UTS Think Global

Why Prague?

October 13, 2017
“Why Prague?” – that’s the question that nearly every person asks when I mention my exchange. And to be honest, if you asked me this question about 2 weeks ago, my response was pretty lacklustre. I would of just awkwardly smiled you, talked about how it really wasn’t my first choice, and then mentioned how there were actually a few other places I was more keen on going.

However, now that I’m here, a bit over a week into my time in the Prague – my answer has definitely changed for the better – and I’ll get to answering that soon.

So a bit more about Prague – a basic google would tell you that it’s the capital city of the Czech Republic, geographically placed in the heart of Europe and is home to about 1.4 million people. On paper, its pretty ordinary… but now I want to talk about the things that are actually extraordinary about the city.
1. People – It may sound cliché but honestly in the little time I’ve been here, I’ve met some of the nicest and most accommodating people from both the local Czech population, and the international exchange students who will be studying with me. Hopefully during the next 3 months I’m able to meet even more people.
2. Architecture – The city itself looks amazing. Walking into old town square, the streets are lined with buildings that seemed to have been taken straight out of the 17-1800s, and for the most part they are. Unlike most of the other European cities during WW2, the cities in the Czech Republic have remained virtually untouched by the fighting that happened during that time – leaving the picturesque cityscape that is shown today.
3. Cheap – Honestly the most amazing thing about the Czech Republic is how cheap everything is. Accommodation, food, clothes (and of course beer), everything is Prague is just so cheap. It’s an amazing feeling when I talk to my friends that have gone to other places for exchange – hearing them go on about how they are living off instant noodles and bread and ham sandwiches because groceries are too expensive – while I dine like a king for a fraction of the cost.
These are just my three top reasons and truth be told, I could honestly keep going on – but I have to adhere to the word count. However, now if anyone asks me the question – “Why Prague?” – unlike before I can honestly go on for ages about why getting Prague for exchange was one of the best things that could have happened to me.

Phong Chan Huynh
97119945
Bachelor of Information Technology
University of Economics Prague (Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze)
Czech Republic
Exchange at Lunds Universitet

October 12, 2017

Hello there!

If you’re reading this, then you must be interested in studying in Lund, or undertaking an exchange program at least! Despite having spent under a month here in Sweden, I wholeheartedly recommend you do it.

Lund is a beautiful town located at the very bottom of Sweden, just a 40-minute train away from Copenhagen, Denmark. It is very friendly and cosy, differing greatly to the busy hustle-and-bustle of Sydney. Despite this, however, I have managed to meet a myriad of people from different backgrounds and indulged in many local activities.

The university provides all exchange and international students with an incredible orientation program, which made my transition to Swedish lifestyle extremely easy. Whether it be through picking you up directly from the airport, allocating you into mentor groups, or hosting numerous introductory events, there is no way that any student will not feel at home here.

Instead of merely recounting my experiences thus far, I will spin them into a few tips which can apply to any student looking to study abroad.

Tip 1: Travel Beforehand

Even though I love it here in Sweden, the highlight of my exchange trip has been my month of travel before arriving here. I started off in Lisbon, Portugal, and made my way up through Spain, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Lund, and many other exchange universities, start their semester significantly later than Sydney universities (I know of some that start in October!). I would highly recommend you spend that extra time exploring new countries and cultures – it really was the best time of my life.

A beautiful view looking over Monaco, France. It was one of the most surreal places I visited.

Tip 2: Apply for Accommodation ON TIME

I am currently staying in a housing block known as “Vildanden.’ It is a corridor room where I have my own bed, shower & toilet, and a large kitchen which I share with 14 other students in my corridor. I love living here as it has allowed for me to meet so many other people from diverse backgrounds. Lund University offers exchange students numerous different housing and room types. I would recommend you do your research on which rooms suit your preferences best, and apply for them as soon as their applications become available – a lot are quite competitive and offered on a first-in first-served basis.

