Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Stephen Lai, ESADE Business School, Spain
Day 1
First school-day in Barcelona was amazing, I felt so joyful to visit ESADE Business School which located in Sant Cugat. ESADE was formed by a cluster of Spanish elites and entrepreneurs in 1954. In 2009, a new campus was opened in Sant Cugat. In recent years, ESADE Business School is one of the leading schools in business administration program in Europe and it is one of the reasons why I would like to spend my time in Barcelona. My buddies and teachers are so friendly and they are willing to answer my questions about the campus and the country. All in all, the campus area is really nice.
Day 2
Sagrada Familia is a well-known landmark of Spain. In fact, it is an unfinished Roman Catholic church which is located in Barcelona. This architecture was designed by Antoni Gaudí; his creation was eventually marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I really like its architectural structure and style, it draws the attention of every tourist. In particular, I see a lot of tourists who come from Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. Indeed, this place is undoubtedly worth visiting. Certainly, I would like to visit Sagrada Familia again in 2026, because the construction of the building will be finished at that time.
Day 3
Certainly, I would like to spend most of the time in Camp Nou. It is the home stadium of FC Barcelona, which is one of the greatest football clubs of all time. Camp Nou is full of atmosphere, as its maximum seating capacity is approximately 99,350. I watched a match with my friend, both of us enjoyed the view, ambience and the match. I have never watched a football match with this amount of people, their passions for football really surprise me a lot. In my opinion, the Spaniards are passionate about football and thus they could win the World Cup in 2010.
Day 4
Tibidabo is another place that brings happiness to all human beings, it is one of the largest natural urban parks. Besides, the Tibidabo mountain is part of the Collserola mountain range. In Medieval Times, Tibidabo was called Puig de I’Áliga. The name “Tibidabo” was given by the monks of St Jeronimo’s monastery in the 16th century. The word “Tibidabo” comes from the gospel of St Matthew, it was made up of the Latin words “Tibi” and “Dabo”, which mean “I will give you”. Concerning the final stretch of the road, it was built during the period of the Universal Exhibition. On the other hand, the first solid construction was constructed in 1886, consisting of a small chapel. Undoubtedly, Tibidabo is a significant theme park and you can enjoy the view of Barcelona in the Sky Walk.
Day 5
Art is considered as significant in Barcelona, this city is filled with famous artists like Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró and Antoni Tápies. As a result, a lot of art museums are built so as to cherish those honorable artists and cultivate their culture. The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is one of the eminent museums in Barcelona, it was announced as a national museum in 1990 due to the Museums Law. Its collections are divided into different themes like Romanesque art, Gothic art, Renaissance art and the Modern art. I am fond of the Romanesque church paintings, they are arranged in stylistic order, thus I am able to understand different tendencies during the Romanesque art period.
First school-day in Barcelona was amazing, I felt so joyful to visit ESADE Business School which located in Sant Cugat. ESADE was formed by a cluster of Spanish elites and entrepreneurs in 1954. In 2009, a new campus was opened in Sant Cugat. In recent years, ESADE Business School is one of the leading schools in business administration program in Europe and it is one of the reasons why I would like to spend my time in Barcelona. My buddies and teachers are so friendly and they are willing to answer my questions about the campus and the country. All in all, the campus area is really nice.
Day 2
Sagrada Familia is a well-known landmark of Spain. In fact, it is an unfinished Roman Catholic church which is located in Barcelona. This architecture was designed by Antoni Gaudí; his creation was eventually marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I really like its architectural structure and style, it draws the attention of every tourist. In particular, I see a lot of tourists who come from Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. Indeed, this place is undoubtedly worth visiting. Certainly, I would like to visit Sagrada Familia again in 2026, because the construction of the building will be finished at that time.
