Day 16: free day in Sydney

 Hi everyone my name is Aylee Weiss I will be a senior in the fall studying Broadcast and Digital Journalism. Today was our free day in Sydney so Kate Bradley and I decided we had to catch some waves in one of the best surf cities in the world. We got up and went to a local coffee shop for some fuel and then hopped on a ferry and headed to Manly Beach just outside the city of Sydney. It was a beautiful beach, the sun was trying so hard to break through the clouds as we put our wetsuits on and ran into the water with our boards on our hips. We had a blast catching waves with our surf instructors for about two hours… and we could’ve stayed out there for longer. We were having a blast. After that we found a local surf shop to get a sweatshirt to document our surf adventure. Then we got the best sandwich ever from this hole in the wall Greek shop and hopped back on the ferry. We then headed to Coogee beach to walk around and get some things for us and our families. We wrapped up our day watching the sunset on the beach and then got a quick dinner and headed home to get some sleep.

Day 14: E Sports Hub

 Hi I’m Cate Vickery! I am a sport management major from Alexandria Virginia, and I’m going to be a junior in the fall. Today was a bit of a sleep in which was nice. But I got up and got coffee and pastries with some of the girls. Then the group met up and went and had our lecture of the day in the morning at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). The lecture was about the history of politics and geopolitics within the Olympics and what that’s going to look like this year at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Then we had some free time around lunch and I went with a few girls and got dumplings. After our short lunch break, we all met up again and went over to the University of Technology Sydney’s main campus area. We met there Fadi Chadayda, who works for a company that helps to organizes and create Esports locations and events in universities and other spaces. Fadi showed us around a little bit of the campus and more specifically just the esports section of one of the buildings. We got to see a few different esports rooms, but the main one being a sponsored esports room by Red Bull. it was very cool because everything in that space was sponsored by Red Bull or other companies to help promote esports. Fadi then gave us a little presentation on esports in Australia, the history of it and a little bit about where he thinks it will go in the future as well as what his company does and what his job is. We were given time to play some of the games on the PlayStation 5 or PC consoles. It was very cool as people got to play whatever game they wanted which included FIFA, NBA 2K, rocket league, league of legends Fortnite, and many other games. We were done after that and all were pretty much on her own and split up. I went to a market with a few people, and we looked around and did a little bit of souvenir shopping and mostly just walked around the shops and saw what they had. By then it was almost dinner dinner time so a bunch of us met up at the hotel and went and got Italian food for dinner. Most of us turned in after dinner because we have a fairly early morning in the next morning, and a full day of scheduled activities. Thanks!

Day 13: Sydney Opera House

  Hi! My name is Dylan Taylor, and I am currently a rising Junior at Syracuse University. I am from Houston, Texas, and I am a Sport Management major. We have officially adjourned our 14th day of adventure in Australia.

To start off our second day in Sydney the group traveled to UTS for a few special lectures from Prof. Burton's good friend Dr. Daryl Adair. The first lecture was an overview of Australia and it's history as well as some of its pillars of society. The second lecture was very special about the history of race in sports as it relates to Australia. This was a treat as the lectures were informational, engaging, and eye opening.

After a nice lunch break, the group all met up again for a real treat. We went to one of Australia's most famous landmarks, the Sydney Opera House. This time we were able to attend an hour long guided tour through the building. We were able to learn about the history of the building, it's construction, performances, and we were even able to see a few theaters. I found the story of the architecture as well as the history of aboriginals prior to the building's construction to be the most interesting.

After this, we walked to the Royal Botanical Gardens, but unfortunately we were unable to attend so we walked through a park as a group instead. In the evening, we ate as a group at the hotel restuarant and concluded the best night in Sydney so far. 

Day 12: Bondi Beach

Hey squad! My name is Leda Rossmann and I’m an incoming junior studying history.

We flew to Sydney early this morning - the airport experience is so different here than in the US. There was barely any wait times for security or bag check so we got plenty of time to explore the Lego store and get some breakfast. Our flight was almost three hours and pretty much everyone slept the whole time. 

We arrived in sunny Sydney very excited for warm weather since it’s been pretty rainy in Melbourne and Cairns. We drove to Bondi Beach to visits the legendary Bondi Icebergs Swim Club. One of the club members spoke to us about the history of the club and its importance to Sydney’s culture. The pools are saltwater and freezing cold. I was so excited to jump in. I was a competitive swimmer for most of my life so the water is one of the most calming and nostalgic places I can be. The water wasn’t too bad, in actuality. We had some races going and I even beat Dougie.👸 We also checked out the sauna which was an interesting vibe (a lot of old guys).

