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Where is the CAPA Sydney Center? The CAPA Sydney Center is located minutes from Sydney Harbor, the Opera House and Harbor Bridge in the prestigious Lower North Shore area. North Sydney is a secondary business area just north of the main business district downtown, and can fully meet the needs of students and faculty alike. It is easily accessible by bus and train from all parts of the city, and has a myriad of eateries, cafes and restaurants to cater to all tastes. The CAPA Center is housed within the Billy Blue Group, a boutique University offering programs in Hotel Management and Graphic Design, along with an English School. Students will have access to the complete set of resources at Billy Blue, along with interaction with their student body. How will I get to class? If your program includes a local travel pass, these passes will be distributed at the orientation once you are in-country. If your program does not include a travel pass, you may want to consider purchasing one yourself. This can be done at most train stations. There are a number of different passes, some of which are more extensive than others. A Red Pass will probably get most everywhere you need to go, however you may need a Green Pass if you are doing an internship, or to get to the more remote beaches. Homestays Student Residence
Although all residences will meet these criteria according to CAPA standards, please note that it is virtually impossible to find residences exactly alike in every way. For example, some residences may have units housing multiple students but with its own kitchen and bathroom, while other residences may have shared kitchens and bathrooms but students are housed in their own single rooms. Specific and detailed information about your residence will be provided 14 days prior to the start of the program. If you are living with a host family, it may not be appropriate for you to use their telephone, as even outgoing local calls are not free. Please review the household telephone rules with your host family upon arrival. You will receive information about cell phone rental in your pre-departure pack or you may choose to rent or buy one once you arrive overseas. It is free to receive incoming calls on most mobile phones while in Australia, but be aware of roaming charges as well as the rates on outgoing international calls as these costs can build up quickly! If a homestay includes laundry services, you may find that the home only has a washer and your clothing will be line-dried outside. Your laundry will be done at most once or twice per week. Plan appropriately for the extra time your laundry may take when packing. If your host family does not include laundry facilities, they will help you find the closest Laundromat. When arranging for visits from friends and family members, we suggest that you utilize the services of STA. STA travel can assist you in finding lodging close to the CAPA center, or your own housing, and within specific budgets. For more information call STA at (800) 224-0371. Bear in mind that Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere meaning winter is from June through August, and summer is from November through March! In the CAPA student handbook, you will find a “Do – It – Yourself” budget for Sydney. Fill it in prior to departing the United States and bring it with you. After the first week and a half, check your actual spending against this budget to figure out if your habits will leave you with enough money to get through the program, and adjust accordingly. Bringing your laptop is a personal decision. CAPA does not require the use of a laptop for anything. Be advised that if you do bring a laptop, you may want to purchase additional insurance. In the event that it breaks, is stolen or lost it will only be covered up to a maximum of $250 through the CAPA included insurance. Your healthcare coverage will operate differently overseas than in the United States. When visiting the doctor or hospital, you are required to pay up front for services. You will then be reimbursed up to $10,000 for this by the World Student Insurance policy, provided that you hold onto all receipts associated with your medical services and submit your claim within 30 days of returning to the US. For minor symptoms, you’ll find that it may be wiser to solicit healthcare advise from a local pharmacist first. This is very commonly done in Sydney, and you’ll find it to be a quicker and more efficient way to receive care. We recommend that you get a note from your doctor explaining the medication that you’re taking, as well as the generic name of the medication. Hold onto this in the event that you have any issues with your prescription or need to obtain more medication for any reason. It can be difficult to have medications shipped overseas. If you are currently in counseling, you may want to set up weekly phone calls with your counselor. CAPA can provide you with a list of local counselors and psychologists, or your own psychologist may have some connections overseas. What will I eat? Sydney is an international city, and you’ll find foods and flavors from all over the globe, particularly Asian food which is of a very high standard and low cost. If you are living in an apartment or a residence, you will be responsible for your own meals. In addition to the many supermarkets, there is a plethora of fresh food available, in particular seafood. Try and venture beyond the norm and visit your local butcher, green grocer, or fish market. Australians enjoy a large breakfast. You will find a number of familiar favorites including bacon, eggs, and cereal, though they might be cooked quite differently to home. Lunch is a little later than in the US, usually around 1pm. Dinner is very much a family affair between 6-8pm, and is usually the largest meal of the day. With the many diverse cultures and backgrounds in Sydney, you should be able to find a wide variety of foods at a wide variety of times. Please be forthcoming about any dietary restrictions you might have on your CAPA application, especially if you are living with a host family. CAPA will always do its best to accommodate these needs, but be advised that you may need to purchase some grocery items yourself if they will not be used by the host family. When can I travel and what are the holidays for my program? Please speak with your study abroad advisor at your institution or your CAPA Program Manager for the specific dates of holidays during your program, such as semester breaks or long weekends. As these vacation dates can be subject to change, we suggest that you not make any lengthy travel arrangements until you arrive in country. Your weekends can also be used to travel. Australian train and bus systems are extensive, though with the large distances you may have to travel can be quite time consuming. Discount flight carriers have also grown in popularity and are a convenient way to cover Australia’s vast size. It is important to bear in mind that these flights aren’t always reliable and have rigid luggage weight limitations. How will I get to know the locals? The CAPA center is not affiliated with a university in Sydney and you will not be taking classes with local students. You will, however, find that CAPA’s My Education program will provide you with many opportunities to immerse yourself in local culture. Additionally, the CAPA International Program Services Team can recommend a number of individual opportunities, such as volunteering, that you may want to get involved in overseas. Ultimately, the study abroad experience is as rich as you want it to be. The more you put into it, the more you will take away. How can I find out more on how to prepare?
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