UTS Think Global

Korea University, It’s the right choice!!

March 29, 2015

It’s been just a little over a month since I’ve come to Korea and I am slowly adjusting to the lifestyles and the traditions of Koreans.

Korea University

This is the university I will be studying at for the next 3 months!! It is an amazing campus, extremely big and most of the buildings are very modern. Right as you enter from the Front Gate you will see Central Square where there are patches of grass where students usually have picnics and order deliveries for lunch, this is a great experience and bonding for students as the play games and talk (sadly it is too cold to experience it right now). They also have an underground structure which connects to the Business building, the great thing about this is that there are convenient shops, coffee shops, restaurants, study areas and many other things inside for you to explore and enjoy during your break periods.

KUBA (Korea University Buddy Assistants)

My Group (6ixThrough)

KUBA is a system provided by Korea University where local students volunteer to become buddies who:
-Help with almost everything, from registration to translation
-Organise events and fieldtrips
-Teaching the Korean culture
-Organise dinner and lunch meets, etc.
Because there is a huge group of exchange students, we are split into 7 groups of around 50-60 students and in each group there is around 10 buddies who each are assigned to 3-5 students who they would mostly be in contact with.
The members of KUBA are all very friendly and extremely fun to hang out with, most of them can speak english and those who can’t still try their best to speak with you.

There will be much more to introduce to everyone so anticipate for the next post 🙂

Joey Qiu
11693948
Aarhus Universitet

March 26, 2015

Hej fra Denmark!

I am currently in my 3rd month of my exchange at Aarhus Universitet in Denmark! It seem’s to me that all Australian’s go to Aarhus, and it is no wonder why.

So far the Danish have taught me how to cycle in a busy city, drink as well as how to enjoy the strange Danish delicacies that they have!

Studying in Aarhus is definitely a different experience, from 8am classes to the 15min breaks to every hour of teaching – it definitely is a break from the UTS way of teaching. 4 hour International Law classes was my weekly Monday ritual which was a terrifying thought come Sunday night!

It’s true what they say about Danish people, they are ridiculously good looking, always look as if they are going for a night out and never seem to wear anything that is not stylish and not black! Having been almost killed twice on a bike it is also worth your while to focus on how the Danish ride and try not to lose focus!

Another thing to note is that the Danish language is seriously strange – they will try to make you say the most random ‘words’ which sound more like animal sounds! I live with 11 other Danish students who always seem to enjoy hearing my try to speak Danish!

Exchange in Aarhus has been a rewarding experience so far, the opportunity to travel is so inviting and I have indulged so far, but it has felt nice to be able to return to a place I now consider my home.

Tak,

James Wells
Exchange in the deep south, Louisiana State University

March 26, 2015

When I first arrived in Louisiana I a little shocked. I had been told that LSU was a huge college that was always bustling with life! I was hoping to arrive and jump right into class and meeting new people. However upon my arrival the campus was a ghost town which instilled some doubt that my exchange might not be what it’s all cracked up to be. Over the next week before class began, students slowly started to trickle in until there were more people on campus than I could ever imagine! I later realized this was because all the students had gone home to visit their families and no one wanted to return to school from their holidays until as late as possible.

I am just under 4 months into my exchange here and am absolutely loving my time here. I have never been travelling before so everything is new and exciting. There are so many things to do and see that every weekend is packed full of adventure. Some of these adventures include hiking at Tunica Falls, competing in a wake boarding tournament in Munroe with the LSU wake boarding team, staying in a beach house in Bay St Louis Mississippi and attending Mardi Gras festival in New Orleans.

American colleges are completely different to back home. Sports are a huge deal! Athletes are trained like Olympians with strict training schedules and drinking rules. Each game is shown on ESPN and the college has enormous sporting facilities. Colleges also have a cultural feel here. Not only is there societies like back home, they also have Sororities and Fraternities which has a multitude of events and traditions throughout the year.

I highly recommended for anyone going on exchange to join as many societies and sporting teams as you can whilst on exchange; you never know who you will meet or where it could take you!

Trent Pickup 11305570
The True North

March 26, 2015

I learned three things on stepping off the plane at Pearson International – Toronto’s main airport. Firstly, whatever it is they serve you to eat on long distance flights should not be classed as food. Secondly, Canada in January is cold. Proper Cold. Thirdly, the stereotype we have that Canadians are all super nice, helpful and generous? 100% True.

