UTS Think Global

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Disclaimer: All blog posts are written by students and do not necessarily reflect the views of UTS staff.

  • Sustainable development in developing countries – Indonesia

    Sustainable development in developing countries – Indonesia

    I applied to this program and I was not sure if I will attend or not, because I was doing my internship last semester and my workplace asked me to stay for the summer break. This program was in the city of Surabaya, organised by ITS University.

    This exchange program was one of the best experiences in my life. I made new friends from many countries and learned more about my degree. My major is Civil and Environmental Engineering. After undertaking this program, I became more motivated about my course. I learned so much about the sustainable development in Indonesia. I went to Malaysia in 2014 in another BUiLD exchange program and learned about managing water in tropical countries. I would like to thank BUiLD for giving me this great opportunity for the second time and having the faith in me as a representative of UTS and Australia. I really appreciate it.

    I arrived two days early in Surabaya to have some relaxing time and do some shopping. I did not find it difficult at all to find the ITS volunteers at the airport who drove us to the hotel and invited us for dinner with Mr. Wahyu (program coordinator). I felt welcomed and people were very friendly with me.

    In the opening ceremony, volunteers performed the Saman dance, a traditional Indonesian dance that participants of my sub-course had to perform at the end of the program. I found it really fun and enjoyable to watch and perform.

    After that, participants and volunteers were grouped in small groups and as an ice breaking activity, we were asked to find something in common between all the members of the group. My group found that everyone was wearing a watch. I had so much fun during these activities as well as the performance that we did during the welcoming dinner. We danced, laughed, had a memorable night and found out more about each other. I felt privileged when I was asked to represent Australia for the newspaper photo session.

    The traditional games were great. I like how everyone took the games in a serious manner and tried their best to make their team win. I started my team’s first game and won the ‘jumping in a bag’ activity. I was so happy and my team was proud of me. At the end of the day, everyone was happy and we took plenty of pictures as usual and went back to the hotel for dinner.

    The city tour was amazing and I found out more about Surabaya. I learned how heroic this city is and how its people freed their city from the Japanese. I also learned that Surabaya means the shark and the crocodile, representing the typical fights between the two animals in the waterways around the city. I enjoyed my time in the museum and took many pictures.

    The program was very well organised. The classes were not long and I found the content interesting to learn. The teachers used videos, fun activities and group discussions and presentations to make the sessions more entertaining and beneficial.

    I learned some Indonesian words, which were similar to Malaysian. I also learned a traditional song and dance of Surabaya. Participants were given the chance to make their own tempe (a traditional Indonesian food made from soybeans). I found it delicious and needs creativity to make as people can add the ingredients they want to make it.

    One of the most memorable days of the program was the Mount Bromo visit and water rafting. We had to wake up at 3am, get into jeeps and arrive at a hilly area to watch the sunrise while looking at Mount Bromo from a distance. I forgot how sleepy and tired I was as soon as I saw the spectacular view. The smoke produced by the volcanic actions was visible. I have never been that close from an active volcanic mountain.

    After that, we had breakfast and went to the bottom of Mount Bromo where there were many horses to hire souvenirs sellers. My first experience of horseback riding was an unforgettable one. I enjoyed every second of being on top of the horse. The view from the top of Mount Bromo was breath taking.

    Right after that, we went back to the bus and slept for 3 hours before we arrived at the water-rafting place. Again, as a first time experience, I had a great time in the waves of the river.

    The visit to the city mayor’s house was unforgettable. Even though the mayor was busy at that night and could not attend, the service and welcoming of the coordinators and the people from the government reflect their generosity and values.

    Towards the final days of the program, participants had to prepare a presentation highlighting the sustainable aspects of their universities and countries. Every student was allocated in a different
    faculty. I was allocated in the business management faculty and the students of the class were very well behaved, good listeners and showed interest about UTS and Australia.

    The closing ceremony followed with some good food, speeches and videos about our journey that had ended. I liked the idea that every participant received a CD with all the pictures taken throughout the program. We also received appreciation certificates.

    Right after the closing ceremony, I went shopping with some friends for the last time and took many photos. At night, all participants and volunteers went to a karaoke place and made the last night of the program a very entertaining and memorable one.

    I always felt a sense of belonging being in this program. People called me brother and I really felt that I have formed a second family in Indonesia. Staff and volunteers always made sure that participants are fine and making the most out of the program. I will never forget how friendly, simple and welcoming Indonesians are. I will never forget Surabaya, its history and great people. It is not a tourism city like Bali or Jakarta, so people used to stare at me all the time because they are not used to seeing foreigners. Some people even asked to take pictures with me, which made me feel like a celebrity.

    Thank you Indonesia & ITS for having me. Thank you BUiLD for this great experience.

    I am glad I took this opportunity.

    Fadi Faraj, Global Short Programs Student

  • My trip to India

    My trip to India

    My first time in India was an experience I will most likely never forget. The places I saw, the travel I did every day and the people I met while over there made my experience in India as part of the program a better one. I got to see some very interesting and beautiful places during the program and experienced things I have never done before.

    Initially, on the first day, I saw some similarities between China and India which I didn’t think would be so similar. The way people drove, the roads, the intersections all made me think back to the cities in China and how chaotic it can get. As the program progressed, I could see some differences between the two countries which I wouldn’t have known without experiencing it first-hand.

    Our guest houses were located in an area a few hours out from Mumbai, in the countryside, which was nice since there was little traffic noise and a great place to relax after the long days that were rescheduled on the itinerary. It was also a decent location in regards to public transport with the train station being only a 10-15 minute walk. The staffs that were in charge of the group and making sure that everything was alright were brilliant. I could say the same about the food since everyone was catered for and those with dietary needs were never left out. The food was so nice and delicious that we even got a chance to make our last dinner before we left to come home.

