Student Name: CHAN Sze Yuk, Sharon Host University: Umea University, Sweden Term: Semester A,

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1 Student Name: CHAN Sze Yuk, Sharon Host University: Umea University, Sweden Term: Semester A, Taking part in the exchange program can broaden my horizon, It sounds saying nothing how exchange program benefit me, but there s no other word true than this. It is grateful to have spent a semester in Umeå, which is a small city located in Sweden. It is nothing better than living in other country, if you want to experience a cultural difference. First, you will know what actually a welfare state is: University students don t need to pay the tuition fee, even more the government provide them allowance to sustain their daily living! Of course this is only one of the welfares provided to residence. Another thing that surprised me is the living style of Swedish students. Most Swedish students have good attitude to their studies, and they enjoy what they are doing in this moment, this is very contradict to the Hong Kong society. It is always a wonderful opportunity to meet friends from nations all over the world. My friends are from Taiwan, Japan, Korea, German, Austria, Canada, and United States They have different ways of looking at their future, they insist to pursue their dream, like being a scientist, engineer, doctor, teacher and so on, wish to contribute their own countries. I have learnt a lot from them! Thankfully I have the opportunity to take part in the exchange program, which has broadened my horizon! And somehow it has changed my thoughts to life, when I am back to Hong Kong, I always remind myself I can do things different from the society expectation, I have to enjoy every moment in my life! Don t miss the chance to discover more about yourself and the world!

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3 Name: WEN Qiannan Host University: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA Term: Semester A, My exchange experience in University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a wonderful memory. First I appreciate it that the college gives me such a good chance to study abroad. UIUC is a world famous university, especially for its engineering school. The campus is located in a small town, 3 hours bus from Chicago. There are not many people or high rise buildings in town. Academic environment keeps people calm down and focus. As it is a great public research university, the curriculum is well developed and encompasses wide range of subjects, which helps student develop various personal skills, teamwork and world views. We are free to choose any courses and enjoy studying with students from diverse cultures, life background, and are free to dispute on any topics in lecture or after class. During my stay there, I have long term teamwork in a specific group and learned a lot from American students. Apart from that, life there is comfortable. The town has the reputation of one of the places which have most advanced transportation system in US. Bus routes cover main places we will go, and the service is free for students. Food is also not bad. The university has around ten dining rooms. Each of them has a slightly different style. We can see many students doing part-time job in the dining room. On weekends, I went to some interesting places such as pumpkin farms and corn maze. There we escape from the heavy burden of study and get in touch with amazing nature. Exchange experience is not only for travel, or for communication. It injects some thoughts on how to treat my life in the future. That s the most important message I want to bring here.

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5 Student Name: Sze Yun Wai Host University: University of Kent, UK Term: Semester B, I am feeling lucky to spend one semester in UK. My host University is in Canterbury, southeast from London. During the period of exchange, I had a wonderful life which was different in Hong Kong. The biggest difference between UK and Hong Kong is the building and urban area. Most of the buildings in UK are small and short. When I traveled buy coach or train, what I could see is grass and trees. The life in Hong Kong is busy and hurries. In UK, on the contrary it is comfortable and easy. The most surprising thing is that lots of the shops in UK close before 5pm. I used to have a hectic life in Hong Kong and I felt like I had nothing to doing in arriving day. Some may say it is nothing special to participate in an exchange program when it is compared to travel aboard. However, this is totally wrong. First, making new friends in University is a rare opportunity and it is difficult to do this because people will not stay in a place for a long time like half a year in travel. Second, if people what to experience the cultural difference deeply, joining an exchange program is better than travelling. My local friends in UK taught me what their life was. Some of them discussed with me the political issue, such as the possibility of independent of Scotland. The time to discuss the social issue of two different places impressed me so much. Thankfully I have the opportunity to take part in the exchange program, which has broadened my horizon. It change the direction of my life dramatically. If you have a chance to join it, do not miss it because whenever chance is missed, it will never come again.

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7 Student Name: LAU Hei Yiu Host University: Umea University, Sweden Term: Semester B, What is your impression to Sweden? You may think of the cold weather only. It was my impression to Sweden before I spent a semester in Umea, a small city in Sweden, too. However, my impression to it changed a lot after I went there. People in Sweden are very friendly and helpful. When I needed help on my homework, they tried to meet me up in the library and teach me. Professors were willing to chat with students after lessons, which made me feel that they are my friends. Also, my corridor-mates always shared their dinner with me, which made me feel like a family. I appreciate this culture very much. I could see the life passion on every one in Sweden. Students worked very hard and, of course, played very hard. They enjoyed every part in their life, especially in Umea, because about half of the citizens are young people. I learnt how to live in the moment when I chatted with them. I was not really a travel-lover, but this exchange experience changed me a lot. I saw Northern Light, rode the snow mobile and visited the Ice Hotel in Kiruna. I don t think I will have another chance to experience these things again. So, I strongly recommend students to join the exchange program. It doesn't matter which country it is. JUST GO and EXPERIENCE IT.

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9 University of Kent Tso Lok Yiu Chloe Sem B, My Exchange Life in University of Kent, UK I have spent half year in UK. It is quite difficult to conclude my exchange experience in words, as my exchange life is really fruitful with various experiences. I met friends with different cultural backgrounds, tasted the student life in foreign country, travelled around UK and Europe, learnt how to take care of myself for all sorts of things, etc. 2 In UK, I lived in a two- storey 6- people house. It is my first time to live in a house. I made friends with quite a number of local students, who were my housemates and neighbours. We cooked and had our dinner in the house together almost everyday. Follow me to Page 2

10 Integer metus. Lorem. byline [Name] Sometimes, we even have girls- talk in our room. The accommodation and university in UK is also quite different from CityU. I need a map to walk around the school in the first two weeks of my time there. I feel like I am playing treasure- hunting everyday. During the break, I travelled around Europe with my friends as well. I went to Spain, Italy, Austria, France and Czech. Since I was travelling there from UK, my transportation cost is very cheap. Travelling did not only offer me a chance to do sight- seeing, but also given me an opportunity to learn planning a trip. I am thankful that CityU granted me a chance to join the exchange program. It changed my life. It is such a memorable trip that you definitely cannot miss it!