Tip 3: Never say Never

Seriously, don’t do it. You’re no longer in Sydney – you have nobody to impress and no reputation to uphold. With that in mind, try new experiences! Try new foods, dress up to events, join a group of strangers to a festival. Personally, I’ve tried playing water polo for the first time, gone on day trips to Swedish nature reserves, and am currently taking cooking lessons from a friend in my corridor. The possibilities are endless!

A concert of popular Swedish singer, Oskar Linnros, at Malmo Festival, which I decided to join at the last minute. No regrets!

I hope you have found this blog useful and that it aids in your decision to undertake global exchange. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me.

Jayden Ngo
97116228
Bachelor of Accounting
Lund University
Sweden
Cycling and hygge in Copenhagen

October 12, 2017

Hej UTS!

I’ve been living in the happiest place on Earth¹ for three weeks now, and I can honestly say that it’s been one of the best experiences of my life!

CBS has an excellent introduction program, starting off with a week of “intensive” Danish crash course lessons (they’re only four hours a day, and you get to hang out with your new friends!) I also opted in for the social package, which had daily night activities for two weeks, and was an excellent opportunity to meet lots of new friends from around the world. Some of the highlights were Danish folk dancing, hygge and smørrebrød night, the lake party, and Danish movie night.

I’m not quite sure why I chose Denmark and Copenhagen Business School (CBS), but I can now say that the best parts of this city are the: people, public transport system, nightlife, built environment, food, education system – basically everything!

People
Danes are renowned for being very respectful of your privacy, and this has often been interpreted as animosity and coldness. However, I have found most Danes to be very friendly and willing to chat or help out (especially after some øl).

Transport system
Copenhagen is home to about 2 million people, within a fairly small area of 85kmh. The buses and trains are punctual and convenient. I can cycle to most places in 15-20 minutes, and am about a 2 hour flight away from most European destinations.

Nightlife & Culture
I’ve found the nightlife and culture in Copenhagen to be very vibrant, with events on every day and night (and some sort of festival every weekend). I’ve had many memorable nights, whilst also being able to experience the unique cultural exhibits that Copenhagen has to offer.

Food
I can’t say I’m much of a foodie, but I’ve found the food to be amazing here. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience a variety of food ranging from smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches), 3AM kebabs, street food at Papirøen and to also fine dining at a Michelin starred restaurant (but I have to say I’m a big fan of the abundance of kebab shops here).

Tertiary Education System
Established in 1917, CBS is the largest business school in Scandinavia, with approximately 20,000 students. I’ve found the education system to be very different to Australia, with more focus on discussions and self-learning. Practically, none of the lectures nor assignments are compulsory, and the finals are worth 100% (with assessments ranging from written/typed exams, oral exams, and hand-ins). Additionally, CBS has a beautiful campus with some very modern architecture interwoven with classical buildings (just like UTS!)

All in all, I’ve had an amazing experience in the past three weeks, and I can’t wait for what the next 4 – 5 months has to offer! I would recommend anyone who’s thinking about going on exchange to not hesitate and just go!

[1] http://cphpost.dk/news/international/denmark-once-again-the-happiest-place-on-earth.html

Steven Kim
97118792
Bachelor of Accounting
Copenhagen Business School
Denmark
The Gateway to Asia – Singapore

October 11, 2017

The word ‘exchange’ has been prohibited in my household for almost 2 years. Finally, I managed to convince my family that it would be my last opportunity to stay abroad before starting my daily 9 to 5 job. To be fair, it did sound very daunting to my conservative Asian family – 4 months away from home. Living by yourself in a foreign country. No friends. No family. Starting fresh in a new country.

As I stepped out of Changi airport, I was welcomed by the humid and warm weather which made realise that I was no longer in Sydney. I was in a completely different country; a place that I would be calling home for the next 4 months: Singapore.

