Reflection on Exchange 2011

If you ask me what I should not miss in University life, joining an exchange programme is definitely one of them! What I gained from the exchange programme is far more than I expected.

As the only English major student from PolyU, I did not have any companions at the beginning of my exchange. I was very nervous and did not want to get involved in others’ conversations. Later on, I discovered that I had to be proactive in order to walk out of loneliness. I tried to befriend with many local students and most of them were actually very friendly. They showed me around the University and gave me tips on living and studying in Canada. Canadians are really generous and I was deeply moved by their hospitality! Meanwhile, I gradually learned the Canadian accent and colloquial English after getting along with local students every day. Indeed, I witnessed my improvements in English which I am most happy about.

Exchange in University of Waterloo is not just about studying and traveling abroad. To me, it meant much more. I joined many co-curricular activities of the university which enabled me to understand different cultures. For example, the International Student Connection is a team of students from diverse backgrounds. Activities offered varied from cultural performances to trips outside school. I was given the chance to volunteer in these events where I met many students from other parts of the world.

A local student once asked me, “Why do you have the courage to leave home for an exchange programme? It’s so hard for me to leave my family and start everything again in a new environment!” Yes, it is hard at first. Once I gave myself sometime to adapt to the changes, I realized how amazing it is. If we never give it a try, we will never know how far we can reach!

Carrie So

What I knew about Canada before I went there was its cold weather and vastness but I leant more after the exchange programme.

Saint John is a very peaceful city with low pace and relaxing atmosphere which make a big contrast with Hong Kong. It took me some time to adapt to the differences in Saint John, like the high frequency of the snow storms and the bus stop without bus numbers. The life there was very simple but I did love and enjoy it very much! I experienced the cultural differences but not the cultural shocks. I learnt to accept and adapt to it which, I thought, was a way to respect the local and the international students studying at UNBSJ.

In UNBSJ, students were not only sitting and listening, but also questioning and discussing. I was impressed by the effort they made to engage themselves in the class and the time they spent on the discussion board after class. Joining the exchange programme gave me a chance to study other content subjects, like logics, popular music and, information and communication studies. These subjects helped me think more critically, and learn the culture and background of the host country, Canada.

Living and studying in another country is full of challenges but also chances. I was given the chances to plan before I went. I was given the chances to solve problems alone. I was given the chances to experiences the differences. Most importantly, I was given the chances to face challenges which help my personal growth.

Iris Yip

Three months passed, I still miss those relaxing days in University of New Brunswick, Saint John, Canada. This UNB life gives me chances to experience different life styles and communicate with different friends from overseas. The experience indeed pushes us to be much more independent than ever.

In terms of the culture differences, food comes first. As is imagined, Canada is full of fast food or so-called “Junk food”. We might be interested in different kinds of delicious cheesecakes and hamburgers before we went to Canada. However, it is highly possible that we are never inclined to have the western food any more after several days there. Thus we have to cook ourselves, which is a challenge for us who seldom cook at home. In addition, we could build good relationship with our friends, since we always need to co-work with them during daily life. We have also learned a lot about the Canadian cultures and the relation between Canada and America. Since we have taken the subject related to new media, we have gained clearer understanding of the development of Canadian media and advertising.

As for life styles, we all felt a little bit more relaxed due to the wide and natural environment in Canada. Once you step into Saint John, you can smell a pure natural and peaceful city. Lots of trees and endless snow are always around you. You will be shocked at the magic of the nature there and enjoy your cool and comfortable stay in this ancient city. People are not as stressful as in Hong Kong. They are usually crazy at ski, hockey, curling and so forth. In this specific atmosphere, you could think more about your study, your work and even your life goals.

It is absolutely an unforgettable experience in Saint John, the peaceful and marvelous city which we never imagined to be there before.

Wang Yewen

I will never regret to join the exchange program to Southampton University in the UK. It is a fabulous journey. The experiences not only enhanced my global exposure, but also allowed me to obtain a better understanding of myself.

Learn English!
As a language student, the exchange programme provided me a good opportunity to immerse myself into an English speaking country. The classes in the UK required me to communicate and cooperate with local students as well as students from other European countries in English. After school, I needed to deal with everything in English. It was definitely a challenge, but it helped me improve my English effectively. I am now much more confident in speaking English than before.

