Alexander HAYES

Student of RMIT, Australia
Exchange to Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China

In the second semester of 2014 I was fortunate to be a recipient of the Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Award in support of my exchange to the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA) in China. The opportunity to live and study in another country was an unforgettable, rewarding experience and one that I'm very grateful for. I have always tried to open myself up to new experiences and challenges, which was why I was so eager to participate in the NUAA exchange. Whilst many of my friends and colleagues could not understand why someone who speaks no Chinese and has never been to an Asian country would readily move to China to live and study. I welcomed the chance to engage with a new culture and push my boundaries.

Throughout my studies at NUAA I was able to work on exciting and engaging projects where I was able to ply my trade as an undergraduate Aerospace engineer. As part of a design project I undertook, I was given the freedom and responsibility to work with cutting edge technology to assist with the design and manufacture of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that was flight-tested as part of my assessment. Although only having two people (myself and another award recipient from RMIT) to complete a project that typically involves four to five students, after many late nights in the labs and on campus we successfully completed our design. Unfortunately due to 'pilot error' (and not our 'perfectly balanced' UAV) the aircraft suffered the fate of most remote control aircraft as it was flown into a tree. Although the flight did not go perfectly, the time spent in the labs and with the Chinese postgraduate students during the design and build of the UAV was a memory I won't soon forget.

The opportunity to study in China not only provided me with a global outlook on engineering but opened me up to a new culture and lifestyle. Whether it was the rich variety of food or the challenge associated with eating it (it took me a while to master chopsticks!) each day presented new cultural experiences. During my time in China, I was able to travel to many amazing locations such as Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. I was able to walk along the Great Wall of China, experience New Years Eve in Shanghai overlooking the Bund and spend a night in a youth hostel in the mountain ranges of Huangshan to watch the sunrise.

Although at times there were challenges such as the initial language barrier everyone I came across was very welcoming and it was surprising just how easy it could be to integrate into a completely different culture. I am lucky and grateful that my roommate, who was also a recipient of the Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Award, was able to help me out with the language in conjunction with the Mandarin classes I was taking at NUAA. I am truly grateful for Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings and the Australian Government for helping to support my studies in China. I had many unforgettable experiences during my stay and have met amazing friends and colleagues from China and all around the word. 謝謝 !

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