Food

There’s food everywhere in Singapore! Local food is much cheaper than fast foods, so be prepared for a selection of delicious meals for the price of under $5 SDG ( an equivalent of $4.50 AUD). There are a number of canteens across NTU campus. Variety of Asian cuisines – Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Malaysian and more! Of course, there are a few familiar names such as Pizza Hut, Subway, Starbucks, McDonald’s, KFC, and the list goes on…

Bored of campus food? Just a 15 minutes bus ride to the closest shopping mall, you would be spoilt with more food options. Feeling something more authentic and local? Right outside the shopping mall, there’s also a night market and hawker centre to enjoy Singaporean cuisine at extremely affordable prices.

Being a Tourist

Besides from its great and affordable food in Singapore, there are many beautiful sights and landmarks that make Singapore beautiful.

Marina Bay Sands

One of the most impressive hotels in the world! Designed with the inspiration of card decks. The distinctive feature of the hotel is the SkyPark (designed like a ship sitting on top of the three towers). It consists of an infinity pool, where you would have the best view of Marina Bay, as well as gardens and a jogging path.

Unfortunately, I could not access the infinity pool as it is only reserved for hotel guests. Maybe if I lived off instant noodles for the rest of the exchange trip – I could potentially afford to spend my last day in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands.

Little India

As the name suggests, ‘Little India’ is an Indian community located in Singapore. Here you can find authentic Indian cuisine offered at affordable prices! I probably have tasted the best Chicken Biryani and Masala Dosa in my life…

Sentosa

A man-made island resort located down south of Singapore featuring a sheltered beach, the tallest Merlion statue in Singapore, hotels and the Universal Studios.

Central in Southeast Asia

Located in a central position of Southeast Asia – going on exchange in Singapore enables you to travel to neighbouring Asian countries within just a few hours. This could be by bus, ferry or plane.

Just last weekend I managed to explore Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia!

With plans to Tokyo, Kyoto and Hanoi during the mid semester break, and Penang, Bangkok, and Phuket during weekends – I know that this exchange journey to Singapore is only the beginning of exploring Asia.

Full Name: Ly Tonny Ngo
UTS Student ID: 97117345
UTS Degree: Bachelor of Information Technology
Host University Name: Nanyang Technological University
Exchange Country: Singapore
My amazing experience in Delft

October 11, 2017

I will try my best to capture these amazing last few weeks in a blog post. Currently, I’ve just started my 4th week of exchange after travelling Europe for a month. The first two weeks of being in my new home country consisted purely of social activities organised by the uni for international students to become acquainted with the Dutch culture and meet other international students. These few weeks have been like nothing I’ve ever experienced; I’ve never met so many people in my life. I’ve added people’s numbers on my phone and have no recollection of who were they were, not because I had been drinking (not to say I haven’t had the ‘occasional’ drink), but because of the sheer amount of people I’ve met on a daily basis. I was quite nervous about going to an entirely new country without knowing anybody, but this has not been a problem. You can go out to a bar, club or event without friends and find a bunch of people to hang out with.

I live in a new apartment building called Professor Schermerhornstraat that has just opened six months ago. Anyone planning on coming to Delft I highly recommend staying here. The rooms are fantastic and the building is really social. There is a courtyard where there are people you can meet most nights, and a common room with large flat screen tv’s, couches and tables. I lucked out with my neighbours as they are probably my closest friends here so far, we’ve gone out to see various parts of the Netherlands when we’ve had free time, for example, a few days ago we went to a free dutch air show.

Delft itself has such a unique charm that it is unlike any city I’ve been to. The city has such a cosy vibe; walking around it I’m constantly amazed by how it looks exactly like a fairy tale town. Another cool thing about the city is that it’s so small; anytime you walk around you’re saying hi to familiar faces.