    Traveling by public transport in India can be a nightmare, especially during peak hours. The trains were packed and the way people got on and off the trains is an experience that you can really only get to experience in India, getting off the train as it comes into the station and getting on as it is leaving, while the train is still moving. Sometimes it was difficult getting on and off the train since the train would be packed and people are trying to get on and off the train, especially since the train only stops for a few seconds.

    Overall, the experience was a fun one, especially with the group of friends that went as well. Some we didn’t know until the trip and are now friends that share the experience I felt while on this program in India. I learnt many things and saw and experienced things for the first time. I do wish that the program was a bit longer since there are still things I would like to see and do as well as learn over in India. If all international programs run allow us this much exposure to the cultures of the different countries, I would love to go on more to learn and experience more. Besides the itinerary being a little packed and tiring sometimes, the exposure that was given to us in regards to Indian Traditional Medicine was brilliant and I do hope it gets better and better.

    Global Short Programs Student

  • ISAC – Traditional Medicine Program

    This week our group attended Dr Pisal’s clinic twice on Tuesday and Friday. During this time he lectured us on the basics of Ayurveda – the Doshas, Malas and Dhatus – and their specific components. We also observed Dr Pisal treating a patient for a migraine using two leeches. He explained to us how he questioned the patient and then developed a treatment plan using dietary therapy (no junk foods or fast foods) as well as lifestyle advice and leech therapy.

    As well as this we visited the Herbal Hills display farm. This farm was 15 acres and had several displays of organically grown Ayurvedic herbs, Gir cows, Ghee processing facilities as well as fruit and vegetable gardens. It was very interesting to see how the farmers used all parts of the Gir cattle – including the urine and faeces – to facilitate their organic farming process.

    We also travelled to the National institute of Naturopathy where we were introduced to how naturopathy is used in India. Four practitioners lectured us on different topics. These included fasting, yoga and Chinese Medicine. We were also shown how Naturopathy includes water baths, colonic irrigation, massage and acupuncture and how the specific equipments are used in a clinical setting.

    One afternoon we visited Rahemiya Unanic Clinic where we were introduced to the Greco-Roman style of Unani medicine and how it uses the ‘four humors’ and ‘four temperaments’ to diagnose patients. Unfortunately we were unable to observe any treatments here.

    On two afternoons this week we visited Ms Sampan Patil’s yoga, meditation and pranayam centre. This was extremely interesting as we were taught some yoga and pranayam in the Iyengar method which I had not previously studied. She spoke to us during the second visit of cultivating a ‘yoga mind’ and the best ways to do this.

    The second week was filled with several varied activities. We attended Dr Rajput’s Ayurveda clinic and explored several panchakarma techniques including Bhasti, Pottahli and Shirodhara, We observed two case histories being taken on other students and then observed and practiced the techniques.

    We also attended Dr Raje’s Ayurvedic clinic , which was extremely interesting. We observed him consulting with patients and prescribing herbs for varied dysfunctions such as hypertension, hyperthyroidism, diabetes and stomach problems. Dr Raje spoke to us about pulse-taking procedures and how to examine the tongue properly. We also spoke about the herbal decoction and medicines that he was preparing on his balcony by covering herbs in a decoction and then drying them.

    We also spent an hour with a homeopathic doctor late one night and she gave us a very solid introduction to the principles of homeopathy. However, it did take her a little while to warm up to our introduction and the next group were able to see a powerpoint presentation which would have been very useful.

    The group attended the Herbal Hills processing plant as well. It was fascinating to see how they made medicated ghee and all the pill and herb processing machinery.

    On Wednesday we travelled to Mumbai and observed the Barefoot Acupuncturists at the Dharavi and Bhandra clinics. This was a highlight of the trip for me as we were able to observe how acupuncture is used at a grassroots level and for a large amount of people.

    What appealed most about this clinic was how open the practitioners were with how they used acupuncture to treat. They talked us through their diagnostic method and how they treated a wide number of patients and conditions easily. We were also able to observe a large number of cases.

    This is quite different to the other placements that we completed. At Dr Piscal’s placement we observed one patient over our two days with him and with Dr Rajput we only observed three simple procedures being performed. At Dr Raje’s clinic we observed 3.5 consultations despite spending most of a day at the clinic and not getting home until 10pm.

    I think that the main learning accomplishment of the week was attending the Barefoot Acupuncture clinic. I have a deep interest in social health and would like to one day open a clinic that is very similar to the one that we visited in Bhandra.

    Global Short Programs Student

  • Traditional Medicine in India

    Arriving into Mumbai to meet ISAC and the rest of the group on the 11th January was slightly confusing due to a café changing name to something else and we didn’t know where to go. We eventually spotted several fellow students and we grouped together and hoped for the best – which was great because Raksah found us all. She welcomed us with water bottles, biscuits and lollies – the best gift to supply us with for the long bus journey into the unknown.

    Our main focus is on traditional Indian Medicine. The orientation on 12th was extremely interesting and helpful information about Indian culture, ISAC’s expectations of us a plus extremely entertaining stories from Aaron which kept the long morning enjoyable.

    The first day on clinic placements was at Dr Pisal’s Ayurveda Clinic. He had no appointments booked for the morning that availed us time to discover more about Ayurveda. I found similarities between Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda in regard to pulse diagnosis. At times it was difficult to follow due to my mental fatigue and a slight language barrier (although Rakash was a tremendous interpreter). Yoga and Pranayam later in the day was a welcome change from all travel, sitting and listening. Ms Sampan Patil fabulously led us through traditional postures that helped relieve tension in my back muscles.

