Studying abroad is not usually an opportunity that is available for students who are training for a cosmetology license, but Federico Beauty Institute prides itself on offering students opportunities and experiences that they can’t find anywhere else. In December, nine Federico students experienced the trip of a lifetime, as they travelled to Australia for a week to study at two Pivot Point International schools.

Students began the journey with a 15 hour flight out of Los Angeles on December 5, 2009. They arrived in Melbourne, Australia on December 6th, and began sight-seeing right away. The first day was filled with an Orientation Sightseeing Tour of the city, including a stop at the Immigration Museum. After checking into the Travelodge Southbank Melbourne hotel and exploring the city, students had dinner on the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. The restaurant is a working tramcar that travels through the streets of Melbourne as passengers enjoy a five course dinner inside!

Day two in Melbourne consisted of a safari ride through the Serendip Open Range Sanctuary and a visit to Brisbane National Park. Students saw kangaroos, koalas, emus, and other native animals. The Sanctuary is home to over 150 species of birds and the National Park is the state’s largest wildflower habitat. During the third, and final, full day in Melbourne students visited Pivot Point Academy in the morning, studying cuts, colors, and hair extensions, then explored the city in the afternoon.

On December 9th students left Melbourne and flew to Sydney, the country’s largest city. The first day in Sydney was spent at the Sydney Aquarium, where over 12,000 animals reside. That evening students checked into the Park Regis Sydney hotel and enjoyed dinner at the steakhouse “I’m Angus.” The next day, students enjoyed a city tour that included the Town Hall, Queen Victoria Building, Botanic Gardens, Bondi Beach, and many other sites. After a lunch cruise through Sydney Harbor, students toured the famous Sydney Opera House, learning about the history and architecture of the building.

On Friday and Saturday students attended Pivot Point Academy, where they studied cutting and coloring techniques with the Australian instructors. Saturday also included a long hair demonstration and student workshops.

The final excursion of the trip was the famous “Bronte to Bondi” walk. This walk follows a coastal trail for two miles along sandstone cliffs and beaches. Students enjoyed the view and saw Aboriginal rock carvings. The walk ended at Bondi Beach, the most famous beach in Australia. Dinner was served overlooking the beach at Bondi Trattoria. After dinner students headed back to the hotel to pack up and get ready for a return flight home.

The group arrived home on December 13, 2009, ready to share their stories, photos, and new Pivot Point skills with the rest of the Federico family. This is the first in a series of study abroad trips that Federico Beauty Institute will be offering for students. Stay tuned for more information about upcoming trips!