Day 3
Day 4
Tibidabo is another place that brings happiness to all human beings, it is one of the largest natural urban parks. Besides, the Tibidabo mountain is part of the Collserola mountain range. In Medieval Times, Tibidabo was called Puig de I’Áliga. The name “Tibidabo” was given by the monks of St Jeronimo’s monastery in the 16th century. The word “Tibidabo” comes from the gospel of St Matthew, it was made up of the Latin words “Tibi” and “Dabo”, which mean “I will give you”. Concerning the final stretch of the road, it was built during the period of the Universal Exhibition. On the other hand, the first solid construction was constructed in 1886, consisting of a small chapel. Undoubtedly, Tibidabo is a significant theme park and you can enjoy the view of Barcelona in the Sky Walk.
Day 5
Art is considered as significant in Barcelona, this city is filled with famous artists like Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró and Antoni Tápies. As a result, a lot of art museums are built so as to cherish those honorable artists and cultivate their culture. The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is one of the eminent museums in Barcelona, it was announced as a national museum in 1990 due to the Museums Law. Its collections are divided into different themes like Romanesque art, Gothic art, Renaissance art and the Modern art. I am fond of the Romanesque church paintings, they are arranged in stylistic order, thus I am able to understand different tendencies during the Romanesque art period.Labels: 2018/2019 Semester A
Wendy Chan, University of Newcastle, Australia
February 26, 2018
After a 9-hour flight and 3-hour train, I am finally here in Newcastle!
It is my first day of school. I am really excited for my studies in a brand new university, yet I am also anxious of not having any company with me in lesson. The campus is massive and I had to walk for 15 minutes all the way. It was raining, I was unfamiliar with the locations here, it turns out I spent like 30 minutes getting to the right lecture using Google Map (and I finally learnt to utilize it). When I first stepped into the lecture, almost everyone was starring at me as I am a minority here. Most of them are local students and I was a bit freaked out because of this. Unlike Hong Kong, there was not any Powerpoint softcopy given on the website , I found it hard at first as I had to pay full attention jotting important notes down. The lecturer had a strong accent, here comes another challenging part of my exchange studies. Most Aussie have a thick accent, and they speak really fast. I made a great effort in understanding what they are talking about. I was overwhelmed by all the things on my first day of semester.
February 27, 2018
Here comes my second day of school, while it's also my 21st birthday! Unlike what I've been doing on my birthday in Hong Kong, having parties, birthday dinner, surprise cakes and gifts, I had a simple yet joyful 21st birthday.
Having having class in town, I went for groceries with my exchange buddies. It is literally our daily mission deciding what to cook for dinner. Eating out here is too expensive and we cannot afford doing it every day. This is another challenge to me studying here. Canteen and restaurants around the campus are so convenient so I seldom cook. This is an opportunity for me learning to cook by myself, from purchasing food, cutting them into pieces, cooking and washing. There are lots of details I've got. We have a great night chatting over everything and I guess happiness is as simple as that. Having compatible friends with you, and food that you cooked together.
Birthday celebration does not necessary to be related to any costly gifts or fine dining in luxurious restaurants. It matters much more who you're spending our birthday.
February 28, 2018
One of the most exciting events here in is the Music Night. It is more or less the same as the Singing Contest for PEK Cup among hall area. Each residence tower would have one solo and a group performance. The event was held at Bar on the Hill, which is a bar on campus. We gathered at the common room went to cheer for the tower, immersing myself into the local culture.
The lights went off, only spot light left on stage. Everyone is getting excited for the performances with their beers and chips in hand. We sat on the floor next to the judges. The performers were in different styles. Some did ballad, some sang with guitar, some rapped, etc. The most impressive thing was, one of the contestants who came from Hong Kong, he won both solo champion and group champion (with him as the leader). He was under great pressure as he was singing the same song with another performer, yet his performance was just perfect! As the saying goes, “music makes the world one”, and that was exactly what I felt for the night. Although we are in different nationalities, we become united because of beautiful music. Boundaries broke down for the night and I learnt to appreciate how amazing music could be.
May 1, 2018
I've been hoping that I could have joined the Dance Society since I got into University. But then, there are lots of issue and events that have stopped me from that decision. Therefore, I've taken the chance to make it happen here in Australia! Stepping out of your comfort zone is always hard. Yet, it is part of growing up and it that's also the reason why I am here for exchange.
