Tuesday morning, Michelle and I decided to go see the sunrise on Bondi again. Every time we go it is an entirely new experience because no sunrise is ever identical. We got so blessed because just as the sun began to peak out from the horizon there was a pack of dolphins that passed right in front of us. I couldn’t believe that we got so lucky and it was a great start to the week. After that, we went down to the water, grabbed a little snack, and then went to swim. Michelle had class at 12 that day so I stayed on the beach longer by myself and just worked on catching up my journal. I really love to spend every second possible at the beaches here because they are one of a kind. I am not looking forward to returning to the Long Island Sound beaches at home!
On Friday, we had a meeting with Tony, a Bucknell alumni, who now does real estate here in Sydney. His story was inspiring and he was an extremely compelling speaker. He was in ROTC at Bucknell and then served in the army as a ranger working narcotics operations. Tony really emphasized taking every opportunity possible if you think theres a slight chance that you might like it. My number one takeaway from his conversation was to truly care for the people you are doing business with because it just makes all the difference. Afterwards, we went to lunch on the Rocks and sat right under the bridge. It was was a beautiful, clear day and Professor Alexander suggested that we take the ferry back to darling harbor. We got to pass underneath the bridge and see the opera house from the other side of the water which was pretty cool.
Sunday, we were really lucky to be able to go to tour two wineries to learn about their business models, exports, and the challenges they face in a competitive market. It was amazing to get a behind the scenes look into how these companies create their products and what aspects makes each wine unique. One of the most surprising facts we learned was that there is actually a vine sunscreen that helps reflect the strong UV rays (especially with increasing temperatures due to climate change). Even the smallest change in weather patterns can impact the quality of the grape and therefore the wine. It was also interesting to hear about each winery’s commitment to sustainability and reducing their waste. We all had a great time touring the venues and left knowing a lot more about the business of wineries!
