Lyn CHEN

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

Looking back at the four years of my university life, my exchange at The Chinese University of Hong Kong ("CUHK") was the highlight. Just strolling through the snapshots of the little moments during my time in Hong Kong has made me realise that even though you left a place physically, it never really leaves you – the memory will stay in mind.

When Hong Kong came as my selected exchange destination, all I could imagine was the big, bustling city. I had been there before my exchange, and to me it was a bustling financial metropolis full of skyscrapers, red taxis, vibrant markets, scattered street food stalls, and so on. It was easy to bump into someone or got lost in the MTR compartments – everybody was determined to go to somewhere swiftly from point A to B.

But I have found from my exchange that there was more in Hong Kong other than the glitz of neon studded buildings alongside the Victoria Harbour; flashing lights that speak about the ethos of efficiency that had made the city what it is today. Slowing down the pace I could embrace the little quirks of the city such as the rows of bulbous fish trapped in bags, the orange wishing tree in the Spring Festival, the intricate coffee art at the store outside CW Chu College and the papier-mâché sculptures made by the dedicated CUHK students. I could experience the pockets of greenery tucked in urban centres such as Hong Kong Park, the picturesque mountains such as Lion Rock or deserted Hakka villages such as Lai Chi Wo – outlets for urban dwellers to breathe, unwind and reflect. What's more, living on Level 7 of my dorm in CUHK facing mountain ranges and Tolo Harbour, I was in for a real scenic treat!

Studying at CUHK was a different experience to the one I had in Australia. I studied a wide range of elective subjects ranging from coding an e-commerce website to learning about psychology in business. In CUHK, student life was not just academics – I had the privilege to be involved in many activities – an egg waffle making class, a calligraphy workshop, a society working with ethnic minority high school students, just to name a few. Every day came with surprises. Thanks to Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Awards for the scholarship granted to me!

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