A Day in the Life: Sydney, Australia
Introduction
Sydney, Australia has always been a location of interest for me. In between my first and second semesters of my junior year of college I plan to study abroad in Sydney. I am intrigued by the scenery, weather and culture that the city has to offer.
This ‘Day in the Life’ article will give a brief overview of history in Sydney, Australia. Also, the article will give some ideas of enjoyable activities and interesting places that are common in Sydney. Sydney is the most populous city in Australia, making it a well known location that is visited by tourists from across the world.
Brief History
Although the majority of Sydney, Australia is Caucasian, it has not always been that way. Aboriginal history says that “The original aboriginal inhabitants of the city of Sydney local area are the Gadigal people.” European settlement began in Sydney around 1788 but the Gadigal’s have been living there far longer. The first impact of the Europeans was destructive to Gadigal culture and life. However, these aboriginal people still strive and live with citizens of Sydney today. The Gadigal’s have been nurtured and empowered through education and schooling over the past century. Today, sports and leisure activity have helped reinforce social connections with the Gadigals and the community. You can read more about their history here.
The Gold Rush of the 1850's made a huge impact on the economical, social and political future of Sydney. The gold rushes began with the discovery of gold in Bathurst, a city located about 93 miles west of Sydney. Miners poured into Sydney and the population skyrocketed over the next twenty years. The increase of population helped stimulate Sydney’s economy tremendously. Further discoveries of gold in Victoria drew miners from Sydney to Melbourne. This created a rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney and both cities wanted recognition as the capital. The dispute was settled by creating a new city in between the two, Canberra, which is now the capital of Australia. Some citizens of Sydney still consider their city the main one of Australia.
Rugby is one of if not the most popular sport in Sydney. Rugby has been played in Sydney for over one hundred years and the community takes great pride in the Sydney Roosters (Sydney’s professional rugby team). The NRL which began in Sydney in 1908 is the largest and most prestigious domestic rugby league competition in the Southern Hemisphere
What to do & say
Sydney Opera House
Sydney’s opera house is one of the cities most well known landmarks. The Australian Government says, “The Sydney Opera House is Australia’s most recognizable building and is an icon of Australia’s creative and technical achievement.” It is known for its design and creation, along with a beautiful location on Bennelong Point.
The opera house hosts over 40 shows per week. It is open seven days a week but mainly has shows on the weekend. You can set up a show or event and tours of the opera house are very common. One can do this by simply visiting the Sydney Opera House’s web page. There are multiple restaurants and bars located in the theater. Also, it has a souvenir shop that offers many things to help you remember your great experience.
Viewers of an opera typically dress formally but there is no official dress code. However, the Sydney Opera House does require that shoes must be worn at all times. Communication is not a big factor when it comes to opera because your time there is spent watching a performance. Although, proper etiquette is important in the Sydney Opera House.
Here are a few tips/rules for attending an opera at the Sydney Opera House:
- Your cell phone should be shut off well before the show begins.
- You should clap when the conductor first appears on stage.
- Sound travels incredibly in an opera house, so talking is not permitted during the show.
- When the show is over the audience should applaud for several minutes and stay in their seats to show appreciation.
- All food and drinks should be consumed before or after the performance.
For more guidelines to attending an opera at Sydney’s Opera House go here.
Sydney’s Opera House is one of the most famous opera houses in the world and should be at the top of your list if you are visiting Sydney, Australia.
Before or after the opera, you should taste the excellent cuisine that the Rockpool Bar and Grill has to offer. For lunch or dinner this is a popular restaurant for Australia’s top brokers but can be enjoyed by anyone.
Rockpool Bar and Grill
The Rockpool Bar and Grill has some of the best steak that you can find in Sydney. This restaurant is also enjoyed by vegetarians because of the excellent “Silk Handkerchief” pasta that they have to offer. Australians enjoy fine dining and that is exactly what this Sydney restaurant gives. The Rockpool Bar and Grill is expensive and classy. The price of a meal can range from twenty to eighty dollars. If you want to eat here it is important to dress nice and make sure you can afford the dinner, along with a tip (Australians usually tip at about 10–15%).
When it comes to manners and fine dining in Sydney there are a few important things to remember. English is the primary language of Sydney, Australia and using “please” and “thank you” is the polite thing to say. Also, to get a waiter’s attention you should use a quiet hand motion. After eating a big meal at Rockpool Bar and Grill do not say “I’m stuffed”. In Australia this means that you are pregnant.
Dining etiquette is very similar to the United States. One of the most important things to remember is to watch what you say. There are many phrases and terms used in the United States that mean different things in Australia. Wether you are on business or vacation, it is important to be mindful of where you sit at the dinner table. The most honored position is at the head of the table, according to international dining etiquette.
After a great dinner at the Rockpool Bar and Grill you should get a good nights sleep to prepare for a long day at the beach the next day. Manly beach is a popular beach in Sydney, located on the north side of the city.
Manly Beach
Manly Beach is a hot spot for vacationers and residents of Sydney because of its beautiful view and clean water and sand. From north to south there are three different sections of the beach. The sections are Queenscliff, North Steyne and South Steyne. There are shops, restaurants, night clubs and dive bars located all along the beach.
Manly Beach is a fun place to take your family, friends or partner. It is a great place for anybody to visit. The night life is known to be exceptionally fun for adults as well. From downtown Sydney you can take a ferry to the beach which takes about thirty minutes one way. If you are willing to spend a little bit extra money you can take a private ferry that takes twenty minutes to get to Manly Beach.
Manly Beach is a great place to socialize and meet some of the locals. Australian etiquette can help you be as kind as possible to the locals. One important thing to remember is to just stick with English terms, not Aussie terms. Foreigners using Aussie terms can sometimes offend a citizen of Australia. Also, even though you may like the way they talk, do not comment on an Australian’s accent. Accents can play into distinguishing one’s social class.
According to Australian Beach Rules and Etiquette, it is important to never play any type of music machine. Music is rarely played but if it is then it will be live. Also, make sure to leave a good amount of room between other people and you while lying out on the beach. Australians love their personal space. Last, never call a “thong” a “flip-flop”. A thong is what Australians call sandals.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Sydney, Australia is an amazing city and great for vacationers. Wether you go to Manly Beach, a show at the Sydney Opera house, or just want to grab a bite to eat at Rockpool Bar and Grill, any of these places will show you the rich culture that Sydney, Australia has to offer. As I said earlier, I am hoping to study abroad in Sydney in a couple of years and I will undoubtedly visit all of these places. I think Sydney would be an enjoyable visit for just about anyone.
