LO, Chun Fung, Kingson (BEIEEM)
Exchange Student 2006/07
| Student Name | LO, Chun Fung, Kingson |
|---|---|
| Host Institution | Université de Technologie de Troyes (UTT), France |
| Department (Programme) | MEEM (BEIEEM) |
| Exchange Period | Semester A, 2006/07 |
My exchange journey in Université de Technologie de Troyes (UTT) was something I would treasure for long. For me, this half year was difficult than I expected. Luckily, I gained bravery, sense of purpose and many other experiences that are valuable to the rest of my life.
When I first arrived in France, I felt quite disappointed. In my mind, France is a luxurious and romantic country. The university which I studied in is just in a small town called Troyes. In Troyes, it was difficult for me to find a restaurant. It was a small town and very desolate.
Language barrier is a challenge in my exchange too. The first step of studying in France was to practice French. Although the course materials are in English, French is still the major language for teaching. That posed a really big challenge for me studying in France. I needed to study extra hard as I could not understand the lectures.
Also, the teaching method in UTT was very different from Hong Kong. Students acquired knowledge by doing projects. It took me quite some time to adapt, nonetheless, it trained me to think more critically. Besides it gave me a chance to work with other exchange students, therefore, my communication skills improved as well.
As time went by, I knew how to solve the problems of daily life and became more independent. Studying and communicating in a French way became part of my life gradually.
The exchange sojourn broadened my horizons greatly. I traveled around Europe every holiday. I have been to seven countries and realized different cultures. My tours were on a shoestring and I tried sleeping in the train station and consumed bread daily. It was fun and exciting to learn British systems, arrogance of the French, open attitudes of Dutch and enthusiasm of German.
Before the exchange program, I thought I was just a passer-by. But I got something I never imagine before, friendship. My friends come from all around the world such as Sweden, Japan, Spain, Korea and Mexico. At first, my Swedish roommate could not get along well with me since we have different living habits. We finally become good friends and we embraced each other the day he left.
I believe it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience to go on exchange and see so many new things. The exchange experience taught me how to accept every challenge in my future with courage. I will never forget this extraordinary experience!
Last modified on 24 December, 2007