Sarah OZOLS

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

I would like to begin by saying coming to Hong Kong for a semester has been one of the best decisions I have ever made! As a tourism management student who loves to travel, participating in an exchange seems the perfect opportunity to gain extra global experience. My time at The Chinese University of Hong Kong ("CUHK") exceeded my expectations, providing me with a multitude of new skills and contacts all over the world.

Hong Kong has it all - an impressive skyline, delicious street food, bustling neon-lit streets, picturesque landscapes for hiking, beaches and great nightlife. The locals are friendly and welcoming, from casual greetings on a hiking track to going out of their way to help a lost visitor - some even walked me to my destination!

CUHK was a quiet place to live which allowed me to escape from the constant bustle of the city centre. I was luckily assigned a room on campus which I shared with a local student who was always giving me new food to try and recommending places to visit. The campus was beautiful, located on the mountainside with great views, lots of places to eat, gardens and lakes. Even though the university was located in the New Territories and away from central Hong Kong, the MTR (Mass Transit Railway) was fast and efficient, making exploration of the city easy.

I found the teaching style at CUHK very different from that of my home university. At CUHK I experienced smaller class sizes and a closer relationship between teachers and students. I would often see my teachers around campus and they would always remember my name and stop for a chat. I also had the opportunity to listen to impressive guest speakers and participate in field trips.

During my spare time on exchange, I participated in the Rural School Service Project. This project allowed me to visit a local primary school every Friday for five weeks and work with the students to improve their English. We played games, held quizzes and taught the students about our home countries. This experience was very rewarding and definitely a highlight of my time in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is also the perfect starting point for travelling to other parts of Asia. I was lucky enough to visit much of Southeast Asia and experienced different cultures and ways of life. I began taking Mandarin classes at the beginning of my exchange semester and found putting what I had learnt into practise whilst travelling through mainland China very fulfilling. Interactions with people of different communities in different countries are some of the most important and educational aspects of travelling.

One of the best things about exchange is meeting and connecting with people from all over the world. Speaking to local and international students about their home countries, personal and national opinions and cultures really opens your mind, allowing for a better understanding of the world. I have learnt so much from my peers here in Hong Kong and I shall always cherish the friendships I made along the way.

Finally, I would like to give my sincerest thanks to the Australian Government and the Cheung Kong Group for supporting my exchange. Travelling and global experience really opens your mind and changes the way you think, and this scholarship really helped me make the most of my time abroad.

Studying in Hong Kong is a truly unforgettable experience and I will always cherish fond memories of my time there. I hope to return in the future and spend more time in this incredibly diverse and exciting city.

© Copyright 2018 CK Group. All rights reserved.