UTS Think Global

MILAN AND THE POLITECNICO – ALESSANDRO BELGIORNO-NETTIS

March 31, 2014

Myself during a site visit

Despite the financial crisis that currently sits on Italy’s shoulders, Milan seems to be busy and bustling with everything from fashion to business and commerce, with an abundance of venues aimed at ‘leisure activities’. Students are active and focused on turning the crisis around, whilst larger businesses still thrive and give Milan the facade of a powerful modern European city.

The Politecnico has been a bit slow to get the ball rolling but a month in to semester and things seem to be picking up. The way the Italians teach architecture, landscape, building and design is very different to the way we are taught at UTS. Classes are slow and ‘deep’ as they say, meaning that topics are dense in history and traditional in the way they are taught. Plenty of theorising and philosophising and very little practical application. This has taken some times to get used to though I am enjoying the relaxed attitude of students and teachers. One on one time with tutors is highly valuable as typically only three tutors divide a class of 40 or 50 students.

The highlight of the exchange so far has been the endless possibility to travel to neighbouring countries all in one weekend. Some friends and I drove to Switzerland through the alps and back down through Northern Italy over three days. It’s wonderful to escape the busy, grey city and breathe fresh air at the click of a finger. Car rental is cheap, roads are great and accommodation is readily available. I plan on travelling a lot more over this exchange in order to gain a wider understanding of ways the Europeans design and build.

Overall we (the two other students from UTS here and myself) have been tremendously lucky with the weather and have been enjoying weekends in Milan at the park doing drawings and homework, with a spot of badminton ever now and again and some prosecco to quench our thirst.

Fin playing badminton in Parco Sempione

View from apartment in Florence on the weekend

Fin and Rose in front of the glacier in St Moritz

Mountain sunset driving through Italian Alps

Lake Como
Copenhagen Bikies

March 31, 2014

It’s peak hour on HC Andersens Boulevard, one of the busiest roads in Copenhagen.

My friends and I are perched on our bikes at the front of a lengthy (by Danish standards) queue to cross the traffic lights. The lights turn amber and before I can register the click clacking of bikes colliding, I’m lying on the ground with the contents of my basket sprawled around me.

My Dutch friend turns around to see what the commotion is and doesn’t even try to suppress her laughter.

A fellow Aussie and I had managed to orchestrate a stationary crash holding up dozens of Danes on their way to work.

After two months of cycling round one of the flattest cities in Europe, I’m still stumbling my way around – but I love it.

Just Google map anything in Copenhagen, and you’ll find it’ll take about 20 minutes to ride.

That hyggeligt (cosy, homy, feeling of content) café your Danish housemate tells you about – 14 minutes; that college where your Swiss friend is hosting an Alpine Macaroni and Swiss chocolate dinner – 22 minutes; and that kitschy bar you need to check out – 13 minutes.

[Bikes ruling the streets]

[Hyggeligt dinner with exchange friends]

But the best thing about cycling in Copenhagen is their easy-going road culture.

Instead of the rampage of curses Sydney road culture has groomed me to expect after holding up traffic during peak hour, Danes swarmed to give the uncoordinated Aussies a hand, making sure we’re okay and having a bit of a laugh with (possibly at) us.

Before coming to Copenhagen I was warned Scandinavians are cold and standoffish. And it’s true that some may need a little coaxing to come out of their shell. But for the most part, I’ve found them to be warm and welcoming. Asking for help with buying flour at the supermarket can turn into an extended conversation about organic vs. non-organic products, how to make bread and where the yeast is. A casual remark from a Dane at a red traffic light about how his bike is too high for him can turn into light banter about the difference between Americans and Australians.

Living in a predominantly Danish student residence, Tietgenkollegiet, has also busted the standoffish myth right open. We bake together, have hyggeligt movie nights and a camping trip in the works.

[Baking cinnamon scrolls with my kitchenmate]

Joanne Tran 11248729
Copenhagen University
Law
Living in San Francisco

March 31, 2014

Being on exchange is like playing musical chairs- you hop out of a country into the next. You jump into a hostel, then move into a room you found on Craigslist. You then dance circles around new friends, finding some that are on the same wavelength as you. In SF, you’ll definitely also find some people that are on a wavelength just of their own.

