UTS Think Global

Maldiving into Paradise

November 16, 2015
“A snippet of my journey into the Maldives, learning about their culture, teaching kids in the Remote Education System in Maroshi, and relaxing with the beach as my backyard for a whole month.”

Day 4

10^TH June

Standard wake up, we had breakfast (Fish curry once again) and we went to go and seek ice-cream. Apparently the boat on the harbor sold ice-cream, and we found out they did! So we bought a 6L bucket of ice cream haha. It started pouring rain, so we headed for some shelter before it died down. That’s the thing about the wet season here in the Maldives- It rains for about 10-15 minutes and then it stops, and it gets windy and cloudy. Better than being in Sydney I guess with the <20 degree weather…

We had debate again, and my fourth speaker showed up. His name is Mahil and he is just too cute. Cheeky little fella he is, with his long curled eyelashes. Whenever he said something wrong, he would bump his head with his hands or cover his mouth- it was just too cute.

My third speaker- Ulaa is just a cutey also. When I was writing their speeches, they were cheekily playing hangman. I was surprised at how smart they were, but I laughed when they didn’t know how to pronounce some words. That was Mahil’s homework- to learn how to say these specific words. But considering the fact that they’re 10-11 years old and learning these ‘hard words’, when they speak another language was pretty good on their behalf.

When the senior boys arrived, my little girls in my debate team started squealing and being a fan girl. It was so funny watching them swoon over the one guy- who apparently is the joker. He’s one of the bigger guys in the school, who’s always at athletics practice. So I guess he’s super sporty, and apparently really funny.

Athletics practice was cancelled because of the windy weather so the girls who showed up walked us to the beach. We went to the west side of the island, talking to the year 10 girls. One of the girls lived where we had every meal with everyday, which was surprising because we had never seen her around. I got to ride a motorbike today, which was pretty standard, but it was heaps funny when one of the girls put her arms around the guy and all the island girls started laughing. Apparently he’s a shy fella, and it was inappropriate.

We bonded with the girls, got taught some new words-
- Shakriya = Thank you,
- Ta ta = Goodbye,
- Rangaloo = I’m good
It got to the point where I asked them where they lived and if we could go inside their homes (weird, but whatever). We ended up inside, where we watched some more Indian drama and got given snacks. One was some breadfruit, and curry roshi that was deep-fried.

We ended our night by eating dinner, and walking home.

Read the full blog here: http://maldiving.tumblr.com

Jenna-Lyn Diono

Global Short Programs Student

June-July 2014
Guiri’s in Madrid

November 4, 2015

Exchange is never going to be how you think it is. Just over half way through my student ~~holiday~~ exchange now and it’s really quite hard to put into words how much a semester abroad can change you. Stepping off the plane in Madrid after a month of backpacking and festivals across a summer Europe, I thought the semester would slow things down a bit… Fortunately, Madrid manages to take things to the next level with a party culture like nothing I’ve ever seen. I first thought that the Spaniards were joking when they described a typical week night ending at 6am in the morning before a quick change of clothes, a cafe con leche, and straight to an 8:30am start. I was wrong.

What you can’t predict is how much time you might spend in your home city. Typing this before my 1 hour flight across the Strait of Gibraltar to Morocco for the weekend, you might end up finding your city as a stepping stone to the rest of Europe. Cheap low cost carriers can take you anywhere from the UK to Germany for less than the cost of a flight to Melbourne so make sure to factor these mini holidays into your budget. Another tip for these mini holidays are the use of the infamous Bla Bla Cars. Not currently available in Australia, these cars are the modern day version of hitch-hiking with a thumb in the air replaced by an app. All you need to do is head to www.blablacar.com or the app, search for your destination and connect with a driver heading in that direction. It may be intimidating at first, hopping into a car with a random stranger, but let me assure you that time flies in an 8 hour drive from Madrid to Bordeaux when you’re hearing and sharing stories with people from around the world and really diving into the liberal European culture.