    The 14th January saw us travel to the National Institute of Naturopathy in Pune. A wonderful place for hydrotherapy, yoga, nutritional guidance and acupuncture. We were led on a tour of the treatment rooms and spent most of the day listening to presentations on the topic’s mentioned above. I found the fasting information interesting namely, the connection between lifestyle diseases and inflammation in the body, how fasting is defined as total rest – on every level (physical, physiological, sensory and mental). The presentation on yoga and breathing interested me especially the exercises to correct hormone imbalances (chin pulled into thyroid then released and extending chin up). The next topic was all about the benefits of mud – the benefits being increasing calcium and minerals (external and internal treatments). Magnetotherapy – when sleeping do not position head to the north instead sleep with head to the south and feet to the north for improved circulation and sleep.
    The downside regarding this visit was the lack of hands on experience or simply receiving a treatment personally.
    We then travelled to the Uani placements and again this modality was fascinating, originating from Greece, taking aspects of Ayurveda. Again, pulse diagnosis is used to determine imbalance within the person but also to determine personality traits which can lead to particular diseases.

    On the 15th January we all travelled to Herbal Hills, unfortunately the factory was closed but we spent time looking at the organic herbs growing on the farm. A beautiful and functional farm, we experienced cow urine, gee and wandered around the grounds. Afterward, we travelled to the Unani Clinic – Herbs & Hakim Unani Clinic. Extremely interesting listening to the doctor’s presentation. I kept wondering what my dosha is?

    The 16th January was another morning with Dr Pisal’s. We walked in on him treating a patient with leeches for a migraine headache. Two leeches were placed on the right side of her temple. Dr Pisal advised that leeches only feed on stagnate old blood. The patient confirmed the treatment was indeed easing her pain.
    Yoga with Ms Sampan was again fantastic. Although I struggled through the middle section of the class due to tiredness. I felt much better for not giving up and finishing the class.
    We ended the day with a party – the yellow house group joined us with henna painting and delicious food. Unfortunately I was so tired I didn’t have the strength to dance to the groovy music.

    I haven’t been culturally shocked too much – the food is delicious, sleeping arrangements are fine, as is the bathroom facilities. Perhaps I have travelled other parts of the world that have very poor conditions, I’m finding my stay here comfortable, I feel very supported and cared for by the staff.

    My plan this week is to experience traditional medicine by either having a consultation (more than happy to pay for it) or getting a treatment of some sort (more the better). I’m looking forward to the 4 classes of yoga next week plus the barefoot acupuncturists in Mumbai. If we can, I would greatly appreciate joining a tour of the Mumbai slums while we are there.

    My ultimate aim before I leave India is find out what my dosha is.

    The second week of the program saw us being more hands on in our clinic placements. We were able to experience traditional medicine from another perspective that I personally found helpful in putting the concepts into practice.

    Monday 19th – Dr Rajput’s Ayurveda Clinic
    The session started with theory and ended with a demonstration of herbal compresses applied to a painful knee. Interesting to watch how the compress was prepared especially the way the leaves were fried to release the healing properties.

    Yoga class was difficult today. I have to admit the mats we used to practice yoga on were filthy. The local ladies all brought their own mats and I was very jealous. The yoga today didn’t seem to have much of a warm up and as a result I finished with an ache in my shoulder from too many ‘lifts’.

    Tuesday 20th – Dr Pisal’s Ayuveda Clinic
    Our group walked in on one of Dr Pisal’s clients having a leech therapy treatment. Interesting facts regarding leeches: they only feed on old stagnate blood, they fall off on their own when they’re done and they are drained and reused within 7 days. The client seems relaxed (her first experience with Ayuveda) and said her migraine pain was easing.

    Dr Raje’s Ayuveda clinic was fascinating. He allowed us to feel his client’s pulse and demonstrated where the doshas are. Dr Raje also felt my pulse and told me what was happening in my body and how to fix it simply without medication. I am still practicing what he suggested and am finding benefit from it. Worthwhile clinic and experience for me, highly impressed.

    Wednesday 21st – Barefoot Acupuncturist Mumbai
    This clinic was amazing. The exercises they teach in the waiting room to the treatment client’s receive is truly inspirational. No fuss, basic health care that benefits all people with no discrimination. The client files which we had free access to was beneficial for background knowledge.

    The slum tour was my highlight of the day. Walking through the alley ways seeing how families live and where they work was eye opening especially after witnessing the same demographic in the acupuncture clinic – I could see how they would get the aliments they do. The tour showed how the slums are a thriving business and showed us all the programs run within the area to benefit the community.

    Thursday 22nd – Dr Raje’s Ayuveda clinic this morning was again interesting – seeing clients and asking questions about different healing approaches.

    I had a treatment with Dr Rajput, I ended up very oily but it was relaxing and I’m happy I had the opportunity experience it.

    Friday 23rd – Cooking class, graduation and closing up was good. I was happy to stop for the day and have a break from traveling to placements each day.

    It was a full program, I enjoyed my time with ISAC. The staff incredibly helpful and give so much more than just shuffling us from place to place.

    Kelli Howard

    Global Short Programs Student

  • Introduction to traditional Indian medicine

    11/1/15-24/1/15

    During the first week of being in a new and foreign country for the first time I would have never expected to be in such a busy and where times will always delay in a place like India. It’s not a surprise that being unpunctual is a big issue including the train times, waking up for departure and no appointment policies.

    Many activities have happened during the five days of India such as going around rickshaws to various Ayurveda clinics, herbal consultation unani and walking through herbal hills farm was an amazing experience to see the alternatives of healing to be used. Listened to the introduction lectures of Ayurvedic healing, traditional yoga, acupuncture and prachakarma while it was only to be seen once as we could’ve kept a copy or handout of the slides as a reference to futher increase our understanding of traditional Indian medicine. Did some shopping on the way for souvenirs and self gifts such as a stainless steel lunch box with tight seals.