Choose to come to SF carefully; you’ll fall in love and might not want to go home!

When you travel around this city, don’t be afraid to strike up conversations with the locals. Mirror their warmth and friendliness and trust me, your day will be made.

For all the foodies, SF will definitely keep your belly (and your wallet) happy. Have a sushirrito, a burrito sized sushi roll or grab a duck and fig pork sausage at Fort Mason on a Friday night. If you’re into beer, this is the city to be in, microbrews are popular, a 6 pack is cheap and on a night out, a can of beer the size of a Pringles can be found at seven-eleven. You could even find quality beer at Trader Joes (more organic and local version of Woolies); beer so good its ‘hipster good’.

Coffee lovers are welcome, but be warned that there are still Starbucks lurking around. There are also a great number of cafes to try for brunch. Make a day of it and get yourself to Haight; have brunch then wander around. Stop in a couple of vintage stores. You never know, you may just run into a group of nudists casually walking around, with nothing on but a long rainbow sock dangling carelessly between their legs.

Just a normal street walking down Haight

As an international student, you get the opportunity to live and breathe like a local and still be a tourist too! Like many others have already said, GET OUT AND EXPLORE!

See the rest of California, meet the locals and mingle with other backpackers.

But back to reality:

Being at San Francisco State University in some respects is like being at UTS-there’s a commute to get there if you don’t live on campus and people are always rushing around, trying to get to the next class. But there are lush green lawns here to lounge on and places to grab a burrito for lunch. We have Ike’s Sandwiches- if you don’t know how great this is, watch the SF episode of Man vs Food. Grabbing a healthy meal on campus is cheaper here than what you’ll pay back home and the portions are generally more than fair.

So when you get here, open your mind and your eyes, gather the troops and get ready to all fall in love with Cali.

Anita Wong
Life in the Lowlands – UvA

March 31, 2014

Hello, my name is Emma & I was luckily enough to be accepted into the University of Amsterdam! I’m almost half way through now and wow what a time I’ve had so far.

After months of planning – being accepted, finding a place to live, forms, forms, FORMS – I finally arrived in Amsterdam on the 29th of January. And what a sight met my eyes! When you hear about Amsterdam overseas everyone speaks about the drugs and prostitutes, but no one accurately describes how beautiful the city really is. In the city centre, every street is separated by a series of canals, lined with house boats and trees. During the day the canals reflect the beauty of the buildings back at you, while at night it glows brightly with the city lights. Historically a city below sea level, Amsterdam is covered with canals, and as I look out my bedroom window I can see the Lozingskanaal which follows me all the way to class.

I thought it best here for me to jot down a couple observations about Amsterdam, things I love & will miss when I return home:

BIKES: I’m addicted to life on a bike – here, everyone has one, regardless of age or fitness – I see my professors hope onto one after class. It’s the way that people here get around, as there is a bike lane on every street, and being so compact it’s the best way to get around the city. Every morning I can hop on my bike which is parked directly outside my building, and be at school within 10 minutes. Amsterdam seems so accessible to me now, and the thrill of biking while listening to music will never go away. NB: no one here wears a helmet. no one

SIZE: the netherlands is an incredibly small place. While the concept that I can drive to the Belgium boarder within 2.5 hrs still scares me sometimes, it means that the country is incredibly simple to explore as everything is so close. For the dutch, the idea of distance is a completely different concept. I took a 30 minute train to the beach yesterday which many would describe as a long journey. The cities themselves as small too, as people are crammed together in tall apartments, & on every single inch of land.

DUTCH TREATS: while the dutch do lack a national food identity, they make up for it in their treats! So far I’ve developed an unhealthy addiction to stroopwafel – but some other ‘must tries’ are bitterballen, a apple pie from winkel 43, and cruesli. For coffee lovers – yes the dutch can make great coffee (check out Coffee Bru, Two for Joy, Rum Baba, Latei, KOKO just to name a few).