Now back to that far fetched reason I actually came to Spain for, University. At the Universidad Pontificia Comillas, you quickly find out that it is nothing like UTS, instead closely resembling the format of high school. While you may only be averaging 3-4 subjects a semester at UTS, in order to achieve the required 30 ECTS to complete a semester at UPC you will need around 6-7 subjects to reach that amount. This might mean an 8:30am to 4pm day without break, but will be well worth it when you can easily head back to your apartment for an afternoon siesta and be ready for the night that wont even start till midnight. It will be tough adjusting to a main meal at 2pm, a siesta till 9pm while may wait to leave the apartment around 11 to a party that wont even really kick off till 1 but I already know that it’s going to be a tougher ask adjusting back to Australian time. Until then, let the fun and games continue and definitely check out Madrid as your destination for exchange because you definitely wont regret it.

Plaza de Cibeles

Aaron Rispler
12055962
Andrew Ampersand Willey in Amsterdam

October 27, 2015

Who Am I? Andrew ‘Ampersand’ Willey 10427502

Where Am I? Amsterdam

But first, how did I get here?

A brief, yet teary, embrace with the family was my first step before marching through the airport gates in Sydney. My baggage was checked, I had boarding pass in hand and was enroute to the wildest thing I have every chosen to do. A couple of ludicrous purchases in duty free, a couple sneaky whisky and cokes in the gate lounge to settle the nerves and at 2:15 Friday the 1st of August I left Sydney on a big jet plane. 16 hours of cramped seat, plastic ‘super constipate you food’ and a reasonable selection of movies later I arrived at my one stop over destination.

Abu Dhabi is a dessert, no lights barring those I landed in. I arrived there at some hour of the late evening and shuffled my way along the red carpeted halls. My time in Abu Dhabi is a melange of momentary rests, bouts of purchases in a currency worth far less than the Euros I carried, all segmented by alarms set to now irrelevant Australian Hours. I left Abu Dhabi as I found it, tired, confused and humming with life.

Thanks to my older brother, who forked out the coin for my tickets, the final leg to Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam was a blessing. Plenty of leg room in an upgraded seat meant I could actually get some sleep and managed to snag about 5 hours worth. Thirty hours after I depart Sydney at 2:45pm Friday I arriveed in Amsterdam at 7am Saturday morning. It kinda felt like one really long night, even though it was closer to two days then the 14 hours relative.

A testament to Dutch hospitality, I was greeted at the airport with kindness and instruction, everyone seems to speak better English then the bastardised version I spout. My First lesson in Dutch was given when asking for a ticket to Amsterdam Zuid from the airport, Zuid is pronounced Soud or South. So I was headed to Amsterdam South(Zuid). I’ll take this opportunity to mention Dutch hospitality. Every instance of query or confusion I have experienced has been met with a stoic drive to ensure that, as a guest in their nation, I feel welcome and enjoy my self. There is a Dutch expression ‘gezellig’ or ‘gezelligheid’, it has no real English translation but that didn’t stop me trying to find one and so far it has been described to me to mean, comfortable, cosy, relaxing, sociable, friendly, quaint, nice atmosphere and none of that specifically. This is the word the Dutch use to describe their being. They apply the same philosophy to towards their interaction with non-Dutch people also.

Where was I… Yes, the train to Amsterdam Zuid. This train was lightning, at max speed, these trains can push 160km/h on the straights and I believe on my trip, which consisted of leaving Schiphol Airport then arriving at Amsterdam Zuid 19 minutes later, we had to have reached close to 120km/h.

My arrival a Qbic Hotel was a sinch. It was a 100m walk from the station straight up a quiet road, lined with bikes… more bikes then I have ever seen, more bikes then are in Sydney are in this one street, more bikes then cars, more bikes then
trees, more bikes then people! A hundred meters and close to two thousand parked bikes later I was greeted out the front of Qbic by an impeccably dressed charming young European man who also spoke fantastic English… you know what, just assume that everyone I mention speaks English… and speaks it better then I do. So this young man Alex, politely informs me that check in isn’t until 3pm, its 7:45am. Ok so I’ve got some time…
Hola from Madrid

October 26, 2015

Madrid; the capital city of Spain filled with salsa dancing, sangria and sheer energy that lasts from the morning to the night (with the exception of a good siesta in the middle of the afternoon) – and my home for the past two months.