As with most cities the airport is a fair way out of the centre of town, and although my housemates had given me a detailed list of how to get where I was going on public transport I was still nervous. This nervousness was not helped by the realisation that buses and streetcars in Toronto cost $3, exactly, and they don’t give change. I had a $50 note and no coins, it was freezing, dark and I just wanted to get to my house and go to sleep. Enter helpful Canadians.

Me: Excuse me, does anybody have any change for a $50, sorry to be such a pain, I didn’t realise the bus didn’t give change

Guy next to me: No sorry but I have a Loonie [I learnt that by this he meant a dollar, not a derogatory term for an elderly relative with mental health issues]

Lady further down the bus: Here I have a Twonie [two dollars].

Me: no that’s ok I can’t take your money I’ll go get some change inside

Guy next to me after looking at lady down the bus: It’s ok, think of this as your welcome to Canada.

And that is why I will forever love Canada.

I have been in Canada now for a little under three months. It is an amazing country and Toronto is an amazing city. Although the weather leaves a little to be desired: as I write it is simultaneously raining and snowing outside.

Canada is cold. People told me this repeatedly but I didn’t quite realise just how cold it was. It is cold enough that the air hurts your face and you can’t feel your hands if you walk down the streets without gloves. The snow is a problem too – it covers up sidewalks and makes walking anywhere take twice as long as you expect. The first two things I bought when I arrived were a thick, waterproof coat and snow boots, and I haven’t regretted them for a moment.

In February the temperature dropped to -27C overnight – and Toronto is one of the warmest cities in Canada (just ask Winnipeg)! The snow and the cold are novel but they do make walking home from 9pm classes a slightly daunting prospect.

Toronto is probably the most diverse and accepting city I have ever lived in, and it’s downtown core is a heady mix of everything. There are top end shops on Bloor St; Queens St West is a mix of cafes and grunge reminiscent of Kings St in Newtown; and the Old Town has the beautiful indoor St Lawrence Markets. Add to this the micro-communities of Little Italy, Little Portugal, Chinatown, Korea Town, The Village and so many more and you cannot imagine being bored for a moment.

While there is never a shortage of things to do, Toronto doesn’t feel like a big city. The public transport system isn’t brilliant so most of the time I save myself the trouble and walk and it really doesn’t take too long to feel like you’re in a completely different part of the city. In my first week I went from downtown core, to the financial district, to Trinity-Bellwood’s, to the old town in one day without much hassle. And Ryerson University is right in the heart of everything.

As universities go Ryerson and UTS are peas in a pod, right down to the new developments they both recently opened. The classes are similar, the hours are similar and the expectations are similar. Apart from the fact that there is an ice rink in the centre of the quad and raccoons stealing from the bins Ryerson feels overwhelmingly familiar, which is oddly comforting in a strange country.

Another thing about Toronto is that it is so close to everything. In reading week – our midterm break – some friends and I went to Montreal for a few days. A five-hour train ride and you are in a French-speaking province full of beautiful old French-Colonial buildings. A one and a half hour plane trip south and you are in New York City! Even a two-hour bus trip out of town and you are in little snow covered village that has dogsledding trips. If you are even more adventurous a few hours on a plane and you can be in Cuba or Jamaica to escape the snow.

Now I have to admit at this point that Toronto wasn’t my first choice for exchange. I wanted the excitement of Scandinavia or the wilderness of the Scottish Highlands (well Glasgow) where my family are from. But I have never been so glad I didn’t get what I wanted. From the places I have seen, to the people I have met; to the three am walks home in the snow fervently wondering why I thought it was a good idea not to wear tights with my dress, I haven’t regretted a moment of it. I still have three months left and I am looking forward to every minute. So if you get the chance, consider Toronto for exchange – I changed my life and it might change yours.

Jean Mackay 11701582
Some Thoughts about studying Architecture in Aarhus

March 26, 2015

There are a number of posts about Aarhus already, So I thought it would be best to share some smaller moments of life on exchange. Below are a few glimpses of what my semester has been like so far, after two months:

Ride a bike: rain, hail, shine or snow.