CITY LIFE & CULTURE: the thing I love most about Amsterdam is what goes on at night. every night of the week something new & exciting is happening. I can barely keep up. & the great thing is that people here participate! it doesn’t matter if it’s cold & raining outside, or its a tuesday night, every venue is packed & there’s always something new to experience. no idea seems to be rejected here.

LANGUAGE: although I’m taking a dutch language course here it really doesn’t seem to be necessary. EVERYONE speaks english. it’s also important to note that Amsterdam is a very international city & when I go out only half the people I meet are dutch. Amsterdam has become a melding point for so many different cultures, with english as the common language between all. I will say that the only downside to not understand dutch is that it’s harder to get to know a dutch person & be included in their group of friends. While they all speak english, they like to speak dutch to each other, and sometimes forget that you don’t understand.

Just a few other observations:

– having a dutch bank account is a necessity here! people don’t carry cash anymore

– the best sunny days are spent in vondelpark or lazing by a canal

– food is always cheaper at the market

– the dutch are very direct, don’t be put off

– don’t be scared to walk up & talk to people – they’re incredibly friendly once provoked & so helpful once you know them

After only being here for 2 months I can highly recommend choosing to study at UvA. I still can’t believe that soon have to leave this place I now consider home.

— Emma
Yonsei University – Seoul

March 31, 2014

Hello!
My name is Jack and as you have probably already deduced from the title I am a very punny man and also I am in Seoul, Korea! If you find yourself in a situation where you are preparing to go to Korea, the first thing you will notice is that when you tell people this, 100% of the time their response will be “North or South?”. The first time, maybe you will giggle. But after 3 of 4 hundred times you will not.

Apart from this annoyance, you will be able to rest easy in the knowledge that you have made one excellent choice.
I am studying in Yonsei University. Apparently, it is one of the top 3 universities in Korea, and it has a world class business school. But more excitingly it is located in Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu. The great thing about Sinchon is that it fulfils all of the most basic exchange student needs; There are endless streets of restaurants, bars, street food stalls, baseball cages, cat cafes, karaoke bars, “love hotels”, more bars and probably much more that I have not yet/am not brave enough to discover. It’s also just one stop from Hongdae, and only slightly further to many other areas of interest (although nothing is too far in this tiny country with amazing transport). I would really recommend that anyone applying for exchange in Seoul look into the locations of all the universities, and consider this in combination with what they intend to get out of their exchange. All uni areas are not created equal.

Studying elective subjects at Yonsei is pretty easy. You have the option of taking their KLI course (Intensive Korean) which is two hours every weekday, and takes up 12 of your UTS credit points. Most of the standard courses are the equivalent of 6 UTS so your workload can be fairly manageable. On top of this, there are a bunch of courses that are directly aimed at exchange students, and it is reflected in their modest workloads. Seoul is a city with so much to offer, it’s a good idea to consider these kinds of subjects if you don’t want to spend a semester with your head buried in a textbook. Yonsei also offer a bunch of non-academic subjects (mostly sports), which you probably won’t be able to get credited back at UTS but can be great if you want to learn something like Taekwondo.

At this point, I am only a month deep so there is only so much I can write about. But if you’re thinking about exchange, start planning now. The process can be long, and at times confusing (particularly if you’re dealing with a uni in a non-English speaking country) but the rewards are worth it!

Jack Mangelsdorf
San Francisco

March 31, 2014

I am in the middle of the semester studying at San Francisco State University as an exchange student. To be honest, I had always wanted to do exchange from a young age, however was always nervous and hesitant when it actually came to the time of applying and filling out the applications. I think it was mainly due to the fact I had been in a long term relationship and was so comfortable with my life in Sydney, surrounded by loving friends and family. I loved being in my little bubble that never changed, however at times got bored of the routine that I was caught up in at home. What I needed was a challenge and something knew – which pushed me into finally applying and being accepted at SFSU. As soon as I landed into San Francisco, I knew I had made the right decision to go on exchange. I am only half way through but I can already tell you – I’ve met so many friends I’ll be friends with for life from all over the world, I’ve found things out about myself and others I wouldn’t have realized before, have had the best experiences that a lot wouldn’t have the privilege of ever experiencing and I’ve gained more independence and self confidence in my self. It has been one of the best few months of my life so far and I can’t wait for the next few months that are ahead of me, before I return to Australia.