I’ve only had a week of classes so far, but I’m impressed by the quality of education here. They put a big emphasis on learning to grow your knowledge, and you can feel the passion from every professor. The classes are quite heavy with material , but it’s worth it because the professors try hard to make the classes interesting, and it works.

So far this experience has been incredible. Living in an apartment away from anything and anyone I’ve known has paid off big time. Living away from my parents for the first time has been an excellent growth opportunity, and I can feel myself maturing every day that goes by. This experience has been life-changing and I absolutely can’t wait to live out the next five months and see what adventures it brings.

Name: Joseph Hotz

Student ID: 97116925

Degree: Bachelor of Information Technology

Host University: TU Delft

Exchange Country: Netherlands
It’s Never Boring

October 6, 2017

Whilst this is not my first time in Hong Kong, it always surprises me how busy and bustling this compact city can be. It is a crazy mixture of both modern design and its historical heritage.

I have come into this exchange experience, with a want to submerge myself in a different lifestyle and to also study subjects unavailable at UTS and outside of my comfort zone—so far, I’ve had a pretty good taster.

P R E – D E P A R T U R E

From the get-go PolyU got me prepped for my arrival by setting me up with a local student as my ‘buddy’. When I got in contact with my buddy Jessica, we made plans for me to meet her at the entrance to the halls so that my check-in would be smooth and I’d have help with luggage. Not only did inbound students have buddies but there are plenty of Facebook groups, both official and unofficial, available for any questions about any part of the exchange, which helped a lot throughout pre-departure and arrival. These groups include all the other local student buddies who, very helpfully, answered a lot of the questions.

The process of finding accommodation and registering for everything was all done via email and coached through a handbook where there are very detailed instructions on how to go about all the administrative necessities. If I had any questions, emailing usually got me a very quick response from the exchange office of PolyU.

T I P: Read through this handbook very very thoroughly and you’ll be a-ok 🙂

I T ‘ S B E E N A W E E K !

It has now been exactly one week since I’ve arrived in Hong Kong. Within this time, I met my roommate, Hailey from Cincinnati, Ohio, had loads of good food, taken my first class and have fully immersed myself in the hot and humid summer-autumn weather (If you’re planning on coming during the Spring (UTS) semester, I promise you, you will get used to it).

I am very thankful that I have great roommate as the room is very compact. It is by no means extremely tiny as it packs a tonne of storage space, but it is definitely cosy. Air-conditioning and laundry is separately paid for from your rent, via your student card, and there are a bunch of facilities also available for free booking. One of the best things is that it is a short walk from campus (bye-bye 1.5-hour travel from building 6!).

Food is also extremely cheap as (depending on where you go) it costs anywhere between to $3-$10AUD each meal depending on exchange rates. No need to stress about my kitchenless room! The OpenRice app has also been great for finding great local restaurants on a budget, but food in Hong Kong never really disappoints.

Roommate Hailey trying traditional Hong Kong café style food

Roommate Hailey trying to work out how the washer works

Getting supplies

As an Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC) faculty student, I had to attend the Presidents Welcome and an official welcome from my course department. The Presidents Welcome showcased the achievements of the school and also demonstrated how proud the student body was through their school spirit. It was safe to say, that I was in awe of the facilities available to the students in the ITC department in PolyU. Not only were there extensive sewing rooms, but weaving, knitting, printing, dyeing and more facilities were accessible for students in various streams of the ITC faculty. The orientation tour only gave a taste of what can be expected.

Snapshot of the ITC facilities

During the first two weeks of semester, PolyU allows an add-drop period for students to switch and change their classes. As DAB requires me to take 3 direct equivalents, I cannot change those classes, however, I have been timetabled for 6 different classes. The ITC department suggests taking anywhere between 3-5 subjects for exchange students, so out of the 6 that I am currently taking: Intimate Apparel Patternmaking, Textiles Studies III, Design Studies, Introduction to Intimate Apparel Design, Intimate Textiles and Accessories, and Knitwear Design, I will be dropping some and taking other classes. Local students and tutors have suggested taking a balance of theoretical subjects and practical subjects as the briefs are quite extensive, so hopefully by the end of the week I will have a set timetable.