The weather can be quite cold, so winter gear is essential.

The facilities at the architecture school are great: you have your own studio space and digital fabrication machines: both are 24 hours access.

The also have Wood and Metalwork rooms:

You’re expected to work at the university from Monday to Friday. The collaborative environment provides you with a lot of opportunity to discuss your work with others.

and the scale of the town makes it easy for spontaneous group meals.

It’s a harbour town with a large port.

The light is very different from Sydney’s

You can pick up almost any household item on the street. The Danish have a very strong re-use culture.

And love their interior design (notice the many different chairs.)

My course involved a study trip to Paris. The ease of travel around Europe is ridiculous.

Fun Fact: The Danish have a tradition where they cover you in cinnamon if you’re not married by 25. You can patches of cinnamon sprawled around town.

And finally, the token tourist shot inside Olafur Eliason’s Rainbow Panorama overlooking Aarhus.

Daniel Connell 11728868
Finding new 友達 in 日本~

March 26, 2015

Never met more friendlier people in Japan.

11702370 – Caitlin Bickerton

35.689487 139.691706
Arkitektskolen Aarhus

March 26, 2015

The University

From the first day at the Aarhus School of Architecture they really made an attempt to really welcome all the guest students and make sure that we felt comfortable. There is a mentoring program run by students, where you get paired up with a student from the school as a ‘buddy’. They hold different events throughout your stay at the school such as the welcome dinner and trips to museums. It was a great way to get to know other students that are in the same position as I was.

The classes here are the opposite of how things work at UTS. There are not many lectures and there is only one design studio that you are allocated to. For each studio everyone gets their own desk where you work at Monday to Friday and approximately 9am to 5pm. It was a shock at first, getting used to a completely new way of working, but I have really benefitted from a studio 9-5 culture where work is more hands on and a lot more social.

My studio site was based in Paris with a theme of habitation in relation to the city scale. This meant that our whole studio did an 8-day excursion to Paris, with a 3-day architecture tour as well as analysis of our sites. It was a fantastic opportunity to actually study in Paris and see a whole different architecture.

Travelling

Since I’ve never been to Europe previously, I took this as an opportunity to explore all the places that I’ve never seen. So far I have been to Switzerland, Venice, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Budapest and Paris. It is very easy to plan quick trips away.

Living in Aarhus

I’m living in student accommodation arranged through the school called Borglum Kolliget. I get a decent sized room with a bathroom and wardrobe, fully furnished. I know of similar places around Aarhus that may not come furnished, so make sure you know what you are getting! The common living, dining and kitchen I share with 12 other Danish and international students has been a great way to get to know a lot more people out side of the university. Since the first day everyone was willing to help out with any questions or worries that I had, and very welcoming. As I have been travelling around Europe during exchange, I was always relieved to come back to Denmark, it really does feel like a second home.

Megan Ryan (11741586)

56.160132 10.209963
Where east meets west, Hong Kong!

March 26, 2015

Having been in Hong Kong for almost 3 months now, I feel like only now getting used to living in this gigantic city. When I first arrived I found myself bewildered by many of the customs and had to constantly ask myself questions like “is this hot water for drinking or washing my cutlery in?”. Figuring out the answers to questions like this took some trial and error but in the course of the last 3 months I think I have finally got it down. This was no easy task, when I say this city is gigantic I mean it. From the skyscrapers that stretch out in every direction to the millions of people, this city is teeming with life.

Although the rush of this city can be a little daunting, Hong Kong is nothing if not convenient. Trains run every few minutes (and will send public apologies if they are a little bit late) and the octopus cards (think opal cards except awesome) can not only be used to easily pay from public transportation but can also be used to pay things in local shops, supermarkets and fast-food chains. Shops here are also open until 10 to 11pm, so if you ever find yourself thinking “I really need to buy some coat hangers right now” (which was an actually issue for me) at 10pm on a Tuesday you are in luck.

While the heart of Hong Kong is in its narrow streets bathed in the artificial hue of neon, much of this “almost a country, but not a country” is actually park lands and nature preserves. Daytime hikes over mountains and through jungles are only a short trip out of the city. Out here you can see the sweeping views over the city or the sea and breathe some fresh(er) air. It’s a nice break from the daily life surrounded by apartment complexes covered in bamboo scaffolding and streets packed with cars and people.