As far as San Francisco State University itself, it has a really beautiful campus and I’ve found all the professors to be extremely helpful, nice and knowledgable in the field they teach. Everyone is friendly and speaks to you in class – especially if they find out your Australian. I have made so many American friends in classes, they absolutely love Aussies!! On a sunny day at SFSU everyone sits and eats their lunch on the quat in the sun on their breaks, watching bands and dances that are being performed on the outdoor stage. There is great food, especially the days there are food trucks. There’s a bar that you can go to on the grounds if you are having a stressful day! In terms of doing exchange in San Francisco, you are choosing one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities of the world. There is always something to explore, to do and to experience at any time of the day. I had never been to San Francisco before – I heard great things about SF with people telling me “it’s the best city, you’ll love it” and I didn’t believe them until I explored and experienced the city myself. It truly is amazing and I will definitely be coming back. The suburbs within San Fran are so unique in their own way and it feels like your in different places when you explore them all.

Here are a few helpful tips for further students that are interested in doing exchange at SFSU:
1. Live off-campus not on campus. SFSU is located about half an hour muni ride from the city in an area called Daly City and it doesn’t have much around it. If you want to take advantage of the beautiful City SF is, live closer to the city. However keeping in mind this is going to cost more rent living closer to the city. This can be an effort getting to university – but so worth it! I live in Noe Valley – 2 minutes from Mission District and one of the iconic parks, Deloris Park. It’s such a beautiful area and so close to downtown and all the places to go out. Try finding a place to rent or a house that needs a room filled on craigslist before you get to SF!!! Do this early – because there is a high demand for housing in San Fran. I have a friend on exchange and it took her nearly a month to find a house and she had to stay in a hostel until then. It’s stressful – but remember not to stress too much – it will all work out in the end, just be patient!

2. Get involved in the IEEC which is a program that is set up for exchange students. They organize events for exchange students to meet and socialize – take advantage of this in your first week in the city. This is where I met most my close friends I have now. Monday night at Qbar is the best – $1 for any drink you want.

3. Organize your visas and flights early! The later you book, the more expensive the flight

4. San Fran is not as warm as you think – it can get really windy and cold especially at night – always bring a jacket everywhere you go

5. Take advantage of travel – rent a car from super cheap car rental and explore California! This is your time to tick California off the list. So far in two months I’ve gone to Lake Taheo, Napa Valley, Santa Cruz, LA, Lake Havasu and San Diego. Without getting a flight anywhere.

6. Stay away from the suburb Tenderlion. It’s extremely dangerous.

Hope this helps students that are going to be given the same amazing experience going to SFSU for a semester as I have so far. Enjoy
Yonsei Seoul

March 31, 2014

Hello!

    My name is Jack and as you have probably already deduced from the title I am a very punny man and also I am in Seoul, Korea! If you find yourself in a situation where you are preparing to go to Korea, the first thing you will notice is that when you tell people this, 100% of the time their response will be “North or South?”. The first time, maybe you will giggle. But after 3 of 4 hundred times you will not. Apart from this annoyance, you will be able to rest easy in the knowledge that you have made one excellent choice.

   I am studying in Yonsei University. Apparently, it is one of the top 3 universities in Korea, and it has a world class business school. But more excitingly it is located in Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu. The great thing about Sinchon is that it fulfils all of the most basic exchange student needs; There are endless streets of restaurants, bars, street food stalls, baseball cages, cat cafes, karaoke bars, “love hotels”, more bars and probably much more that I have not yet/am not brave enough to discover. It’s also just one stop from Hongdae, and only slightly further to many other areas of interest (although nothing is too far in this tiny country with amazing transport). I would really recommend that anyone applying for exchange in Seoul look into the locations of all the universities, and consider this in combination with what they intend to get out of their exchange. All uni areas are not created equal.

