LO Sin Yu, Apple

Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Exchange to University of Queensland, Australia

Academic Experiences

When I first arrived in Australia, I immediately realized that the teaching style at the University of Queensland (UQ) was very different from that of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). Most of the courses at CUHK were exam-oriented, while those at UQ were assessment-oriented. I remember those days when I had to write essays. I was very worried that I would not do well as the writing and referencing styles in Australia were so different. Luckily, in the end, I received satisfactory marks for my work.

The advantage of an assessment-oriented system was that I knew what final examination grades I needed in order to pass. This was especially helpful when I had exams in four consecutive days. I could divert more effort to those subjects that required more marks to pass. This study culture reduced my pressure during examination times, and enabled me to achieve good results. I received a high distinction, two distinctions and a credit for my courses.

Apart from writing essays, I was required to hand in two projects during the semester. I was very lucky to be placed with a group of Australian students. My groupmates were nice and had always given me a hand when I had problems. We have kept in touch on Facebook, but it was a pity that we didn’t develop deeper relationships.

Personal Experiences

I travelled to Sydney during the semester break, Adelaide before my exams, as well as Cairns and Melbourne while I was waiting for my results. I was glad to have a chance to travel to these places where I could admire the amazing scenery and visit the museums. I travelled alone except when I went to Cairns.

I managed to meet a lot of friends while I was travelling, especially during my one-day trip in Adelaide. I came across many different people of different nationalities in my hostel. What I remembered the most about Adelaide was that I tasted several wines at a number of wineries. They were so good that I wanted to stay for more.

In Cairns, I did a lot of water activities like snorkeling, diving and rafting. I had a memorable snorkeling experience at the Great Barrier Reef, although I did not manage to dive successfully, probably due to my nervousness. The corals and fish on the Great Barrier Reef were amazing. I couldn’t help but want to snorkel for longer even though I was a little scared of the water. Rafting in Tully River was also an exciting experience. I will probably go back to Cairns again one day, and swear to practice swimming before my return.

People said that Melbourne is a place that experiences all four seasons in a day. I could not agree more. I had trouble getting used to the weather because the temperature fluctuated so frequently. The State Library of Victoria was an amazing library with marvelous architecture and astonishing exhibitions. It was a wonderful place to stay and I spent nearly half a day there. Another unforgettable experience in Melbourne was the “penguin parade”. It was fun to watch the penguins coming out from the sea, and walk in groups with their special postures. I even saw them fighting and feeding their young ones. What an unforgettable scene!

It was a pity that I couldn’t make a trip to Tasmania. However, through my other trips, I made friends with people from different cultures whom I shared my backpacking experiences with. I really enjoyed staying in Australia. I will travel to Australia again with my family.

© Copyright 2018 CK Group. All rights reserved.