THEUNIVERSITYOFSYDNEYSchoolofBusiness

ExchangeReportChunWingIpManagementandMarketing,Year3Fall,2017

TableofContent

PartIP.3-5MonthlyActivityLogPartIIP.6-8GeneralExchangeInformationPartIIIP.9-10ItemstoBringPartIVP.11UsefulLinksofContacts

PartI

MonthlyActivityLog

JulyIarrivedatAustraliaaboutamonthsoonerthanthestartoftheuniversityon31stJuly.Thiswaspartlybecauseoftheearlybeginningofthecontractonstudentaccommodation.IvisitedafriendfromBrisbanebeforeIwenttoSydney.Brisbanewasbeautifulinthesensethatitwassurroundedbynaturalenvironment.Therewerealotofrecreationalspaces.ThefamousGoldCoastwasstunninglybeautiful.Icheckedinthestudentaccommodation,QueenMaryBuildingafterwards.Itwasabigcomplexwithgoodfacilities.Therewasalsoagoodblendoflocalstudentsandinternationalstudents.IspentthemonthinjoininghallactivitiesandwalkingaroundthenearbyareanamedNewTown.IalsowenttosomefamoustouristattractionssuchastheOperaHouseandDarlingHarbour.

AugustTheschoollifekickedoffattheendofJuly.Iwasstayingatthemaincampus,whichwasaround20-minuteshortwalkfrommyhall.ThemaincampuswascomprisedwithnewandoldbuildingswheretheoldestonewastheQuadrangle,whichwasbuiltsince1850s.Duringthemonth,studyingwasnottoostressfulsoIspenttimeonexploringthecity.IalsojoinedanexclusivetourorganisedbytheuniversityforexchangestudentsheadingtotheHunterValleyandPortStephens.Whalewatchingwasoneofmyfavouriteitineraryandwewereluckytospotthreeinthatafternoon!

SeptemberSeptemberwasachallengingmonth.Workloadgotheavieratthattimebutmyadventurewentonanyway.IenrolledinahikingcourseforexchangestudentsatuniversityandwehikedonaprestigiousnationalparkcalledBlueMountainforthreedays.ItwasatoughtripbutIdidit!IalsowenttosomemorespotsinSydneyliketheBondiBeach,theRocksarea,TarongaZooandPaddington.Theywereamazing!IalsotriedaChineserestauranttoyumcha,whichwascalledZilver.Thedimsumwasnicethereandthepricewasreasonable.Itwasaninterestingexperience.

OctoberItwastheMid-AutumnfestivalintheearlyOctober.ItwasthefirsttimethatIdidnotcelebrateitwithfamilybutmyfriendshereandIgatheredtogethertohavedinnersandatemooncake.IwenttoaChineserestaurantcalledSpicyJointwithmyChinesefriendsandcookedwithanothergroupoffriendsforanothernight.Bothnightswerefulloffestivalsentimentsandwehadalotoffun!ItisalsoworthmentioningthatIwenttoonefoodfestivalinSydneycalledtheNoodlesMarket.FoodtherewasnotlimitedtonoodlesbutalsoexoticfoodlikeMalaysiaLasakandPadThai.Sydneywasaculturallydiversecityandthemarkettotallyreflectedthat.

NovemberItwasmylastmonthhereinSydneysoIgrabbedtochancestogoasmanyplacesasIcanaftermyexaminations.IhadaroundtwoweeksafterthosesoIspenteightdaysgoingonaroadtripinTasmaniawithotherexchangestudents.Tasmaniawasnamedastheheavenonearthanditwasright!Everywhereisuntainted,theoceanandtheskywerestunninglyblue.JustwhenIthoughtthattheywerebeautifulenoughinSydney,thoseinTasmaniawasevenmoreastonishing.Also,wewenttoazoocalledUnzoo.Itwasbuiltonahillwheremostoftheanimalscanrunfreely.WealsosawTasmaniaDevils,whichlookedsocuteandinnocentthatIalmostforgottheyatemeat.ForthefewdaysremaininginSydney,IwenttotheOperaHouseagainforadramaandmetupwithmyfriendsatsomeotherundiscoveredspotsinSydney.

PartII

GeneralExchangeInformation

VisaProceduresApplyingvisawasnotdifficultbutitrequiredcoordinationfromsomeauthorityandme.IhadtocommunicatewithmyexchangeadviseratthehostuniversityforseveraltimesinordertogetastudyproofcalledcOEandpurchaseinsuranceduringmyapplicationforvisaasthetwomaterialswererequiredintheprocess.Atthesametime,thevisaauthorityneededproofonmyhealthsoIwenttoahealthcentreappointedbytheAustralianconsulate.Sincegoingthroughtheprocesstooktime,Isuggestedyoutostartbeginningwitheverythingatleasttwomonthspriortoyourtrip.OrientationActivitiesTherewasanorientationdayorganisedbytheuniversitywherewegottoseealloftheexchangestudentsfromaroundtheworld.ThehostuniversityarrangedaquicklunchmealandletusgatherintheGreatHalloftheuniversitywherewegottoenjoyadanceshowfromaboriginalpeople.Also,theygaveussometalkswithawarmwelcomingbooklet.Mostofthestudentaccommodationsalsoofferedorientationactivitieswheremineweretalksandgathersessions.InternationalServices&ActivitiesTherewerelotsofculturalactivitiesforinternationalstudentstojoin.TherewasaninternationalstudentcentreattheWentworthBuildingwheretheyorganisedalargenumberofthoseactivities.IjoinedaweeklyEnglishcommunicationsessionandtherewouldbealocalstudenttalkingabouttheircultureeachweek.Therewasevenasessionaboutdatingtipswithlocalpeople!Itwasinterestingtointeractwithotherinternationalstudentsaswellaslocalpeoplelikethis.IalsojoinedseveralotheractivitiesliketheBoomerangpainting.AccommodationsTheuniversityofferedustwoguaranteedaccommodationscalledUrbanestandQueenMaryBuilding.Ichosethelatterbecauseofitsproximitytotheuniversity.Thepricewasnotcheapbutwasreasonableascomparedtootherstudenthousing.Theinformationaboutaccommodationswillbesenttoyouaroundamonthpriortoyourarrivalbyyourexchangeadviseratthehostuniversity.CoursesRegistrationCourseregistrationwasquitedifferentfromtheoneinHongKong.Ionlyknewthetimetableofthecoursesafterenrolment,whichmeansthatitwasassigned.Beforetheenrolment,youwillgettochoosethetimeyouwanttokeepfreeandtheuniversitysystemwilltrytoaccommodateyourwantsasmuchasitcan.

