Kristen CLEAL

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia
Exchange to Foshan University, China

Speech delivered at the Government House Victoria, August 2011

“Good evening ladies and gentleman, but especially good evening to the recipients of the Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Awards. My name is Kristen Cleal and I had the honour of representing Australia in the area of design at Foshan University in Foshan, Guangdong Province last year for a semester.

Previous to this adventure that I was about to embark on for the next 6 months of my life, I had never been on an overseas trip before. Prior to settling down to study, I toured the country for a month, visiting famous sites such as the historic Terracotta Warriors, the incredible Great Wall of China and the famous Olympic sites from the Beijing Olympic Games. I was also very lucky to attend the Shanghai World Expo. Seeing the Australian Pavilion was very exciting, however with the 40 degree weather and the 4 to 6 hour queues I was hesitant to attend, but it was all worth the ache of waiting in the heat.

Soon enough I was settled at the University which became my home. I was greeted with highest respect and was privileged to be provided with ‘best’ room in the university as my lecturer informed me. I will never forget how caring and how my friends accepted me with open arms, taking me to the great eats on the busy and full of character ‘business street’. I went to the same restaurant about 5 times a week and the chef soon became my second mother. I have very fond memories of the excursions I went on with my university class, one being the guest of honour at the Annual Industrial Design Exhibition and attending the biggest fabric and accessories market in the world, which opened my eyes to an entirely new world of design and creativity.

I most of all enjoyed having my close uni friends, who soon were my family, over to my room and watching episodes of Gossip Girl and Sex and the City whilst ordering yummy dumplings and finishing off uni work together.

I went from learning in the newest and most modern facilities at RMIT, to old fashioned blackboards, no air conditioning and the basics of furniture in the classrooms. But trust me, this doesn’t at all negatively influence the creative flair and highly skilled ideas that makes China as successful a country as it is today and which I grew such an appreciation for. I still keep in contact with two twelve-year old girls I would have English conversation classes with and they even referred to me as ‘the brother they never had’.

I would like to personally thank the Cheung Kong Group, RMIT and Endeavour Australia for providing me with the most incredible experiences of my life. I enjoyed myself so much... I didn’t want to return!! I would like to leave you all from a very intense sum up of my 6 month China Trip with a very simple, Xie Xie. Thank you.”

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