CHAN Hiu Ching

The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Exchange to Monash University, Australia

The one-semester exchange at Monash definitely marked a significant period in my life. Even though it was not my first time visiting Australia, it was my first time in Melbourne, studying and living on my own, meeting people and making friends from around the globe.

Coming from one of the most densely-populated cities in the world, the efficient transport networks of Hong Kong allow me to conveniently reach almost every part of the city by public transport. Melbourne, on the other hand, is eight times larger, but with half of Hong Kong’s population size. At first, I was quite homesick when I arrived at Monash University’s Clayton campus, which was located in the suburbs, from where I couldn’t reach the city centre without a car. One of my most unforgettable experiences was a 30-minute train delay and a two-hour journey to the city by public transport, something which would never occur in a compact city like Hong Kong.

Things were on track pretty soon though. At Monash, I learned about the Australian system in a comprehensive way, from the domestic civil procedures in courts to the broad picture of international law. These equipped me with a substantial knowledge of Australian history and law.

However, I gained the greatest amount of wisdom and knowledge outside the classroom. I engaged in sports and cultural activities in the residential hall and travelled around Australia with other exchange students. There is so much to see and experience in Australia, a country with such diverse cultures and such vast amounts of beautiful natural scenery. It’s absolutely heavenly. I can still recall the sweet memories of carefree afternoons drinking cups of Flat White with my friends, watching live footy and rugby matches, the exciting moment when we won the championship in a swimming competition for Richardson Hall, the weekly jogging sessions around Clayton with my sports partner, and the road trip with my Israeli friends in Tasmania. I had an enormous amount of fun doing various things with my friends and I was in love with everything Aussie!

I began to appreciate how blessed I was to have had the chance to pause and reflect on my life from different angles. My exchange experiences changed my attitude about my life and the world around me. I met wonderful friends from almost every state in Australia and around the globe. Interacting with people from different ethnic backgrounds was very insightful for me. Our conversations varied – politics, movies, future dreams and so on. We held diverse views, yet our mutual respect and encouragement reinforced a positive attitude in others. Such lifelong friendships are invaluable and they have continued through Facebook and other technological means.

My fascinating exchange semester has added a lot to my life experience. I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong program for the generous support in making my dream of being an exchange student come true.

© Copyright 2018 CK Group. All rights reserved.