Rebecca Zhang | 12618435 | B. Design in Fashion and Textiles x B. Creative Intelligence and Innovation | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Hong Kong/China
A lifetime and a half in Copenhagen!

October 6, 2017

Exchange in Denmark

After travelling all over Europe for a month while I had an amazing time, I felt so completely ready to settle into my new life in Denmark for the semester! While I knew it was going to be a truly rewarding and eye-opening experience, I was also filled with mixed feelings of trepidation at the thought of, in particular, living away from home for the first time and having to adjust to a completely new culture, language and atmosphere and excitement at the opportunities to meet people from all over the globe.

Why I chose Denmark

Upon first impressions, one might draw quite striking similarities between Copenhagen and Sydney, such as the common love for beer and coffee, however, there have been many more many differences that I wish I could take back home!

Besides being well known for Carlsberg, Hans Christian Andersen, some of the best ice cream in the world and being the home residence, of (our very own) Princess Mary, there are so many other aspects that make Denmark wonderfully unique.

My favourite aspect of Danish culture, so far, has to be “hygge”. While this word isn’t able to be directly translated into English, it encapsulates the feeling of cosiness felt when hanging out with friends and having a good time.

I’ve been able to experience “hygge” so many times, first hand, through the social week held by CBS (Copenhagen Business School) which have included a sightseeing tour, canal tour, lake party dinner with our local Danish buddies and countless opportunities to meet people from all over the world!

So far, this has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I would recommend to anyone considering exchange. I have met so many wonderful people with whom I have shared amazing memories that I will always think fondly upon and I am so excited to continue the rest of my exchange here.

Esther Lim | 99142440 | Bachelor of Information Technology | Copenhagen Business School (CBS) |Denmark

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Taking over Taipei

October 5, 2017
你好! That’s how you write hello in Chinese (pronounced “ni hao”). My name is Angie and I’m currently studying at National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei. Don’t be alarmed by the word “normal” in the name – it just means that they offer education as a course, not that other universities are abnormal! I’ve been in Taipei for one week now and I’ve already come to learn what I love about the city:
- The food: I’m a bit of a 吃货 (pronounced “chihuo” – foodie) and I love to try new things. Taipei is renowned for their Night Markets, which are essentially a massive mix of food and shopping stalls in one area. There’s a Night Market right next to my university which I’ve already visited, and there are many more Night Markets around the city to try traditional Taiwanese cuisine such as beef noodles and bubble tea.
- The people: Every single person I have met so far has been extremely friendly and willing to go out of their way to help you. Everyone is also very respectful and polite, for example people queue to get on an escalator, there is no pushing!
- The convenience: There is a 7/11 on every corner, which acts as a supermarket, café, bank and post office. There are also heaps of international brands such as Krispy Kreme, Jamba Juice, Costco and IKEA so shopping is extremely easy. Shops and restaurants are open until midnight, and the subway system (called the MRT) is not only extremely efficient but also air-conditioned.
edf

Speaking about air-conditioning, here are the things I’m not so sure I love:
- The weather: Taiwan is considered a tropical climate and right now it’s typhoon season. Not only is it 35 degrees most days but it’s also 70% humidity. If you stand outside for 5 minutes, I guarantee you’ll already be sweating. Guess I won’t be wearing makeup for a while.
- The methods of payment: This is such a small point but living in Australia, I really got used to paying by credit card, and even more recently, paying by Apple Pay! Here, pretty much everything is paid for in cash, whether that be small things like a taxi or your rent for 6 months and your phone plan. It just means you always have to have cash on you, and make sure you have enough of it.
Today is my first day of classes – I’m not sure if I even remember how to study but I’m hoping it will come back to me! One of the really good things about this university is that they offer 6 hours of free Mandarin for exchange students per week. This is totally optional but I’ll definitely be taking these. Another amazing thing that the university offers is the chance to take classes at two other universities here in Taipei. I’ll be taking at least one subject at another university, just to check out their campus!