Our amazing bus driver took us on a guided tour of the Sydney sights. We saw The Gap and heard the story of Don Ritchie, who saved at least 180 people from committing suicide off of the rocks. It was great to see the work the government has done in terms of suicide prevention in that area after his death. We also saw Lady Macquarie’s Chair where she would look into the harbor to watch for ships bringing news of her family during the early colonization days. 

We saw some of Vivid Sydney, a sort of light/art show in the harbor, lights into the sky and on the bridge, and art projected onto the Opera House and other buildings. A small group of us went to get pancakes at Pancakes on the Rocks and got to hear some of the Burtons’ stories about their past journeys to Australia. I can’t wait to explore Sydney more!

Day 11: The Zoo

 Hello! My name is Dante Reese, and I’m from Los Angeles, California. I’m a rising junior at Syracuse University, majoring in Sport Management with a minor in Entrepreneurship.

Growing up in Los Angeles, my elementary school mascot at Kentwood Elementary was a koala. Today, that childhood memory came full circle as my group and I had the chance to pet and take pictures with a koala at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Zoo. We also fed and petted kangaroos, took a boat ride through a crocodile-infested swamp, and watched an engaging crocodile show where we learned about saltwater crocodiles.

After our thrilling time at the zoo, we visited Palm Cove Beach, where we swam in the warm ocean waters. We were also treated to ice cream by the generous John Tripodi. Thank you, Mr. Tripodi, for taking the time to inspire us with your success story. I was truly moved by how one can create such a successful business through experiences in various occupations.

Day 3: AFL Game

 Today was a big action-packed day for our group!

Since most of us went to bed pretty early the night before, we all woke up and got our breakfasts and then met in the hotel lobby around 9am. Many of us (myself included) got Schmucks; a Polski bagel shop right around the corner from our hotel. 

Our group then started our walk to Victoria University where we met with Dr. Matthew Klugman, who was kind enough to come into work on a Saturday to teach us about the history and rules of Aussie Rules Football as well as the social impact of the game. Dr. Klugman educated our class on aboriginal culture and explained the history of the tribes within Australia. After a captivating lecture our group got lunch and headed to flag staff gardens park with Damian Hecker (“Damo”) to try out Aussie Rules Football! We started out with drills and then played a scrimmage game. The game was very indicative of Australian culture because of how much Australians value their play and leisure time. I even surprised myself and scored a goal. After a very exciting match in the park we headed over to the Victoria Markets where we shopped for souvenirs and afternoon snacks. We then went back to the hotel and got ready to watch St. Kilda vs Fremantle Dockers at Marvel Stadium. We all got dinner at the stadium and many tried the famous Australian meat pies and kangaroo meat! Our group was able to understand the game much better after getting the chance to play it ourselves in the park earlier. Unfortunately St. Kilda (Professor Burton’s favorite team ) didn’t pull off the win but the game was so fun to watch nonetheless. After a very active day we headed to bed to prepare for our free day.

Day 9: Great Barrier Reef

 Great Barrier Reef

Hi my name is Anna McDonald, and I am a rising junior at Syracuse. I’m from Maryland and am a sport management major with a minor in sport event management.

The trip to the Great Barrier Reef took about two hours through rough ocean waters. On the way there the boat crew taught us about the marine life we might see, proper scuba diving and snorkeling techniques, and told us what to expect from the day.

Arriving at the reef was beautiful, from the boat you could see some of the corals and the water was very very blue. I got the opportunity to scuba dive for the first time and it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. I got to see some many different types of fish and all the corals. After the first dive we ate lunch and had the opportunity to dive or snorkel again, this time I just snorkeled which was just as cool. If we weren’t in the water we got to sit on the top deck of the boat where many of us tanned.

On the way back most of the group was pretty tired and many of us fell asleep. After arriving back to Cairns me and a few of the other girls got dinner on the main boardwalk. Once dinner was done I went to bed early to get ready for the free day where I will be skydiving.

Day 9

 Hi, my name is CJ Green and I am a junior majoring in sport management and minoring in business. Today was both busy and incredibly enjoyable. The day started with an excellent presentation by Dr. Glen Deakin, who discussed the health of Indigenous communities, particularly in the Solomon Islands. His talk was thought-provoking and made me reflect on our privileges and the things we often take for granted. After the presentation, we visited the Cairns Taipans Basketball Club. Playing basketball and touring the facility, especially the recovery room, was definitely one of the highlights of the day. It was interesting to see how the club's facilities compare to the NBA facilities.  In the evening, we dined at PJ O’Brien’s, and afterward, Ethan and I explored more of Cairns. Overall, it was a fantastic day, and I’m excited about visiting the Great Barrier Reef tomorrow.

