LI Sheung Mei

The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong
Exchange to Flinders University, Australia

During my half-year stay in Australia, I experienced so much. I met new people and made new friends; went to different cities and saw different things. I originally knew very little about Australia, its society, environment or history; but eventually I got to know the country well through personal experience as well as university life. I was a total novice when it came to things Australian, but I learned to deal with this unfamiliar yet amazing culture.

I spent my semester in Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia. The International Student Service Unit there was really good. I joined quite a few trips they organized for international students, for example, to Kangaroo Island and Barossa Valley. The trips were lovely. Not only did we see a lot of famous Australian wildlife as well as interesting and impressive road signs, I also gained many invaluable friendships through meeting different international students. During my four months in Flinders, I lived on campus with four local girls who were very friendly, nice, attentive and caring. They showed me around where they lived and we had a wonderful time hanging out, going shopping, and having “tea” together. They helped me get through some difficult times and these little memories of ours will always stay in my heart.

Studying different topics while at Flinders allowed me to get to know Australia “heaps” better and in an in-depth way. Now I’m more familiar with environmental issues and the predicament Australia faces in terms of conservation and environmental protection. I’ve learned to save water for Planet Earth as natural resources should never be taken for granted.

I also stayed behind for a while after my semester to travel to different parts of Australia including Sydney, the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, etc. They were all different in their own ways, but they also shared many similarities – namely, the Aussie culture. I especially enjoyed the sunshine, the beaches, the laidback lifestyle, and meeting friendly and nice Aussies. As I had to deal with everyday life and its many issues on my own, I found myself becoming more independent and better at problem-solving. As a result, I became more mature, more grown-up, both psychologically and mentally. And even though I sometimes found myself alone, I learned to appreciate the solitude as it provided me with the opportunity to talk to myself, get to know myself better, and plan my own future. These are not opportunities that I can easily have in Hong Kong.

Overall I really enjoyed my stay in Australia. Not only did I have some incredible and unforgettable moments there, it has also been one of my most meaningful and life-changing experiences to date – one which broadened my horizons immensely, stimulated my mind and helped me develop into a better all-rounded person.

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