Charlotte HANNAH

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

In 2010 I was fortunate to be awarded the Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Award and Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Merit Scholarship based on academic performance and lecturer recommendations. The Award funded one Semester studying at Foshan University, China.

Although I was excited at the prospect of studying abroad I would have never have predicted the true impact of such an incredible experience.

As a student of Industrial Design I chose Foshan University as it is within the heart of the manufacturing province Guangdong. I immersed myself in this culture exploring Furniture City, a 3 million square meter furniture showroom and ceramic city, a historical village showcasing Foshan’s rich ceramic history.

As well as gaining a wealth of knowledge I also met many wonderful and inspiring people.

Perhaps my fondest friendship came from Coco, a girl who reminded me of myself through her passion for design and rural upbringing. Coco was an amazing support and friend. Due to the language barrier Coco answered our calls all day, every day, making sure we could be understood with the limited Chinese we possessed.

Whilst in China I travelled widely. From conquering the Great Wall to exploring the World Expo I never could have imagined such an experience. One of my favorite cultural highlights of my trip was the sleeper trains. Although overwhelming at first, the sleeper trains became an opportunity to immerse myself with the authentic way of life, whilst meeting a range of Chinese nationals. I also volunteered at the local primary school teaching English. This allowed me the opportunity to give back to the community of Foshan which had given me so much.

Two years later I still maintain a strong connection with China through the many friendships I made. My exchange has provided me with a global outlook and inspired me to explore the world whilst allowing me to further understand Australia’s own multicultural community.

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