    Out of the new experiences I learnt on the way. I was able to perform a lotus meditation where my legs were crossed up to my hips. I enjoy doing yoga in India as Australia would obviously not have the best ways of learning to improve. However I would prefer to have less yoga lessons and instead swap it over for more time in the clinics and getting a hands on range of activities to apply medicine and assists the practitioner in any way. Moreover I would prefer a translation of the patient’s complaint as they choose to speak in Hindi as I can understand they’re complaints are confidential. With the handouts of the ISAC program looked at I wished to have a hindi class as I usually spent each night staying up to write the hindi alphabet alone and practice reading signs from each station as I pass by. It gets more and more intense everyday at the peak hour getting shoved and pulled by the help of friends and fortunately there was a women’s carriage for the prevention of abuse. On he bright side meeting local Indians on the way has lightened up my experience as we exchange cultural aspects of life such as the security levels of the railway system and even trading currencies with one guy.

    India was scary at first with beggars and boarding trains with a land full of dark skinned people. Surprisingly it took a few days to blend in with the new culture. It was such a massive culture shock when the Indians were crossing the train tracks and jumping off trains to get across the station quickly. Even I adopted there way onetime just to get through the tracks to the other side due to time management. I don’t enjoy the fact that the custom of shopping requires to have bargaining options while the possibilities of getting ripped off hard. The culture shock however has many similar aspects to other parts of the Asia continent I have travelled and hence has not made a strong impact on me. Getting stared at for the whole train ride as an obvious foreigner made me feel uncomfortable at first especially when I was texting on the phone or reading a book. In the end I would get used to it and move on. Using my SIM card for 3G internet data has been the worst so far as I have spent about 2000 rupees in less than 5 days just to be able to contact friend and family each morning and night. The wifi connection took longer than expected and I wished for the Internet at the yellow guesthouse not to be any slower than my 3G.

    My highlight of the trip so far has been mavashi (auntie) cooking breakfast, lunch and especially dinner for all of us. Living on the vegetarian culture has been a delightful experience as well as a challenge to not have meat for two weeks. I thought I would never enjoy india’s vegetarian culture but here I am enjoying every last bit of mavashi’s cooking.

    For my plans of next week I am looking forward to the slum tour of mumbai and finishing off the rest of the yoga lessons as I improve each time. Hopefully I would be able to know a few more words of hindi to get around whilst learning to read all the characters off by heart. Taking more group photos, meeting more fellow Indians, learning to massage patients, and knowing to bargain prices at the right time would be my expectations for the upcoming week.

    On the second week of the program we went through some major change of plans to skip out yoga and go to other clinics around the Malavli. We went to praful’s clinic to do some hands on activities such as applying herbal Ayurvedic healing with some oil on my wrist and bandaged to support the oil from drying out. Also had some mock consultations for Ben, Vincent, and Kelli to understand behind what indications of disease are identified from each question asked. Had our cooking class as we learnt to make some traditional Indian food for the first time and I really enjoyed it. Praful performed Ayurvedic oil treatment on Kelli for 30 minutes of silence while pouring the oil on her forehead. On my last day (23rd Friday January) we went to herbal hills manufacture faculty to see the processing of pharmaceutical herbs and packages. Arun had us a tour at Kaivalyadhama institute to buy some souvenirs and see the history of yoga and Ayurveda.

    What I learnt from this week was how the practitioners at the barefoot acupuncture clinic have combined electro, moxa and acupunture altogether on the same patient in a single treatment for just 20 rupees or free of charge. Learnt to massage Dave’s left knee for joint pain using herbs fried in oil and wrapped in a socket.

    Highlight of this week goes to the slum tour in Mumbai city where I got to experience the poverty environment and how the labour was demonstrated. The culture shock I experience his week was where the slums work on hard labour at 200 rupees for 12 hours. Walking through the slums was a struggle with all the small and marrow spaces of the place, however we were safe with the tour guide and in a separate small group of 6. The culture shock from the train rides last week has settled off my fears as I face it as a norm.

    Unfortunately this is the last week of the program where I will be flying back to Sydney tomorrow. This program has been an exciting experience for me, however here should be handouts beforehand for every day. I hope to have another program similar to this and experience the lively cultures of traditional medicine. Thanks ISAC.

    Global Short Programs Student

  • Ellen in India

    Ellen in India

    I recently spent some time in India studying social entrepreneurship and rural markets, and this video chronicles some of the escapade. Enjoy!

    Ellen Wiltshire

    Global Short Programs Student

  • The Social Entrepreneurship in India

    The Social Entrepreneurship in India

    I have come to know a society established on scientific, geographic and medical discovery. We measure success by pushing and testing our capabilities, hopeful that it will gratify a method for progress. For centuries, success has been about uncovering or discovering an unknown; it is the key to evolution, prosperity and happiness. Travel is a time for discovery and exploring unknowns. Some people may say they find it in themselves or others, say they find it in the world around them.

    Travelling gave me an expansive feeling of how much in the world there is to discover, it is immeasurable! The more I learn, the more I realise there is so much that we do not know. The quest for knowledge is never ending. Travelling and studying in India made me realise that University students, the world lies at our feet.

    The Social Entrepreneurship: Bottom of the Pyramid and Rural markets course indicated to me that helping others to exercise justice and liberty through Social Entrepreneurship might in fact be the most relevant form of aid work of the Common Era. Social entrepreneurship aims to empower and facilitate growth within disadvantaged communities through providing them with the skills and resources to develop business independently. It works in close proximity with
    education and trade.

    Social Entrepreneurship doesn’t just think about people in need but it also
    considers what people need, making it contrary and more relevant than other forms of aid such as charity work and philanthropy. Social entrepreneurship entails the lending of capital as well as the development of skillsets and the attainment knowledge. Small loans act as a benefactor of lifestyle change and improvement. They are used to buy tools such as sewing machines or transport so that people can earn income, access resources and even create jobs for themselves. There is a saying, ‘give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he’ll feed the whole village,’ which essentially means, it is imperative to address long time problems such as poverty with long term solutions such as education and the skills to fulfil jobs.

