UTS Think Global

CityU Hong Kong

December 11, 2018

Hiking up Lantau Peak

Néih hóu from Hong Kong! I’m writing this blog post 2 weeks into my exchange at City University of Hong Kong. So far it’s been an awesome experience.

Accommodation

I started my exchange with a brief trip to Hangzhou, China. I’m glad I started off in Mainland China as, after experiencing such a foreign world, coming to Hong Kong has been a breeze! I missed out on the on-campus accommodation (which has been a blessing in disguise) and managed to get a room in an apartment in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island with three awesome German roommates. In my experience, living on the island is better than living on campus, as you feel more integrated in the city and the Hong Kong way of life rather than living in the university dorms. I used EasyRoommate.com and Homates.com to find a room.

The University

CityU Hong Kong has a large campus and great facilities. It is an international institution with the exchange student population being roughly 20-30% of the total student body. As such, the university made it very easy to settle in and sort out my class schedule. The classes have been interesting and engaging and have a similar structure to UTS.

Clubs/Activities

So far I haven’t joined any clubs within CityU but I have joined the Kowloon Rugby/Netball club. This organisation is great as they organise loads of socials, which allows you to meet people from all over Hong Kong. On my second weekend I was invited on a Junk Boat for the first social of the season – highly recommend getting on one of these if you get the chance! I have also joined a Dragon Boating team for when the season starts in January 2019.

Kowloon Netball Junk Boat Social

On Aqualuna – A junk boat that travels up and down Victoria Harbour to view the Hong Kong Island and Kowloon skyline.

Other

Hikes! Beaches! Hong Kong has one of the best public transportation systems in the word. It’s super easy to get to many of the beautiful beaches around the islands and to hiking destinations. I’ve joined a ‘Hong Kong Hiking Meetup’ through meetup.com, which gives plenty of inspiration for hikes and people to hike with.

Anna Wright
Bachelor of Property Economics
City University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong

Australian Government New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant recipient.
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy

December 10, 2018

So life in Milan; Italy in general is culturally quite unique, each service station has a little coffee shop inside it, they use the word prosciutto for both ham and prosciutto and fuel goes for an insane 1.60 euro a litre. Milan in particular I think is an easy place to live, find shops and eat good food however to me it does not even come close to the most beautiful city in Italy, although there is this beauty:

It is a very liveable place in the sense that it is relatively modern however ensure you are staying with other people in your apartment because you DO NOT want to be living alone I can tell you. Also it was 17^th of September when I got back to Milan and I still hadn’t bought bed sheets. Buy bed sheets (I arrived 20^th August).

The university has been quite nice so far, it has WiFi like all unis do so that’s great and they have been very helpful so far with orientation materials and making us feel at home here in Milan.

Main entrance of Università Cattolica:

I haven’t taken on any new activities in particular aside from cooking and cleaning for myself although I have maintained activities I do at home such as joining a new gym and working on my Italian.

First meal I made on exchange:

Fun story: I was cleaning myself for the first 3 days with moisturiser because I thought it was soap.

What I have found most surprising about Italy is how polite and nice the people are. everyone here has been very helpful and tolerant of my broken Italian and on the very first day someone gifted me their train ticket to make it into town because I couldn’t figure out the ticket machine.

At Cattolica I’m studying cooking and watching mafia films as well as studying Italian media which is a huge change from my Bachelor of IT at home. Classes have not yet started however I am very excited to see what they have to offer!

Thank you many times for reading. Addio!

Alessandro Alberga
Bachelor of IT
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Italy
Tilburg University, the Netherlands

December 4, 2018

Today marks my third week living in Tilburg and it has been a full on experience already. From enjoying the last whirlwind moments of my 6 week European adventure to slowing down and settling into my own room and experiencing the CRAZIEST orientation week I’ve ever been a part of, I can definitely say that exchange has started off with a bang.

MY TOP 4 POINTS

1. Join TOP Week and I*ESN (International Erasmus Student Network)

Imagine five days of activities and partying, getting to know your fellow exchange friends from all over the world and mixing it all with a bit of Dutch culture… and you will get one of the best orientation week’s you’ll ever attend. It costs 75 euros for the week, but it’s well worth it!

You will be put into a mentor group of about 20 students, so you’ll get to feel like that awkward new kid with hundreds of other awkward new kids! (Just kidding because you get to meet some really cool people and see them every Tuesday afterwards).

It was also really exciting to see the whole town get involved during TOP Week and welcoming us all to Tilburg. The number one highlight would be Cantus where thousands of students are in a hall singing at the top of their lungs and drinking beer after every song! There are also weekly themed parties at Carpe Noctem if you are an I*ESN member where you can get super cheap drinks from 1 euro.

