Exchange Diary (CityU Students): Yuen Kit Chi @ McGill University, Canada (from CityU) 26 January

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Yuen Kit Chi @ McGill University, Canada (from CityU) 26 January - 7 May 2010

January 26, 2010

New school term has been started for almost a month. Though schoolwork is a busy at McGill University, I still have lots of fun with my classmates. I went out for movie and clubbing with the local students tonight. The movie we watched is 3D version. In fact, the technology of IMAX 3D is invented by Canadian a few years. Cinemas all around the world are now trying to get at least one theater showing 3D movies in order to survive in the transforming movie market. After the movie, we joined some local to go clubbing. The clubbing activity was organized by the student society of the university. Clubbing is an extremely common and usual activity to foreigners, and Montreal is the second city with the most clubs and the most exciting clubbing night life in the world. I can still remember one of my local friends told me that never make an assumption of it is worse to go to bars, clubs or pubs, and never judge other’s behavior, otherwise, you cannot really open your mind, feel how others feel and understand one’s culture. It’s time to change mindlessness to mindfulness.

February 20, 2010

My classmate gave me a ride to his friends’ birthday party today after class. In foreign country, attending friend of friend’s house party is one of their main social activities. At the beginning, I felt a bit weird as I did not know the two birthday people. We arrived a little early and my friend did some introductions of his friends to me. It’s usually good to go a bit early because I can at least have more conversations with my new friends. There were total 18 of us celebrating the birthday of the two birthday gays. After cutting cake, some of us played poker, some of us continued to take shots, some of us sat aside and chatted, etc. This kind of house party is really adorable as you can have lots of fun with your friends and get to know them more. Bringing new friends to the party or introducing new friends to their friends is a common practice in western culture, and this can always assist you to expand your social network. You can meet friends from different professions. The feeling is really great. Thanks you all for bringing me a good good night!

March 05, 2010

This is the last month of the winter semester. It is also the time for handing in reports, doing presentations and preparing for the final exam. Today, it is the time for my group to deliver a presentation for the course called Cross Cultural Management. I did this project with students from Ghana, Pakistani and India, they are all very nice people. In fact, we did not spend too much time no doing the project. We just had three group meetings and spent one night on preparing the powerpoint slides. Guess what? I sincerely think that McGill students are very smart. They do not need to spend a lot of time on a project but can complete the work with excellent quality! Doing group project with local students is a challenge to me as I have to overcome both the cultural and language barriers. The process is challenging but it is also fun! We work hard on the project but at the same time we will share our own experience and culture to each other. Sometimes, my groupmates will also bring me out for fun after classes. All these have beautified my exchange experience in Montreal.

April 08, 2010

Finally, I have finished all mid-term exams! I had three mid-term exams in 3 consecutive days this week and I am totally exhausted. I did not really have much fun in the winter break last week because of the midterm exams this week. In order to compensate myself, I hang out with my friends right after doing today’s exam. I hang out with other exchange students tonight. We first had a rich dinner in a Chinese restaurant in China Town. I am glad to meet all these Hong Kong exchange students at McGill University. They are all so friendly, helpful and considerate. After having dinner we went skating in the heart of Montreal – The old Montreal. The old Montreal is also called that Old Port as is a shipping hub in Montreal. There are many chic restaurants and small souvenir shops nearby. It is a really beautiful place with a calm and tranquil environment. Though all places are covered by snow, the night view is gorgeous. The skates here in Montreal are the one people wear when they play hockey. The shoes are much slippery but count more excitement and enjoyment.

May 07,2010

Right after the final exam at McGill University, my French course at YMCA starts. I have joined a one-month intensive French course here in Montreal as it has the language environment here. No matter it’s the road signs or the price tags in supermarkets, they are all in French! There are only 20 students in my class, but they are all from different corners of the world! We have people from Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Vancouver, Poland, Dubai, India, Italy, Montreal, South Africa, Vietnam and Hong Kong (which is me). It is so interesting to have lesson together with the international students outside regular schoolings. It’s the international festival day at YMCA today. Suppose every student should bring some of their hometown dishes to share with others. One of my classmates, who is an Indian, bought us some coffee and cake cooked in Indian style. According to my classmate, those coffee and cake will only be served in special occasions such as new-year celebration, wedding and other festivals. One of my classmate who is from Poland bought us some potato cake, which is made with smashed potato and pork. It’s a very good time to appreciate other cultures!