My Australian adventure: an unforgettable semester in Sydney

Grinda Yann

Spring 2024 Study Abroad Student from IMT Nord Europe

Douai, France

My first semester at UTS is coming to an end, and it has been marked by many enrichments, both professional and personal.

It all started with integration week and O Day. It was very pleasant and enriching to meet so many people from so many different countries. I got to know a lot of people with whom I stayed for the whole semester! I really recommend coming to this integration.

Figure 1: UTS Oday

I then found my accommodation in the Newtown district! It was a bit far from UTS, but being close to the train station, I was quite mobile! Life in my shared apartment with another Frenchman, a Filipino and two Englishmen, was very pleasant.

To start with the academic aspect. I had to choose 4 courses at UTS this semester, I chose 3 related to the environment (one being the capstone project) and the last one is related to Management. This enabled me to complete my training and be very versatile. It could be interesting in my future career if I want to become an engineer-manager.

Then let's talk about my life in Sydney. I discovered a surprising and very interesting city. I started by visiting the internationally famous must-see places like the Opera House, the Bridge and Bondi Beach. Later, I discovered other less well-known but equally interesting places in Sydney. These included Coogee beach (and its magnificent sunrise), the Blue Mountains and the Botanic Gardens. As for surfing, it seemed inevitable! I went for a surfing lesson at Maroubra, and it was fun - I could even stand up on the board! I also had the opportunity to go to Palm Beach where the view was breathtaking! I also went to the Olympic Park to watch the game between Australia and New Zealand, but I betrayed Australia by supporting New Zealand …

Figure 2: Sydney Opera and Bridge

Finally, one part of my semester that really stood out for me was my travels. During StuVacs, I had the opportunity to travel along the east coast of Australia. My first stop was Byron Bay. I found this destination a real change of scenery. Sydney was a big metropolis, whereas Byron Bay was more in the heart of nature. The walk to the lighthouse was very interesting.

Figure 5: Byron Bay

I then went to the Gold Coast, which was also a very surprising destination, with its huge buildings built close to the beach. I was able to witness a magnificent sunrise. I was also able to see many kangaroos and koalas in a park just a few minutes' drive from Gold Coast. It really was a great experience.

I finished my trip by going to Brisbane, a city I found quite soothing, with its lagoon and waterway. I took the opportunity to go to Moreton Island, a truly magnificent island with heavenly scenery. I saw dolphins and whales too! The beaches stretched as far as the eye could see, and you could see Brisbane buildings on the horizon.

Figure 7: Moreton Island

In short, this semester in Australia was exceptional! It was a real change of scenery, and I feel very enriched by what I discovered here: magnificent landscapes and a very welcoming population. In conclusion, I'm very happy to have made the choice to come here, it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I would advise anyone who has the opportunity to take the plunge and study at UTS in Australia.

Thank you for this opportunity.