2. You will bike everywhere

Before arriving I knew that biking was a very popular thing to do in the Netherlands. That combined with the fact that Tilburg is super bike friendly meant that getting a bike was at the top of my priority list, especially for orientation week and getting around during the semester.

I would recommend checking out the I*ESN Marketplace group on Facebook for a second-hand bike (make sure the lights work and most will come with a lock) or you can rent one via swapfiets.

TIP: Make sure to lock your bike at all times (and remember where your key is!) I had a scare that someone tried to steal my bike, but turns out my key was just lost in my pocket!

3. You will learn how to cook

As an exchange student, you’ll probably want to learn how to cook and buy your own groceries from any of the supermarket chains here to save money. You’ll come to know Albert Heijn or Emte very well. So far I’ve made pastas, noodles, chicken and burritos! I also recommend ACTION if you love home shopping. Think K-Mart with their pot plants and fairy lights which are really unnecessary but also so essential to making your room feel more like home!

4. You will be tempted to travel as much as you can

So far I’ve already travelled to Budapest with a friend I made from my mentor group during TOP week and it was an amazing weekend! It honestly could not have happened if we didn’t get cheap flights (and a bit of spontaneity), so if you are keen to travel a lot while you’re here, keep your eye out on deals.

I’ll also be heading to Vienna in two weeks and hopefully Oktoberfest, Sweden, Norway and Denmark during our mid-semester break. We really don’t get the luxury of cheap and easy flights from Australia to Europe, so I would definitely make the most out of it while you’re here!

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at jjyfung@gmail.com.

You can also follow my personal blog and find out more about all the other places I’ve been to before exchange and where I’m heading during exchange at https://www.jetraveller.wordpress.com.

Jessica Fung
99145221
Business and Law
Tilburg University
The Netherlands
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy

November 29, 2018

Italy – An Experience of a Lifetime

Life is full of decisions. Sometimes we make good decisions and sometimes we make bad decisions… Luckily, deciding to go on exchange was definitely the best decision I have made in a long time – perhaps ever. I have had so many great experiences, and met so made great people. I arrived in Europe about six weeks ago, and have been in Milan for the past 3 weeks.

The great thing about going to Europe is that there are so many different countries with so many different cultures in such close proximity to each other. I flew into Budapest (Hungary) and then made my way to Vienna (Austria), Paris (France) and then down through France visiting cities and towns such as Toulouse, Avignon, Nimes, Nice and Carcassonne. I then quickly stopped in Monaco before making my way to Milan. It was so great being immersed in the different cultures, learning about the history of each country and being able to travel independently for such a long time.

Perhaps one of the best thing that has made my transition into this exchange really easy is that I made good friends very quickly. My university, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, has a Facebook group for all the exchange students each semester. A bunch of exchange students arrived early in Milan (like me) to do the pre-session intensive Italian course (which I highly recommend doing). So some people posted in the group when they arrived in Milan to see if they could meet other new exchange students. I saw one of the posts and said that I was happy to meet. So we met the day after I arrived in Milan and the group of us have seen each other literally every day since. It had been really amazing.

The group of us took a trip up to Lake Como. Lake Como is perhaps one of the most picturesque places I have every seen, it is a lake surrounded by mountains. It was absolutely superb. You can’t take a bad photo there because everything in the frame looks so beautiful and so amazing. There we visited a couple of villas, including one where they filmed Star Wars Episode II and James Bond – Casino Royale. That’s really one of the great things about exchange – that you get to go to such cool places with awesome people. It was really fun. We are currently planning a weekend trip to Florence!

The university itself is pretty good. I don’t really have that much to say about it because classes haven’t officially started yet (just the optional pre-session intensive Italian course). But the university campus is really nice, and the subjects I have chosen seem really fun. At UTS I am studying Information Technology, but I am using my electives for my exchange subjects, so I could choose whatever I wanted. I ended up choosing two Italian language courses, drama and Italian cooking as my four subjects. I have heard the cooking course is really fun!

The social life is really good in Milan, there are some cool clubs and bars. The happy hour in Milan, normally from about 7-9pm, is known as Aperitivo. It involves buying one drink and then getting access to a small buffet of things such as pasta, breads, pizza and salads. It has made up a lot of my dinners while here in Milan. The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is a nonprofit organisation for helping exchange students get the best experience they can while abroad. The ESN often run events at these bars and clubs which is great. They also run Karaoke every week or two which is really fun!

