For a few weeks in January, 2003, Susanne Klein was rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s top cyclists.

Susanne, age, was doing work experience with Australian Major Events, a State Government funded agency designed to bring the best in arts, sport and entertainment to Adelaide.

Susanne says working on the six-day International Bike Race, the Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under, was “huge”.

“I was part of the initial Event Planning/Organising team, then, at the same time, worked on other events such as the Mitsubishi Adelaide International Horse Trials, a three-day international horse event,” she said.

“During the actual Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under I worked as a media assistant to the PR Manager at the Media Centre”.

The transition to a foreign land and language was made easier through a two-week course at the SA Adelaide Language Centre.

“These two weeks were extremely useful – for one thing I got to know many people from other countries at the Language Centre and I got used to the Australian accent,” she said.

“During the two weeks we learnt a lot about the land, the people and the politics of Australia, since lessons were based on topical issues and events and we were encouraged to participate in interesting discussions.”

Susanne says she felt at home in Adelaide “almost immediately”.

“Although Adelaide is a capital city it is not isolating nor unfriendly,” she said.

“Adelaide is a city of pubs, cafes, restaurants, superb cuisine and excellent wines – it is known as the “20 minute” city because it takes only 20 minutes to get to the wonderful beaches, the Adelaide Hills or even to an original German settlement called Hahndorf.”

Susanne says she was “never bored” on weekends, because “all manner of entertainment, from nature parks to sport to parties” was available.

“In and around Adelaide there are some really great wildlife parks where you can even go up and pat the animals, wonderful beaches and in two hours you can even find yourself in the middle of the Outback!!!,” she said.

“A trip outback is an unforgettable experience and something I would highly recommend.”