Federico Students Go Down Under
Although students who are training to receive a license in cosmetology do not normally have the chance to study abroad, Federico Beauty Institute takes pride in providing students with opportunities and experiences that are not available elsewhere. Nine Federico students took part in an experience in December that will always stand out in their minds. They went to Australia, where they studied at two Pivot Point International schools for a week.
The trip started with a 15-hour flight from Los Angeles on December 5, 2009. Upon arriving in Melbourne, Australia on December 6, they started sightseeing immediately. An Orientation Sightseeing Tour through the city, with a visit to the Immigration Museum, took up the whole first day. Students enjoyed dinner at the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. The restaurant is actually a working tramcar. Passengers dine on a five-course dinner inside as it traverses the streets of Melbourne.
On the second day of their stay in Melbourne, students enjoyed a safari ride through the Serendip Open Range Sanctuary. They also visited Brisbane National Park. Students were able to view native animals that included kangaroos, emus and koalas. More than 150 species of birds live at the Sanctuary, and the National Park is the largest wildflower habitat in the state. On their last full day in Melbourne, students paid a visit to Pivot Point Academy in the morning where they studied cuts, colors and hair extensions. In the afternoon, they explored the city.
The students flew from Melbourne to the largest city in Australia, Sydney, on December 9th. The Sydney Aquarium, containing more than 12,000 aquatic life forms, was a stop on the first day in the city. The students stayed at the Park Regis Sydney hotel that night and dined at the "I'm Angus" steakhouse. The following day, students toured the city, seeing a number of sites, such as the Town Hall, Queen Victoria Building, Botanic Gardens, and Bondi Beach. Following a lunch cruise through Sydney Harbor, students visited the renowned Sydney Opera house. Here they were able to take a tour in which they learned about the history and architecture of the building.
Students attended Pivot Point Academy on Friday and Saturday, where Australian instructors taught them cutting and coloring techniques. A long hair demonstration and student workshops took place on Saturday as well.
The popular “Bronte to Bondi” walk is the last of the field trips on this study. The path for this walk is two miles long and follows the coast's shores and cliffs of sandstone. The view was spectacular, and the students were able to view the rock carvings created by the indigenous population. The last stop was the most famous beach in Australia, Bondi Beach. A nice view over the beach at the restaurant Bondi Trattoria accompanied dinner. After dinner, the students went back to the hotel to prepare for the flight home.
On December 13, 2009, the students returned home, eager to share their photos, stories and knowledge with other members of the Federico family. Federico Beauty Institute plans to offer students a series of study trips abroad and this is the first trip of the series. Keep watching for information about upcoming trips!