shown me how special it is.

Another thing I have been making a habit is getting up early enough to sit and drink a cappuccino before class. I have been going to a cafe on the way to campus called The Q on Harris. The coffee is absolutely amazing and it has been the perfect incentive to get up in the morning, especially when it’s the last thing I want to do. The people who work there are so sweet; I have gone enough that the barista knows my order and I don’t even need to say it. These little moments have proven to be so fulfilling.

I am excited to start a new set up classes and will hopefully be planning a weekend trip out of Sydney in the coming weeks.

Week 5: More Discoveries

Another great week here! Got the weekend started by going to Cronulla beach with Charlie and Maura. This was one of the places we learned about in our Australian Life and Culture course, so I was great to get to visit. This is where, as the name implies, the Cronulla Riots took place between white Australians and Lebanese Australians. It only felt right to get Lebanese food, so we found a great place by the beach and enjoyed arguably one of my favorite meals yet.

I have managed to keep up with runs around the city. On Sunday I headed across the Harbor Bridge for the most beautiful sunset run. It was a great start to the week and was so rewarding when I got to watch the sunset from Kirribilli. There was a wonderful area along to the water where people were watching the sunsets. It was so refreshing to see so many people enjoying this moment and I most definitely want to go back and have dinner picnic by the water at sunset.

A little repeat from last week, but I had an amazing Tuesday at the beach by myself. I wasn’t going to go to the beach because that weather seemed a bit unpredictable and my morning walk was a little gloomy, but I was so happy I committed to the beach. I headed over towards Bronte, but on the way over I got off a few stops short of the beach because I found a cafe online that I wanted to try. I went to Iggy’s Bakery and got the most amazing chocolate & hazelnut croissant and a cappuccino which I enjoyed on the stools along the sidewalk. I walked down to the beach and spent the rest of the afternoon reading and going in the water. It has truly been so therapeutic and has offered valuable time to reflect.

My last highlight of the week was going to the Powerhouse Museum on Thursday with Maura and Charlie. I knew both Maura and Charlie prior to the trip, but this experience has allowed me for to deepen my relationships with them in a way that I may have not if we were back at Bucknell. I am very appreciative for the time we’ve been able to spend together as they have turned out to be some of my favorite days so far.

I look forward to reporting back next week about my trip to the Blue Mountains this Saturday. I also plan on getting up early and watching the sunrise from the beach, so let’s see if I stay committed to that.

Week 6: Taking it Slow

This week was a slower week. I had an early morning on Saturday as we were headed out to the Blue Mountains for the day. We arrived at around 9:30AM and set out towards Katoomba Falls. We reached the first lookout point and we were already in awe. We could see the Three Sisters from here and just the entire view was very beautiful.

I quickly started to regret going on a run and to the gym the day prior as I climbed up the Furber Stairs. The metal staircase and small stone sets were a bit unsettling, but nonetheless we made it. I also managed to fall asleep any time I stepped foot onto a bus or train from how tired I was.

Another early morning on Sunday. I was determined to watch the sunrise at the beach before I left Sydney and Sunday was the day. I got up at 4:30AM and got ready and was out the door by 5AM to head to Mahon Pool to watch the sunrise. I arrived just after 6 and got to watch the hazy orange sky. To my surprise, there were quite a few people also enjoying the sunrise; some doing yoga, some swimming, and others just looking from the rocks. The sun started to come over the water around 6:30 and I was so glad I committed to getting up. I couldn’t leave without getting a quick dip myself, so I jumped in before heading down the road to Maroubra Beach. I relaxed on the beach for a while and then made my way to a cafe for breakfast. I was not quite ready to go home so I decided to catch a bus to Coogee beach. I got back in the early afternoon because Maura and I were going to get $1 oysters.

The rest of the week was a bit uneventful, but I did start getting croissants at the place I always go to. I must say, they are definitely finding the wake ups a little more bearable.

I also did another solo beach trip on Thursday because I couldn’t not go since the weather was so amazing. I spent the afternoon in the sun and water because finishing up some school work. WorldPride starts this weekend so I am looking forward to seeing what events are going on the upcoming couple of weeks.

Week 7: Solo Dates!

Cannot believe it is already week 7 and we only have one more week in Sydney! Trying to make the most of the rest of my time here. Over the weekend I went to Manly in the morning and then a few of the boys met up with me later to go cliff jumping which was very fun (although I only jumped once). The rest of the weekend was rather consuming as I had a midterm to take. To make it a little more bearable, I made it into a little solo date and took myself out for pancakes and coffee as I reviewed material and began writing. Later on I went down to the park at the end of the area we live which was so relaxing. I also good amazing noodles that night.

