Elizabeth MAGGS

Student of The University of Queensland, Australia
Exchange to Shandong University, China

As an undergrad studying Chinese at the University of Queensland, I was very excited to go to China on exchange. Previously I had spent some time studying in Taiwan and I was very interested in comparing the two nations and their teaching styles.

I was lucky enough to go to Shandong University in Jinan with another friend from my home university and it was really great being able to share this experience with her and to have a friend around when things got tough. We both stayed in the dorms at Shandong University where we met many other foreign exchange students who we ended up travelling China with. Although Jinan is not the most glamorous city in China, it is very close to the beautiful Qufu, birthplace and burial ground of Confucius. Qufu town, and particularly the ancient cemetery full of giant tombstones, was a wonderful, relaxing and peaceful escape from the busy city.

Although the Chinese program at Shandong University was very intensive, we managed to find time on a few public holiday breaks to travel further than Qufu, exploring ancient Buddhist caves, cliffs and monasteries, and a trip to discover Beijing and the Great Wall. Going to such a busy tourist spot in the middle of winter certainly had its benefits; with absolutely no tourists in sight, climbing the Great Wall became very peaceful, and the barren, snowy view was incredible. However the cold was also incredible at the top, where my water bottle froze completely.

Although foreign exchange gives you the opportunity to meet new friends and travel in a foreign country, it is not always all fun and good times. The Chinese immersion program at Shandong University was very intensive, and of course coming from Queensland, Australia, the Chinese winter including temperatures of minus 12 degrees, was very difficult to bear. We managed to survive these extreme temperatures by immersing ourselves in the wonderful Chinese food Jinan had to offer. Between the great variety of restaurants and the famous ‘food street’ near the university, we managed to gorge ourselves on a vast array of delicious and unique dishes on a daily basis. Going to ‘food street’ was particularly enjoyable, with the busy atmosphere of hundreds of students and workers visiting for lunch, the variety of crazy and incredibly tasty treats, trying something different or being recognised by your favourite vendor (selling your favourite dish) and being greeted as a local.

I am very grateful to have received this award and had this opportunity to study Chinese in China. At the time, I was not able to go on exchange without external funding from a program like this one, and it has certainly been a greatly valued addition to my academic CV. The experience I gained studying in China and the encouragement and recognition of my academic achievements by receiving this award has assisted me in progressing through my undergraduate degree, complete honours and join the PhD program at the University of Queensland.

© Copyright 2018 CK Group. All rights reserved.