CHENG Yiu-hung Curtis || BSc (Hons) Geomatics (Land Surveying) || Public Power Corporation, Greece

Greece, the cradle of the Western Civilization, is where popular world heritage sites such as The Acropolis and Mount Athos are situated. Although Cheng Yiu-hung Curtis did not visit these renowned sites during the two months he stayed in the mountainous European country, he had a meaningful trip to Greece which enhanced his strengths and knowledge.

The second year student, majoring in land surveying, worked as an assistant land surveyor at the Public Power Corporation of Greece, a major electric power company supplying electricity to the country. “My responsibility was to carry out field work and to collect data. We usually did topographic surveys on the site,” Curtis says.

No Pain No Gain  

To conduct the survey, Curtis had to visit the company’s mining area and power plants in Megalopolis, a town in the western part of the country. It was his first time being in a mine and it was no easy work.

“Working in the mining site was hard work which involved lots of physical labour. I got dirty and sweaty most of the time. Every night I had to wash myself thoroughly as I was covered with dust and dirt. After the shower, the tub was filled with dark-coloured water,” says Curtis and laughs.

Though the work in the mine was tough and grueling, Curtis thinks it was all worth it as he has benefited immensely from the experience. “Through the internship, my problem solving skills were greatly enhanced. It also boosted my confidence in expressing myself in English,” he says. “Also, I learnt some new softwares which are not widely used in Hong Kong,” Curtis says contently.

Although he spent most of his time in the mining area, the Hong Kong student came across different cultures and had some great times with other trainees from different regions of the world after work. “I met a trainee from Jordan, an Arab country in Southwest Asia where most citizens are Islamists. Being an Islamist, my Jordan friend does not eat pork and never wastes a thing,” Curtis recalls. Curtis says he now not only has a better knowledge of the mine industry, but his global sense has been enriched as well.