Day 7 - Cairns Travel Day

 Hi! My name is Edison Friday, and I am currently a rising Sophomore at Syracuse University. I am from Los Angeles, California, and I am a Sport Management major. We have officially adjourned our 8th day of Australian shenanigans. 

After a long eventful night, exploring the in and outs of the city of Melbourne with Johann, a 3am wake up call approached. I completely under estimated how tired I feel running off an hours of sleep. I immediately knew I had made a huge mistake, as my vision seemed blurred and barley being able to open my eyes. 

The flights to Cairns wasn't too bad, just about 3 hours long. I tried my best to tune out my surroundings and knock out but I struggled. After landing safely in Cairns, our guide took us up the mountains where we eventually learned about the culture of the Djabugay people. The Djabuygay people were the nations first people who's culture and stories were represented through the voices of the Pamagirri guides that work at Rainforestation. We eventually made our way to what I call a "bird sanctuary" which I found to be pretty interesting. Finally, our last atop was the sky rail and eventually made our way home. 

Day 6: Sports, Sustainability, & Culture

    Hello! My name is Finley Dermody, and I am currently a rising Sophomore at Syracuse University. I am from Seattle, Washington, and I am a Sport Management major. Today marks day 6 of our exciting journey in Melbourne, Australia; and I can’t wait to share today’s adventures! 

    This morning, around 9:30am, we started our day with a walk to the Twenty3 Group's office. At 10:00 am, we arrived and were greeted by Mr. John Tripodi, the CEO of Twenty3 Sports. He gave us a presentation on the company that he started himself and told us how he got to that point. He started out in the candy business, then moved to hair care brands, and then to starting his own agency. It was fascinating to hear about his journey to where he is now. 

    Next, we heard from Mr. Ruffy Geminder, a Syracuse alumni and the Chairman of PACT, who just flew in from Europe to speak with us. Mr. Geminder shared his experiences at Syracuse University and talked about sustainability initiatives at PACT Group. He talked about the circular cycle compared to the linear cycle, as well as the importance of a good role model over a good job.

 

    We took a break for lunch around 12:45 pm. It was a great opportunity to explore the local food scene and recharge before our afternoon activity. I stopped at a food court inside a mall that was near our next stop and got a smoothie and a cookie.

 

    At 2:15 pm, we walked to the Melbourne Museum, arriving at 2:30 pm. We had the chance to explore the museum prior to the official tour. We then had a guided tour at the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The tour was very educational and gave us a deeper understanding of the Aboriginal culture and history.

 

    A few of us grabbed dinner at a cute Mexican restaurant on a barge on the river. It was a day full of learning and exploration, and I am looking forward to the next leg of our trip in Cairns!

Day 5: The Great Ocean Road

 Hi everyone, my name is Liam. Today the group went on a massive road trip along the Great Ocean Road. We saw beautiful sight after beautiful sight getting amazing photos and memories captured over the course of the day. 

We started bright and early at 8am and started our tour by stopping at a beautiful river for breakfast coffee and hot chocolate. We then went to the start of the Great Ocean Road and started on the winding roads, which had great views but made most of us pretty car sick but we all powered through. We then made a stop to see some kolas but the birds stole the show and I was able to get some birds to land on my arms. 

After lunch, we took a ver scenic route where we saw amazing views as the sun was starting to set and we ended the day at McDonalds to feel at home. It was truly an amazing day that I will remember forever!

Day 4: Free Day in Melbourne!

Hello! My name is Sean Cullen and I am a rising junior majoring in sport management with a minor in emerging sport enterprise. We were given a day today to explore the city of Melbourne however we would like to.

My day started at around 9:00am when I endured a surprising and unfortunate cold shower. My day quickly got better as I met up with some friends and searched for some breakfast. We came across a stand that serves breakfast burritos in which I will most likely be returning at some point throughout my time here in Melbourne. We then went back to our hotel and caught the second half of the Mavericks v. Thunder NBA playoff game. 

We then reentered the city and decided to check out one of the malls in Melbourne. After some brief shopping, I dropped off my purchases back at the hotel and rested for a bit. Shortly after, some of us headed off to the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium. While seeing penguins for the first time was surreal, looking at large sharks a couple days before going scuba diving may not have been the smartest move of the afternoon. 

