It feels like a long time, but actually it's only a month since I came here. I arrived in Wollongong on July 17th as an exchange student. After a long flight, I felt dizzy and tired, but people from the University of Wollongong were really friendly and helped me get to my dormitory.
In the first couple of days, I settled down and got to know my new place. At first I found it so quiet, because there are very few people here. But in the week before enrolment, I took part in the Flood Week activities organized by senior residents. New students from all over the world came together and became friends. People here are all very friendly and always have fun partying.
Some of the activities organized
On July 27th, the term began. The campus is not very big, but beautiful. The teaching system abroad is quite different from that in China. Every course has one lecture and one tutorial a week. Students usually take about four courses during one semester. We have to do a lot of self study after class, for example, reading from the textbooks or discussing in groups. One thing here that we don't have in China is PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions)-students organize their own classes to review the things they have learned to help each other pass the course or receive the desired number of credits
Campus of University of Wollongong
Apart from studies, students also go to the gym or go hiking together. There are usually a lot of things going on around, and you'll never feel bored. I attended several seminars about interviews, presentation, writing and learned a lot from them.
Live Art Week on campus
During my first month, I traveled to several places with my friends. We went to Sydney to visit the Sydney Opera House, went shopping in Queen Victoria Building, appreciated the sunset at Darling Harbor. I also spent two weekends at an Australian friend's residences, one at the seaside and one in the Blue Mountains. It's lovely to live by the sea or in the mountains. Their family celebrated Christmas in August so I was lucky to see what a Christmas is like within a religious family. And I learned a thing or two about baking on this occasion.
Christmas in an Australian family
There are many quiet and peaceful places here that broadened my horizon, allowing me to take a closer look at an entirely different culture. I love the beautiful places and kind people here, hope I can harvest more during my stay.
Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains
(Edited by Diana & Sijia Hu)
