Supriya, Sydney Internship

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Interned in Marketing at Staples Australia, Spring 2015

Internship: I was a marketing intern at Staples Australia and did all kinds of projects. My favorite one was the time I organized an office wide event called “Friday Night Drinks” in which about 300 employees came to our cafeteria, paid $2 to get in, bought raffle tickets to win a laptop, and all proceeds went to an amazing charity that helped indigenous children get through high school/college. I organized all food and drinks, sold over $3000 worth of raffle tickets, marketed the event through both internal and external means, and more.

I Learned: The first thing I learned would be to make the most of your days. If you’re in a country where you may not ever be in again, take advantage of that: explore the museum you’ve been passing by, venture out to that beach that might be kind of far, and don’t waste precious time! The second would be to try to interact with locals as much as you can. If they speak a language besides English and you aren’t that fluent, you should try to learn. If they go to certain restaurants or activities you’re not used to, bring some friends and try it out.

What Surprised Me: Just how fast it ended. I had a giant bucket list of things I wanted to do in Australia, and I couldn’t get to all of them because I didn’t realize how fast the time went by.

Hardest Part: Balancing schoolwork and traveling and expenses all at once.

Best Part: The best part was definitely all the cool cities and countries I traveled to with my friends. It was so enlightening seeing other cultures and participating in activities that are famous to a certain place.

My Tips: If you can, try to go in Spring because Australia’s seasons are switched with the U.S., so you’ll have the best weather. Another is to visit as many beaches as possible- each one is unique and has its own beauty. Lastly, try not to spend too much time in your dorm/apt because there is so much to see.

Hidden Gems: Some places I recommend are Manly Beach, walking along the Sydney Harbour Bridge, taking a visit to the Shangrila Hotel top floor, and doing the Bondi to Coogee Walk.

Raushan, Sydney Internship

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Interned in Consulting and Information Systems at Happily Organised, Spring 2015RaushanatTheReef

Internship: I worked at a small firm called Happily Organised, which was founded and is still run by Laurel Grey, a BU alum! It’s a consulting firm that helps small business clients looking to develop an effective web presence, migrate their business to cloud systems, and market their products or services online. While I was there, my projects included developing websites for clients, providing support to existing clients, and managing the CRM system.

I Learned:

  1. Don’t be afraid to try something new. It can only make you more of a well-rounded and experienced individual.
  1. Traveling is one of the best mediums of education.

What Surprised Me: How much I loved Australia. Up until a few weeks before my application was due, I was sure I would be going to Europe for the “classic” European study abroad experience. For a few reasons, I ended up applying to Sydney and was never really sure how much I would like it. Now, I tell everyone that, out of the 13 countries I’ve visited, Australia is undoubtedly my favorite.

Hardest Part: The hardest part of my experience was adjusting to being in a completely new country where I had to form new relationships. I got into such a routine in Boston with my friends and my activities that when I went to Sydney it felt like I was starting college all over again. That, coupled with the fact that there was a 16-hour time difference separating me from my family, made it extremely hard for me to adjust and be happy during my first few weeks in Sydney.

Best Part: The best part of my experience was being able to be fully independent. Because of how far I was, I wasn’t able to call my parents with every little problem or question. I had to solve many things on my own and learn to provide for myself. It was sometimes scary, but looking back I can already see how it has helped me mature and learn to embrace unfamiliar situations.

My Tips:

  1. Your semester will fly by – get out of your dorm and make the best of it. Go to new places and meet new people.
  2. Travel as much as you can – you are in a part of the world many from home wish they could be in. Take advantage of it
  3. Immerse yourself in the culture – it can be easy to surround yourself with Americans and essentially be a tourist on an extended stay. Immerse yourself in the Australian culture and meet Australian people. It allows you to see the U.S. culture and customs through new eyes.

Hidden Gems:

The Skywalk at the Sydney Tower Eye – it’s affordable, and you will get unforgettable views of Sydney. Go early, and it will excite you for the semester that lies ahead.

