Report on my exchange study

Awesome, wonderful, exciting, gorgeous, fantastic, adventurous and challenging are all the words that have come to mind when I started writing this report. The whole exchange experience is really "COOL" - a word that the people in my host country always say!

But of course, I cannot deny that I did encounter some negative experiences during the year of my exchange study at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, especially at the beginning. During those times, I had to solve the problems just on my own in an unfamiliar environment, using a language that is not as fluent as my mother tongue.

Those were very frustrating and discouraging moments. However, I had been lucky to have got support from my family, friends and teachers at Hong Kong, and from the international student support at my host University throughout all those difficulties. So that I would be able to learn and grow from those experiences, which I believe would be helpful for my future life. I have learnt to see them as challenges rather than difficulties. I would say that they have become my positive experiences now.

The life in Christchurch is totally different from that in Hong Kong. While the style is fast, busy, intense and dynamic in Hong Kong, that in Christchurch is quiet, relaxed and tranquil. Having experienced these two contrasting life styles, I got to really understand the differences among various cultures. And I realized that there are actually many different ways to live our lives.   

My host university is also different from our university. While they are "broader" and more beautiful in terms of environment, we are prompter in terms of efficiency. While they are more flexible in terms of course selection and structure, we are more creative in terms of teaching methodologies.

People always asked me which style I like more. Well, I really cannot tell, since all these are actually important for providing quality teaching and learning. However, having experienced theses two very different studying styles, I again, realized that there could be many different ways to learn.

As a music student, I have taken a few music courses there. Since all of them were small classes, I could get to know all the students in the class quickly and easily. Also, majority of the students in the classes were kiwi (the local people). Because of these, I could be truly involved in the class, and could have a better understanding of the local studying life there.

As a cello student, I found the most rewarding experience came from the performance course I took. That was a one-to-one course in which I had individual weekly cello lessons with the tutor throughout the year. That is a very unique and valuable experience to me. I got to learn many new and useful techniques for my cello playing. In addition, I had many opportunities to practice performing in front of a group of audience in the weekly performance class. I have never been that involved in playing my cello!

Besides, there was ensemble training for performance students, for which I played in the Canterbury Cellists. Because of this, I got the opportunity to have performed and participated in the Chamber Music Festival there held in November, during which, I performed with other cello students in beautiful venues, such as the historic Provincial Chambers and St. Peter’s Anglican Church. I also got to know some internationally renowned musicians during the festival. Surely this experience of the local cultural and artistic life would be valuable to my future performance study.   

Other than the music courses, I have taken a course, which is unique to the country—a Maori cultural class. It was about the culture of the original inhabitants of New Zealand. During the course, I had many chances to get to know many Maori students. We also had a field visit to a local marae at the beginning of the course, which is the meeting place of the Maori people. This course has given me an insight into the culture of the indigenous people as well as the local society.

During the stay in Christchurch, I lived in a self-catered flat in Ilam Village situated on campus, in which I shared with five other students, who came from different parts of the world and were in various academic disciplines. My flat mates included American, Asian, German and kiwi.

The interaction with my flat mates has offered me the chance to explore matters other than those in classroom, such as cultures, beliefs and values, to just name a few. It was indeed not easy at the beginning. But as time went on, we gradually understood each other better and better. I now have become more patient and open-minded. These were very challenging, yet rewarding experiences.

I have also participated in several activities organized by Ilam village, such as the Cultural Extravaganza and Ilam Ball, during which I had lots of fun. But the most important thing is I also got to know many other international students from other flats. Some of them have become my good friends now!! 

Throughout the past year in Christchurch, I also got lots of chances to travel around the country, both with friends came from different countries, and a few times just on my own. It was especially adventurous to those trips that I traveled just on my own, during which, I have met many people, who also love travelling. These are all unique and exciting experiences.

I have been to cities, where the living styles are similar to that in Hong Kong, yet they are still not the same. I have also been to small towns, in which people live in an entirely different way. But in general, the whole country is very close to nature. I was, and am still, amazed by the landscape—the mountains and the lakes there. I have never been that connected to nature. All these journeys have opened my mind.

As described above, my experiences in Christchurch were not limited to local, but also include international.  Similarly, my experiences were not just limited to the way that people live and study, but travel as well.

While I have seen many different things from other cultures, the most important thing is I have learnt to appreciate the differences. I also realized that there is no one best way to learn and to live our lives, but many possibilities. I truly feel like that my exchange experience has not finished yet; it has already incorporated in my life and become part of it now.

I have gained more than I expected in the past year. The whole exchange experience is just like an adventure to explore myself, it has opened up many possibilities to me. I am glad that I have participated in the exchange programme and was selected as an exchange student. This is definitely a memorable and valuable experience in my life!!

The year studying in Christchurch had been many of my dreams come true.

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