In the search for the perfect sitting spot – Sydney, here I come. This task might be hard for a couple of different reasons. Since I arrived here, and my semester started quite early because I had to get to Australia at the end of July, I realized that people don’t really sit anywhere in Sydney. It’s quite the opposite of my sit-down-and-enjoy-your-coffee European lifestyle because everyone here is constantly on the move. I’d say there aren’t many sit-down spots, but definitely plenty of let’s-run-and-keep-going spots. Maybe that will be my thing this semester – staying on the go?
Another factor contributing to this enduring hardship of finding a perfect spot to sit is the weather. Yes, mid-August weather in Sydney is nothing like the beautiful images of beaches and surfers you see on social media. The city is cold and flooding. When the rain starts, it doesn’t stop for hours, and it’s nothing compared to our Bostonian drizzle – it soaks you within seconds. Of course, I’m exaggerating slightly; there have been plenty of sunny days, and I’ve enjoyed some lovely beach walks, strolls around the city, and even tried surfing! However, surfing sounds a bit too enthusiastic given my level of athletic performance. But I had fun, and that’s what matters – or at least that’s how I’m trying to justify waking up at 6 a.m. to drink salty water for a couple of hours and end up covered in bruises.
Except for a few bad weather episodes, Sydney in August is really the place to be. People are friendly and enthusiastic, everyone is full of energy, and brunch spots start buzzing at 6 a.m. on weekends. And no, that was not a typo – people in Sydney really do wake up before 6 a.m. just to enjoy coffee with their friends before going to work. Everyone seems up and ready to start their day before sunrise, which, to be honest, was a bit of a struggle for me at first. However, after seeing one or two sunrises in the city (Sydney is on the east coast of Australia, so the sun rises above the ocean), I started to understand the charm of mornings here.
The city is also full of greenery. As I mentioned earlier, Australians cherish nature and life outdoors, so it’s not surprising that Sydney is full of well-maintained parks and gardens. There are also many beaches around – from small ones tucked between coastal houses to big iconic ones like Bondi or Coogee. Filled with athletes, families with children, tourists, and students relaxing between their classes, they’re perfect spots to hang out. I love going to Coogee, which is the closest to my dorm – just a ten-minute bus ride away – and getting my favorite frozen yogurt from Yo-Chi. It’s become almost a ritual for me and my friends since it’s one of the best (and cheapest haha) ways to enjoy a snack out in the city. I would strongly advocate for introducing frozen yogurt culture to Boston; however, considering the beauty of New England winters, maybe it wouldn’t be the bestseller I hope for.
So the first weeks are passing quickly. I will keep looking for the best sitting/moving spot as I go on with my life here. I’m extremely excited for what the future holds and I can’t wait to experience true Aussie summer towards the end of my semester here.
Kangaroo count: 0
Spider count: 0
Sunrises watched: 3
Frozen yogurt bowl eaten: 5+