I didn’t quite know what to expect from Madrid, seeing as though I have never been there, or to any place in Europe for that matter. What I found was a lively, busy city with main roads surrounded by small intricate streets that went in every direction. I immersed myself, as you should, head first into the Madrid experience.

My time in Madrid saw me living in a hostel for the first two or so weeks while I went apartment hunting. Apartment hunting was the only downside during this time as it was quite difficult for me to find a place that wasn’t being taken up by other exchange and erasmus students moving to Madrid for a semester or two. However, after a couple of weeks, I was able to move out of the hostel – which I was quite sad to do as the hostel I stayed at was amazing – and into a place that I could call home.

I now live smack bang in the city centre of Madrid. When I step out of my door, I am immediately engulfed in the hustle and bustle of this lively city, surrounded by popular and local shops, grocery stores, tourists and locals. It is only a short 40 min travel to my university – Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, which is approximately more or less the same amount of time it takes for me to travel to UTS back at home.

After a couple of hours working out my timetable, I managed to fit in all my classes – two core and 4 electives – into 3 days; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This means that I am free to travel Friday to Monday so it is basically a long weekend for me every week! So far, I am gone to Barcelona, Valencia, Águilas, Toledo in Spain with more trips coming up. I really recommend trying to sort out your timetable in a way that allows you to travel during the week because it gives you the time and opportunity to explore.

But home is where the heart is, and my heart is in Madrid. This is because of the amazing things to do, sights to see and people to meet here. Some great places include Retiro Park which is huge (I may or may not have gotten lost in it), the Royal Palace of Madrid and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía which holds Picasso’s Guernica. Let’s not even mention the amazing food that Spain has to offer such as tapas and paella.

The people that I have met have also contributed to my amazing time here in Madrid. From meeting people in the hostel, to my 9, yes 9, housemates, to uni friends that I have made from all over the world. There are also many Facebook groups that you can follow that tell you about upcoming trips, night outs, parties, dinners, day trips and more for exchange and erasmus students such as Citylife Madrid and ESN (International Exchange/Erasmus Student Network).

In terms of being able to speak Spanish, my Spanish speaking skills included being able to say “Hola”, “Adios” and “Gracias”. However, most people here speak English or at least a basic level of English so that communication isn’t all the difficult, though I am working on my Spanish, thanks to my Spanish-speaking housemates who are determined to teach me.

I fell head over heels for Madrid, and while I have travelled to a few other places in Spain (with a few more trips coming up!), I have to say that Madrid is by far my favourite. Enrich yourself into Madrid’s history, culture and art and you will end up having such an amazing time discovering new things about the world, and yourself.

Emily Trinh – 11694763
http://www.emilytrinh.com
Kedge. Bordeaux. France. Europe.

October 23, 2015

Gather round people and listen up. If you’re tossing up whether to go on exchange and where to go – go on exchange, you will not regret it no matter where you go. You will never be in this same situation in your life again where you’re just a student and don’t really have any real responsibilities and even if you do (have real responsibilities), stuff ’em. Go see the world and see it as a local student in Bordeaux or whichever city because it will be one of the greatest decisions you ever make.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let me tell you a little bit about what I’ve been getting up to since I made one of the greatest decisions of my life.

I left Sydney in mid july, almost two months before uni in Bordeaux (at Kedge Business School) was to start. I went on a crazy 34 day european tour with Topdeck which went from London to Paris down and around in a circle all the way back up to Amsterdam. We walked, hiked, sailed and sky dived. We hit up 18 countries and 22 cities. It. Was. Awesome. (Just going to shamelessly plug the video I made here). After that we stayed in London for a week for some much needed R&R and then flew to Ireland and went on a mini tour there. GO TO IRELAND IT IS AMAZING I LOVE IT TAKE ME BACK.

Dún Aonghasa, Aran Islands, Ireland

Like every other person who has written a post on this blog, I am now writing this post in my little apartment looking out of my cute french windows. I have just finished my first cycle* at Kedge and am loving it here in Bordeaux. It is a quaint little city, bustling with students. It really is a student town, with at least 3 other universities that I know of. There are so many great restaurants and there’s always something going on whether its a boat party or a sporting event.