Haymarket Hotel – one of the most relaxing atmospheres to go and chat with some friends for a while over cheap steaks and drinks

Collin K., Dublin Management Internship

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Cliffs of Moher

Standing at the edge of the Cliffs of Moher. This was the only time I wore my winter jacket because it was so cold from the wind at the coast.

Interned in Public Relations at Heneghan PR, Spring 2015

Internship: I worked for a PR firm called Heneghan PR. It’s the Irish affiliate of the major PR and Communication firm Bursen-Marsteller here in the U.S. My manager and co-workers made my internship experience amazing both on professional and social levels. It was a small firm, so the intern role carried a lot of responsibility. I wrote press releases, managed all media alerts for our clients, made proposals for new client opportunities, and even sat in on a couple client consultations. I was not treated like an intern but as a trusted employee, and that made my worthwhile.

I Learned: One thing I learned was not to be so dependent on technology and to travel throughout Europe with a sense of curiosity and adventure. I did not have data on my phone while abroad so without Google Maps by my side to guide me throughout cities, I had to revert back to actual maps to find my way around. This honestly felt invigorating and allowed me to explore cities like Budapest and Paris just by wandering the streets instead of being on a set agenda.

I also learned to be more aware of my surroundings and possessions. Unfortunately abroad, I lost a debit card, two jackets, and had my phone stolen. While these were not highlights of my trip, it showed me how clueless I acted while in the states. I’m not paranoid that someone is going to steal  something of mine every time I leave my apartment, but it helped me appreciate the things I own and to take better care of them.

What Surprised Me: I did not expect Irish people to love Americans so much! I’ve heard all the stereotypes of Europeans hating Americans and experienced some of it to my travels in other countries, but Ireland was completely different. Coming from Boston, Irish people felt a connection to us because they have so many family members living here. They loved our accents as much as we loved theirs, and I truly felt welcomed into their homes.

Hardest Part: I admit that because the program was longer than most, I was pretty homesick by the end. I loved my entire experience in Dublin, don’t get me wrong, but seeing the Facebook statuses and Snapchats of all my friends returning home before I had even taken finals was a bit difficult.

Best Part: The day the marriage referendum was passed was one of the most exciting times in Dublin. The anticipation of the voting date was so prevalent throughout my time in Dublin, and when it passed by a landslide, the country went crazy. I’ve never seen such a united people all celebrating equality. You could not walk throughout City Centre without seeing smiling faces and people embracing each other over the news. I’m so glad I can say I lived in Ireland when they made history.

My Tips: I don’t know where to begin. In Ireland itself, you have to see the Cliffs of Moher and western Ireland. I regret that I didn’t get to see as much of the country-side as I wanted, but what I did visit was unforgettable.

It is so easy to travel Europe while Abroad, I guarantee you’ll make at least three different trips. My favorite two were Budapest and Amsterdam. I will say, though, at the end of all of my weekend trips, I was always ready to go back to Ireland, or as my friends soon called it “home.”

Hidden Gems: There are so many towns right outside of Dublin that are beautiful for sight-seeing, hiking, and enjoying authentic Irish people and culture. Towns like Dun Laoghaire or Howth were some of my favorite places to go on the weekend when I wanted to get outside of the city. Both were right on the water with amazing places to eat seafood, walk on the beach, and shop in small markets.

Laura Monti, Los Angeles Internship Program–Film & TV Track

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HippoMeInterned at Mar Vista Entertainment providing input on potential films and at Fox 2000 in development and production, Fall 2014

Watch Laura’s awarding-winning, animated film here.

About Me: I studied in Los Angeles for the fall semester of my senior year! Before you read my responses, I think it’s important to note that I’m a Marketing major with a Film Minor. I chose the Film/Television Los Angeles track to strengthen my experience in that particular field. The reason why I’m a marketing major is because I love to share stories and I felt as though marketing was a way to share a story about a brand or product. However, in Los Angeles I learned an entirely different form of storytelling through my production and development internships that pulled at my heartstrings.

