Often confused as the nation's capital, Sydney is the largest and oldest city in Australia with a population of 4 million. The city boasts an eclectic gathering of diverse people from over 180 different nations who speak over 140 languages. Sydney's diversity has become one of the city's strengths as the people have a solid reputation for their hospitality and friendly, easy ways.
With 20% of Australia's population choosing Sydney as the place to be, it's not hard to understand why the city has so much to offer. Centered around its beautiful harbor, Sydney offers visitors and residents an array of gorgeous beaches, and with an average of 300 or more sunny days per year, people are sure to have the opportunity to enjoy them. And for those that like to enjoy the beach in relative isolation, Sydney offers approximately 60 different beaches, assuring that it's always possible to get away from the crowds.
This is not to say that lounging on the beach all day is all that the aspiring student can hope to accomplish. Sydney also operates as a financial and commercial center not only for the eastern states, but for Australia as a whole. The economy reflects the entrepreneurial spirit of Sydney's residents.
Sydney provides a rich environment for study, in part thanks to the contrasts students can find there. The city's vibrant history can be seen in a variety of ways including a number of attractions and tours of such early public buildings as the Parliament House and Sydney Hospital. Sydney demonstrates its flair for high culture with world-renowned offerings such as the famous Opera House. At the same time the city knows how to turn that flair toward the less cultured, a fact testified to by the city's expansive nightlife.
Sydney also offers a range of other activities that provide a different sort of education. The city's love of sports and outdoor activities is not hard to understand with the excellent Australian climate to take advantage of. The legacy of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney have if anything increased the city's abiding love of these pastimes. Just some of the many activities the Sydneysiders enjoy are surfing, swimming, tennis, sailing, rugby, cricket, basketball, and golf.
With so much to do, you might expect to find the people of Sydney rushing from activity to activity, but the laid-back atmosphere of the city discourages such haste. Perhaps one of the most valuable lessons Sydney has to teach is the joy of sitting and watching the world go by against the backdrop of one of the world's most beautiful cities. Sitting and watching the boats in the harbor is considered a perfectly legitimate pastime - and with such a gorgeous harbor, why not?
Sydney is in some ways the mother of all Australia's cities. Students who choose to study there can be sure they will find the charming combination of a laid-back yet inspirational place to study, learn, and live.