My cute ass window

I have yet to visit a chateau and go wine tasting but its on the list. I have, however, been to San Sebastian and Madrid in Spain, Biarritz which is south of Bordeaux and flew to Marrakech in Morocco since settling here. Oh and I casually flew to Lisbon in Portugal for my birthday last month.

San Sebastian, Spain. (two and half hours from Bordeaux)

Ouzoud Falls, highest waterfall in Northern Africa, Morocco

My apartment is rented through airbnb and is a small but cozy space located in Gambetta which is basically the city centre. I am literally 5 minutes walk from all the important things you would need e.g. a huge shopping strip, the bank, the tram card office, french visa admin office, a few supermarkets, cinema and eleventy billion restaurants. Kedge is about 30 minutes away, door to door, but its worth the mini trek.
Although I am renting through airbnb, it doesn’t mean we aren’t given options for accommodation. Melting Potes, a super helpful association at Kedge, did offer to find us an apartment as well as student dorms near the university and around the city. They also helped with things like creating bank accounts, acquiring sim cards and other administrative things. As long as we ask, they will try their best to solve any issues we are having. They also host a bunch of events and outings for all the international students. On top of that, everyone here is just really friendly, local or international!

Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux (also 5 minutes away)

At Kedge, the students are really into their associations. Like really into them. They have societies for everything from sport to arts to wine tasting and of course one especially for international students, Melting Potes. They are all mainly student run. Here, they also focus a lot on group work and participation, more so than UTS does. In saying that, I think it is a really good experience to have as we are working with and meeting people from all over the world and can truly experience how others think as well as just other ways of life in general. I wouldn’t say that the work is hard but if you go to the classes and complete the work given to you, it should be an easy pass (at the very least). I am also taking french language classes which has been a huge help as I had an extremely basic knowledge of the language before I left. If I had the choice to go back and start again, I would have probably taken a crash course in French before coming over here. However, most people can speak english, especially the younger people and since it is a student town they aren’t too hard to find.

Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux

*Cue corny bit* This has honestly been a life changing experience. I now know that there is a lot that I don’t know. I have learnt so so much and have so much more to learn. From every bad thing to every good thing that has happened, from every place to every person I have seen and met, not one thing has made me wish I had not come on exchange.

I would recommend going on exchange in the beautiful city of Bordeaux to everyone. But if getting to know the ins and outs of a city in a matter of weeks is not for you, going on exchange anywhere in the world will be one heck of an experience.

Signing out,

Levina Wong 11690397

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* Kedge does this thing where the classes are in ‘cycles’. There are 8 cycles (one month each) in a year and you can do a maximum of 2 subjects in one cycle. We only have to do 3 if you choose to do two subjects per cycle and are only doing one full time semester on exchange. That is what I am doing so I’ll be done by early december.
Berlin – A City of Mates & Matés

October 22, 2015

After two and a half months of traveling throughout Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium and visiting places like Budapest, Prague, Ljubljana, Munich and Limnos. I arrived in Berlin at the beginning of September and plunged immediately into the amazing and overwhelming experiences this city has to offer.

My September was filled with excursions, travel, exploring nightlife and most importantly daily German classes. Through the intensive German course run at ZEMS, I met many students who are struggling just like me to get by as a not-so-perfect German speaker. As we are all exchange students, I was able to meet people from all over the world (France, Switzerland, Mexico, Ecuador, Italy, China, Taiwan, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Great Britain, Belgium, Poland, The Netherlands, Turkey, USA, and of course Germany)! September was an exciting month for all since we only had the German course and no degree-related courses.

For me my daily routine consisted of waking up early to try achieve some touristic goal, such as getting to one of the multitude of amazing galleries, monuments or just somewhere that had good coffee. Then catching the scenic (incredibly efficient) U-bahn on the above ground lines through the city to study german for 4 hours. Which would then follow with me hitting up one of the many awesome record stores in the early evening spending money I didn’t have on amazing music, then relaxing by the canal with a cheap beer and a few new mates. Then maybe on a ‘cultural‘ excursion to one of the many banging clubs in this city. There’s something on every night in this city, spend a month here and you’ll get to see 3-4 of your favourite DJs, stay 6 months and…. I’ll let you know Maté

rinse and repeat…

One particularly moving and interesting place was the Berlin Wall Memorial. Where I was sent with other members of my German course to Bernauer Straße. The memorial contains the last piece of Berlin Wall with the preserved grounds behind it and is thus able to convey an impression of how the border fortifications developed until the end of the 1980s. Along a 1.4 Kilometre strip tourists and locals alike can engage with the literal separation and division of Berlin.

