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My life on Bondi Beach

Writer's picture: UTS Study Abroad and ExchangeUTS Study Abroad and Exchange

Updated: Aug 12, 2024

Viktoria Wieczorek

Autumn 2024 Study Abroad student from Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin, Germany


In January 2024, I escaped the cold German winter

and basked under Sydney's sun. After hours of searching

on Flatmates, I finally got a FaceTime call, and two

weeks later, I was able to move into a private flat share

just five minutes from Bondi Beach! My room was tiny

and cobbled together from thin walls, but that didn't

bother me. It soon became apparent that I would be

using it mainly for sleeping. With a beach on your

doorstep and a university with the best conditions for

studying and meeting friends, you don't need much

more than a bed.



And so began my daily life in Bondi. Every morning, I could choose to go for a run along the Coastal Walk to Bronte, jump in the pool or the

sea, do yoga on the beach or on the large green space, or go surfing. I could always borrow a board from my host if I wanted to. Luckily, my previous tenant had given me her wetsuit, which you don't need in summer but which protects you from the board. So ideal conditions! As well as the beach, there was of course the university. The walk there wasn't the shortest, but I quickly learned where I could save time. I found out that the 379 bus route to Bondi Junction is quicker than the well-known 333 route and the bus stop is even closer to my house. I also noticed that the T4 train I take to Central sometimes comes every 10 minutes and sometimes every 5 minutes. So it's worth checking the times. Once you arrive at Central, you save time by walking through the tunnel all the way to the back, thus avoiding the annoying queuing at traffic lights. This was ideal for me, as the tunnel ends at Building 6, the architecture and design building of my faculty.


In the beginning, I went to university less often,

but as the pressure increased towards the end

of the semester, I spent almost all my time in

the Reading Room. In my opinion, it's the best

place to concentrate without feeling closed in,

as you're surrounded by glass facades and an

open-concept library. Some of the other floors

offer space to chat, play games or relax on

beanbags. There are even lockers available to

rent for 24 hours, so I didn't have to carry all my

meal prep around with me all the time. As I

didn't live just around the corner from campus, I

always had a lot with me, so the lockers made

my day at university more enjoyable.


I also enjoyed sitting down in the cafés for a change. A little tip: Coffee Happy Hour at

Cornerstone Café, where you can get any coffee for $2 from 2-3pm.

Other offers that I gratefully accepted from the university were the Bluebird Pantry every

Wednesday from 12-2pm. There you could pick five food items for free with advance notice,

which always kept my stock of beans and veg well replenished! There are also Night Owl Meals every Tuesday and Thursday from 5pm, consisting of rice noodles with pho soup and lots of toppings. Just remember to bring your own crockery and cutlery. The portions are large and of restaurant standard - very tasty! So you could easily spend the day at university.







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About This Blog

This blog shares the stories of study abroad and exchange students who come to the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) to study for one or two teaching sessions including first impressions, travel tips and insights into life at UTS and life in Sydney and Australia.

Disclaimer: All blog posts are written by students and do not necessarily reflect the views of UTS staff.

Visit our program website for more information on how you, too, could join these student adventures at UTS. We would love to welcome you!

UTS Study Abroad and Exchange

About UTS Study Abroad and Exchange

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) provides students from overseas with the opportunity to study for one or two sessions in one of the most multicultural cities in the world, Sydney, Australia.

This blog is for students to share experiences, tips and tricks and wisdom! For more information about UTS Study Abroad and Exchange, visit our program website or contact us at studyabroad.exchange@uts.edu.au.

The views expressed on this blog are those of the respective authors and not those of the University of Technology Sydney.

 

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