LAU Ka Him, Brian

City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Exchange to Queensland University of Technology, Australia

When talking about studying on exchange, I think most people can come up with numerous benefits: to learn about different cultures, to become more independent, and to broaden one’s horizons. I have always shared the thoughts but did not realize or understand what I could actually gain before I began my great experience in Australia.

It might sound a bit difficult to leave your comfort zone and explore a new country on your own, but people in Australia made it much easier for me than what I imagined. Living in a flat with some Australians, I was amazed by how friendly they were. When I first arrived in the country, they were kind enough to introduce me to everything about Brisbane. They taught me how to speak like them, and what Australian life was like, and really helped me adapt quickly. When we had free time, we often played sports together, followed by a nice dinner and some beer. I can feel how laid back Australians are.

What was the biggest difference between living at home in Hong Kong and in Australia? I had never thought that going to supermarket, comparing the price to get the best deal, cooking my own meal, doing housework, etc would become my routine job. But without my family, I had to take care of myself. I used to find housework boring, but have since discovered that it’s actually quite fun. Planning trips to visit different places was also a good experience. Finding the cheapest flight and searching for the best accommodation on my own made my journeys more fruitful.

At the university, apart from the local students, I had the opportunity to meet students from different countries including Germany, France, the U.S., Korea, India and so on. It was a great opportunity to make friends from different cultures. Although we did not share the same mother languages, we got along very well. We had a lot of fun and laughter when we saw each other, even though we came from different backgrounds. I could feel how diverse Australia really is. Meeting people from different countries also gave me a good insight. In fact, there are also a lot of foreign students in my home university. However, I would normally only stick to my own culture and friends. Instead, what we, the locals, should have done is to take the initiative to introduce them to our home country or town. This can make us more internationally-minded and make Hong Kong a real international city.

“No worries mate!” This was the phrase that I heard the most while I was in Brisbane. The carefree character of Australians together with the country’s beautiful scenery offered me a wonderful holiday. Making friends from different nationalities made it even better. Thanks to the Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Awards, I had the chance to have an awesome experience. Although the exchange period was not long, it was definitely one of the best and carefree times of my life.

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