If you are thinking of going on exchange, I highly recommend it. You will have so many great experiences! The only bad thing about the exchange is the fact that it will eventually end!

Oliver Moor
12544146
Bachelor of Information Technology
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Italy
Hong Kong Polytechnic University

November 27, 2018

Life in Hong Kong is very different to Sydney. It’s spontaneous, fast paced, and much more accessible. Border crossings are a less than an hour away by boat or high speed rail, making travel a much more casual endeavour. Hong Kong is an excellent base to see the rest of Asia, with flights to Korea for under $300, and bullet trains to Mainland china for under $100. The neighbourhood I live in, while not as diverse as Sydney or UTS, does offer a wide array of East Asian food and culture (as well the standard McDonalds). The university is an enlightening education institution, giving deep insight into the unique cultural facets of Hong Kong. Surprisingly though, as everything is taught in English, lots of American textbooks, examples and questions are used. As such, the university provides a wide array of intercultural perspectives.

I have found one of the best things about Hong Kong is it’s nightlife and entertainment district Lan Kwai Fong. Beer is very cheap, with $4 buying 12 cans at the supermarket. Due to the oversupply of venues, lack of lockout laws and RSA, it is an incredible place to experience (nanny state free) nightlife. Shisha is commonplace and cheap, however, a few of my American and Canadian friends were taken aback by the harsh drug punishments in Hong Kong.

What has surprised me the most about exchange, is the amount I am learning about countries and cultures outside Hong Kong. Because all dorm activities take place in Cantonese, exchange students find it very difficult to participate and integrate. However, it has meant that the exchange students form their own subculture within the dorms. The group I see regularly consists of an a few Americans, a Canadian, a Norwegian, a few Swedes, and a few Australians. It is a very diverse group, with the majority coming from migrant families that have resettled in western countries. As such, I am learning a lot about both their heritage and culture, as well as the countries they grew up in. Furthermore, it means everyone (excluding 2 Americans and myself), is bilingual or even trilingual.

It is honestly an incredible experience. You learn so much about so many countries and cultures, as well as experience a unique and special blend of east meets west in Hong Kong.

Nicholas Walker
12946620
Bachelor of Business and BCII
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong
Rotterdam, Netherlands: The Small Big City

November 25, 2018
I had never really intended to go on exchange when I first started university. However, over the years I’ve had my fair share of friends go off on exchange. It didn’t matter really matter where they had gone, when I asked them how exchange was, the overwhelming consensus was this: “Nancy, you have to go on exchange”.

So, after hours of scouring the UTS global exchange website and on a bit of a last-minute whim, I decided to apply for the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) at Erasmus University and I can safely say that I have no regrets about it.

What I really like about Rotterdam is the fact that it’s neither incredibly small or extravagantly big. It’s also not a conventionally Dutch city. Its skylines are filled with interesting and whacky architecture that pay homage to its distinct uniqueness and then a mere 10-minute bike ride away you can find small quiet streets, lined with terraces and the occasional house with a moat around it!

You can reach just about anywhere you need to go with a bike (side note: the Netherlands is the flattest country in the world, so cycling is pretty much a breeze) and there are a myriad of activities and things to do. From food truck festivals to music festivals, chilled bars to electrifying clubs and everything in between, you’d have to try really hard to have a dull time here.

If you are thinking about coming to Rotterdam for your exchange, I do have some helpful hints and tips.
- Once you have been accepted, organise your accommodation as soon as possible!
Getting accommodation in Rotterdam can be rather difficult, especially if you are only here for a relatively short amount of time. There are only a certain number of on-campus accommodation available for exchange students (through a company called SSH) and it’s a pure first come first serve basis. However, the good thing is that there are other housing websites available for you use if you do miss out.
- Different ways of learning (don’t be fooled by the “contact” hours)
Especially in RSM, there is a big focus on self-learning rather than rote-learning. As such, there aren’t a lot of classes to attend every week and they are almost sporadic in comparison to a typical UTS subject. However, what the subjects lacks in in-class hours, it makes up for in out-of-class hours. Although, there is plenty of times for weekend trips, it pays to be mindful that you will have to organise some time aside to study. Or study on your weekend trips, whatever works for you!
- Subject offerings and credit points
If you are intending to do a full-time semester load, be wary that you will probably be doing more subjects than a typical student due to the conversion from UTS credit points to ECTs. Also, because the university operates on a trimester basis, only certain subjects are offered each trimester. If you need direct subject equivalents, this may hinder you slightly.