My last activity of the day was dining at a restaurant called "Ghost Donkey," solely because of the name. While I expected a Mexican style restaurant, it turned out to be a very relaxed and calm bar/lounge with beautiful decor. After about an hour of just hanging around there, we all departed and went back to our hotel to prepare for an early morning tomorrow.

Day 2: Arrival in Melbourne

Hello my name is Elizabeth Carchia and I am a rising junior studying chemical engineering. Today was a very chill and tiredsome day of arriving from travel and exploring Melbourne. Everyone arrived in Melbourne at slightly varying times which made communication between the professor and students imperative to the days success. 

Specifically for me, I arrived around 8:00am at the airport where I was able to meet up with some fellow Syracuse students who had taken the same flight as me. From there we took an uber together and made it to the hotel right in time for breakfast. We were welcomed into the hotel from Professor Burton and Mr. Burton and then we set off to explore the city (the five of us that had arrived together) with Professor Burton as our tour guide. This part of the morning was extremely interesting as Professor Burton was able to point out some hidden gems of the city including cute coffee shops, places to grab dinner, and other tid bits of information about Australianas and their lifestyles. 

At 1:15, after a warm shower and change of clothes, the whole group of us set off to Melbourne Cricket Areana where we were able to get a tour of the facilities as well as watch some professionals players warm up. It was here we were able to learn more about the Australian Football league and its significant to Austrlians. Below the stadium was a museum dedicated to Australian Football as well as interactive games which we were able to play. After our tour or the facilities and the museum we headed back to the hotel for a quick rest before we got dinner at a local food market. This market had a variety of different food options including Indian, Chinese, and American. With our bellies full we headed back to the hotel for a long nights rest. I am looking forward to catching up on rest from our long days of travel as well as watching a real Australain Football in person tomorrow! 

Day 1: Travel

 Hi Everyone My name is Ethan Canals-Fernández and I am a rising sophomore at SU majoring in Sport Management with a minor in real estate. Today is day 1 of travel for most but for me I am already half way to Melbourne! I decided to leave a day earlier to be able to acclimate to the time difference before the fun begins. Though this is not my first time traveling to the oceanic continent it is my first time going to Australia. I am extremely excited to learn about the rapid growing sports culture here as well as attending some local games. 

At this point many students should have completed there research paper which is meant to provide us with a solid understanding of Australia.  Each student wrote about different things but for me I chose to write about the economic growth as well as racial issues in sports in Australia. Through this paper I was able to see how rapidly the sport sector is growing as well as the positive affect it has on the economy.

For all of my Wednesday I was in the air en route to Sydney my layover before heading to Melbourne. On the plane I was treated to dinner as well as several snacks. I also watched watched a couple of movies one being Land of Bad which was a movie about a Delta team getting ambushed by an enemy and a rookie officer through everything refuses to to leave his team through all the issues he went through. The Movie was extremely interesting and I really enjoyed it especially when eating dinner.  Besides watching the movie I slept a lot trying to match my sleep schedule to Australia's time zone. 

I am extremely excited for the trip to begin and to learn about sports and culture in Australia!

Day 0: Preparing for the Trip

 

Hello everyone, my name is Kate Bradley and I am currently a rising junior at Syracuse University. I am studying in the Sport Management program and my minor is in Emerging Sport Enterprises. I am looking forward to heading to Melbourne tomorrow morning as we embark on our SU abroad adventures. I have never been to Australia before and I am especially looking forward to the opportunity to learn about their thriving sports culture, explore the different cities and rainforests, as well as seeing all of the unique wildlife. 

Currently, all of the students are working on writing research papers to prepare us for this trip and give us all some background knowledge on the various topics we will be learning about during this course. My research paper topic reflected on the Australian Football League Women's (AFLW) and female leadership and representation within that league. During my research for this assignment, I was able to learn that the league began in 2017 and has found great success in its skillful players, online viewership, and strong female leaders within each team. Talented general managers Nicole Livingstone and Emma Moore, impressive sports broadcaster Kelli Underwood, and top tier player Jasmine Garner, the entire league is full of successful women the prioritize supporting each other and encouraging diversity within the league. 

In addition to writing our research papers, I have been packing and preparing for our long 15 hour flight to Melbourne. I will be flying from Portland, Oregon to the San Fransisco International Airport where I will meet up with some of my classmates before be board the plane to Melbourne.  

I am looking forward to landing in the beautiful city, grabbing a cup of famous Australian coffee, and heading to the Melbourne Cricket Grounds for a tour of their facilities to kick off our week in Melbourne before we depart for Carins.