Balancing a Hybrid Internship and University Life in Sydney 

G’day! My name is Adi Mitchell, and I’m studying abroad in Sydney, Australia. Come along with me on a typical Thursday as a student interning and also taking classes.  

A Quick Morning 

I started my morning at 7:30am. It may seem early, but in Australian culture, I was a late riser today! Opposite to a lot of European countries, many Australians like to be in bed early in order to get up early and get their day started. The Australian lifestyle is an active one. Many people like to be up to get a workout in before the sun gets too hot.  

After I rolled out of bed, I made myself a cup of coffee and a bagel with avocado toast. Our housing accommodations provided by CEA CAPA are lovely. My favorite (and most used) appliance is definitely the espresso machine! I live on an upper floor of the apartment, so the morning glow flooding the living room is always gorgeous.  

Once brekkie is eaten, I changed into my activewear and packed my daypack. I throw in my computer, a charger, a bikini, and a beach towel. Quite the “what’s in my bag” if you ask me! I lathered on a generous amount of sunscreen and headed to the bus stop to meet my fellow intern, Katie.  

Time to Get to Work 

50 minutes and two Opal card swipes later, we arrived at Bondi Beach. Even though it was only 9:15am, the beach was crowded with surfers and swimmers alike. At Bondi, we met our internship supervisor, Kate. Kate is the Chief Operating Officer of Planting Seeds—a nonprofit dedicated to urban regeneration and biodiversity. My favorite aspect of Planting Seeds is the B&B Highway, an environmental education program for school students, corporations, and seniors. As a marketing and supply chain student with minors in writing and sustainability, my main focus within Planting Seeds is to increase their visibility. This includes writing blog-style articles, creating social media posts, and grant writing. Katie, the other intern working under Kate, is more focused on the science-based material to match her environmental science major.  

Today, we met Kate in her home neighborhood of Bondi to go on a coastal walk and discuss our current internship activity status. The Planting Seeds team only works in office on Tuesdays, with the rest of the days being remote. Kate has been wonderful in finding creative ways to meet with us outside of the office.  

I’m so lucky to be placed with another intern at the same site. Working with Katie has already taught me so much about collaboration, communication, and teamwork.  

We walked from Bondi to Bronte and back, with Kate pointing out insects and flora along the way to increase our Australian natural world identification skills. We discussed tasks for the upcoming week, along with a check-in on how we are feeling about the entire internship process.  

After walking three miles, Katie and I parted ways with Kate. We then settled into a local cafe to get some work done. From 11:00am to 1:30pm, I worked on organizing Planting Seeds’ Canva brand and finished writing my very first article. I downed an iced long black (also known as an iced coffee in the States) and a banana smoothie.  

The cliffs and coastal view on our walk were amazing. When in Sydney, the full Bondi to Coogee walk is a must do! 

Class Field Trip 

I had a field trip for my class at 2:30pm, so I hopped on a bus and headed to the Anzac memorial. My class, Writing the City, was meeting to do a walking tour of some of Sydney’s historical sites. After walking through the Anzac memorial, we made our way to Australia’s oldest school, a Captain Cook statue, a historic Catholic church, and the old barracks. Our professor taught us more Australian history while encouraging us to reflect on our own. My favorite moment in class was when we sat in a beautiful amphitheater and read poetry written by my professor. I feel so grateful to have interactive classes that immerse me in Australian culture while emphasizing learning.  

The gorgeous Sydney weather in February means that class outside is a frequent occasion! 

Off-Duty Hours 

I traveled back to our housing with my classmates, excitedly talking about our plans for the night. So far, I have learned that it’s very important to say yes to new and exciting opportunities—but only if you feel the energy to do so! My Thursday got off to an early start and I was ready for some time inside, so I politely declined the invitation for pub trivia.  

Back at the apartment, I caught up with my roommates and made dinner. There is a grocery store only five minutes away, which is extremely convenient. Tonight, I cooked a buffalo chickpea salad bowl with a few fresh veggies I had stored in the fridge from the day before. The price and variety of food at grocery stores in Australia is comparable to what you would find the United States, so the learning curve was minimal.  

Once dinner was cooked and I had a shower, I spent the last bit of my night talking with my roommates and watching a TV show. Living in accommodations with a shared kitchen and living room also greatly benefits getting to know and hang out with my roommates more! Even sitting together at the kitchen table and doing homework is comforting.  

Cooking in our housing accommodations is so easy with a fully equipped kitchen and grocery store nearby! 

Before I shut my eyes to go to sleep at night, I reflect on everything that I have accomplished and set my schedule for the next day. The most imperative aspect of working hybrid is compartmentalizing tasks and sticking to a strict schedule. I plan out my working hours and separate them from my homework hours, which helps me to stick to deadlines.  

Overall, interning and taking classes has been an incredibly valuable experience during my time in Sydney so far. I have learned time management, teamwork, and the importance of organization. Most importantly, if a hybrid job position is available to me after my study abroad, I feel equipped to take on this style of work!