Kerry Blog Post #2: SYDNEY DAY ONE!!
With a special appearance by Andrew Lau.
The Struggle: Finals, Moving out, and Saying Goodbye-Victoria Madrid
I cannot begin to describe how content I will be in 24 hours. Between packing, studying for finals (which happened to be the last days), and saying goodbye to all my friends, I have not really had the chance to appreciate the fact that I will be traveling to Sydney in just 2 days. It is surreal and though it has not quite hit me yet, I am so grateful that our school has provided us with this opportunity.
In Sydney, we will have the chance to meet with business professionals from companies such as Apple, KPMG, Nestle, and so many others. Also, we will have free time to simply enjoy Australia’s beauty and finally get to know the people that we have been in class with for the past couple of weeks. As I heard, last year’s Sydney LINC students created everlasting bonds with each other and I hope our group will do the same.
Australia, ready or not, here we come! 
Kerry Blog Post #1: T-minus 4 days until Australia!
I am beyond excited to be going on this trip! I am currently in the process of packing my entire room into 2 suitcases and 4 storage bins(or at least trying to). As I’m packing I’m sorting through old books and work and reminiscing back to the first few days of school and it’s hard to believe a fourth of my college career is over! I’m nostalgic but I am also really excited for the future… especially Sydney!
For the past semester, I’ve met with my LINC Sydney class a few times. In this class we learned about basic Australian history and cultural concepts in preparation for our 10 days in Sydney! Besides 2 days of free time to explore the city, our group of 40 or so will be meeting with executives from companies like KPMG, Westfield, Princess/Carnival Cruises, Apple, and Nestle! We’ll be basically exploring International Commerce in terms of Australia as the LINC program describes. We’ll apparently also be going to the zoo, Blue Mountains, and going to watch a Rugby game!
I can’t wait to go home but even more than that I’m ready to get past that 15 hour flight from LAX and set foot in a completely different place in the world. Happy travels!
“Don’t be Sad it’s Over, Be Happy it Happened”, By: Lizzy Breiter
After coming back from an absolutely amazing trip to Australia, this quote is harder to carry out than it seems! After coming off of the long plane flight from Australia, everyone in our group was hit with the reality of their busy summers. We were all hoping we could wake up the next morning and have our tour guide Cherie, amazing professors, and newly-made friends to spend time with. One of the most rewarding parts of the trip was being able to interact with such a diverse group of people— Australians, fellow students, professors, administrators, and well-respected executives of top-notch businesses. When else could you meet a Deloitte employee at a National Rugby League game when the Australians are playing against their rivals, the New Zealanders!
I could not put into words how beneficial and rewarding this experience was to not only myself, but to the other 2012 LINC Sydney participants, too. First and foremost, we were extremely impressed with how efficiently the program was run. We never had to aimlessly wait and our timing to company visits was impeccable. The success of this trip really reflects the dedication of the USC Marshall School of Business and the professors and administrator who were on the trip with us. To have the opportunity to be able to meet with businesses we know and love in America, but do so in Australia, plus learn about the similarities and differences, is invaluable as an undergraduate business student.
On our last night, we had the great fortune of taking a boat cruise across the Sydney Harbour as a group. We came into the first class not knowing one another, but our last night showed how good of friends everyone became and how fortunate we were to be able to attend such a remarkable trip. Looking out on the Sydney Harbour on the boat made me realize how lucky I was to have had this once in a lifetime experience. I formed such strong friendships with people I would not have met if it were not for this class and I have great fortune in knowing that they will be life-long friends.
Lastly, thank you for following this blog! It was rewarding to have been able to “stop and smell the Australian roses” and reflect on the wonderful time I was having in Sydney. As always, Fight On!
Better Late Than Never - Kemana Otosi
My apologies. I just realized that I never posted the link for this update. Recap video soon to come!
Alas, Reality - Jonathan Nguyen
Reality, how bittersweet you are.
It’s really crazy thinking that only a few days ago, I was on the other side of the world, living it up in Australia. That I was waking up earlier than nine o’ clock for corporate meetings and then enjoying what Australia had to offer right after. I already miss the people I’ve met, the adventures we had, the memories we shared. It’s so surreal, I have to remind myself that last week actually happened. It sucks not being down under right now but I can say it was probably the best way to kick off a summer.
Marshall School of Business, you spoil us too much. I believe that I can say on behalf of everybody that we all feel blessed and grateful to have had three amazing individuals take charge and execute probably one of those moments where we will never forget.
Advice to all freshman business students, take advantage of this opportunity, it’s a chance of a lifetime to meet amazing people in an amazing place. Go to Sydney if you can!
Fight on!
See you later, Sydney! - Merry C.
I can’t believe how quickly time has passed - a week in Sydney was just not enough! During the trip, I was not only exposed to international business by visiting various companies, but also I was able to learn more about the Australian culture and create great friendships with my peers on the trip.
Before going on the trip, I thought that Australia would be very similar to America because of the shared language, but I found that Australians like to engage in conversation with people that they do not know. Not only are they extremely social, but also they have a strong sense of humor (drop bear, anyone?). Australia is similar yet so different from the United States. This culture difference helped me realize that I should never assume anything when going into a new environment. Especially with international business, one should always go into a new culture with an open mind and expect the unexpected. During our company visits, I learned so much about the different international business practices that exist, and I was able to see various presentation skills that are effective in the business field. These experiences were able to broaden my views and understanding of business.
Going to Sydney was a great way to wrap up my freshman year. When reflecting back on the trip, I miss the mouth-watering food, the breathtaking sights (such as the Sydney Harbor Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, and the Blue Mountains), the bats on our early morning run around the city, and the koalas and kangaroos. I especially miss being with my friends that I made during the trip because we were able to immerse ourselves in a new culture together. Having the opportunity to see and experience Sydney was so incredible that I will definitely be back!
