Anna Harstead, Global Business Institute: Sydney, Spring 2026
Adapting to the “laid-back” life in Sydney has been a significant shift from the fast-paced environment I am used to at the University of Pittsburgh. Back on campus, I am accustomed to 200-person lecture halls and the intense, structured nature of traditional business courses. Since arriving here for the CEA CAPA program, however, I have realized that the academic culture is an entirely different world. The most immediate change is the class size. Moving from a massive lecture hall to an intimate group of around 20 students has completely altered the classroom dynamic. Professors are much more approachable here, and they seem to genuinely enjoy engaging with us and listening to our unique perspectives rather than just lecturing to us. It makes the classroom feel like a supportive and collaborative space where you are heard and encouraged to build a relationship with others.
This shift in environment has also changed how I approach my own learning. As a Finance and Business Analytics major, I am used to a content-heavy and data-driven way of studying. However, my Gen-Ed courses here, such as Exploring Sydney and Environment and Society, are set up much differently, focusing on research papers and group presentations. While these formats were originally outside of my comfort zone, this change in structure has helped me become more adaptable and is helping me improve my skills in previously weak areas. It has been a great way to gain skills and experience outside of just numbers and Excel formulas.
One of the most different aspects of my experience has been how laid-back the culture is compared to what I’ve experienced in America. There is more respect here for your life outside of the classroom and the workplace. Whether it is at my internship at Logic Lounge or in my classes, people generally prioritize working around my conflicts when they arise. There is also less of a rigid hierarchy of power; my supervisor and I are quite close, and we can joke around and chat without me ever feeling inferior to him. That same principle also carries over into my classes, where professors will talk to you like an equal, making the whole experience feel much warmer and more welcoming.
Ultimately, I have learned that studying and working abroad requires more than just academic knowledge; it takes a lot of open-mindedness, resilience, and problem-solving. Even though Australia is an English-speaking country, culture shock is still very real, and it was important for me to come to terms with. Whether I am working on data tasks at my internship or simply figuring out how to use the public transportation system, everything is new, and it does not always come easily. I have realized that being successful here means staying resilient through moments of homesickness and remaining proud of the leap I took to come abroad. This culture has taught me so much about different global workplaces.
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