The first meeting is mainly self-introduction and a bit of Samba class. I did Ballet, Jazz and Hiphop when I was small but Samba is totally another new concept to me. I was so excited learning a new sort of dance. The tutor was so patient and cheerful. She taught us basic steps for Samba, parading along the dance floor and some hip movements. I was shy and I was not fully engaging at the beginning of the lesson. I was a little behind the whole, then she came to me and showed me the correct basics step by step. I followed her, caught up with the class. Samba is a kind of dance that puts you in a happy vibe. I am so glad to be dancing again, learning something new and stepped out of my comfort zone.
May 2, 2018
It is Friday! And it is a perfect day for the beach.
Newcastle is home to beautiful beaches which are famous amongst surfers and enjoyed by local and tourists alike. That's why me and my exchange buddies went to the Newcastle Beach wandered around as a tourist.
It was a sunny day. We settled down, laying on sand with our eyes closed. Hearing the sound of sea waves with symphony of the Seagulls. It was such a chillax afternoon. Since I was small, I like hearing to the relaxing ocean waves sound. Laying down under the warm sunlight and a bit of wind padding over my skin, simply wiped all my stress and pressure away. It is always a good idea appreciating the simplest thing around us. Happiness is just as simple as that little something in our lives. I learnt to have a grateful heart in everything. Nature is just that amazing and we do not have to go for any luxurious thing in order to be happy.
After a 9-hour flight and 3-hour train, I am finally here in Newcastle!
It is my first day of school. I am really excited for my studies in a brand new university, yet I am also anxious of not having any company with me in lesson. The campus is massive and I had to walk for 15 minutes all the way. It was raining, I was unfamiliar with the locations here, it turns out I spent like 30 minutes getting to the right lecture using Google Map (and I finally learnt to utilize it). When I first stepped into the lecture, almost everyone was starring at me as I am a minority here. Most of them are local students and I was a bit freaked out because of this. Unlike Hong Kong, there was not any Powerpoint softcopy given on the website , I found it hard at first as I had to pay full attention jotting important notes down. The lecturer had a strong accent, here comes another challenging part of my exchange studies. Most Aussie have a thick accent, and they speak really fast. I made a great effort in understanding what they are talking about. I was overwhelmed by all the things on my first day of semester.
February 27, 2018
Having having class in town, I went for groceries with my exchange buddies. It is literally our daily mission deciding what to cook for dinner. Eating out here is too expensive and we cannot afford doing it every day. This is another challenge to me studying here. Canteen and restaurants around the campus are so convenient so I seldom cook. This is an opportunity for me learning to cook by myself, from purchasing food, cutting them into pieces, cooking and washing. There are lots of details I've got. We have a great night chatting over everything and I guess happiness is as simple as that. Having compatible friends with you, and food that you cooked together.
Birthday celebration does not necessary to be related to any costly gifts or fine dining in luxurious restaurants. It matters much more who you're spending our birthday.
February 28, 2018
One of the most exciting events here in is the Music Night. It is more or less the same as the Singing Contest for PEK Cup among hall area. Each residence tower would have one solo and a group performance. The event was held at Bar on the Hill, which is a bar on campus. We gathered at the common room went to cheer for the tower, immersing myself into the local culture.
The lights went off, only spot light left on stage. Everyone is getting excited for the performances with their beers and chips in hand. We sat on the floor next to the judges. The performers were in different styles. Some did ballad, some sang with guitar, some rapped, etc. The most impressive thing was, one of the contestants who came from Hong Kong, he won both solo champion and group champion (with him as the leader). He was under great pressure as he was singing the same song with another performer, yet his performance was just perfect! As the saying goes, “music makes the world one”, and that was exactly what I felt for the night. Although we are in different nationalities, we become united because of beautiful music. Boundaries broke down for the night and I learnt to appreciate how amazing music could be.
