Kia ora whanau,
Since flying back to Tāmaki Makaurau earlier this week, I’ve been marinating in retrospection and gratitude for the time I got to spend abroad in Sydney, Australia. Having lived in Auckland all my life, being ‘away’ was truly an empowering, unforgettable experience that nudged me open in a way I didn’t realise I needed. Even the liminal, in-between moments – such as waiting for the delayed bus to take me home while bats zip and chatter overhead, facing decision fatigue in the supermarket isle, or getting lost trying to locate the correct exit at Town Hall Station – are ones I’ll miss. Though I must point out, I am absolutely, unashamedly relieved I safely returned home without an Aussie accent.
Aussie-Kiwi banter aside, one of the things that seriously impressed me about Sydney was how bustling it is – there is always bound to be a market or fair happening in the weekends, and a film, comedy, or writer’s festival wedged into unexpected crevices of the calendar. In between studying for my final assignments and exams, I managed to head out to the CBD to catch Vivid Sydney, an annual three week-long light festival that took place between May 24 and June 15 this year. During this period, the waterfront areas (which are already stunning as is) like Circular Quay, the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, and the Botanic Gardens get extra jazzed up with neon displays, lasers, and glowing kinetic sculptures. You even have a chance to ride the ‘Tekno Train’! (What’s on the Tekno Train? Well, no spoilers, because I’ll have to find out for you next time).
Before I knew it, on a random Monday night I found myself with my exams out of the way, sitting in front of my laptop screen as Canvas confetti fell to celebrate my submission of the last essay of the semester. This surreal and somewhat existential peace was only temporary. By the following morning, I was scrambling to pack for a two-night stay in the Blue Mountains region in New South Wales and was on the tin can-looking, purple-seated intercity train by 8:30am. The public transport – and in particular train – network is another of Sydney’s great perks. It’s more than possible to travel outside of the city of Sydney and get around effectively and affordably without a car. The three days spent drinking in beautiful mountain air, hiking past waterfalls and canyons, and spotting my first lyrebird was the perfect way to round off my semester abroad in Sydney.
With great hope and contentedness, I look forward to reuniting with the amazing humans (who are surprisingly intergenerational… it’s a long story) I met and shared special moments with in Sydney as I power through the rest of my degree here in Auckland.
Thank you so much for following along with my stories! If you have any questions about living or studying abroad in Sydney, please feel free to get in touch 🙂
Judy, signing out!