   Studying elective subjects at Yonsei is pretty easy. You have the option of taking their KLI course (Intensive Korean) which is two hours every weekday, and takes up 12 of your UTS credit points. Most of the standard courses are the equivalent of 6 UTS so your workload can be fairly manageable. On top of this, there are a bunch of courses that are directly aimed at exchange students, and it is reflected in their modest workloads. Seoul is a city with so much to offer, it’s a good idea to consider these kinds of subjects if you don’t want to spend a semester with your head buried in a textbook. Yonsei also offer a bunch of non-academic subjects (mostly sports), which you probably won’t be able to get credited back at UTS but can be great if you want to learn something like Taekwondo.

   At this point, I am only a month deep so there is only so much I can write about. But if you’re thinking about exchange, start planning now. The process can be long, and at times confusing (particularly if you’re dealing with a uni in a non-English speaking country) but it’s worth it.

Jack Mangelsdorf
Virginia Tech

March 30, 2014

The rural college town of Blacksburg, Virginia. This has been my home for the past few months. I’ve been living in the largest residence hall at Virginia Tech and one of the largest east of the Mississippi. Upon arrival, the interior reminded me somewhat of a hospital; linoleum floors, shared bathroom facilities and an eeriness that could only be explained by the fact that local students were still on their winter break until that coming weekend. The first few days were interesting, I was the only student in a hall with a capacity of 1000. Eventually the weekend arrived. Students started to get back from winter break and that stereotypical college atmosphere kicked in.

When you think college and college towns, Virignia Tech is pretty much exactly what you would think of. Beer cheap and happy hours’ long. The town has a local population of 10,000 and a student population around 30,000. Everything here revolves around the college, a big difference when you compare it to UTS and its central location.

Its been an uncharacteristically cold winter here. While that doesn’t exactly sound desirable, its made this semester such a very unique experience. According to an unofficial stat that several people have assured me is true; the last 142 years at Virginia Tech has seen 10 snow days. I was fortunate enough to be here for two of them. There was a lot of hype around the anticipated snow day and at the time I felt like it would end up being a bit of a let down. I had an inkling classes would still be on, and that Thursday would end up being just a slightly more snowy day in Blacksburg, and wrong I was. I guess some may wonder why just under 2 feet of snow in 24 hours would be considered fortunate. They are the people that probably think that 2 feet of snow would keep people inside. They are also the people that couldn’t be more wrong.

Myself along with the entire student population received an email on a Wednesday around midday, saying classes were cancelled from 230pm and Thursday morning. By about 3pm that same afternoon I had received several messages from my newly found American friends explaining their disgust that they had managed to complete an entire power hour without me being present. My excuse was that I had a test the next day, which was yet to be officially cancelled. But the cancellation email did come and the rest of that night was a bit of a blur. Not because of alcohol, only the extreme amounts of snowfall.

I woke up late that Thursday morning a little frazzled, in what seemed to be a completely different world. Still questioning how I had made it to bed safely, through 20 inches of snow and a gutful of beer. The snow was easily past my knees and still falling. My roommate and I decided that finding some/any form of skiing equipment would be the key for a good day. Fortunately one of my American mates is a pretty big part of the VT snow club. He had the shovels and gear necessary for a good bit of fun…

Due to the remote location of Blacksburg I have not done to much travelling and am saving it for the summer. So far its just been a ski trip up to Snow Shoe in West Virginia and spring break down in Key West.

There is not a lot that can be said about the fun I had on spring break. Its pretty much exactly what you’d expect it to be, perhaps even more ridiculous.

To date this whole experience has been awesome. The only thing I dont like is how fast time seems to be going.

Alexander MacGregor
Singapore 2014. Land of the Chili Crab

March 30, 2014

Going to take the cliché route here; Singapore is a large melting pot of cultures and an economic hub of South-East Asia. It’s very multicultural with many people coming from China, India, Malaysia as well as The Philippines. Almost everyone speaks English or the local language ‘Singlish’ which is a bit of a mishmash of Malay, Chinese and English that is easy to understand. It’s a huge port city with countless commercial flights and cargo ships passing through here everyday

Singapore was recently rated as the most expensive city to live but as a student however I’ve found it’s actually more affordable then Sydney. The food is cheap, averaging about $5 for a decent meal. It’s also very cheap and easy to get around via the ‘MRT’ train system. There are countless buses and taxis to take you anywhere and everywhere for relatively low cost.

