I am from New York City, so public transport has always played a major role in my life. There is something magical about the freedom to go anywhere at any moment and the ability to explore new places with the tap of a MetroCard (or, more recently, Apple Pay). When I moved to upstate New York for college, I definitely missed being able to go anywhere I wanted at the drop of a hat and to do so in the presence of so many other strangers who each also had their own destinations in mind. Little did I know that my love for public transit and the way it connects so many different individuals would be rekindled while studying abroad. 

When I was first accepted to study abroad in Sydney, Australia, I was beyond excited but also extremely nervous. While I had traveled before, Australia truly felt like the other side of the world and it was a place that almost felt fantastical due to its reputation for exotic animals and insane natural beauty. When I arrived in Sydney, however, the first thing I did was board the train to get to our accommodations.  

The familiar screech of metal on metal, the stop announcements by the conductor, and the general bustle of people each going about their days immediately made Sydney feel like home. In that moment, I had no idea what lay ahead, and I had no idea just how important those trains would become in my exploration of Sydney as a global city. 

All of my courses while abroad emphasized Sydney’s role as a global city. At first, “global city” felt like hollow terminology to describe a major economic center. However, as I started to settle into my new city, I saw just how accurate that title was. Sydney is like a patchwork quilt of unique ethnic neighborhoods, each filled with amazing food, culture, and, of course, people. And you’ll never guess—each square of this quilt is connected by public transport, allowing outsiders like me to explore and facilitating the exchange of different cultural foods, traditions, and ideas across communities. 

A photo of me in the Rose Bay Suburb, which is famous for its colorful alleyways. The suburb is accessible by ferry from Sydney Harbour! 

While living in Sydney, we lived in a building just on the edge of Sydney’s Chinatown in an area called Haymarket. I had never seen a Chinatown like Sydney’s before. It was a sprawling area filled with restaurants, night markets, unique cafes, and more. I often found myself shopping for fresh produce at the famous Paddy’s Market and eating dinner from different vendors at the Friday Night Markets.  

This was just the beginning of my exploration, as I soon came to learn that Sydney was full of neighborhoods like this one if you were willing to commute (and we all know that a little commute could never hurt me!). I soon ended up in Harris Park, an Indian ethnic pocket; Cabramatta, a Vietnamese area; Marrickville, a Greek suburb; Leichhardt, an Italian suburb—the list goes on and on. I felt like I was quite literally traveling the world by traveling through Sydney, and instead of boarding a flight, all I had to do was tap my Opal Card and board a train, bus, ferry, or light rail. The most amazing part was that all this transport was free, as CEA CAPA provided us with student Opal cards!

A photo of the Three Sisters, a famous Rock Formation in the Blue Mountains. Even this beautiful nature and hiking is accessible from downtown Sydney via a train called the Blue Mountains Line! 

The commutes gave me downtime to listen to music and do some research about where I was headed. Then, once I arrived, I always found myself immersed in a whole new world. I loved seeing how different communities have made Sydney their own and embraced cultural exchange in a way that I had never seen before. 

My friends and I on one of the many Sydney Harbour ferries taking in a view of the famous Sydney Opera House! 

Public transport was the key that unlocked all of these opportunities and made it possible to truly engage with people outside of just my program. I met some of the most interesting people while riding public transport. Everyone was always ready to make a recommendation or give me some local tips, and one person even shared a recipe with me on how she makes homemade boba.  

Just one example of the amazing food in Sydney: a full Israeli breakfast in the Eastern suburbs!  

People loved asking me questions about the United States once they heard my accent, and I made friends from all across the world simply by being open to going to new places and trying new things. I found that public transport was a microcosm of the broader cultural exchange happening across the entire global city of Sydney, and I am so honored that I was able to be even a small piece of it.  

Studying abroad in Sydney forced me out of my comfort zone and helped me develop a sense of independence that I continue to carry through my life. It also taught me that even when you’re away from familiar people and places, you are never truly alone, as there are always people ready to make a friend and join you on your adventure.