Grant SILBERT

Student of the University of Melbourne, Australia
Exchange to Zhejiang University, China

It is easy to forget that Zhejiang University ("ZJU"), nestled against an undulating forest, is located in the centre of a Chinese city. It is even easier to forget that the city is Hangzhou, a bustling hub of innovation that has a population equal to almost half that of Australia.

There is a well-known saying「上有天堂下有蘇杭」, which means, "Up above there is heaven, down below there is Suzhou and Hangzhou". A 15-minute bike ride from the ZJU's Yuquan campus will take you to millennia-old pagodas, the proverbial West Lake and steep paths that wind through manicured tea fields. The symmetry and uniformity of the tea bushes are the result of regular, delicate harvesting of the region's famous Longjing Tea.

Spring is the most beautiful time of the year. The naked branches of the deciduous trees that line the roads and canals are suddenly filled with blossoms. The flush of colour is short-lived, as the petals fall and blanket the pavements and gardens at the first hint of summer.

I have now spent the last month and a half here studying Chinese. A typical day consists of classes in the morning, and followed by study and sport in the afternoon. The routine is busy but comfortable, and is only broken by regular missions into the city in search of Hangzhou's tastiest dumpling. Evenings and weekends offer the opportunity to travel to nearby cities such as Shanghai and Jiaxing, or hiking through the hills that surround the city.

Many of my classmates, as might be expected, are from nearby regions, while others come from farther afield. Australian classmates are surprisingly underrepresented, which is perhaps a reminder that Australia is overlooking the importance of the region.

I have made a conscious effort to make Chinese friends, posting notices in cafes and chatting on language exchange apps. A couple of language partners have become close friends, and our language exchange lessons often take place while sharing a meal or going out for drinks, or shouting to each other across the basketball court. I am looking forward to the next few months, when I can improve my Chinese, travel to remote villages and meet new friends.

I thank the CK Group, the University of Melbourne and the Australian Government for supporting my exchange studies, and more broadly for the work they do to strengthen our country's connection to the region.

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