Wyatt Cobb, Global Business Institute: Sydney Spring 2025
The main advice I would give to others who are planning to study in this program would be to plan far in advance, but even more importantly, be willing to change the plan. There are a few reasons I say to plan far in advance. The spontaneous last-minute plans are fun, but they are more expensive as last-minute booking prices rise. The other reason is this trip will go by so quickly, and if you do not plan everything you want to do, you WILL run out of time. I took a more carefree start to the program, and the weeks flew by. Towards the middle and end of the program, I had to frantically try to book everything I wanted to do in the last half of the program. This does not mean that you should book every trip or flight in the first week. It just means to spread out our travel and trips throughout the whole program. It will help you not get burnt out and help your wallet.
When I say plan far in advance, it also doesn’t mean that you should plan every single minute of every trip. It is good just to have a general idea that this weekend we will be doing XYZ and on these dates. Allowing time to book flights, buses, trains, hotels, or hostels before the prices rise. You want to have time to explore, or if things don’t go according to plan. As your semester continues, you will also hear from others in the program who have gone on trips. Getting recommendations from classmates who went to those places before will be your best tool in terms of planning. Of course, the internet helps a lot, but an honest opinion from a classmate is very helpful.
Lastly, remember that it is not going to go according to plan, and to be a free spirit. Your plans will be which one, two, even three, or four times. That is ok. That is all part of the amazing study abroad experience. Do not worry if you can not get all your roommates or friends together for a trip. Do not be scared to invite others in your program whom you do not know that well. We are all here to get the best experience possible. Do not let bogged down plans or only wanting to go with certain friends stop you from getting the fullest experience of Australia.
Here is a picture of a simple trip to the Sydney Opera House.
Here is a picture of a long beach walk in Sydney that I had to plan time for because it is a three-hour walk.
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