Orienting to Sydney: My First Australia Day and O-Week

My integration into my host culture of Sydney was a slow burn during my first two weeks here. I was gradually learning the “Aussie slang,” figuring out the train system, and eventually gaining my bearings in Australia. However, in weeks two through four here in Sydney, I feel like I have been thrown into the deep end of Australian culture in the best way possible. These past two weeks coincided with two massive events of local life: the national celebration of Australia Day and the local student energy of Orientation Week (O-Week). This photoset captures my journey of moving from a passive observer of these holidays to an active participant in celebrating with the Aussie locals in my new home.

A portrait photo of me alongside the Sydney Opera House during our harbor cruise to watch the fireworks alongside hundreds of locals.

Australia Day

The photoset begins at the Circular Quay on January 26th, known as Australia Day. The atmosphere on this public holiday was super exciting, with a sensory overload of F35 jets roaring overhead and the crowds packing the bay during the fly-bys.

Morning at the Circular Quay in Sydney Harbour. I joined the massive crowds to watch the Royal Australian Air Force F35 jets roar over the harbor on the morning of the Australia Day celebrations.

As we wandered through the pop-up markets at The Rocks, we interacted with many of the stalls, food vendors, and locals to learn more about how they spend their public holiday.

As I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of Sydneysiders watching the harbour, I realized that “culture” isn’t just about learning about Australia through museums, but also the shared experiences alongside Australians during events like their national holidays.

The city organizes light show projections onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House to celebrate Australia Day.

Celebrating with my friend against the backdrop of the Sydney skyline during our harbor cruise.

This realization led my suitemates and me to book a last-minute harbour cruise to watch the fireworks alongside hundreds of locals. Seeing the Opera House sails lit up with Indigenous art and the Australian flag was more than just a photo opportunity for me. It made me feel connected with the people around me and proud to call myself a temporary Australian.

A group shot with the Opera House in the background during our harbor cruise. Moments like these highlight how quickly we bonded together as a group while experiencing one of Sydney’s most popular holiday traditions.

The finale of the night was the fireworks exploding over the water in front of Sydney’s skyline.

My friends and I watching the fireworks show from the deck. This candid moment captures the awe we all felt as we were actually living out the study abroad experience we had dreamed about.

O-Week

However, embracing “host culture” isn’t just about the national holidays, but also immersing myself in the daily life of local Australian students. So, the second half of this photoset documents my transition from feeling like a tourist to becoming a student at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) campus during O-Week.

Although we take our classes at the CEA CAPA Sydney Center, my suitemates and I decided to immerse ourselves in the O-Week celebrations taking place at neighboring universities to see what the true Australian university student experience is like.

Afternoon at the UNSW Kensington Campus. Looking overhead at the maze of tents and stalls that showcased the variety of clubs and societies available for students to explore during O-Week.

As I walked through the festivities, I was shocked by the sheer scale of student involvement. Unlike the strict academic orientation I expected, O-Week was like a festival filled with stalls, free food, and locals who were eager to chat with us.

My friend and I posing under the “O-Week” banner at UNSW to memorialize our celebrations with the local students.

Overall, whether it’s navigating the crowds at Circular Quay on Australia Day or supporting a local club on the campus lawn during O-Week, I am excited to carry this energy forward as I continue immersing myself in Sydney’s local culture.