Hi Guys! My name is Eric and I’m currently abroad in Sydney, Australia. I know, it sounds so crazy that I’m 10000 miles away from the States. This is week 2 for me and I still can’t believe I’m here. A little about me, I’m from Queens, NYC. I’m currently a Senior at the University of Pittsburgh studying Business Analytics and Business Information Systems. In my free time, I love to snowboard, bike, and play pool. This is my last semester and I’m currently doing the Global Business Institute program in Sydney. Upon graduation, I’ll be working as a Tech Consultant for Deloitte. Soon enough I will be in the corporate world and that was one of the main reasons I decided to come abroad for my last semester!
In terms of my program, I decided to choose Australia because of the wildlife and nature. Growing up, I’ve been living in the city my entire life, so this is the getaway I need to enjoy the mountains, ocean, and see the animals. I chose this also because I will be backpacking Southeast Asia after this trip, and this gets me closer to Asia. In terms of my goals for the program, one of my biggest things is to learn how to surf. I love watching people surf and I definitely want to do it myself. I also wanted to learn about the culture of Australia, interact with the natives, and volunteer when I have the time to. (Bondi Beach photo below!)
My university is the University of Technology Sydney. It’s a program through CEA CAPA but our campus is on UTS. The biggest difference between Pitt and UTS is the campus size. UTS has a relatively small campus compared to Pitt, but it’s in the center of Sydney so that makes sense. I’m currently living 30 minutes by bus ride away from campus, in one of the hotels called Meritane. The neighbourhood I’m staying in is called Zetland. It’s a quiet and clean residential neighbourhood and I love it here. The commute is the only downside though.
In terms of the city, people here are very friendly, open, and want to talk especially upon hearing that you’re American. People here are extremely laid back and compared to the states, they definitely spend more time outdoors and away when they’re not working. Australians are extremely active, almost every person is in a running club, and they are insanely fit. Getting up at 6 is just a norm and as a college student, my day normally starts around 10am. Below is a photo of me in Bondi. There’s still a lot to explore so I’ll keep you guys updated until my next blog!!!