There was a lot of work involved to get me to this point. There was a lot of paperwork, emails going back and forth, phone calls and maniac internet searching and planning but I can safely say that it was worth it. Exchange really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I am so glad that I decided to do it.

If you do have any questions about the exchange process, Erasmus University, or Rotterdam in general, feel free to reach out to me! 🙂

Nhu Quynh Do (Nancy)
12544159
Bachelor of Accounting
Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University
Netherlands
Lancaster University, UK

November 22, 2018

So I’m currently eating a bagel in a little corner cafe in the Midlands, taking a break from my catch ups with extended family before I head up north to Lancaster to start the second part of my exchange adventures. Somehow I’ve managed to have a little over 3 months off between finishing up semester at UTS and starting at Lancaster university, so I’ve had plenty of time to immerse myself in other cultures beforehand and explore a few places.

I’ve spent the past three months trekking through the northern areas of Pakistan, roaming through the hills of Slovenia, enjoying the Berlin nightlife, strolling through the lanes of Vienna and ferrying between the Greek islands.

Pakistani monument, Islamabad

In a few day’s I’ll lug my huge bags on the train up to Lancaster where I’ll move into my college halls and begin an insane week of freshers events. Although I have not yet seen my campus or confirmed my timetable, I couldn’t be more keen to get up there and explore the place knowing I have been briefed accordingly for how to get there/ what to do on arrival and all the rest. At the start of the exchange process I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find somewhere that would fit the direct equivalents I needed, as well as somewhere exciting and new, so after looking through subjects at Lancaster and knowing I could spend all my days off climbing in the Lake District, I started to get excited. I even get to do a glacial systems subject, which are a little more hard to find at home! I’ve already signed up for the mountaineering club which is definitely not a sports club back home! So hopefully I can head up to the mountains in Scotland when the weather cools down even more to trial that out.

Lake Bled, Slovenia

Being in the UK for the past couple of weeks has meant I’ve already stuffed myself full of pub roasts, soup and chips – oh and of course plenty and plenty of tea. It is an incredibly welcoming country that you can wander around and appreciate why it is so populous, with its huge open spaces and fresh air. I can’t wait for all the weekend adventures once I’m up on campus, being 3 hours from both Scotland and London means I’m never going to have to travel far for a complete change of scenery. There’s even a ferry service straight from the wharf at Lancaster over to Ireland!

After all the adventures I’ve been on so far, I’m so ready to get onto campus and experience the college life. Bring on freshers!

Finding the pigs in the New Forest, UK

Alexandra Aves
12571523
Environmental science and BCII
Lancaster University
UK
University of Zurich, Switzerland

November 8, 2018

I arrived in Zurich around two weeks ago, and the rumours are true. Switzerland is definitely THE most expensive country I have ever been in. Every third car on the street is a Porsche, and everyone is dressed perfectly from head to toe, all the time. A half-hour bus/train ride costs around $6 AUD, and one stalk of broccoli can cost up to $7. In saying that, the prices are almost redeemable as it is also the most beautiful place I have ever been. It is pretty easy to forget about the 50 France spent on public transport, as soon as you’re strolling around the green/snowy/rocky Swiss alps. Zurich is super central, so you can easily get a train ride out to the mountains for the day, and not have to pay for accommodation. You can also pop over to Germany for cheaper groceries. I’ve already managed three hikes into the alps, and am absolutely blown away each time.

Zurich itself is also a really beautiful place. It’s a lovely mix of old and new buildings, centred around the famous blue lake. The lake itself is runs right through the middle of the city, but the water is so clear and lovely that you can jump in at any point. It hasn’t been getting dark until around 9pm, and 4pm is the hottest part of the day, so after a day at Uni, you can easily head down to swim and chill by the lake until the sun goes down.

I’m in a flat full of wonderful exchange student’s, including my personal photographer/ neighbour, Tim, another UTS student (took these amazing photo’s). I have already met so many interesting and fun people from all over the world, and have ventured out to the bars, forcing myself to like beer as it’s the only affordable drink.

So far, exchange has been amazing! We’ve got lot’s more hikes and trips planned while summer lasts, and then will apparently ‘not see the sun for two months.’ From what I’ve experienced so far, its worth the extra costs!

Caitlin Deibe
98120948
Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Communications (Social and Political Science)
University of Zurich
Switzerland
Sophia University, Japan

November 6, 2018
Orientation Day at Sophia University

After preparing for this experience for a whole year and a half, it has finally arrived!

CRUCIAL INFO – When buying anything anywhere, make sure you tell them that you are a gaikokujin (Foreigner) and that you should be getting things tax free. It will save you money!

