In just a few days, I will be finishing my second month studying abroad in Australia — and what an eventful two months it has been. From whale watching and coastal hikes to inner city weekend markets and delicious street food, I have explored my fair share of Sydney. I spend every moment between classes chasing my next adventure. I ask locals for recommendations, watch countless review videos, and tag along with other international students, all in the hope of piecing together a complete picture of what life is like on this side of the globe.
Recently, I was struck by the irony of my adventure hunting. One of my Aussie friends, when hearing someone’s mid-semester break plans, said, “Now that’s what’s good about being a tourist, because I’ve never been there.” Here was someone who had grown up in Australia, who had never visited the nearby beach she had mentioned. This quick comment really put my time in Australia into perspective. While I have seized every opportunity to see as much of Sydney as I can, I realized I had never done that in the places closest to me.
When you are planning to go abroad, you usually have the same conversation with everyone you tell. It starts with a lot of excitement and congratulations, then moves into questions about where you’ll go and what you’ll see, and finally, it ends with some sort of encouragement to savor every moment. It makes sense, traveling somewhere brand new makes you hyperaware that you have a fleeting number of days, and you can’t afford to miss a second. What I didn’t realize is that my time abroad would make me realize that this desire to explore isn’t reserved for far-off places. In fact, it’s changed the way I think about the city I grew up in. Of course, I miss my home, but that is not what I mean. What I’ve really gained is a deeper appreciation for the act of exploration itself.
Every day in Sydney, I try to discover something new. Sometimes, that is by traveling to a new neighborhood, going to a different restaurant for dinner, or studying at a new coffee spot. I’ll go 2 hours out of my way for a view in the mountains and I’ll say yes to last-minute plans with a friend without hesitation. In Sydney, I will wander a market all by myself without a second thought. Back home, in Austin, I never did that. I grew up there. I already found my favorites, so what was the point? I always had friends or family to join me, so why go alone?
I think that has been the biggest shift in me since going abroad — I’m more comfortable, more confident, and more willing to step outside the familiar. And with that, I have gained so many unforgettable memories.
If there is one piece of advice for anyone reading, it is that adventure does require travel. Be a tourist in your own town and go on an adventure! Try that new coffee shop, check out that trail you’ve been meaning to hike, or visit that restaurant you have heard so much about! Whether you go with friends or play it solo, just find somewhere new to explore!
This post was contributed by Amber White, a Global Ambassador for Fall 2025. Amber is a College of Liberal Arts senior participating in an exchange program at the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia.
