Tuesday, December 6, 2022
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
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