Zachary Leary
Autumn 2024 Study Abroad student from the University of Missouri
Columbia, United States of America
I was a study abroad student for the 2024 Fall Semester at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). My name’s Zach, I am a 21 year old undergraduate student studying Health Sciences with a Pre-Physician’s Assistant emphasis from the University of Missouri-Columbia in the United States. I came to Sydney with only one other person from my home university and ended up meeting countless lifelong friends while abroad in Sydney.
Living and Accommodation
I was a bit stressed about the living situation in Sydney because I had heard that things fill up very quickly so I jumped on the first opportunity I found before I got to Australia, and ended up living at Scape Sydney Central and really enjoying it. It’s a five minute walk from the heart of the UTS campus which is incredibly convenient, along with being a five minute walk from the Broadway Shopping Center, and a 15 minute walk from Central Station where you can catch any bus or train you’d need. The location is also surrounded by lots of good restaurants and is just a short walk from Chinatown.
UTS Class Structure
Classes here are set up much differently than what I am used to but I really enjoy this set up. For classes at UTS, you complete lectures and everything before you go to class each week. While at your in-person tutorial, there is a lot of engagement with peers and your tutor, and you really get to deepen your knowledge of the topics covered in the lectures and other online activities.
Free Time
However, outside of class, I really pushed myself to explore as much of the city and surrounding areas as possible. The majority of things are easily accessed through public transportation, which is very easy to use and super cheap! I spent a lot of my time going to as many different beaches as possible and they were all beautiful. I don’t think I could pick a favorite. However, I also took multiple day trips to different places like the Blue Mountains, Symbio Wildlife Park, where I got to hand feed and interact with kangaroos, and the Art Gallery of NSW. I also highly recommend immersing yourself in the sporting events here in Sydney, specifically the AFL and rugby.
Culture
Sydney is a huge city with so many different cultures and ethnicities represented that makes it so unique and enjoyable to explore. There are countless different places to try any food you can think of, and they are all great. I really enjoyed going to places like the Spice Alley, which are somewhat hidden and off the main track, but these are the places that are enjoyable and fun to discover and take your friends to.
Commentaires