CW Chu College The Chinese University of Hong Kong eNewsletter

Academic Exchange at the University of Toronto, Canada in Term 1, 2019–20 (Mr MAO Yanqi, Year 3, Risk Management Science)

I have gained a lot from this exchange experience, in both academic and non-academic areas. Located in the centre of Toronto, the University of Toronto (UofT) is a prestigious university with quality education and a beautiful campus. I took several major courses, and experienced slightly different teaching methodology from CUHK. The classes at UofT were more active, with more class activities through which I could feel a stronger sense of participation. I found that more engagement in classes in a relaxing atmosphere results in a better learning outcome.

My exchange experience contributed a lot to my personal growth. The city of Toronto and UofT are such diverse places that I got to meet people with different backgrounds and listen to their different views on various topics. I found that it is really a nice thing to learn about other cultures and I improved my ability of intercultural communication.

Furthermore, I learnt to overcome various obstacles I met in a foreign country, such as cooking my own meals as I lived off campus. It was challenging for me at first but my skills improved rapidly, and it was such a delight to cook some fine food on my own and with friends. I became more independent in this process, and started to enjoy the time being alone.

One of my most memorable experiences during the exchange programme was travelling with my friends. I went on two long trips with them during the reading week and after the final exams. We visited various cities in Canada, watched the aurora, and skied in the Rocky Mountains. At weekends, we went hiking, skating and enjoying art festivals and musicals. These were all really fun and memorable moments where I learnt about new things and got to know new friends.

Overall, I had an exciting, enjoyable and fruitful time during my exchange programme at the University of Toronto. Never in my life had I experienced so many new and interesting things in such a short time. When I first set foot on the foreign land of Canada, I was so uncertain and even concerned about my life ahead. It turned out that I got so much warm help from so many people, including friends, teachers and also strangers. I am grateful to everyone I met and I intend to be a hospitable, kind and helpful person to everyone I meet regardless of their backgrounds.

Academic Exchange at the University of Leeds, the United Kingdom in Term 1, 2019–20 (Ms NG Wing Hei, Year 4, Biomedical Sciences)

It was not an easy decision for a final-year student like me to go on exchange. In the end, I am glad that I made a wise choice since the programme was a wonderful and memorable experience in my university life, and also a great opportunity for me to explore more about the world and to meet new people.

I studied Psychology in Leeds and it was the first time I had learnt about this subject. I took courses related to psychological disorders and memory, which were completely new to me. I really enjoyed the learning atmosphere in Leeds as the students were very self-disciplined and actively expressed their views in class. Besides Psychology, I took another module about traditional alcoholic beverages, in which I learnt about the history, manufacturing processes and factors to consider in the production of alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine. I also had a precious opportunity to design and brew my own beer in class.

In addition to my studies, I participated in judo training in Leeds. Though it was not the first time I had done Judo, I found that the style of training there was quite different from that in Hong Kong. Through practising with senior members, I acquired new technical skills and spent a great time with them. It was also a great opportunity to meet new friends and experience their social culture.

There were many remarkable moments throughout my four-month exchange programme and the most memorable one was the Christmas dinner at my flat. ‘Flat’ culture is a special part of dormitory life in the UK, in which around five to eight students will share the living space in a flat. For my flat, I had a good relationship with my flatmates and we often cooked dinner for one another. At Christmas, we decorated our flat with handmade decorations and drawings. My Danish flatmate taught me how to make a Julehjerte, a Danish Christmas heart. We also made traditional Christmas cuisines from our home countries and we enjoyed a great evening. It was the first time I had experienced such a festive Christmas and get to know more about Christmas culture in European countries.

Besides acquiring new knowledge at school, I learnt to be more independent and to find the courage to meet new people. Through challenging myself with new encounters, I was able to step out of my comfort zone and pursue improvement. Furthermore, I have understood more about the differences in culture and learning atmosphere between Hong Kong and the UK.

All in all, this exchange experience means much more than completing one of the items on my university ‘must do’ checklist, but rather a precious opportunity to broaden my horizons and an unforgettable experience in my life.