Frederick Nielsen Guretno

Spotlight on Frederick Nielsen Guretno from Creative Media! He dove into CityUHK’s Student Exchange Programme for a transformative semester at the University of York in the UK.

My exchange experience felt almost surreal—like a fever dream come true!  I had always wanted to visit England since I was little, as I am an avid enjoyer of its pop culture, stories, and media. I felt very lucky and thankful to CityUHK for the opportunity to fulfil my dream, as it allowed me to travel across the UK during my stay and explore various filming and literary locations.

I was based in York, where I attended the University of York, and I could not have chosen a more fitting city for myself. York is richly layered with stories and histories that revolve around medieval England, the Vikings, and the Roman Empire. Walking around the city was a delight in itself—a peaceful, quaint, and beautiful town filled with countless historical buildings and ruins. A must-visit highlight is the York Museum Gardens, a botanic garden featuring the ruins of a medieval abbey and a Roman fort—truly one of my favourite places in the world.

However, my exchange experience wouldn’t have been as memorable without the amazing friends I met along the way. Arriving alone in York made me feel excited, albeit unsure. After the first day of orientation, all doubts quickly faded away, and I knew I was going to have the best time of my life. I met friends from across Europe, Asia, the US, and Australia. We travelled, played, spent time, and cooked together almost every day. Although I initially found the academic workload a bit overwhelming, the overall experience was truly a fulfilling and enriching cultural exchange.