Internship: I had two! I interned at Mar Vista Entertainment, which produces TV movies for networks such as Lifetime, Syfy, Disney Channel, and CW. I did everything from pitching loglines for potential networks to writing coverage on books and scripts. I even was an extra in one of their movies and woke up at 5 in the morning to play “Track Girl 2.”  One particular evening I went above and beyond my intern duties and dressed as a purple hippo for the red carpet premiere of a Disney Channel movie.  My other internship was a Development and Production internship at Fox 2000 on the Fox Studios lot. I LOVED  working there and gained so much experience writing notes on scripts and covering desks for assistants of Vice Presidents.  I also spent a lot of afternoons watching movies before their release in the studio theater and roaming around the wardrobe department eyeing Leonardo DiCaprio’s Titanic attire.

I Learned: The only way truly to understand the entertainment industry in Los Angeles is to immerse yourself fully in it. While in Los Angeles, I made sure to make the most of my time there and networked with multiple professionals in the animation industry, a specific passion of mine. I reached out and met with producers, developers, artists, and editors at Walt Disney Animation Studios, DreamWorks, Paramount Animation, Fox Animation, Sony, Nickelodeon, and Warner Brother’s Animation.  I learned about a world beyond graduation both professionally and personally.

What Surprised Me: I was surprised by how much I wasn’t homesick and never felt alone when chasing after a dream of mine.  I also loved meeting the students who didn’t study at Boston University but were involved in the program. A lot of them had a similar passion and drive, and we bonded over our love of entertainment. I also was shocked by how gorgeous the weather is in Los Angeles. Seriously – it’s unfair to the rest of the world. I think I saw a cloud once in 4 months.

Hardest Part: Returning to Boston. I love the Questrom School of Business, but now I’m anxious to graduate since I’ve had such a wonderful taste of what my life could be like afterwards.

Best Part: There were so many incredible days I’m having a hard time choosing one. My top three are the Walt Disney Animation Open House, volunteering at CTNx, and winning the Grand Prize at the Los Angeles New Filmmakers film festival.

Through my networking I met wonderful people involved in production at Walt Disney Animation Studios and was invited by them to attend a closed event at the studio. The studio was transformed into a massive display of the work behind creating a Disney classic. I was able to watch the Oscar nominated short Feast before release in a Q&A session with the director and told him how much I loved that the main character was a Boston Terrier.

Per recommendation by a Disney employee I signed up to volunteer at CTNx, a weekend long animation exhibition. I met wonderful employees from Pixar, Walt Disney Animation, Blue Sky, and other studios. I cannot even capture in this blog the amount this experience has impacted me.

Before moving to LA, I learned about an opportunity to submit a short to the Los Angeles New Filmmakers Film Festival. I worked for over a month to create a stop-motion animation in my basement. My short was selected as a contestant and I attended an event in downtown Los Angeles. To my surprise, I won the Grand Prize and Category Prize, totaling in over $40,000 toward my next short and $1500 in cash! Throughout the evening I was interviewed and met wonderful creatives who I’m currently in touch with to produce my next short. The following morning I was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times.

My Tips: Bend the rules!! (and I don’t mean party).
Don’t spend every night going to clubs when you can do the same thing in Boston. I went outside the box and fully took advantage of being in LA. This is an experience you have to take; it won’t be delivered on a silver platter for you. My nights were spent watching movies and reaching out to producers to schedule lunch meetings.  Despite the no-puppy-policy, I rescued two dogs. A baby Chihuahua I found abandoned on the Hollywood Hills and an Alaskan Husky who was trying to avoid being killed at the shelter. I named the Chihuahua Pancake and took care of her before finding her a loving home with a Fox Studio executive. The Husky was named Doyle, and he went home with a BULA student to Texas.

Hidden Gems: On the nights you do choose to go out, I’d recommend West Hollywood and the Sunset strip. Saddle Ranch was one of my favorite bars, and has a mechanical bull that I completely mastered. Also, go to the beaches as often as you can. Malibu, Manhattan, Santa Monica, and Venice can never steer you wrong.