May 1, 2018
I've been hoping that I could have joined the Dance Society since I got into University. But then, there are lots of issue and events that have stopped me from that decision. Therefore, I've taken the chance to make it happen here in Australia! Stepping out of your comfort zone is always hard. Yet, it is part of growing up and it that's also the reason why I am here for exchange.The first meeting is mainly self-introduction and a bit of Samba class. I did Ballet, Jazz and Hiphop when I was small but Samba is totally another new concept to me. I was so excited learning a new sort of dance. The tutor was so patient and cheerful. She taught us basic steps for Samba, parading along the dance floor and some hip movements. I was shy and I was not fully engaging at the beginning of the lesson. I was a little behind the whole, then she came to me and showed me the correct basics step by step. I followed her, caught up with the class. Samba is a kind of dance that puts you in a happy vibe. I am so glad to be dancing again, learning something new and stepped out of my comfort zone.
May 2, 2018
It is Friday! And it is a perfect day for the beach.Newcastle is home to beautiful beaches which are famous amongst surfers and enjoyed by local and tourists alike. That's why me and my exchange buddies went to the Newcastle Beach wandered around as a tourist.
It was a sunny day. We settled down, laying on sand with our eyes closed. Hearing the sound of sea waves with symphony of the Seagulls. It was such a chillax afternoon. Since I was small, I like hearing to the relaxing ocean waves sound. Laying down under the warm sunlight and a bit of wind padding over my skin, simply wiped all my stress and pressure away. It is always a good idea appreciating the simplest thing around us. Happiness is just as simple as that little something in our lives. I learnt to have a grateful heart in everything. Nature is just that amazing and we do not have to go for any luxurious thing in order to be happy.
Labels: 2018/2019 Semester A
Kary Wong | University of Adelaide, Australia
26 Feb 2018 (Monday)
Today is the first school day of Semester 1 in the University of Adelaide. At the beginning, it was difficult for me to find the exact classroom because there were too many buildings and they were not next to each other. It was really different from universities in Hong Kong as the areas were much bigger in Australia. At first, I was not dare to ask the people around as I had heard that racism to Asian was serious in Australia. Surprisingly, there were some students taking initiative to offer help to me! They led me to the building for my class at the end and I was so touched. This experience gave me more courage afterwards that I would be more willing to ask or talk to others in Australia as most of them are very nice and you can always find things unexpected!
27 Feb 2018 (Tuesday)
During my stay in Adelaide, I lived in a student accommodation called Urbanest. It welcomes foreign students from all around the world so it actually established an international atmosphere and global social network for the residents. The team there planned and held multiple activities for the residents to have fun and meet some new friends! As my buddy and I did not know anyone in Adelaide, we planned to join the welcome party tonight to make new friends! When we first arrived the recreational area, we were shocked as there were so many people!! All of them were from different countries. We were encouraged to walk around to meet different people and to chit chat. Although the time was short, it was still a good moment for us to have met people around and to build our network. I had never made so many foreign friends. It was really an unforgettable experience to me!
After the welcome party hold by the student accommodation, my roommate and I had met our neighbour who was also a Hong Kong people but studies in university in Adelaide. He had introduced his Hong Kong friends to us in a meeting. We had made many Hong Kong friends who have stayed in Adelaide for a while. All the girls hanged out to the countryside. They shared a lot of interesting things about the city, culture, and people’s behaviours in Adelaide. They also gave us many useful advices for living, buying things etc. that made us worried less about our stay in Adelaide. They explained and shared a lot about their living in Adelaide and recommended us lots of places to visit. I was very blessed that I could have received lots of advices from them that made me feel more comfortable for the following months.
It came to the first meeting of CityU and CUHK exchange students! We met each other on the orientation day of University of Adelaide. Through the CUHK students, we also met their peers who were studying in the university next to University of Adelaide. During the meal, we talked a lot about our feelings towards Adelaide and also our host universities. As two of them rented house away from the city, unlike us who were all living in student accommodation near schools, they shared a lot about their live. For instance, how they deal with different things on their own in a foreign country. The experience was totally different as we had everything in our accommodation but they needed to handle all on their own. The meeting was really fun and it made us feel more familiar by speaking Cantonese for so long after arrival!
Labels: 2018/2019 Semester A
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