Teaching&AssessmentMethodsSimilartoHKUST’s,coursesatthehostuniversityarecomprisedoftwosessions,lecturesandtutoriallessons.Mostofthetutoriallessonsarecompulsory.Notonlyisattendancetakenbutalsoparticipationisrequired.Theyareveryinteractive.Incaseyoucannotmakeittothelectures,youcanviewthelecturevideosafterwards.Sports&RecreationFacilitiesTherearetwolargesportscomplexonthemaincampusbutbothrequiredregistration.Tocompletetheregistration,youneedtopurchasemembershipfromtheuniversity.Therearefreegymfacilitiesatmyaccommodation,QueenMaryBuildingthough.Finance&BankingThefinancialserviceisexcellent.Youcanregisterforabankaccountatoneofthelocalbanksandusethecreditcardtopayalmosteverywhere.IusedCommonwealthBankandtheyevenhaveanapponthephonetoletyoutransfermoneyfromoneaccounttoanotherandtofacilitatethetakingoutofmoneyatATM.LivingstandardofAustraliaishighsomakesureyoupreparemorethansufficientamountofmoney.Eatingoutingeneralrestaurantwillcostmorethan70HongKongdollarsforameal.Ispentaround18000AUDforthewholetrip.SocialClubs&NetworkingOpportunitiesTherearenumerousstudentsocietiesatthehostuniversitywherethetwodaysoforientationfromtheclubwerenotevenabletoshowallofthem.Bepreparedtopay5to20dollarsformembershipofasocietyforonesemester.Networkingopportunitiesarealsoabundantnotonlyprovidedbytheclubsbutdifferentschoolsattheuniversity.Makesureyoudonotmissemailsandkeeptrackofthewebsiteoftheuniversity.Health&SafetyInsurancecanbepurchasedfromeithertheuniversityordirectlyfromthecompaniesprovidingOverseasStudentHealthCoverage.Itismoreconvenienttobuyviatheuniversitybutitcanonlybebroughtforoneyearsoyouhavetoclaimfortheremainingunusedcoverageafteryourexchangetrip.FoodAustraliaisahighlydiversecityintermsofethnicitysothereareawidevarietyofchoicesonfood.NearandwithinthemaincampustherearealotofAsianchoicesoffoodwherethepricewasgenerallyaround80HongKongdollarspermeeal.TransportationShortafterarrival,youwillberemindedtoapplyforaconcessioncardfortransportation,whichwillletyouenjoyhalfofthepriceformostofpublictransportsyoutakeinSydney.Themajortypesoftransportaretrainsandbuses.

ClimateThereisalargedailyrangeoftemperatureatSydneysolayersofclothingarerecommended.CommunicationTherearemanypeoplecomingfromdifferentculturalbackgroundsinAustraliabutEnglishisstillthemajortypeoflanguage.CautionarymeasuresSunshineisabundantaswellsomakesureyouapplyenoughsunscreeneveryday.

PartIII

ItemstoBring

Wearing(Layersofclothingaresuggestedfortheever-changingweatherinSydney)Long-sleevedshirts Swimsuit Sweaters Underwear fleecejacket/othercoats

Sunglasses

boots Rainjacket Scarf Socks T-shirts umbrella jeans runningshoes shorts Abackpack Belt Formaloutfit Pyjamas/sleepwear ElectronicDevicesCellphonesandcharger(portablecharger)

Electricconvertersandadapters

Notebookandcharger

Headphone

ToiletryBasics

• Toothbrushandtoothpaste(foraweek)

• Comb

• Shampooandconditioner(forshorttravel)

• Bodywash(forshorttravel)

• Sunscreenandlotion

• Personalhygieneitems

• Towel • bandages MedicationPrescriptionmedicationwiththelabel/script(PleasecheckiftheycanbebroughtintoAustralia)

EyeDrops(PleasecheckiftheycanbebroughtintoAustralia)

TravelDocumentsandNecessityCash CreditCard ElectroniccOE Printoutof

ElectronicVISA

Flighttickets TravelDocumentPhotos

InsuranceCertificates

PartIV

UsefulLinksofContacts

AustralianGovernmentDepartmentofImmigrationandBorderProtectionhttp://www.homeaffairs.gov.auAllianzGlobalAssistance(OSHC)https://allianzassistancehealth.com.au/en/OfficialAustralianTourismWebsitehttps://www.australia.com/enTheUniversityofSydneyonOrientationWeekhttps://orientation.sydney.edu.auUniversityofSydneyStudentAccommodationServicesPortalhttps://usyd.starrezhousing.com/StarRezPortal/Default.aspx?Params=L9ezxPcQnQuRGKTzF%2b4sxeNblvAA%2b26c