Jana Amchin, London Internship Program

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JanaBoroughMarketInterned in Marketing and Events at The Jamie Oliver Food Foundation, Fall 2014

Internship: The Jamie Oliver Food Foundation was started by one of Britain’s most admired chefs, Jamie Oliver, to share his love of food and to educate people about the benefits of a healthy diet.  Interning at the Foundation was a wonderful experience from both a professional and a personal standpoint.  I learned so much about numerous aspects of a profession that I would love to become a part of.

The majority of the time, I was involved in the Kitchen Garden Project (KGP), where I became familiar with food education and policy for schoolchildren.  I was in charge of posting on KGP’s Twitter, as a means of communicating with our followers and promoting the important work of the Foundation.  Our objective was to attract more UK schools to the new Kitchen Garden Project website, so that they, too, could benefit from this wonderful program.  I also had the opportunity to work in other departments within the Foundation, doing various jobs such as researching and contacting young people’s centers and housing foyers across London to promote Fifteen Apprenticeship Programme’s upcoming recruitment period.  In addition, I had the chance to attend a cooking workshop and to help prepare lunch for a company meeting, as well as set up for a few of the Foundation’s fundraising supper clubs.

Interning at the Foundation only served to further my love of everything food.  From my experience here, I came to look at food from a different perspective than I had before.  I now appreciate food not only for the actual food itself, but also for what it represents- food brings people together in a way nothing else can.  I was very fortunate to have been placed at such a well-respected organization and to work with such an accomplished group of people.

I Learned: I learned not to limit myself and to step out of my comfort zone.  Living in a different country made me realize that I wanted to take advantage of all the opportunities around me- when else would I have the chance to spend four months in London?!?!  I pushed myself to explore the unknown – I went to places I didn’t think I was interested in going and did things I didn’t know I wanted to do.  Not surprisingly, I had some of the best experiences of my life!

What Surprised Me: What surprised me most was how a city that is so rich in history could be so young and modern.  London has always been considered very traditional and proper.  In reality, however, it is actually very contemporary and exciting!  It has so much to offer, including wonderful dining, shopping, and world-famous museums and theater.  Alternatively, you can choose to hang out at a local pub, walk along the Thames or explore the incredible architecture all around the city.

Hardest Part:  Fitting everything I wanted to do into my busy schedule!  Between classes and my internship, I very carefully had to pick and choose how to spend my free time.  London is a big city with many unique neighborhoods, so there were always fun and interesting things to see and do.  Of course, there are also many other amazing European cities to travel to on the weekends. There is still so much I want to do in London that I didn’t have time for.  I’ll just have to go back!

Best Part:  THE ACCENT!!  And exploring new places with my new friends!

My Tips: Definitely read Time Out London every week.  It’s filled with loads of useful information on free things happening throughout the city, good places to eat, and the best markets, bars, and shops to go to.  I enjoyed reading it on my commute to work.

Hidden Gem: It’s not really a hidden gem, but you need to go to Borough Market while you’re in London.  It’s so much fun to walk around and drool over all the delicious food at the hundreds of different stands.  It can get really crowded though, so it’s best to go during the week.  However, if you’re looking for less touristy, but equally as yummy food markets, definitely head over to Whitecross Street Market or Maltby Street Market.

Jessica Wong, Sydney Internship

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Jessica Wong Internship_The IconicInterned in Merchandise Planning at the Iconic, an online fashion startup, Fall 2014

Internship: I spent my seven weeks interning in the merchandise planning department at The Iconic, an online fashion startup founded by an SMG alum.  My tasks ranged from forecasting and budgeting different products based on past sales and creating spreadsheets on Excel to track competitor prices and match our prices to theirs.  I spent one week in the finance department dealing with invoices and another in the marketing department sitting in on meetings.  One day we took a field trip to the company’s warehouse to see the operations side of things and helped pack and ship out orders.  This internship definitely helped me prepare for future courses and especially will prepare me for Core next year.

I Learned: I learned that while the world does not revolve around the U.S., American policy decisions have such large repercussions that Australian media covers U.S. issues.