The Memorial has a Preserved section of the wall left as it was before its collapse.

The Incredibly punctual German rain also made an appearance.

The city of Berlin itself is like one giant open Museum, with so many sites of importance in relation to Modern world history, but also sites of contemporary cultural significance such as the Vibrant club scene, that puts Australia’s idea of nightlife to shame. Theres a certain freedom in this city that you are unlikely to encounter anywhere else and with this freedom comes both a sense of calm unquestionable acceptance while also being an incredibly jarring exciting ride at times. With all these wonderful things, Berlin undoubtedly attracts a lot of attention, from tourists to expats alike. Which in itself is both terrific and frustrating, like, when you’ve been here for almost 2 months and realise you’ve maybe met only a handful of “Original Berliners”. Or the stress that ensues through the gruelling and punishing process of trying to find a place to stay. Good rooms in Berlin, wait, just rooms in Berlin are in high demand, But with the aid of certain sites like WG-gesucht. and many facebook groups created for advertising open rooms, it does take some time but if you’re diligent in your efforts you will be greatly rewarded.

This is my housemates hanging in Tempelhof Park just next to my first Beautiful apartment in Neukolln

Here is my lush new pad In Prenzlauerberg, think Paddington/Woollahra much colder with way more prams

Generally living costs like rent and groceries are much more affordable in Berlin than back home, but as always rent is on the rise. Something a lot of the locals here, or anyone who has been here longer than a year is not too happy about. But winter is coming… which sees a few less tourists city giving the general frenzy a very literal and figurative cool down.

In almost 4 month since leaving home to start this awesome journey with another 6 months ahead I can’t recommend the Exchange experience enough, the opportunities to learn and grow are seemingly endless in such a rich and exciting environment. Berlin truly is a city for everyone and I think that’s why it’s still so amazing even for people who have lived here their whole lives, because as much as you come here with ideas, excitement and bias past onto you by others what is truly rewarding is finding your own personal Berlin experience. In this city of endless choice and opportunity I know it’s out there.

Joel Spring 11759255
The Tilburg experience

October 21, 2015

10^th of August, just a bit over 2 months ago, I was dealing with the fact I wouldn’t be seeing Australia again this year. I would be nearly 17000kms away and on the other side of the planet. The feeling was surreal, but I was ready. First stop Dubai, then to London and then Amsterdam before a ridiculously yet legal fast-drive down to Tilburg, my new home for exchange.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi

At first Tilburg seems like a quiet town, something you wouldn’t expect one hour’s drive from the Capital. Coming from Sydney, a bustling metropolis, Tilburg is a sea change. Small shops, cafes, flowers and trees litter the streets in every direction. Once you get accustomed to grey skies and the constant chance of rain it’s one of the best places to relax, study and travel due to its location.

Le Champagne under Eiffel

Living in “Verbs” is arguably the best choice I’ve made. Looking at Verbs from afar depicts it as 5 concrete structures, with 5 floors and 3 wings each. Having 16 other roommates definitely has its ups and downs, but we’re family. Roommates, whom without would make living here unbearable. Just from my floor (roommates) we’ve got people from Peru, Argentina, Canada, Italy, France, Taiwan, China, Korea, Denmark and the Czech Republic. In other floors and throughout Verbs I’ve met people from all across the globe. I’ve started learning other languages such as French, Italian and Danish yet I’ve made little progress in Dutch – not something I’d would have thought of.

Oktoberfest in Munich

Tilburg is a student town; the first week (TOP week) was euphoric trip. The welcome week consisted of activities that were never possible in Sydney. Having a warehouse to drink with thousands of other students, and partying like the Dutch, cannot be forgotten. The IESN (International Exchange Erasmus Student Network) made this all possible and I would definitely recommend joining them. IESN ( or ESN) organise parties every few days, with dinners and a party at its own bar every week. They also organise trips to Germany, Czech Republic and Morocco. Being a student town, and with a large international student presence, it is incredibly easy to find people with whom I want to travel. I haven’t had a weekend yet, in the last 2 months, where I haven’t traveled to someplace new either within the Netherlands or to another country.

