Xi LIANG, Rose

Student of Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
Exchange to University of Newcastle, Australia

A Special Year

The last one year is really special in my life. It's the year when I first time live and study abroad in a totally English speaking environment. In this one year, I have changed in so many ways that my life will be totally different if I didn't join the exchange program. And I have never regretted the choice I have made, to come to Australia for one year.

The best experience I had is the studying experience in University of Newcastle. Instead of just having lectures and taking notes, the study pattern here is very diverse and interesting. I am studying Art and Design. We have studio practice, seminar and tutorial. The studying is not just happening inside the class. Doing research in library, searching references online and watch online classes largely broaden the access and aspects of our studying. It is a process focused studying environment. I really enjoyed studying in this style, which helped me to build a self-studying habit.

The second best experience I had which changed my life is making friends worldwide. Every semester, there will be a lot of exchange student coming. Everyone is very open minded to new culture and new friends. I had built really good relationships with people from Germany, Swaziland, Spain, France, UK, the States, Canada, Singapore, Mainland China etc. We had dinner together, went to party together, travelled together, explored local areas together... I really miss them even today. Besides learning so much about the different culture from each other, we built international friendship, which is so precious that we will keep in our heart for life long.

And the last but not least, travelling and exploring new places is one of the best things. Besides travelling around Australia, I also travelled to New Zealand which is one of my favorite destinations in the world. I was travelling with my German Anne, who I met from the exchange program. We rent a vehicle and did a road trip in both North and South island in New Zealand for 10 days. We visited Queenstown, a city surrounded by lakes and mountains like a beautiful baby sleeping in the cradle, we did hiking next to glacier, we talked with locals for interesting places to visit, we traveled spontaneously and had so much great experiences.

Obviously, studying abroad is not a luxury trip. It is more like a challenging experience that you need to jump out of your comfort zone to get used to a totally new living environment, to make new friends, to study the things that are beyond our previous acknowledgement... However this process can make people grow up, to face the difficulties in the future life. And what is most important, to make you believe that there is no difficulty that you can't overcome.

The studying is coming to the end. I really miss every moment in this one year journey. My eyesight expanded, widely. I am becoming more open minded, more spontaneous, communicative and approachable. These are the precious benefits that I didn't expect before I join the program, which will benefit me for my whole life.

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