Aisha SUHUD | Memoirs from Alumni

Memoirs from Alumni - 2018-19

Aisha SUHUD

Student of Parahyangan Catholic University, Indonesia
Exchange to the University of Notre Dame Australia, Australia

Having a chance to live and study abroad has always been my dream and it was made come true.

I was in my fifth semester when I started the exchange program to University of Notre Dame Australia last year. When the announcement about the Scholarship was made, I knew I had to take this opportunity. I have heard the benefits and best things about living in Australia before. If I should have had any expectations towards my exchange trip, trust that my experience would have far exceeded my expectation.

One of the best things of studying abroad is the chance to meet a diverse range of peoples. During my stay in Australia, I lived under the same roof with many other students from different parts of the world. We all brought our different culture and backgrounds into a new environment, yet we still managed to build strong bonds with each other. My residential hall was a home away from home. Yes, there were some difficulties in adapting to a new environment at the beginning, but I grew to be more mature during the process.

Fremantle, Perth is a very beautiful city to live and study in. The people are very laid-back and friendly. The architecture is all pretty and it made me want to take snap shots of its every corner. The cafes are amazing and the environment is usually very enjoyable. It is different from the other big and busy cities of Australia but it has got its unique charm. I have never seen any city like Fremantle.

I was happy with the classes that I took during my semester abroad. I took the subjects that I may never have the chance to take at my home university and I learned a lot from the classes. There were a lot of discussions conducted in the classes and they were all interesting as I could hear different points of view. Overall, being an exchange student in Australia was a very enriching experience for me.

For anyone who is considering joining an exchange programme, or having any doubts, I would say that it is an experience you will never regret. If you have the chance, take it.

Of course, my wonderful experience would not be available without the support from the Cheung Kong Group and the Australian Government. I am very grateful for the opportunity they gave me to receive the scholarship and to live my dream. I learned a lot from this experience and it is an experience I would treasure forever.

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