Wendy Suen

University of Sunshine Coast, Australia
Exchange to Fujian Normal University, China

Ping Ying translation

Ni hao!, wo jiao sun ying zhi. Wo de baba mama shi zhong guo ren, dan shi wo zai ao da li yao chu sheng suo yi wo shi ao da li yao ren. Wo qu Fujian, Zhong guo ying wei wo xiang xue xue han yu. Wo zai fujian de shi hou wan de hen yu kuai.

About six months ago if you told me to read this I wouldn’t have had a clue now I can tell you that it means: Hello! My name is Wendy Suen, my parents come from China but I was born in Australia so I am Australian. I went to Fujian in China because I wanted to learn Chinese. The time that I spent in Fujian was most enjoyable and unforgettable.

When I first received news that I had received the Cheung Kong scholarship to study in Fujian Normal University I was excited but nervous as it was my first time away from home. With my parents (who accompanied me over) we travelled to Beijing (climbed The Great Wall of China), Shanghai, Suzhou and Hanzhou before we finally arrived in Fuzhou.

The University had sent a representative to pick my parents and me up from the airport and I was quite amazed at how good Miss Faye’s English was. And I soon discover most of the teachers and students in the English department of Fujian University have very good English.

The food in China is quite diverse and different to Australia. Skye and I took a couple of weeks getting used to then we loved it. Living in China meant that our bread, pasta and steak and vegies; was replaced with rice with a selection of meat and vegetable dishes, noodles, steamed dumplings and a large variety of other foods.

As part of the exchange programme Skye and I studied in the International College that was a part of Fujian Normal University. The International college consisted of students from all over the world, all learning Chinese. There we studied Chinese – Mandarin in particular Chinese Grammar, Listening, Speaking and Written Chinese. Activities such as Tai chi and Calligraphy writing were also available.

While in China I experienced my first, Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year away from home. Christmas and New Year are still celebrated in China; however it is the Chinese New Year that is most important. Over the Chinese New year, everyone goes home to their family and have a full dinner. In the International Department where I lived we also had a special dinner and celebrated by eating Chinese sweets. They eat the sweets in the hope of a sweet and prosperous year ahead.

Living and studying in China has given me the opportunity to experience my parent’s native country and culture has made me respect and understand many more things. If I ever had the opportunity to do it again, I would! Studying in China has opened up a new language and will contribute to my Degree in Design and Marketing. So in appreciation I would like to thank Liani Eckard our Global Opportunities Program Coordinator for her help and support; my university - The University of the Sunshine Coast; Fujian Normal University in China and most of all Cheung Kong for giving me this opportunity to study overseas and an experience of a life time!

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