    For change to be successful, it must happen at a parliamentary level as well as a ground level. It was motivating to see that India already has in place some solid social liability policies, my favourite being the CSR, or the Corporate Responsibility act. This involves 2% of incomes earned within the corporate sector being re-distributed at the bottom end of the pyramid to support the underprivileged, creating a cyclical, or trickle down affect within the pyramid of wealth. I was impressed with the local sense of patriotism and dedication within India to develop legislation that propels sustainable business models which not only improve the GDP and GNP of the country but to also to achieve a minimise social and environmental risk.

    India must have some of the most complex and astringent problems within the fields of theology, welfare, health, sanitation, transport and security. I saw many shadows and within them I saw suffering and insecurity and felt a sense of foreboding. I saw that the shadows had much to do with these complex problems needing a solution.

    In being involved in the Social Entrepreneurship program I began to see that the key to solving problems was realising that there is always something you can do and I feel that my ability to work collaboratively and speculate upon such complex problems will enable my future learning, working and research endeavours.

    Global Short Programs Student

  • Three Month Internship in Shenzhen, China

    First Few Days – 2nd Dec 2014
    I knew previously that China has a shady record in regards to hygiene and health standards but it was often re-enforced by friends and family: “don’t drink the tap water”, “make sure to wash your vegetables thoroughly (fear of pesticides and chemicals)”, “beware of mystery meat and fake alcohol” etc. A lot of these ‘urban myths’ turned out to be accurate but it’s also important to have a positive attitude and take the bad with the good (loving the food). I think the main things I did in preparation for the trip were to unlock my phone and purchase a VPN (Virtual Private Network) which allows you to get around the barriers surrounding Facebook, Google, YouTube etc. which is censored in China.

    When we were crossing the border from Hong Kong to China, we had a laser (looks like a speed camera gun) pointed at our foreheads to check our temperatures – apparently in fear of SARS. I was also told by other local passengers that Chinese women are checked when travelling from China to Hong Kong to see if they are pregnant as there is a lot of dispute about women from China trying to have their children born in Hong Kong so they can get citizenship.

    Ended up staying the night in Louhu – the hotel had curtains so I tried to pull them back to look out of the window for a view; all that I saw was a concrete wall in my face! The next morning I visited Louhu Markets and had a great time bargaining with shopkeepers – ended up buying a bluetooth speaker set for around AUD$10.00 and a tailor made suit and shirt for 780 RMB.

    When I arrived at the apartment complex I was shocked – fantastic rooms that I wasn’t expecting at all – everything you can think of is catered for and clean and neat within the complex. The wallmart and shopping centre is just down the road (maybe 5 minutes walk) and there are numerous great little eateries around. The great thing about the program is that the existing interns here are very helpful and pass on their knowledge gained over their time to the next batch of interns – at the moment I am finding them an endless resource of information which is fantastic! The first night we had a great bonding session over dinner then beers on the roof of the apartment complex – overlooking the light-up skyline of Shenzhen at night: beautiful!

    The induction day was great: answered a lot of questions and gave us important information about Shenzhen and international business here. After the delicious Szechuan-style banquet dinner a couple of us interns (both past and new) headed out to Coco Park and tried out the nightlife there – I have to say it was amazing! Definitely a hundred times better than what you experience in Sydney! Being Caucasian, people love to be seen with you, take photos with you and even occasionally buy you drinks on the house! Again, the past interns were a great resource and the night was a nice way bond with all the other interns.

    Overall, the first few days have been fantastic and I am keen to start work on Monday!

    Week 1 and 2 – 15th Dec 2014
    Work
    Company has just moved into new offices – which are fantastic and beautiful, in the centre of Shenzhen (Nanshan Technology Park) which is located next to the new Tencent (creators of wechat and QQ) headquarters! My main assignment for the internship is to compile an IVD market analysis of Australia: healthcare system, prominent diseases/diagnostic tests, competitors, distributors, exhibitions etc. This is really interesting and makes me feel like I am contributing something worthwhile to the company as they require detailed information to expand into the Australian market of diagnostic sales.

    I have also been tasked to study various diagnostic tests that are used currently (ELISA, Radioimmunoassays etc) and compare them with our companies automated chemiluminescent immunoassay system – allowing me to gain an essential understanding of background in in-vitro testing. I have also been taught how to calibrate and setup equipment and have researched and suggested possible exhibitions for 2015 marketing team to attend. Basically I am assisting the marketing team; also intend to help with customer relations later on as well. The company is exactly what I was looking for and the work has been really meaningful. The people in the company speak fantastic English (300 employees in marketing centre and all chinese) they are really friendly and young (average age 23). Played basketball and went swimming with a couple of workmates in the past 2 weeks – which was really fun!

    Food
    Food has been amazing – every meal here has been delicious and eating out every time is a MUST! The cheap 10-15RMB meals in small street restaurants are the way to go: love me them bowls of noodles! Today we had some awesome chinese meat dumpling sandwiches (pork belly in a mantou) and noodles in Coco park – 8RMB per sandwich and 13RMB for noodles: delicious!

    Play
    Clubbing has been a prominent activity for us here! Everyone loves you in the clubs if you are a white Caucasian, people will ask for pictures with you and your weChat contact list will exponentially grow! ‘Face’ in Louhu and ‘Joker’ in Coco Park have been the best nights out so far.

    KTV is fantastic over here – KTV night was crazy with group performances happening all the time! Been already 3 times it is that good – once with CRCC, once with workfriends and once with some chinese girls! No need to be a good singer – if you put the effort in everyone will enjoy it regardless. Definitely a MUST when you go to China.
    Yesterday the apartment complex had a Christmas celebration/party and CRCC was invited to sing – I sang 2 solo songs and was asked for an encore performance which was great! Had quite a few girls coming up to me afterwards for photos and weChat adds!

    Overall it’s been a great 2 weeks and I expect it to get even better!

