When deciding to go abroad I chose Australia because of its unique landscapes, friendly people and its location on the globe. I thought, if I’m going to leave home for five months I might as well go as far as possible! Sydney is an amazing place to be located and UTS is right in the heart of it. One minute I'm walking through the hustle and bustle of the city and the next I'm tanning on one of Sydney's many beautiful beaches. Some of my favorite spots in Sydney are The Grounds of Alexandria, Darling Harbor, Bronte Beach, The Royal Botanic Gardens and Circular Quay.

At home there's nothing I love more than sitting down for breakfast and a coffee with good friends. I wanted to continue to do that during my time abroad. Every Thursday morning me and a few friends try a new cafe. My go to drink is usually a late with almond milk and I love a good acai bowl! There are so many great places near us and we want to try them all! It is something little that I can look forward to each week and also gives me a sense of home :)

Going to UTS has proven to be much different than my home University (Quinnipiac University). The separation of lectures and tutorials is something I had never experienced before. I found it unique to have one person teaching the lectures and another that acts as your tutor and grades all of your assignments. One thing I do like about UTS is the hands on teaching style. I took Human Anatomy and the resources and facilities we had available to us were amazing and made learning the material so much easier and interesting.

Overall, I have to say the best thing about my experience has been my ability to travel on the other side of the world. I have visited Cairns, the Whitsundays, Thailand, Byron Bay and the Gold Coast. Each of these places has allowed me to meet new people and make memories that I will remember for the rest of my life. My independence has grown immensely and I will be forever grateful for this experience.

Gabrielle Tracy

Bachelor of Science and Nursing

Quinnipiac University, USA