London by night

If you don’t already know, there are bikes everywhere in Netherlands. You get everywhere on a bike. The amazing thing is that bikes have a somewhat higher priority than cars do. You forget the need for a car, when you have a bike and the public transport system here.

If you love to travel like me, I wouldn’t recommend anywhere else. In the heart of Europe, you can ride your bike to Belgium in 30 minutes, or fly to Rome for the cost of a night out in Sydney. It doesn’t get any better than this.

Kevin Truong – 11379450

And folks, remember to have fun.

Fun in Paris
Hong Kong, the mecca of all that is good.

October 6, 2015
Big things come in small packages and I cannot stress enough how fitting this phrase is for Hong Kong. Hong Kong is approximately 1, 104 square kilometers and fits into Australia 7, 012 times (for you trivia nuts) but the infinite number of skyscrapers and economical use of space makes it feel much bigger than it is. Six weeks into my exchange semester at Hong Kong PolyU and still none the wiser. Every day is a new discovery, another chance to get lost, literally, in Hong Kong. And let’s face it, there’s no better city to be lost in because you can never wander the streets of Hong Kong hungry. There are places to eat every coupla metres and if not, there is always good ol’ faithful, 7/11 lurking around the corner.

Here are some tips and observations I’ve picked up trying to assimilate into local life
1. Space is limited, no surprises here
Having to share a small room with a stranger and an even smaller bathroom with three strangers ended up being a blessing in disguise (roomie dinners and TV nights are a thing).
1. Shops don’t open til mid day
Mild exaggeration but shops don’t open until around 10am with the exception of banks and probably 7/11.
1. Always walk into dodgy looking staircases and or alleyways (at your own risk)
Because you will never know what you will find! Space is so limited in Hong Kong so you might find some hidden gems.
1. Don’t pretend you can speak Cantonese cause it ain’t endearing
Too many negative experiences have taught me to keep my mouth shut and to only use my bare minimum Cantonese when bargaining- the locals really don’t have patience.
1. Snag some bakery goodness bargains
If you’re living on a budget and aren’t fussed about breakfast, go to the bakery at the end of the day where they slash prices to get rid of the bread for the next day.
1. Student Octopus cards don’t have discounts on buses
WHICH SUCKS SO MUCH BECAUSE BUSES CAN BE MORE CONVENIENT THAN CHANGING MTR LIKE THREE TIMES (but there are discounts after you make more than two trips in a day, something to that extent).
1. There is no way to avoid the high mobile costs
Somehow all the mobile companies conspired to make as much money as they possibly can from international students so there is no “phone plan” that we’re all familiar with. Just accept the fact you will have to fork it out if you want data 24/7 (and free wifi isn’t as accessible as you would think).
1. Wednesday is ladies night
Which means free drinks for all the ladies, HOLLA. Some places are 21 over only (however the crowd I was with got in regardless). But no amount of free alcohol in the world makes the creepy old men in all the bars go away.

9. IFC mall, BYO drinks and free view

The “Red Bar” in particular allows you to bring your own alcohol while enjoying the panoramic view of the famous Hong Kong skyline and if you get kicked out there is seating on the IFC rooftop anyway…

10. PLAN YO HOLIDAYS.

Seriously, cannot stress this enough! They are pretty strict with attendance here so make sure you attend at least the bare minimum. Also planning ahead helps with finding cheap flights. Cathay Pacific has specials every Tuesday and HK Express is the Hong Kong Jetstar but be warned, they have a reputation for delaying flights…

I could go on forever but I’ll leave you with this. Hong Kong is an exciting, truly happening city that never sleeps with a lot to offer besides the obvious. Beyond the tall buildings and bright lights there are some great nature sights to see, affordable delicious food to eat and an expanding underground arts scene to experience. All that’s missing is you!

