While walking along Circular Quay, the sun set over the Opera House. 

I have always loved writing. I have also always wanted to visit Australia. Participating in studying and interning abroad with CEA CAPA in Sydney allowed me to accomplish both. In January 2023, I embarked on the 24-hour travel journey Down Under from my home on the East Coast and my life has never been the same. 

Following My Passion 

As a World Scholar at University of Delaware, interning abroad is highly encouraged, and my passion for writing and experiences as an English major and on the staff at The Review gave me the confidence to pursue an internship in publishing while in Sydney. I was fortunate enough for the CEA CAPA staff to pair me with a travel and business publishing company based in Sydney for the semester. One meeting with my future supervisor and I knew it would be the right fit. 

The neighborhood walking tour we experienced when we first arrived took us along Darling Harbour. 

Workforce Differences in Australia 

One of the main differences between the workforce in the United States versus the workforce in Australia is the culture around the workplace hierarchy. It is common for an intern to regularly communicate with people with senior and leadership roles in the company. I experienced this at my workplace. While the company was already smaller, the relationship I was able to build with my supervisor who is also the owner of the publishing company in that span of time felt like a significant difference to other workplace cultures I have experienced in the States.  

Another major contrast that I noticed was the fact that America is big on hustle culture and to constantly be available for your coworkers and your boss, even when you are off the clock and out of office. In Australia, when you are at work, you are at work but once you are clocked out, you aren’t expected to do anything extra. As I was taking 12 course credits in addition to the 20 hours per week I was interning, I really appreciated that. 

A great way to explore Sydney and see nature is doing the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. 

Living and Working in Sydney 

While in Sydney, our accommodations were in the Haymarket/Chinatown area along Darling Harbour, as was the building where we took classes. This was a great area to live in with many great food options, and it was easily accessible to other exciting areas of Sydney, including the main tourist attractions. I am particularly fond of Sydney’s public transportation system. A combination of trains, buses, light rails and ferries, you could easily experience the vast array of attractions that Sydney has to offer.  

Going to and from work took me about 40 minutes. I took the light rail from the stop nearest to my apartment to the bus stop a few stops away and then took the bus across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and to the neighborhood where the office was located. There were other routes to take, including ferrying across Sydney Harbour that stopped down the street from the office that I took once on the way home, but this one was the one I was most familiar with as it was the quickest.  

I loved working in a completely different area of Sydney than where I was living because it allowed me to see another area of Sydney that I probably wouldn’t have seen otherwise. There were new vibes, new restaurants and a new view of the city for me to enjoy. 

 A view of Neutral Bay, the neighborhood in Sydney where my internship office was located. 

Boosting My Resume 

I had the opportunity to research, write, edit and publish over 10 articles and several newsletter and website blurbs for the company. I was able to conduct interviews and communicate with many interesting people within the company and around Australia. I also assisted with social media marketing, through creating and scheduling content to promote articles and boost engagement with audiences across our platforms. 

I was able to boost my portfolio and resume while building on my communication skills and learning more about the publishing industry. Seeing what that looks like within the travel and business sector was invaluable. Experiencing this in Sydney made it that much more interesting, too. 

 At the CEA CAPA office, one of the staff members took a photo of me with one of my published articles! 

One Year Later 

As I reflect on my experience interning in Sydney one year later, all I feel is gratitude. I learned so much about not only the industry I was working in but also about Australia in general. My skills and my connection to Australia and the people there are even stronger than when I first arrived.  

I miss Australia all the time and am forever grateful for the experiences CEA CAPA was able to provide in the classroom and in the workforce. Pursuing an internship while on my semester abroad was one of the best decisions I made during the process.  

As you look ahead and make your decision on where to go and what to do on your trip abroad, I highly encourage interning in Sydney. Regardless of what choices you make, work hard, take it in and count your blessings. Studying and interning abroad is an incredible experience so don’t take it for granted!