Mandy FU

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Exchange to Macquarie University, Australia

My exchange experience at Macquarie University (MQU) in Sydney has been very gratifying.

These five months away from my friends, my family and my hometown have allowed me to understand myself and explore my potential. In Hong Kong, living under my parents’ constant love and care, I have never been totally independent. When I was in Sydney, I had to do everything by myself, whether it’s signing the rental contract, managing my bank account, dealing with travel agents or looking for the medical centre. These experiences taught me that independence really meant being responsible for yourself and by yourself. On the one hand, I experienced personal growth; on the other, I became more aware of my blessings. I realized that no matter how mature I thought I was, I still needed emotional support and practical advice once in a while. During my stay in Australia, my relationship with my friends and family strengthened because I would call them or chat with them online about decisions I have to make and problems I have to solve. I feel very fortunate to always have someone to lean on when I am in need. Physical distance cannot change any of this.

My academic experience has also been very interesting. As an English major in the Chinese University of Hong Kong, I took courses in MQU that were transferable as my major electives. One thing that surprised me was the workload. For the MQU literature class, we had to read six novels and watch twelve movies for our term paper and exam. In Hong Kong, the literature classes only require us to read an average of two novels and several short stories a term. As English is the first language for most Australians, it is understandable that the literature courses are more demanding. It was this demand that made me realize how much harder an ESL (English as a second language) student has to work to be competitive.

While I worked hard academically, I also took every opportunity I had to travel. Thanks to the financial support from the scholarship and my parents, I was able to take two one-week trips to Central Australia and Tasmania. I also went on short day-trips or weekend trips to Canberra, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Melbourne. From these trips, I got first-hand information on the natural and cultural aspects of Australia. I learnt about the tension between the whites and the aborigines, the numerous species of gum trees and marsupials, and the history of Australia as a penal colony. Ever since I was three, my parents have taken me on vacations away from HK. My mother always said learning through experience is much more valuable than learning from books. This exchange has been one of the most worthwhile experiences in my life.

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