I also learned that there is life beyond digital media by seeing that Australians do not rely on WiFi and the internet as much.  I got used to not checking Facebook and Twitter as frequently and even opted, after returning to America, to delete my Twitter account and rarely go on social media anymore.

What Surprised Me: What surprised me was how in tune Australians are to U.S. affairs, even more so than I was.  It made me feel really self-centered as a U.S. citizen, and often I ended up not telling people I was American upon meeting them although they say they could tell with my accent!

Hardest Part: I had a difficult roommate experience, and it escalated to the point where I had to move out.  There were times when I felt the program was very cliquey and times when I couldn’t connect with people in the program like I could with my friends back at home.  I learned, however, to accept that the other people on my program were probably going through the same thing and admitted that it took more than four months for me to be open with my best friends at home.   What I learned from this is that if you’re feeling alone, it’s alright. It’s a common feeling when you’re thousands of miles and numerous time zones away from your friends and family.

Best Part: The best part was the freedom to travel wherever I wanted.  I would take weekend trips all around Aussie because our class and work schedule allowed it.  To say that I went skydiving, bungee jumping, white water rafting in New Zealand, fed kangaroos, cuddled a koala, saw a wild platypus, scuba dived in the Great Barrier Reef, visited the Olympic Stadiums in both Sydney and Melbourne, went zip-lining in the Daintree Rainforest and climbed Mt. Wellington in Tasmania is probably the best part of my experience.  Being in Australia made me feel alive.

My Tips: Save money because Sydney is expensive, and you’re going to end up broke.  Be your best self and be social within the first few days no matter how jet-lagged you feel.  Try to get acclimated and talk to the locals at your internship or when you go out!  You’re going to be spending all your classes with people in the program, so the only time you’ll meet locals is when you’re out or working in the Aussie workforce!

Brooklyn Hide and Gelato Messina in Surry Hills have the best food.  There aren’t any bagels in Aussie, and Brooklyn Hide is the best substitute for a New York bagel.  Paddy’s Market is open Wednesday-Sunday, and it’s basically a flea market and produce market.  Get all your produce there to save money. Your Opal Card (like a Charlie Card) will tap out after spending 15 bucks on weekdays, but on Sundays it’s 2.50. Consequently, you should go to all the beaches and far away places on Sundays to save money.

Here’s a link to my blog that I wrote chronicling my time abroad.  It goes more in depth about everything I mentioned: www.jesswong94.wordpress.com

Hilary Bokoff, Sydney Summer Internship

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hilarybokoff-koalaThe decision to study abroad was not easy for me to make. I did not want to miss out on life in Boston for an entire semester, but I really wanted to experience what else was out there in the world. The study abroad opportunities offered over the summer were the perfect solution to my dilemma, and I would highly recommend this option to anyone else in a similar position.

I chose the Sydney Internship Program for several reasons, but mainly because of the internship component. I was really excited and nervous to work in another country, but I was so lucky with my placement that after my first day all my nerves subsided and more excitement took their place.

By working in the office four days a week, I felt fully integrated into the company’s culture and team. I was trusted with work that any other employee would have done, and, in turn, I learned so much and gained invaluable experience. As a senior in SMG, I have participated in my fair share of team projects and have polished the skills necessary to be a good teammate; however, I was able to apply those tactics in the real world and can now rely on that experience in future job settings.

I was most impressed by the laid back nature of the Aussie workplace. “Laid back” is something everyone will say to describe the Aussie work world, but it impressed me so much because everything still got done even with the relaxed nature. There is such a balance between work and play, friend and colleague, and relaxed and focused, which makes for a much more enjoyable career experience.

 

My internship really was the highlight of my summer abroad, but, of course, being able to travel in a foreign place was just as exciting. Australia is a place I have wanted to go to since age 10, and this gave me the chance to do so. I held a koala bear, snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, learned to surf, and fed a baby kangaroo. I had a once-in-a-lifetime summer, and looking back, I would have been crazy not to go.