    Week 3 and 4 – 29th Dec 2014
    Work
    Work has been great as always – as a part of the overseas marketing team, in the past 2 weeks I helped review and revise the 2015 English catalogue for our CLIA diagnostic equipment. Also I have been able to sit in on meetings with powerful distributors from India and have been able to grab a small insight from them as to the needs and wants of the Indian IVD market. Training with engineering staff as to the available tests our CLIA equipment can perform has also been interesting – learnt so far about both cardiac markers and TORCH (Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, HSV, HIV and other newborn infections) screening tests used by pathology labs globally. Designing advertisements and invitations to existing and new customers has also been some of my odd-jobs in the department. I have even been tasked with helping design the company’s new video advertisement for one of our chemiluminescent CLIA machines. Every day is interesting and full-on and I feel like I am learning more and more about the industry.

    I am part of the overseas department (~40 people: technical engineers, sales and product specialists) and everyone can speak English perfectly. However, the main issue that sometimes I face at work is that everyone (being all Chinese employees) have discussions and casual conversations in Chinese so you constantly miss out on daily conversations a lot due to it being everyone’s native language. I suppose that you could feel alienated by this but to be honest it IS their native language and it’s not like they do it intentionally so that I can’t hear what they are discussing. But yes – sometimes it can be frustrating not knowing what everyone is saying in a meeting and only getting a slight part of it translated once in a while. I do try and make an effort each day to learn some Chinese off them over lunch but you are kidding yourself though if you think you can pick it up fast if you’re not a background speaker: it’s crazy hard.

    Guangzhou
    Went to Guangzhou for 3 days on the 19th Dec with a couple of friends (Blake, another intern, plus some guys from Hong Kong University). Was fantastic: had some great food, did some market shopping and had a great time in some of the biggest clubs in Southern China! I am now a big fan of ‘True Colour’ haha – you have to experience it for yourself to find out how amazing it is! Also saw some weird stuff like a dog dressed up like a little girl in the middle of the mall: standing on its hind legs and walking with the owner!

    Christmas
    The other Shenzhen interns and myself decided to throw a Christmas feast in our apartment complex: I ordered a 4kg honey-baked ham from an Australian butcher in SeaWorld recommended by the Hannah and the Shenzhen CRCC staff. Also cooked some Singapore Chilli Crab and Thai Green Curry. The feast was fantastic – with 19 of my now lifelong friends, I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas!

    Monthly Staff Party
    On Saturday we had our monthly staff social for the Overseas marketing and engineering departments. We went to a local chinese restaurant had 4 tables and had crazy amounts of delicious food! Remember there being rabbit, frog, octopus, intestines and any other meat you can imagine – all tasted great! Didn’t have much of the frog though – think the thought of it got to me haha.

    To wash it down we had some ‘chinese wine’ as interpreted by my colleagues – more like chinese vodka to be honest. Had a few drinks with my supervisor (who can drink anyone under the table – apparently they are made of stronger stuff from the north) and we were soon all off to KTV! A lot of fun and had a great time singing chinese songs even though I had no idea what they were about. Note to self: must learn ‘Xiao Pingguo’ (little apple), it seems to be a party pleaser!

    Week 5 and 6 – 12th Jan 2015
    New Years
    For New Years, we got a holiday break of 3-days: Thurs 1st Jan, Fri 2nd Jan, Sat 3rd Jan. However, some of us (myself included) had to go in to work on Sun 4th Jan to make up for days off.

    We spent new years in Seaworld for the countdown – was okay but the light and watershow countdown really couldn’t compare to anything that we have back home in Sydney with those world-famous fireworks! Had some fun with the other interns regardless and had a fantastic night out!

    For the break we spent our time walking up Wutong Mountain which was fun – great view and some fun slopes when you go off track – almost vertical slope climbing which provided a great cardio workout! We also did the usual KTV and clubbing in Coco Park. One of my colleagues from work, Eric, also brought us out for Hot Pot at a famous restaurant in Futian – was fantastic and great service!

    Work
    Work has been calming down recently and there hasn’t been a lot of tasks for me to do. Instead, I started user training on the CLIA machines; learnt how to setup and run the diagnostic tests. This week we are also shooting the video advertisement for one of the CLIA machines: MAGLUMI 800. I am acting as the test operator in the video advert. Helped input ideas and recommendations for the video and have been helping to edit a lot of English promotional material.

    Hong Kong
    On the weekend (10-11th Jan) a group of us went to Hong Kong after showing the new interns around Coco Park on Friday. The food in Hong Kong was fantastic and the shopping is great – however, it’s so much more expensive than the mainland – can burn a hole in your wallet very fast if you’re not careful. We stayed in Tsim Sha Tsui and did a couple of sightseeing things like the Broadway of Stars, the ‘Peak’ view (which is beaut and worth it) and of course: clubbing in LKF (Lan Kwai Fong). Clubbing in Hong Kong is very busy – not much room to move in the club and they have exorbitant fees for entry after 12midnight (500 HKD for male entry). Make sure you get in before 12 for free-entry. The people in the clubs are a mix of foreigners and Chinese which is different to the Chinese majority in Shenzhen. I think I prefer the scene in Shenzhen and Guangzhou where there is actually room to move in the club and you don’t have to pay so much just to get in.
    Week 7 and 8 – 26th Jan 2015
    SNIBE Annual Meeting
    On Friday last week my company (SNIBE) held its annual meeting. It seemed to be the time where everyone let loose and had a great time. All company employees were present (maybe around 700 people or more). Sang a solo song and ended up winning 3rd place and 600RMB (out of 20 acts) so that was a bonus! When I got up on stage the whole of the overseas department cheered my chinese name: 国强. Was really appreciative and had a great time as such! Really enjoyed the night as a whole – definitely one of the highlights of the trip!

    Switching Companies
    As I hit the 2-month mark on my time in Shenzhen I found that the current work I was doing in product marketing at SNIBE was not very relevant to my future career aspiration to work in accounting and finance management. Also, the main research task I was assigned on the Australian IVD market had been completed so there was very little work for me to do going into the spring festival holiday (chinese new year).