Speaking of daily life, studying at the Hong Kong polytechnic university has been an amazing experience, mostly due to all the awesome people you meet. The support from UTS international and the local exchange team has made settling into uni life a breeze. PolyU’s campus is quite large and is built in a consistent theme which makes it feel separate from the surrounding city and while the student accommodation is quite small (as most rooms are in hong kong) being only a 10 minute walk from the campus makes life very convenient.

My time here has been an amazing experience, I would recommend going on exchange to Hong Kong to anybody who has the opportunity.

Kieran Ooi, 11393903
Manjeri Project in Uganda

March 26, 2015

August 2014. If you’d asked me then, about where Uganda is, i’d probably have to say somewhere in Africa with no perceptions as to where it would be, look like or what way of life it’s people lived. Fast forward only 4 weeks and I was on a plane, away for a week and half to the unknown. Prepared to help the Manjeri School Project in making a short piece of documentary work. 18 years old, with little travel experience I received a grant from UTS BUiLD for my flights that changed my life. On arrival, I met up with Nick Harrington, the founder of the Manjeri School Project and Luke Tregurtha, an agricultural specialist.

After a 3 hour drive to the remote location of Lugazi, surrounded by farms, sugar cane fields, and mud brick homes we went straight to visit the school, The Erinah Manjeri Mixed Primary School, with the founder of the school and passionate family man, Bbumba Mark Nicador. Immediately I felt a part of the Manjeri Project’s small passionate team, I was able to meet teachers, children and members of the community. Although what is really at the heart of this project is empowering the people of this school, allowing them through opportunity and guidance to become fully independent from donors in Australia. That’s where I really started to feel a connection with what Nick had set up to do, I was able to film and interview people to tell their amazing stories.

However at times I was also cementing safety cages, painting tables, installing newly donated laptops, going to check on new bee hives or interviewing dairy and vanilla bean farm workers. Every day had a jam packed agenda, and it was amazing to see at the end all that we had achieved. What was equally as exciting, was two weeks after arriving back we screened the short documentary about the school and the project at an inaugural cocktail gala with Bumba Mark Nicador in attendance, a night which raised enough funds to cover the costs of the school for a year (*Nick will know a correct figure). Since then the story has been shared nation-wide with my photos from the trip in Yen Magazine and hopefully a longer version of the film will soon be online, with a larger perspective on the story.

Bryce Thomas

Global Short Programs Student
Szia from Budapest

March 26, 2015

Jo Napot Kivanok,

Simply, Budapest is an amazing city and I would recommend it to anyone wishing to travel on exchange. Firstly, the university here is very accommodating, with a large exchange program they provide constant assistance if required, as well as organising a diverse range of events to participate in, including traditional Hungarian dinners and weekly pub evening to trips to Prague, Krakow and a Croatian sailing weekend. The university classes are quite different to UTS, being a more formal, conservative style of education, which sometimes can be frustrating but is, for the most part, relaxed and enjoyable. I would definitely encourage any future students of BME to undertake the Hungarian Beginners course as it is very helpful with getting around the city, and the locals appreciate the effort.

Budapest itself is an incredibly beautiful city, especially along the Danube, with Buda Castle and the Hungarian parliament on opposite sides. The weather is pretty cold in winter, though not too bad, but during spring it is very comfortable and the city begins to open up. Budapest also has a great nightlife, and whilst some places can be too tourist-filled, there are a lot of very cool bars and ruin pubs with no shortage for choice. Ruin pubs are the unique aspect of the nightlife in Budapest and are always worth exploring. Budapest is also a very inexpensive city, when compared to Sydney, which makes living here very enjoyable. A lot of money can be saved whilst living in Budapest, creating opportunities to travel to the surrounding cities both inside and outside of Hungary. Also important to note, that the average price of a beer is 300 HUF, or $1.50. I can’t stress enough how amazing the prices of things are here!

Whilst I hadn’t originally chosen to study in Budapest, I would advise any future exchange students who are looking for a relaxed, cheap, fun city with a great nightlife and exchange program to consider Budapest.

Isaac Harrisson 11690967

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