Jill Antoszyk, Madrid

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JillvalenciaThis summer I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain. I did a homestay with a single mother and her two children Alicia (13), and Pablo (11). Coming home every day to a welcoming Spanish family and spending time with my new “siblings” allowed me to be fully immersed into the Spanish culture and language.

Upon arrival in Madrid, after a brief orientation, everyone was sent off by cab to find his or her host families. We had to decipher Spanish addresses and get in touch with our host families, our first task in a foreign country alone. After a long flight my phone had died, and when I reached my apartment no one was home. The cab sped off and I was stranded on the curb with a suitcase as large as me. Right away I had no choice but to ask anyone who passed me on the street in Spanish for help and if I could borrow their phones to reach my host family. Even though I was perpetually lost for the beginning of the trip, I was pushed out of my comfort zone and into the Spanish culture. It was inevitable that I would get lost, and each time I did I became more connected to the city. I quickly made new friends and we began exploring the city, and eventually other cities in Spain.

Everywhere we walked there was a new palace, a cathedral, and a piece of history. Towards the end of the trip I felt at home in Madrid and engaged in the culture. I felt more confident, and when I was approached by a lost Spaniard and asked directions in Spanish,  I was the one, for a change, with the answers and the ability to communicate them.

The experiences I had and classes I took abroad were truly unique and allowed me to discover parts of myself I did not know existed. By being knocked completely out of my comfort zone I was able to absorb a different language and culture. I highly recommend studying abroad, engaging oneself fully, and sharing these experiences with new friends.

Elevator Fund Internship – Fifth Week

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CamelThis was a week with lots of anticipated suspense in continuing my exploration around Israel, looking to gain anything I could from this opportunity. The week began cheerfully with celebrating a friend’s birthday (Happy Birthday Justin!); on his request we went to visit the famous Dr. Shakshuka, to try his very own, as you may imagine, Shakshuka. I am still mesmerised on how a simple dish filled with eggs and tomatoes can be so luscious; highly recommended. Starting the week in a buoyant manner freshened up my outlook to work this week, and I looked forward to an amusing weekend.

The report on the progress of Elevator’s recent campaign, isupportisrael.org, is that we have raised over $110,000. Thank you to everyone who has been helping out; everything has genuinely been beneficial to help citizens in the south of Israel. This week I got to work on researching towards a potential collaboration with Adidas. The research reports consisted of understanding their investment and innovation strategies and activities, plus helping find a common ground on how they could connect to Elevator’s business model. The second half of the week, I was working on a team of four to handle a list of contacts for partners of the organisation to seek out and network with. Thus, we were held responsible in providing research that pinpointed which partner to initiate the first contact and the potential benefits for Elevator from these interactions. In general, it was a not too stressful, but sufficiently productive week.

On the first day of our well-deserved weekend, we decided to take a tour to the Dead Sea region. It’s still hard to comprehend that I was physically standing at the lowest point on Earth. The tour consisted of travelling to Masada, Ein Gedi, and eventually the Dead Sea. In regards to this particular trip, I had mixed feelings from hearing other people’s opinions. Some enjoyed it, some didn’t, thus there were no expectations from me. The tour began with an unexpected encounter with camels, when I had the chance to sit on top of one. I was speechless at how still camels are, and struggled to discern if it was alive or a statue from just staring at it from within the bus. Anyway, we arrived in Masada around 9 am, when the temperature had already risen to 35 degrees. Out of pride, I chose with a few other friends to hike up a one and half hour stair path. (aka Snake path; you can see from the picture how high and far we hiked) I can’t say this was one of the wisest things I have done, but it was a great way to experience how descendants from two thousand years ago actually lived through their routine life. Reaching to the top felt very rewarding, as if we won a war, battling our way through blood and sweat! After Masada, we were treated with Ein Gedi, a tropical oasis that captivated my visual senses with beautiful waterfalls and breathtaking scenery. After all that walking, we finally reached the Dead Sea, in my opinion the highlight of the trip. From the bus ride to getting off the bus, we immediately smelled this salty stench (smells a little like rotten eggs), all in a 40 degree (C) climate. My only tip for newcomers is to prepare to have the sun slapping your face throughout the day. The appearance of the Dead Sea might not look so different from any other body of water, but you will realize the difference when you get closer to the mud. You actually can see salt on the sand and mud, water dissolved from the inevitably hot sun. The second I stepped in the water, I felt like it was pretty normal, but once you take your feet off the ground, you are straight up floating. That is as simple as I can put it. It was just fascinating to know I was rising to the top without the help of anything. You feel like you are literally flying but on water! It was without doubt one of the coolest things I have ever done in my life, and this is an experience anyone should try whenever the opportunity arises.