On Tuesday I had an absolutely lovely day at none other than Bronte. I stopped for a cappuccino on my way and read a bit of my book before heading down to the beach. I spent the entire day at the beach and it seriously does not get old. It is also so relaxing being there alone and allows me to do a lot of reflection. I finished my book on the beach and headed out when the clouds were coming in. Since I finished my book, I decided to head over to a used book store that Maura told me about not far from our campus. I picked up a Toni Morrison book and I am looking forward to starting it from the beach this weekend.

I decided to sleep in for a little on Thursday before heading over to the art gallery since I knew it was going to be a rainy day. The north building of the gallery opened recently so I am happy I got the chance to check out the new exhibits. I spent a few hours at the museum which was lovely since I never find myself going to museums back home. In the afternoon I took a train to Newtown which is a really cool area with lots of thrift stores and vintage shops, and also the place I went my second week here. Unfortunately I did not find anything clothing wise, but I did find an amazing Egyptian restaurant! I love trying new food so I was so excited to come across this place and give it a try, my rating is 9/10.

I am hopping to get a couple more beach days in before I leave and see what I have left to check off my list before I leave Sydney next week.

Week 8: Last Days in Sydney

Today marks my last day in Sydney! This week everyone was trying to make the most of the time they had left in the city. One of the biggest highlights from the week was definitely the Marci Gras parade that is part Sydney’s WorldPride event. Although it was hard to see much of the actual parade, I had a great time going with Charlie. it was so lively and crowded. I have never been to New York’s pride parade, so it was really fun to say my first one was in Sydney. On Sunday I got in another afternoon beach day, just trying to make the most of the last days here.

On Sunday I had another great day at Bronte just wanting to make the most of my time here. That evening I also met up with one of my friends from home. I think being in here has definitely made me appreciate connections like that so much more. We had a great time officially catching up just taking about how amazing it is that we are both here together. It felt like Thursday was really my last day here since I spent most of my day working on exams on Friday. Thursday was also my last beach day and my last run in Sydney which to be honest, was a little sad for me. Those have been two things that I have really valued during my time here, so to see them come to an end, at least in Sydney, felt a bit odd.

Another constant for the past I would say six weeks would be my favorite cafe on the way to school (also where I spent most of my day Friday). The people who run the cafe were so sweet and it was so refreshing to see such a welcoming face on those morning where I didn’t want to get up early. They have amazing pastrami sandwiches and I tried an Indonesian rice dish which was an absolutely great end to my time here. I am so thankful for the last couple of months and so excited for all of the new experiences that await. 

For some reason my pictures aren’t loading – will add soon!

Week 9 & 10: Fresh start!

I had an amazing last couple of weeks exploring two new places: Cairns and Singapore. Cairns was so much fun and I think it allowed all of us from Bucknell to get much closer. The highlights from the week were definitely scuba diving and skydiving, two of my bucket list items for sure. We also got to explore a rainforest outside of Cairns and it was very fitting since we hit some of the rainy season there. Scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef was amazing, although I was a little bit nervous going down. A couple days after, eight of us went to go skydiving and probably one of my highlights from the entire trip.

We arrived in Singapore on Saturday evening and spend the next day exploring a little bit. I am interning at a digital wealth management company and even after just a week I am already learning so much. The company is a fast growing software company, so to be in this environment working so closely with executive team is a great experience. Michael is also interning at the same company so it has been nice to have a similar face in the office and someone to work on projects with. Singapore is known for its amazing food and it definitely does not disappoint. I cannot wait to continue and explore the city to find new food spots and try the most popular dishes from the various ethnic backgrounds represented in Singapore. Another highlight was being able to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day here which was definitely different from back home.

On Saturday we tried the Michelin star chicken and rice, and we got some great dumplings there too! We got a great tour of the National Singapore Museum and got to see the view from the top of the Marina Bay Sands. I am looking forward to all the new experiences that await.

Week 11: Settling In

I would definitely say that this week I was able to settle in and get a bit more acclimated with my new environment. On Sunday I was able to do a little more exploring and I found myself over by Fort Canning where there is this really cool underpass with a very mystical looking staircase/tunnel. This was a bit of a photo trap where there was a line for people waiting for people to take pictures, so Charlie and I opted to just take a quick picture through passing.

In terms of my internship, I have really been learning so much and I am extremely thankful that the upper level management is generous with their time and really want us to learn throughout the process. I have felt like I am playing a role since the deliverables we create are actually being shown to clients during meetings.