Travel around!
Exchange program provide different opportunities for me to travel around. I have visited many great places in the UK and Europe. These experiences made me realize how small we are and how big the world is. I used a lot of body languages in Italy and Spain and I found sometimes communication could be such a simple thing. Yes, travelling is not only about having fun but learning on the road.

Make friends!
I have made a lot of friends with different nationalities during the exchange programme. I cooked with a Vietnamese, had coffee with Spanish, discussed with French and went to supermarket with an English. The exchange program also allowed me to establish a close friendship with my fellow Hong Kong classmates. We helped and supported each other throughout the exchange programme. Friendship is one of the greatest things I have gained from exchange. Exchange is such an amazing experience which I will never forget in my life!

Clare Yang

The last five months in Southampton have enriched my experiences and broadened my insights. Not only did I meet people from all over the world, but also I have learnt a lot from meeting them.

I had chances to interact with local students and students from European countries, such as Spain and France. Through talking with them, I have learnt that how their cultures are different from ours. The European students are much more active in classes than Asian students. They are eager to express their opinions in front of the class. I think I have been encouraged by the atmosphere and became more active. I made friends with some of the students there. These students also inspired me a lot on different things.

However, I also encountered some difficulties in Southampton. Firstly, I had to take care of myself and deal with problems on my own. This was at first quite challenging but later on I got used to it and became more independent. I suffered from homesickness in the beginning of the exchange. After talking to friends from Hong Kong and flatmates from England, I felt a lot better. Overall, I regard this exchange experience is rewarding because I can study in the context of a different country and therefore, I was awakened that there are many kinds of things we can learn from other countries. This exchange enables me to experience things in person and train myself.

Chiang Long King

It had always been an urban myth that going to an exchange program helps broaden ones’ horizon and change ones’ life indefinitely. In a more strategic sense of speaking, having the honor to be on an exchange program and showing it on ones curriculum vitae also enhance the competitiveness of oneself.

However, after being on an exchange program myself, a new interpretation emerges, it is not the identity – ‘exchange student’ that can entitle you with a promising and fruitful future but it is the soft skills, as well as, the hard skills that you can acquire in an environment that is completely new and alien to you.

Throughout the entire program, there are undoubtedly hard times, for instances, how to adapt to a new habitat, language, food and culture. In a new place, on an exchange program, we are entitled the chance to blend in the culture, which internally reflected how we had taken everything in Hong Kong for granted. One thing that is very true after an exchange program is that, ones will always be more grateful than before, for every little thing that had happened.

It is at the same time, what have been mentioned above, that made a better person. Every successful entrepreneur knows the key to success and to earn money, but they all as well have a heart that is grateful towards every tiny tokens of kindness towards them. In which being on an exchange program is like a wakeup call for all participants to realize how much they are loved and I am eternally grateful that I have been chosen to be an exchange student and it is by far the best experience that I had in my life.

Dominic Ng

I always wondered, in the past years, especially when struggling to understand the readings and finish the homework, that one day I could take the opportunity to experience the life in a foreign university, but when it came, I felt numb. There is no ecstasy and no fear, only the numbness in my mind. “Now I am in UK. Good morning everyone, my name is Christianna.” That was all I want to say in the very beginning in the last semester in Britain, and this is what I want to say here and now. Exchange programme is just a part of the life of “the chosen ones”, and what we can do is to face it, to explore what this part has.

Although our identity was "exchange students" in the semester, the only people always noticing the difference were us. From the professors, teaching assistants to our fellow classmates, we were just “students”, and all the criteria were same to us. Personally I did not expect some special treatment, and I knew that I still need to work hard, but I never imagined how hard I should work to fill the requirement. In the term time, I was not expected to finish the readings – but the only option I had was to finish the readings, or I could not understand the content of next lecture. Peer pressure in the class in UK was much heavier than in Hong Kong. When I saw all the students with their books or photocopied books and notes in the discussion, I felt the need of taking notes when doing my homework.

Staying with students from all over the world was really interesting. Every year University of Southampton receives students from all over the world. Participating in the exchange programme allow me to have a close contact with young people from other countries. In the language course, students from Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Romania and Malaysia could sit together and talk about different lifestyles; some of our classmates even offered us some tips when we planned to travel to their countries.