Nancy Wu

11022682
University of Zurich, Switzerland

October 6, 2015

Exchange was a last minute decision for me. I put my initial application in without much thought and it has turned out to be one of the best decisions I have made so far. I wanted to be in a city where I knew no-one and knew nothing about it and in Zurich I got just that. Arriving in a city where these are the circumstances is overwhelming and there were many “what the hell am I doing here?” moments, but surely enough you meet people and things fall into place. I have only been here for two weeks but it feels like 2 months because I have already met so many interesting people and been to so many new places.

The University goes out of its way to provide start of semester parties, information sessions and get togethers which are a good way to get to know people – but its also important, I have found, to branch out of these exchange events and meet people in different environments – go to concerts, go to the UN and Amnesty International meetings – whatever your interests are, there will be something in your new city which caters to this and naturally people with the same interests will be there. I guess it’s shortcut to meeting the right kind of people. Zurich, and Swiss people in general, at first impression can seem pretty straight and hard to crack but after two weeks of being here, and making a concerted effort, I’ve found really interesting people, places and things to do here from hiking, to mushroom and pumpkin picking, to underground concerts, to pop up markets and film festivals and much more.

The best thing about Zurich is that you can feel how international the city really is. The majority of my friends here are not Swiss but are Italian, French or German (and also some Australians of course). My lecturers are the best in their field – often coming from Germany just for our classes. Weekend trips to another country are so easy to organise and pretty cheap– I have already planned to do a weekend in Berlin and another in Munich, which, in Australia, is simply never a possibility. I have been pushed, socially and intellectually, so far out of my comfort zone over here, which I have found terrifying and exhilarating. Two weeks in and I have already learnt so much about this country, other nationalities and cultures and also about how adaptable you really are. Throw yourself into something and you change, you adapt and you thrive. If you’re thinking about doing exchange – DO IT.

Isabelle Doyle
Ni Hao from Shanghai!

October 5, 2015

Shanghai has proven to be an astonishingly multifaceted city to live in. Seven months drifted by in a flash, and I find myself dumbfounded by how much time has passed since I first landed at Pudong Shanghai International Airport with my humungous luggage and a few phrases of Chinese. Thanks to all the advices from family and friends, my envisioned image of Shanghai was jam-packed with stereotypes. “For an entire year you won’t see the sky, have a good steak, drink milk and a mask is a must”- they say. So far, living in shanghai I’ve only worn a mask twice, have had a decent steak and drank surprisingly good old Devondale Aussie milk.

However, in hindsight I realised that the surprises and struggles made up the memorable moments of this experience. For fellow Shanghai International Students you know exactly what I’m talking about, yes the spitting. The sound of the initial “kaarrgh” from the throat signifies the inevitable incoming “splat”. We’ve all developed many theories, and thus far has decided on blaming the pollution. The metro experience was also one to remember. Due to prior warnings I came prepared. My backpack slung to the front, I was determined to conquer, and conquer I did. Like sardines in a can, I was certain not even another single passenger could fit in, but hey, to my surprise there’s always room for more. I waved goodbye to my stop then jumped on the next metro back. Now I’m proud to say that jumping on and off the metro is a ‘piece of cake!’. In the first few weeks here, I’ve discovered my love for the phrase “这个” (this). Just one simple phrase, but do not underestimate its’ value, it was a survival tool for quite a length of time.

Oh and I mustn’t forget the stinky tofu experience. Just a turn from the impressive City central Nanjing East road, are small alleyways, cluttered with street food stalls. The first stall I came across had ‘fried tofu’ or so I thought, with mouthwatering-looking sauces to go with it. Without hesitation, I took a mouthful…and many things happened after that shall never be spoken off.

The highlight of my experience so far is without doubt the short trips I squeezed in here and there throughout the semester. Now I can tick off Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Henan and most recently, Mt Yandang from the ‘I was here list’, but there’s still so much to see and so little time. Initially, overwhelmed by culture shock and homesickness, the prospects of being here one year seemed endless, now I find myself wishing if only I had more time.

Yandang Mountain

Suzhou Watertown “China’s Venice” – Night life

The Great Wall of China !

Shanghai University Study Tour – Henan (The Longman Grottoes)

Ratha Ang – 11029547

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Day 4