    As such, I talked to my supervisor about my concerns and he tried to discuss with the finance department of SNIBE to have me moved. This however wasn’t possible as the department all spoke solely chinese and thus it would be too difficult. I then contacted the Shenzhen team at CRCC and told them of my issue and they were able to transfer me this week to Joseph Investment Co. Ltd..

    The team at SNIBE were very supportive about the transfer and it was very hard to say goodbye to such friendly and welcoming colleagues and friends. I moved company purely due to personal career path choices not due to any fault of SNIBE. My supervisor and the vice president were very generous in offering to write a reference for me as well.

    Joseph Investment Co.Ltd. – First Day
    Was introduced to my new host company today: Joseph Investment Co. Ltd.. They provide services in investment, investment banking and fund management. The company office is located in the KK100 building which is currently the tallest building in Shenzhen.

    The office is fantastic and the people are very welcoming and easy to bond with. The directors cannot speak English but through making an effort to try and speak limited chinese to them, they respond well and are more welcoming towards you. The main work I will be doing is finance research on listed companies and passing such reports onto my supervisor. The work seems much more relevant and applicable for future career opportunities in the finance/accounting industry.
    Week 9 and 10 – 9th Feb 2015
    Work
    Work has been keeping me busy. I feel like I am learning a lot from the research I undertake about different industries, relevant companies and the stock exchange markets they operate in. The office atmosphere is much more relaxed than what it was at my previous company and there is flexibility – as long as the work gets done on time! My colleagues are very friendly and easy to bond with; however since I cannot speak/understand much Chinese, sometimes I feel a little alienated when everyone is having office/lunch conversation and I can’t understand what is going on or how to respond. This is expected though if you are interning at a Chinese firm; it’s their first language and if you do not speak Chinese then it IS limiting.

    Our boss: Chen Shuqing, has been very generous in that he has employed a private chef to cook for us (lunch and dinner) every day in his apartment above KKmall. These meals are some of the best I’ve ever had in China and when we eat together it is very informal around a round table; it feels like a traditional Chinese family meal. Clients and friends are also brought along daily to join us and everyone loves it! I think it’s a great way to bond – which is very important in Chinese business: they will only deal with people they trust and who they have a personal connection with. Speaking of personal background and connection; I have been able to bond with my bosses in that my Grandfather (Ah Gong) and Grandmother (Ah Ma) are from the same hometown region/area in China as my bosses: Chaozhou. Also, they love my Chinese name: 国强 given to me by my grandfather, literal meaning: ‘Strong Country’ or ‘Make China Strong’; a very nationalistic name. Every time I am introduced, the fact that I am half-Chinese stuns others as I look very Caucasian.

    Technology Seminar
    Last week I was lucky enough to be sent by myself to a technology seminar held in Nanshan that was held for foreign universities (such as Princeton, University of Edinburg and Politecnico Di Milano) and entrepreneurs to pitch their new technology and research to Chinese investors and market. Mainly what they were looking for was venture capital, assistance in penetrating the Chinese market and manufacturing needs. I represented my firm in networking with these individuals and was lucky enough to be introduced and meet one of the most prominent names in Chinese finance and investment: Mr. Dominik Yin. The afternoon was a great experience and gave me so much exposure! Some of the innovations were extremely interesting and ranged from wireless communication via light (Li-Fi: replacing traditional Wi-Fi) to plasma used to obliterate tumour cells in cancer.

    Australia Day
    Australia Day was celebrated by all interns at Apartment One. We bought some meat (lack-thereof in China) from an Australian butcher in Seaworld and cooked up it on the closest thing we had to a Barbie (kitchen pan), had a few beers and sang Australian songs (Tie-Me-Kangaroo-Down-Sport, Waltzing Matilda, Land-Down-Under etc.) into the wee hours of the night. Then we decided to migrate to KTV and sing our hearts out in style with all the other new interns in the new accommodation at Maple Leaf Apartments. Needless to say it was a great night!
    Week 11 and Coming Home – 23rd Feb 2015
    Chinese New Year Firm Dinner
    My firm celebrated Chinese New Year with a gathering of all employees for dinner made by the private Chef employed by our boss. Fantastic and delicious food as always, accompanied with countless glasses of red wine – Ganbe! (Cheers in Chinese). This was followed by hours of KTV in Louhu with more superfluous amounts of alcohol! Luckily some of us knew Hotel California by the Eagles and a beautiful rendition was made! Somehow I met up with the other interns afterwards in FACE club in Louhu (best club in Shenzhen) and had a great time dancing!

    Hayden’s 21st Birthday
    We celebrated Hayden’s (another intern from Perth) 21st birthday in China: teppanyaki and a very unique ‘boob’ cake. As the birthday boy, he was forced to motor boat the cake and a food fight ensued as a result. Have had some great memories with him; he’s a great friend for life!

    Leaving China and Final Thoughts
    The past 3-months have been the best time in my life. Personally, I think I gained a lot of self-confidence from living alone and socializing every day with fellow interns and Chinese colleagues. I am now able to better express myself and opinions which is extremely important.

    On a personal level, it was very hard to part with all the close friends in China that I made (interns, colleagues and my girlfriend whom I met in early December). I have already however organised to see numerous friends made on this trip throughout the year.

    I think the highlights of the internship program for me were that you could live and work in China and experience the culture and lifestyle here from more of a residential view rather than as a tourist. Also, the connections made whilst working in China and the friendships with other interns whom are also highly focused and talented are something that I value highly and will keep for the future!

    I’m extremely sad that I have now left China and definitely see myself returning for work and business opportunities in the future – it holds a fast paced environment and lifestyle that is both highly enjoyable and stimulating. Also the focus on networking and connections (both for work and personal) really appealed to me. I’m already planning to revisit China again at the end of this year to catch-up with workmates and to travel and see a bit more of the country.

