Why did you decide to study abroad with CAPA International Education in Sydney?
Kristen: I had always wanted to study abroad - it’s always been a dream for me. I wasn’t quite sure where I wanted to go, but I knew it was a requirement for me for my collegiate career. I found out about CAPA through my study abroad office at Hood College, because my school is a CAPA affiliate.
I was immediately intrigued by CAPA’s internship program. I couldn’t believe I could do an international internship while studying and traveling! If I wanted to intern, however, I had to speak the language of the country, and as I am limited to English, I could go to either London or Sydney to intern. I decided on Sydney because Australia seemed so exotic and unique and I felt that I may never have another opportunity to explore the land down under, and I felt I just had to take the plunge. Many people do additional traveling during the time abroad, and I also knew that if I went to Australia I would be able to travel to New Zealand, which was at the top of my bucket list.
What made this experience unique and special?
Kristen: I really feel like my study abroad experience was unique because of my internship. For my internship, I got placed at the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre of NSW, also referred to as HALC. There I got to work with solicitors (lawyers) and law students on cases involving HIV/AIDS related issues. I got to meet so many fascinating people from all over the world and hear their stories, and being involved with them really made me feel like I was making a difference in their life.
Initially, I couldn’t believe I was being trusted with such important work, and by the end I felt honored to have been able to work on such an important issue. Working at HALC was also a special experience because my coworkers really went out of their way to introduce me to the Aussie culture. They would organize nights out so I could experience a particular Aussie restaurant and made sure I was included in such events as watching the Melbourne Cup with my work mates. Their hospitality made my time in Australia that much better.
How has this experience impacted your future?
Kristen: This experience has impacted my future in more ways than I could ever imagine. I am now infected with a severe case of wanderlust; my constant question is where to next?? I definitely want to make sure that traveling is a priority in my life from now on, and hope that I can someday make it back to Australia.
I also feel that this experiences impacted my future because I have taken an interest in human’s rights issues and am looking to find an internship with a HIV/AIDS related organization here in America where I can use what I learned working for HALC to help further education and understand of HIV/AIDS in America. This was something that I never really had an interest in before, but now have developed a passion for. On a more personal note, I feel like studying abroad has really chilled me out and I am much more open to accepting whatever comes my way. I feel that studying abroad is a constant adventure and you have to be up for anything, and that’s something I have brought home with me.
What is one piece of advice you would offer someone considering interning abroad in Sydney?
Kristen: One piece of advice I would offer is do a little research about Sydney and the surrounding area and what there is to do before you go. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I signed up for Sydney, and while I found a lot of amazing things to do, so many things I wish I had known about sooner so I could have made use of them earlier. Like Darling Harbour, which has a great atmosphere and nightlife, or Paddy’s Markets, or Pancakes on the Rocks, which is a 24 hour gourmet pancake restaurant that is to die for.
Granted, you discover a lot about Sydney while living there, which is great, but sometimes I wonder what I could have accomplished had a I spent a little time getting to know the city prior to being there. In addition to that, I wish I had known beforehand that if you go to the Sydney Opera House an hours before a show, they offer open seats to students for a discounted price. So there’s your first piece of insight, and go see a show at the Opera House.