Lisa HAN

Student of The University of New South Wales, Australia
Exchange to The University of Nottingham Ningbo China, China

Ni Hao!

I'm a student at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia but in 2015 I had the chance to study for one semester at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. You may be thinking, "Wait Nottingham, isn't that in the UK?". It's actually a sister campus of the British university located in China, which worked out perfectly for me as I could take my desired classes in English, while still experiencing life in China!

Why China? One of the main reasons I chose to go on exchange to China was to learn the Chinese language. My everyday life of going out to eat, going to the shops and travelling all required Chinese so it forced me to learn Chinese - and learn quick! I was so grateful for Chinese friends and translating apps to help me out.

I also chose China for the food and the culture, which is so much more vast than I originally imagined. With the Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Award I was able to travel around China after my semester finished, without worrying about the costs. Going from city to city, I was amazed by the differences between them: from the foods and the minority cultures, to the history. When people think of China, they probably think of Shanghai or Beijing, but I loved going to the more rural areas such as Huangshan and Kaili, to see the stunning scenery and meet the locals.

My key takeaway: One semester for exchange is too short! I felt like it was time to leave, just when I'd adjusted!

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