Wish me luck for the beginning of university and 再见(“zaijian” – goodbye)!

Angelique Wan 97113839

Bachelor of Accounting

National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan
The Journey to Ottawa

October 5, 2017

After a month of making my way through Europe, I have finally reached Ottawa, Canada. Although this wasn’t the conventional route to my exchange destination, the few weeks I spent traveling through Europe opened my eyes to what was really out there. Although, usually being a reserved person, meeting many different people and learning about their cultures in Europe, prepared me to be more open to the experiences in Canada thus far.

Leading up to my arrival in Canada, it has been quite a journey so far. As my friend and I departed Amsterdam and headed towards Montreal, our flight was delayed, which meant we had missed the last bus into Ottawa that night. We didn’t let this stop us from getting to Ottawa, so we rented a car and made the two-hour drive down. By the time we had reached Ottawa, it was well past midnight and lacking internet data, we were unable to contact our Airbnb host. Adding to our eventful night, we decided to spend the night in the car we had rented. We awoke as the sun came up and went on a hunt for some WIFI, ending up on the steps outside of Sephora at the Rideau shopping center, where we were finally able to get into contact with our host and have a home that night!

The culture in Ottawa is completely different to life in Sydney, where French is a predominant language spoken and the atmosphere is very calming. The area is very quiet compared to Sydney and the locals are very friendly. As the first week of University came around, I found that it was difficult to make friends with the local students, as many of the classes are lectures and students tended to keep to themselves. Although this was the case, we ended up befriending a retail worker, who turned out to be a uOttawa student.

Although I have only been in Ottawa just over 1 week, I feel as though I have settled nicely and am excited to see what the next 4 months of adventures are and the many more people I will meet.

Annabel Ngo
12057410
B Medical Science B Business
University of Ottawa
Canada
Bikes, Fika, Gasques and Nations – A Pocket Guide to Uppsala, Sweden

October 4, 2017

Wondering what to expect when you get to Uppsala? There are four things you’ll be surrounded by as soon as you arrive in Sweden; bikes, nations, gasques and fika!

Bikes

Bikes are one of the most popular forms of transport in Uppsala. You’ll use them to get to class, the supermarket, the nations and other student housing areas to visit friends or attend a corridor party. If, like me, you haven’t been anywhere near a bike since you were nine years old you may want to do a bit of practice before arriving in Sweden (and if not, don’t stress! You’ll learn quickly). There are bike lanes almost everywhere and some cool bike routes to explore around the city.

There are bike lanes all around Uppsala.

Nations

Nations are associations that students are able to join that provide pubs, clubs, student housing, study areas and more. There are thirteen nations in total and each one has its own facilities. Exchange students are able to join up to two nations, but are still able to attend other nation’s events. You will be spending a lot of your time in nations to meet other students, get a cheap meal or in a pub socialising.

Poorly lit photo of us at one of the nation’s pubs

Fika

Fika is the Swedish tradition of having coffee and cake (or biscuits and sandwiches). There are a variety of places that serve fika and you are sure to find somewhere if you have a sudden craving for it. In fact, I am writing this after coming home from a fika at one of the nations!

Gasques

In Sweden, it’s common for students to meet for a fancy dinner, known as a gasque, with assigned seats and cocktail dress. There are strict dress codes for gasques, including dress length and style. They even specify whether or not dresses can be sleeveless! These events are organised by nations and are generally very popular. The first International Student gasque organised was sold out before university even started. It is common for locals to advise exchange students to attend at least one gasque as “they are an essential part of the Swedish experience”.

Yvonne Owen

97117550

Bachelor of Information Technology

Uppsala Universitet, Sweden

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