Natalie Tesfai – Fall 16
In what city or town did you grow up in?
San Diego, CA
Where are you currently living?
New York, New York
What was your major?
Double majored in Politics & Environmental Studies
Why did you choose to study away at NYU Sydney?
I chose to study away in Sydney because it was going to give me the opportunity to discover the other side of the world. I was able to spend time in Sydney, travel up to Cairns, travel throughout New Zealand for over a week during our Spring Break, and visit Tasmania. I was studying politics at the time and Australia is similar to the United States in a lot of ways so I was very interested in learning more the Australian political process.
How would you describe your experience at NYU Sydney?
I would describe my experience at NYU Sydney as unforgettable. Not only did I have the opportunity to travel extensively, I also worked on campus alongside Laura, Mark, Marcus and Alex. Having the opportunity to spend time with locals in my work environment was awesome because it helped me gain access to a more authentic perspective and explore Sydney’s culture through learning about their lives. I spent my 22nd birthday in Australia scuba diving for the first time at the Great Barrier Reef (!!!) which, in complete seriousness, was the best day of my life thus far.
What was your favorite class and why?
My favorite class was my Eco-criticism literary class because it was a very unique opportunity to learn about how literary works involving the environment shape the way we perceive our role in the global ecosystem. I had never had the opportunity to take a class like this and it was a great way for me to explore learning about the environment in a qualitative manner rather than quantitatively. The texts we read were very interesting and widely expanded my perspective of how we can contribute to the understanding of environmental issues in ways outside of data/research.
What was your favorite trip, excursion (Student Life or class related)?
My favorite trip was the one I took with classmates to New Zealand. We spent time on both the south island and north island exploring both rural and metropolitan aspects of the country. One of the most amazing stops we made was to Milford Sound and we went on a breath-taking hike in the area. My favorite class related trip was the hike we took as an entire study abroad class.
Where are you currently working/studying?
I’m currently a Sales Manager at Yelp Inc. in New York City.
When thinking about your experience at NYU Sydney what stands out to you most?
There is no way I can choose just one thing! I would say the two things that stand out to me are the warmth of the people I met and the AMAZING food I ate throughout the country. My favorite meal of the day is easily breakfast and I cannot overstate how Australia CRUSHES it in the brunch category. I was surprised and impressed by the level of culinary ingenuity and the freshness of the food. 5 stars.
How has your experience at NYU Sydney impacted life after college?
My experience in Sydney has had a larger impact on my life that I expected. Outside of introducing me to a new part of the world, I gained the confidence of knowing that there are places outside of the U.S. where I won’t just be able to live comfortably, but where I can thrive. I feel much more confident in my ability to adapt to new places and situations which is a huge advantage in a sales role. The confidence I built in my ability to connect with diverse groups of people and adapt has made me a much more confident saleswoman.