Anna Harstead, Global Business Institute: Sydney, Spring 2026
What surprised me most about my experience was not just where I went, but how much I was able to travel, explore, and adapt to completely different places in such a short amount of time. If you had told me before coming to Australia that I would spend my weekends traveling through Vietnam, Bali, and New Zealand, I wouldn’t have believed you. But that is exactly what I did, and each place challenged and surprised me in different ways.
In Vietnam, I started in Hanoi, which immediately felt like chaos, but in the best way. The streets were packed with motorbikes, sidewalks were used as parking, and you constantly had to be aware of your surroundings just to walk anywhere safely. Thankfully, I didn’t witness any accidents while walking around. The city was filled with small shops selling everything from food to home goods, and street vendors were everywhere. I even had the opportunity to visit Train Street, where a train passed inches away from cafés on either side, so close that it shook the buildings and chairs and tables fell over.
The most insane part of Vietnam was the Ha Giang Loop, where I spent three days riding on the back of a motorbike through the mountains. I did not expect to see and take part in so much of the culture while I was there. But at finally-style meals, I had the chance to talk with locals/guides and participate in Vietnamese traditions. I was also surprised by how quickly I connected with the small group I was traveling with. We went from strangers to sharing meals, experiences, and nights out in a matter of days. At the same time, seeing daily life in rural Vietnam was eye-opening, especially the independence of young children and how differently everyday responsibilities are structured compared to what I am used to in the United States. Even small interactions with locals stood out for how welcoming and kind people were compared to what I am accustomed to.
Bali and New Zealand also taught me so much about different cultures as wel. In Bali, I was able to slow down and relax by the beach and spend quality time with the other students in the program while exploring the local scenes. New Zealand, on the other hand, kept me busy with hikes and tours of the landscape. The mountains were so dramatic and untouched that it was hard to believe I was actually there. It was a much-needed break hiking and driving through open scenery, from everyday life in the city of Sydney.
Across all three countries, what surprised me most was how different each experience felt, yet how connected they became in shaping my overall perspective. Traveling through such diverse places back-to-back made me realize how quickly I can adapt, how much I enjoy stepping into unfamiliar environments, and how much I learn from simply observing how other people live. It was not just one experience that stood out, but the combination of travel that had the biggest impact on how I see the world.
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