Student Bloggers

By Sierra K., Sydney Internship Program Summer, Australia

Day 16 is in the books and I’m happy to say that each day is better than the next. Life is so enjoyable and adventurous right now, and I’m so incredibly lucky that I get to feel such satisfaction. Anyways, reality is hitting a bit down here. I almost forgot the reason I was here: school. Luckily, I spend only one day a week in class and then 3 days at my internship, Rodeo Show. I’m stationed in the head office for the company doing different tasks like finding images for social media, putting together look books for different month collections, and sitting in on model fittings and fabric selections. Pretty much living the dream of any other 20 (soon to be 21!) year old girl.

There has still been plenty of time for fun. Last weekend was spent in Wollongong at Rip Curl’s surf camp on 7 Mile Beach. Needless to say, I think I found my true calling. I’ve always loved the water and water sports, but surfing on the Pacific Ocean definitely takes the cake. On the way back to Sydney, we stopped at the infamous “Scoops” gelato shop. My gelato intake has increased about 150% since I’ve left the States. I guess I just like my gelato with a side of ocean.

Since we obviously didn’t get enough time on the beach and in the water during surf camp (jokes), we hit up Manly Beach on our day off for the Queen’s Birthday- shout out to England! It was quite the 75 degree winter day down under filled with sunshine, beach volleyball, and nutty birds. Seriously, in regards to the birds, the statement “they’re more afraid of you then you are of them” is absolutley false. We ended our long weekend with a cruise on a catamaran through the harbour to see the last night of Sydney’s “Vivid Light Festival”. The view from the boat was unbeatable and the experience really reminded me not to take any of my time here for granted.

Lastly, since I do have some responsibility while I’m here, I have two one thousand word papers to work on and turn in next week. Bummer. But as I was reading the article necessary to write the first, I came across a statement that I really appreciated. It read “We know what things cost but have no idea what they are worth.” Which, in today’s society, couldn’t be more true. I know how much my tuition is, how much my plane tickets cost me and am always checking my credit card balance. However, I would argue that this experience and the “worth” of my time, far outweigh the monetary value placed on my summer abroad. If it didn’t, I wouldn’t be here. Cliché- I know, but 100 percent sincere.

Sierra Kreft is a student at North Dakota State University and is blogging from her summer abroad with the Sydney Internship Program Summer in Sydney, Australia.