"Experience. Exploration. Enlightenment" If one day the university needs a slogan for the exchange programme, I may provide this one. Life is about exploration in the world that is unknown to us. After the exploration, we can get something new more or less, and maybe these new ideas could change our values and life. My sharing is also about my personal exploration and thought in the semester. For once or twice I tried to summarize what I have gained, but I could not get a complete and perfect answer. I got too much, visible and invisible. The only thing for sure is that I would not be stressful and nervous if I were given another chance to study abroad. I hope so.

Xia Mengying

My half year of exchange experience in Britain was definitely more than the 12GB of photos on my computer. The places I’ve been to, the time I’ve spent, the people I’ve met and known are all fresh in my mind, lingering in my dreams and memories from time to time.

I love to embrace the challenges both in academic studies and in daily life. British students are much more active in learning than I expected. The passion that they showed in class and in discussions outside the classroom touched me deeply, encouraging me to get more involved in the courses. Living in a non-catered dormitory, I learned to cook for myself and manage my own time, which sounds simple but difficult indeed.

Thanks to the long one-month Easter holiday, I travelled with my two classmates to continental Europe in eight countries. Following our romantic dreams about France, we went to the Cote d'Azur in Nice, Eiffel Tower in Paris and the heart of the Perfume industry in Grasse. After showering in the twinkling music in Austria, we set foot on the wealthiest part of Europe in Switzerland. Czech and Hungary displayed a totally different facet of Europe, with their aged building and a faint smell of smoke in the air. Germany gave us the greatest surprise in the journey when it presented the most organized and efficient society I have ever known. The trip ended with a brilliant sprinkle of tulips in the Netherlands as we luckily arrived in the best spring season. I truly doubt if I would have another wonderful chance like this for the rest of my life! The one suggestion that I would give to the students who are expecting an unforgettable experience abroad is to fully indulge oneself into the local lives and never be afraid to try new things. You will always be amazed by your potentials and your luck that brings you all the fantastic experiences which go beyond your imagination!

Jennifer, ZHANG

To me, exchange is all about independence. I live independently, study independently, and travel independently. As a mainland student, I am used to live independently in Hong Kong. However, living in Denmark is a lot different from Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, I can always find delicious Chinese restaurants around the student hall. However, when living in Denmark, the only way I can have Chinese food is to cook by myself. The cooking process is like an adventure, you never know what you will get until the end. My cooking skills have improved a lot during the last five months.

The studying life is also different from Hong Kong, and requires more independence. In PolyU, a lot of work is done within groups. In Southern Denmark University (SDU), most work is assigned to individuals instead of groups. There are no seminars or tutorials. But I didn’t find any difficulties in studying in SDU because I can always find help from my classmates and the lecturers. My independent learning skills are also improved during my stay in SDU.

Travelling has always been an important part of the exchange life. My most memorable travelling experience is my tour to Greece. I used an afternoon to plan my trip and then started my trip the next morning. The whole trip is full of surprises. Though it is problematic to ask other tourists to take pictures for me, I still enjoy my tour as a single traveler. I feel like I am much braver after going through these adventurous independent travelling.

Sophie Shi

Time flies. It is hard to imagine that my academic exchange has finally come to an end. I still remember how excited and nervous I was when I knew that I was offered this exchange opportunity. Going to Denmark for the exchange was the first time that I went to a country with language barrier. It is also my first time leaving my family and friends for such a long time. I was so worried what it would be like. However, all my worries are unnecessary and I really enjoyed my stay in Denmark.

Other than meeting, working and having fun with Danish, I am so glad that I lived in such a diverse neighborhood. I lived with people from different nationalities; we talked about our lives in Denmark and differences in culture. We went to picnic, barbeque and sometimes we even had party. Everyone just tries to grab their chance to have fun and learn from others’ culture. In these five months, I realize how ignorance I was. There were so many things that I did not know. I learnt and experienced things more than my entire life. It was full of happiness and fun every day. I love this exchange experience and I wish it will never come to an end. It was really an amazing and unique experience and I am happy that I am a part of it.

Some people say, ‘Denmark is the happiest country in the world!’ It is so true. I believe one never knows if he never experiences on his own. I am so glad that I have the opportunity to observe and understand why people give this conclusion.

Zoe Ng