Tourism is big here with the government even building an entire island to cater for it. ‘Sentosa’ is the place to go for beach bars and clubs as well as various theme parks and rides. Clarke Quay is also great for bars and clubs. Singaporeans love their food, chilli crab is awesome and Marina Bay is place to try it out. There’s also various nature reserves zoos, safaris, gardens such as ‘Gardens by the Bay’ and little islands to explore such as ‘Pulau Ubin’.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) the university I’m studying at is huge! Sometimes you need to take a bus just to get around. The university is surrounded by dense jungle that’s used by the military for their training. The size of the university is a somewhat stark contrast to the rest of Singapore where space is limited. It’s a little bit isolated but there is heaps of sports clubs to join and different events held every week. I’ve tagged along to a few nights out, beach parties and have even gone sailing on the harbour. There are loads of exchange students in Singapore many coming from Canada to enjoy the hot weather of Singapore. The scenery here is beautiful. The university is built on small hills and is littered with tropical foliage.

The academic environment here is very competitive. Students of every major tend to put in huge study hours. Lectures are recorded which is very convenient however it leaves the lecture theatres very empty with most students opting to watch the online versions. The teaching staff are all very professional and well accomplished with most speaking excellent English.

Once exams are over I intend on really getting to explore Singapore as well as the many nearby countries. I’m hoping to get to see Japan, Taiwan, Laos and Cambodia. After a bit of time off I intend on joining a large engineering company and experience working life in Singapore as part of an internship which will undoubtedly be a great boost to my engineering career.

Michael Haughey.
Life in London- By Maya Shallita

March 28, 2014

Cold and rainy. Two words which are often used to describe London. While this description is accurate, I have nonetheless fallen in love with this city. The shopping, excellent cafes, beautiful architecture and buzzing nightlife, all make up for the dreadful weather. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here.

I have made some wonderful friends located all across the world and as cheesy as it sounds, had some very memorable experiences. Natasha, Alice and I (All UTS students) have had the pleasure of making friends with a lovely group of European students. Throughout many nights of drinking, drinking and eating- I have learnt SO many new things about travelling, university life and culture- from these new friends. When we take photos, it’s refreshing, as SO many countries are represented/brought together. It sounds so sentimental, but it truly is nice. When we get together, there are variety of accents, many different levels of English and different senses of humour. Thus communicating is always interesting and hilarious.

I feel as though I have been living a life of luxury, or as some may say being a ‘lady who lunches’. I am used to juggling a social life, three jobs back home and a BA Laws and Communications, therefore this “relaxing’ experience is both foreign and incredibly pleasant. I have visited countless parks, museums, galleries and MOST IMPORTANTLY RESTAURANTS and CAFES. I HAVE truly eaten my way through London.

I am slowly making my way throughout the UK and I travelled last weekend to Dublin for Saint Patricks Day, which was VERY fun. I have ticked MOST of the tourist boxes in both Ireland and London. This weekend I am travelling to the Cliffs of Dover and Birmingham, where I will indulge is LOTS OF CHOCOLATE at the Cadbury factory. While I intend to definitely completing the tourist activities when I travel around Europe- If there is anything I have learnt- it’s that I much prefer to sit in cafes, go to bars and walk around. Sometimes spontaneity is the best approach- because you really do experience the culture in this way.

I am so glad that I took the opportunity to go on exchange, as so far, it has been an amazing experience. Surprisingly, my classes are all nearly over and I am about to start my HUGE assessment block (however this is nowhere near as stressful as back home). Once my university commitments are complete in May, I am traveling to as many countries as I can fit in- Portugal, Morrocco, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Berlin, Italy, France and Amsterdam (that’s all i have planned so far ;))

I can’t wait for my adventures ahead and I never want to leave! 🙂

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