The second half of my weekend, I visited Haifa; unfortunately I missed two times now visiting the Bahai Gardens. (I had trouble waking up early again.) Nevertheless, it gives me more reasons why I should come back to Israel at some point in the future. The weekend rounded off with another day trip to Jerusalem, as we were interested primarily to explore Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum. For anyone interested in grasping and witnessing footage on the series of events that mapped out World Wars I and II, this is the ideal place. Admission is free, and with the audio guide (which costs merely 3 pounds), it conveyed a powerful story that I feel will stay in my mind for a long time to come.

This has been a week when I have finally been able to tick off some activities from my checklist of things I have always wanted to do. Hearing miraculous tales in Jerusalem, riding on a camel, and swimming at the Dead Sea created memories that will always be remembered. I am now about to enter the last week of this adventure with my head held high and hoping to embrace every minute here with no regrets.

Masada

 

Felicity Chen, Sydney Internship

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Felicity SkydivingI’m writing this on the plane from Sydney to Hong Kong and I suppose this is my reflection about by time studying abroad—my experiences, learning, and self-actualization.

I’ll begin with experiences. Sydney is a beautiful, beautiful city. Modern and historic architecture meld effortlessly as one, and the sparkling water brings peace of mind. It is not quite too large, not quite too crowded. There are tourists, but they weren’t obnoxious. The prices of things did freak me out for the first week or so, but I got used to it. The program itself was the perfect size, allowing me to have my own choice of friends, but being able to at least meet once or recognize everyone in the program. We went out quite possibly to every recognizable bar, club, and lounge in Sydney. I made new friends, some of which included owners of restaurants and bars that we frequented, and natives from Sydney and Melbourne. I saw the most beautiful fireworks in Darling Harbor, learned how to Surf, and sky dived across a beach. I had the opportunity to travel to Melbourne, Tasmania, and Cairns (The Great Barrier Reef). And finally, I did a 24-hour last harrah, where I showed my father all the touristy things to do (see my photos) and even brought him to Lednyak and Associates in Chippendale, where I had interned for the last two months.

I learned to budget in order to experience the land down under as fully as I could. I improved my negotiating skills, and taught myself how to stand up for myself, as well as clearly think through delivering my ideas in ways that people can fully understand, both verbally and in writing. I figured out that I’m not very witty, but my friends still accept me anyway. I also realized that every relationship takes time and effort to build, and each one you have, whether it be a significant other or a good friend, truly deserves your time.

And yet with so much that I experienced and learned, I haven’t quite felt like I said goodbye. Usually, I have this overwhelming sense of sadness, regret, and separation anxiety from the people I became friends with over the course of a program. This time is different. I feel like I have developed that blasé attitude that CGS taught us in Social Science, where copious experiences leave you feeling indifferent. At first, it made me feel insecure, as I am used to a wave of depression signifying an awesome trip that I’ll never forget. But I suppose now I realize that being underwhelmed by the end IS really quite beautiful. It may be because I’m still thousands of miles away from home, and haven’t gotten that chance yet to be by myself. It also may be the fact that I just watched Divergent on this flight (awesome movie, watch it if you haven’t), that I’m feeling even more ‘unfactioned.’ I leave Australia with beautiful memories and amazing friends. Those relationships that I have built will last a lifetime, and those that don’t will decide to be a part of my life when they wish to. And in the blasé, I find myself divergent. And perhaps it’s because this plane ride to my next destination is not a farewell to the charming encounters in Australia, but a see you later.