    Xing Nian Kuai Le!

    Global Short Programs Student

  • International Criminal Law Internship in Cambodia

    Over the summer break of 2014 I headed to Phnom Penh for a three month internship at the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). This special Cambodian Court, with the assistance of the United Nations, has been charged with ascertaining the truth behind the alleged crimes committed during the Khmer Rouge regime.

    When applying, I decided to put the Defence Support Section as my first preference and I was fortunate enough to be accepted. There were two principal reasons why I wanted to work for the Defence. From a legal point of view, I have always been interested in defence and fair trial rights. Additionally, on a more personal level, I wanted to challenge myself to separate any preconceived notions I may have had about the regime and really focus on the work and the client. We are told at law school that this skill is fundamental and necessary in the legal profession and I knew that the ECCC, with its confronting subject matter, would pose a real challenge.

    Within the Defence Support Section, I was fortunate enough to work on Case 002, which was at the trial stage by the time I arrived in Cambodia. I was on the defence team for Nuon Chea (otherwise known as Brother Number Two) who is on trial for genocide, crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and violations of the 1956 Cambodian Penal Code.

    I was one of two interns in a team of 9 national and international staff. My duties were primarily focused on trial preparation. This involved both research and evidentiary analysis. It also meant I was in the Chambers at least two days a week, monitoring and analysing the trial. I truly loved this work, and found that I learned the most inside the courtroom where you see the preparation applied in practice..

    In terms of working in the field of international criminal law, my internship made me appreciate some of its challenges.. First, and most importantly, you need to be passionate about the work. I know this may seem trite, but this zeal is absolutely essential as the hours can be intense, the bureaucracy can be tedious and the lifestyle transient.

    Secondly, and this feeds off my first point, you need to be a fairly independent person. In a workplace that relies heavily on interns, there is a high turnover of both work and workmates. This is not an exclusive feature of international criminal law, but is something you must be prepared for. Whilst you do become well versed in farewell speeches, you will also have the amazing opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. I left Cambodia with some lifelong friends.

    Finally, and again this may seem obvious, but a grasp of another language aside from English never hurts. At the ECCC there were three official languages (English, French and Khmer). Whilst the Interpretation Unit translated the proceedings, and most evidence was also translated, I found that it was really helpful to understand French. It allowed me to analyse translations, communicate with others in the court and access evidence that had yet to be translated.

    My three months in Cambodia were invaluable. I learned a great deal, made some great friends and was privileged to get the opportunity to work with and learn from some very talented and generous colleagues. I would highly recommend such an experience to anyone who has an interest in human rights or international criminal law.

    Global Short Programs Student

  • CRCC Internship in Shenzhen

    The CRCC 3-Month internship program was definitely a life changing one. It’s one of the best spontaneous decisions I’ve ever made in my life and gave me a chance to finally live away from the family and just do whatever I wanted.

    Prejudices
    Before going to China I admit I was filled with a pretty weird mixture of excitement and angst.

    After doing a lot of research and talking to quite a few people, I had painted the image that Shenzhen was nothing but a shonky red-light district trying to copy Hong Kong. There were of course the ideas that girls would be hunting for foreign husbands too. I also had the concern that the company I’d be interning at would be pretty unorganized.

    However, on the other hand – some of my other research had led me to believe that Shenzhen was in fact a new ex-patriate (“ex-pat”) hotspot (which it did in fact turn out to be). I found that Shenzhen was in fact home to that 57-story skyscraper that was built in 19 days – making headlines around the world.

    As you can see, the chaos associated with China was getting to me. I was absolutely dreading the choice I had made. I was going into unknown territory. “Why didn’t I just choose Shanghai , Beijing or Hong Kong?” I asked myself.

    That was when I remembered, I chose this program because I wanted to be afraid. It wouldn’t be a worthwhile experience if I wasn’t outside of my comfort zone, trying to craft a life-changing experience.


    The First Few Days
    I’ll admit, China actually blew me away – although the information being thrown around to sort of wear me out. It wasn’t uncommon to have other foreigners scream at you, “Hell no! Don’t drink the tap water! You’ve got to boil that stuff!” or “Always shoot for 40% when you buy things at the markets!”. It was definitely a pretty different world.
    I’ve got to say though, the work CRCC Asia put in was really exceptional. The serviced apartment I spent 3 months in was absolutely amazing. I had a kitchen, bathroom, queen-sized bed, sofa, cable TV, internet connection and best of all … FREE DAILY CLEANING SERVICE. It was crazy to think I had all this along with the fact I was right next to Wal-mart and street markets.


    The Actual Program
    I’ll have to admit, starting at Yingke Law firm had me a little iffy. I was often questioning, “Why would they need a finance intern at a law firm?” I’m glad these questions were quickly answers as I became a key player in Asia’s largest law firm (by number of lawyers) and actually got to shadow a variety of consultants.

    Overall, the work experience I gained was amazing. I never felt excluded because my whole office of 300 workers could speak at least a little bit of English – with the number of ex-pats walking around the office making this work experience even easier.

    I’m so glad I got to meet the people I did in the office. I was treated like a star there. I had yum cha about once a week, drinks paid for by the company and basically got to sit in on big international deals a few times a week. I was mind-blown I was being given access to the privileges I did.
    At the end of the day, I think I’d recommend this program to anyone wanting to skip a few steps and have a peek into what they could be doing later in their career.

    The Weekends/Hang-outs
    Nightlife is Shenzhen is absolutely fantastic. In all honestly, these were the most memorable moments of my life. Shenzhen night-life is actually pretty divided between ex-pat catered and Chinese catered venues. Night clubs were pretty much only consisted of rich, young Chinese money and foreigners, whilst karaoke (known as “KTV”) appeared to be the craze with the rest of the young population.

    Global Short Programs Student