Another key part from my week has definitely been the wide variety of food. This week I got Indian food at the hawker centers (and will hopefully be making my way to Little India this weekend to try out some more food). I am also in the middle of planning a trip to Phuket, Thailand for the middle of April which I am really looking forward to!

Week 12: Exploring some more

This past weekend I went to a cooking class and made laksa, a staple Singaporean dish. This was absolutely amazing and a fun activity to start of the weekend. On Sunday I was able to do a bit more exploring and make my way over to Little India. I got some amazing food at the hawker center: prata, chicken masala, and dhal. This was especially cheap and I will most definitely be going back soon! Following my mini food excursion, I went over to a shopping plaza near by and picked up a new pair of pants before heading back to meet up with everyone for dinner.

As for the rest of the week, I have just been enjoying learning so much at my internship and using my free time to explore new places to eat. Some of the food highlights from this week have been bahn mi from Maxwell food center, and Thai chicken from Newton food center. Another thing that I have really been enjoying is getting milk tea since back home they cost upwards of $5 but are only about $1.50 here.

Week 13: Through the gardens

This past week I was able to do some exploring at the Telok Blangah Hill Park. There were some very pretty gardens and I got to walk across the Henderson Wave too! While I was over there I also tried a new hawker center too.

On Sunday I headed back over to the Chinatown hawker center and got dumplings again (and I plan on doing the same for the long weekend coming up!). I finally made it over to the botanical gardens which were beautiful. I only got through half of the gardens since it was so hot, so I would definitely like to walk through it again or run there at some point. My internship is going well – we have been putting together different deliverables for the sales and product teams. I have really been enjoying spending more time with the Bucknell students in the program since we often like to grab dinner together!

Week 14: The start of the second half

All is well here as we come down to the last month in Singapore. This weekend I was able to do a little more exploring and have made going to Chinatown for dumplings part of my routine! It is the same place we went with Dean Kepner and it is always worth the wait. It was a great weekend because we all had off on Friday for Good Friday which surprisingly felt like a long weekend. I have gotten some recommendations off of TikTok about places to go and food to try, so on Sunday I made it to a Bahn Mi place that I found. It was definitely different from the ones I’ve had in the past but it was still so good. Another fun food I tried was ice cream between sweet bread! I had never heard of this until one of my friends sent me a video about it so I had to try it. It was surprisingly kind of good but I would probably get a different flavor of ice cream next time. One of my highlights from the week was signing up for a program called ClassPass which gives me credits to try out different workout classes. I did the free trial and got to go to a place called Barry’s Bootcamp which I have always wanted to try. I am definitely feeling a bit sore today but I am happy I am finding some different things to do while I am here! Looking forward to next week since we have a trip planned!

Week 15: Getting Active

How do we only have two weeks left?! This weekend we all went out for brunch which turned into a nice afternoon. As for the rest of the week, I was able to go to a bunch of other workout classes through the trial I am doing and made for a great way to try something new and get active. This week I went to a spin class, an aerial silk class, a boxing class, and a barre class. I think my favorites was probably the spin class since I enjoy doing these back home and the boxing class as it was something new for me. On Monday we finished up work a little early and checked out the ArtScience Museum by Marina Bay Sands. This museum was really cool with lots of interactive features and interesting exhibits to explore. Other than that, not too much else from this week. I can already tell how much I will miss the food here; I get food from the same Thai place every day for lunch and then make my way over to the same Indian place for dinner. Although I am definitely willing to explore my food options, these places are just too good! We leave for our trip tonight, so I cannot wait to share how it was.

Week 16: Making the most of it

How do I have one week left in Singapore?! Time really does fly when you’re having fun. I sure made the most of my time here when we went to Phuket this past weekend. We got in on Thursday night and we rented an Airbnb up on a hill (not the most convenient location) that had a pool. On Friday we saw the Big Buddha and got to see some elephants as we drove in. The highlight was definitely Saturday when we did a boat tour of the neighboring Phi Phi Islands. This was absolutely gorgeous and it was so much fun being able to be with everyone. At one of the stops we got to go jetskiing just before hitting the rain. That night we went into Patong, the main city on the island, and saw a Muay Thai boxing fight which was such a cool experience since we were also ringside. As for the rest of the week, I have just been enjoying some of my favorite food: Thai food from Newtown Hawker Center and Indian food from Lau Pau Sat. Today I finally got over to Gardens by the Bay to check out the Cloud Walk and Flower Dome which are right next to the actual gardens. I don’t think I realized how big these were from pictures I have seen but they both have lots of levels with bridges, waterfalls, and more. It looks like I have reached the end, I hope you have enjoyed following along. Happy reading!