Around the Dormitory

First thing to note once you arrive in Japan is to not bother registering your address straight away with the local ward (for your residency card), because once you attend the orientation for Sophia University, they will request a Certificate of Residence and for you to join the Japanese National Health Insurance. I am currently staying at DK House Tokyo Nerima (near Fujimidai station) which is a couple stations away from the main station Nerima (where the local ward office is located). The station is somewhat inconvenient due to the express/semi-express trains do not stop at Fujimidai station unlike the local trains. The area around the dormitory is quite quiet with a 10-minute walk to and from Fujimidai train station. There are some good shops closer to the train station instead of the dorm unfortunately, though I do highly recommend the salads at Family Mart!

The dormitory houses both international and domestic students and working class men (I honestly only thought it to be students but I have met some adults here…). On the first floor of the complex, is the kitchen, shower room and a study room. My room is situated on the 5^th floor, so to go have a shower and/or make dinner, is honestly the biggest trek. There are toilets and basins located on each floor, as well as a corridor table area that is mostly quiet since people usually stay within their dorms. The dorm itself is quite a small room, but consists of a couple of cupboards, a fridge (If you are lucky like me, my room had a fridge and a freezer, whereas some friends only got a small fridge!), a desk and chair and a bed. Please note that there is no safe in the room so hide your money safely! The bedding is quite comfy even though the bed is quite small, but I highly recommend either bringing your own pillow or purchasing one from a store (not from Muji!)

Sophia University

Traveling from the dorm to Sophia University (Joochi Daigaku) is about 40 minutes, but if you happen to have a period 1 class at Sophia, I highly recommend leaving at 7:30 to comfortably arrive at Sophia by 9:15 (Japanese people are crazy!). Being late to class is quite a strict aspect of the Japanese lifestyle, so please keep this in mind because if you are late too many times, you could fail the course!

The University has a nice cheap cafeteria and food joints close by, so if ever in a hurry for food near Uni, you are covered! Sophia University can also be quite confusing with its layout, considering building 11 is tucked away in a back corner, whereas building 12, is right up near the entrance next to building 1.

What to do

I have only been in Japan for a week and a half, but I have decided that the best things to do, include:
- Hiking up every mountain that you can!
- Visiting some of the popular shrines;
- Traveling to some random station, getting off, and just start walking in a straight line for hours without checking your GPS (I did that with a Canadian mate I met, was so much fun and would highly recommend!);
- Going to all the thrift shops. There is a good one in Shibuya called Don Don Down on Wednesdays where there is 20% off all items.
I hope that the above information is informative and I am looking forward to conquering more mountains!

Andre Avedissian
12892752
Bachelor of Business
Sophia University
Tokyo, Japan

Australian Government New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant recipient.
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain

November 4, 2018

After an anxious wait for my Visa I finally arrived in Barcelona on the 25th of September. This meant that classes had already begun – there was to be no settling in period, I was going to have to move quickly in order to stay afloat. Surprisingly, three days later, I felt calm. I have found a wonderful flat, professors at the University have been extremely supportive in helping me catch up, and I have already met plenty of interesting people. Having only studied Spanish at a rudimentary level during my Under-graduate, I was perhaps slightly worried, as much of the course is taught in Spanish. I have adapted quickly though, and can feel my Spanish improving with every passing day.

Intellectually, I knew that Catalan was the preferred language of Barcelona. This shouldn’t be surprising – last year they fought so passionately for independence that was not forthcoming (this fight continues). I was somewhat taken aback however with just how stubbornly the residents stick to Catalan. They all speak Spanish perfectly, and English much of the time for that matter, but to use Spanish is seen in many circles as an admittance of subordination. It seems as though I may have to learn Catalan, or at least a few words, to really impress in the eyes of the locals.

The school itself is in a beautiful building designed by J.A. Coderch de Sentmenat, with an extensive library to boot. It truly feels like it will be an incredible place to study. Another famous architect, Alberto Campo Baeza, is a guest professor for this coming semester – he is someone whose work I respect greatly, it is unbelievable that architects of this calibre are seemingly dropping in and out.

So far, I’ve eaten out every night, and I hope to change this habit at some point in the near future, but I have been amazed by the quality of the ingredients they use in just day to day cooking, as well as the affordability of it. I went to a nice restaurant on my first night (to celebrate a little) and didn’t hold back. This cost me about a third of what it might have in Melbourne or Sydney.

All in all things bode well for me here, I have to keep reminding myself that it’s only been three days. I can’t wait to see how things might progress.

Leonidas Koumouris
13051370
Master of Architecture
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
Spain

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