By Yaryna, University of Sydney – Sydney, Australia 1) Surfing 🙂 I attended my first Surf Camp last semester. What struck me most about surfing is the adrenaline you feel. As we put on our sticky wetsuits, lugged our incredibly heavy boards, and sat in a circle to discuss safety, I felt discomfort and mild annoyance – not at anyone, just at the sheer level of exertion at 7am. But as we entered the water, and the waves towered above me, I suddenly became completely absorbed. I was determined not to be dragged away by a rip current or pushed back onto shore. I was also desperate to catch my…

By Yaryna, University of Sydney – Sydney, Australia Rise and grind Sydney, like the rest of Australia, is extremely health conscious. People here live with their circadian rhythms. Everything opens early and closes early too. There was one distinct situation that highlighted this stark difference to me. I was staying at a hostel on the Gold Coast and couldn’t sleep at all because of a snoring man in the bunk bed next to me. I accepted my losses and left the hostel at 5am to go see the sunrise on the beach. I was shocked to find an open café next to the beach, already bustling with people. After ordering…