The University of Melbourne is Australia’s leading university, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024. The prestigious college is located in a suburb called Parkville, which is only a ten-minute walk from the vibrant Melbourne city. The University of Melbourne strives to ensure students’ success and offers them a wide range of subjects. A point to note is that there is a breadth of subjects for undergraduate students, which are courses from a different field of study to students’ majors. Some unique courses that cannot be found anywhere else include Australia in the Wine World, Samba Band and Dancing the Dance.

I have taken the breadth subject Choir as my free elective, and it was wonderful. About 100 students from different faculties joined the course and formed one big choir consisting of four parts: soprano, alto, tenor and bass. We were assigned to different parts according to our voice range. Then, we start learning hymns written in different European languages like French and German. Our conductor taught us for 12 weeks, and the course ended with us performing in front of our friends and families. A concert was held during the last teaching week, and we performed Mass No.2 in G major, written by Schubert, along with a few English songs. I majored in Linguistics back at HKU and would never have thought of enrolling in a music performance class at my home university. This is a step out of my comfort zone, and I am glad that I have branched out. My confidence level has gone up, and I am no longer afraid of singing. I also learned that I am a soprano, which is shocking given that I speak with a low voice in daily life.

Moreover, I enrolled in two other courses, Music and Health and Secondary Language Learning and Teaching. The former taught me how music plays a crucial role in our physical and mental health. At the same time, the latter allowed me to explore how second language learners acquire languages by researching. The biggest difference between studying at the University of Melbourne and HKU is the learning environment. Students were engaged in class and eager to share their views on controversial topics. They were not afraid to ask and answer questions in class. It seemed like everyone truly enjoyed learning and the atmosphere is genuinely different. The biggest thing I have taken home from my experience there is the courage to ask questions. If in doubt, ask. You would never know what others can offer, and they might help and inspire you in many ways.

Besides studying in school, I spent a lot of time exploring Melbourne City. Melbourne is indeed famous for its coffee. Cafes were everywhere, and it was hard to get a bad cup of coffee. I also noticed many Asian restaurants since there were a lot of international students and migrants living in the inner city. Some activities I have done in Melbourne include tobogganing in Lake Mountain, watching FIFA Women’s World Cup and Australian football matches, visiting Melbourne Zoo and going to carnivals. Melbourne is such a vibrant and multicultural city with a lot of things to do. You can just go onto the streets, and there will be street performances for entertainment. While some live carefree in Melbourne, there are people experiencing homelessness. They can be commonly seen sleeping on the streets. I was quite shocked to see at least fifteen people sleeping on the same street. It is nice to know the police would not charge them, but this is a major crisis that needs to be solved.  

Apart from Melbourne, I travelled to other cities like Sydney, Perth, Gold Coast and Hobart. Domestic flights were way cheaper, so I seized the opportunity to explore some major tourist spots in Australia. I had a lot of “firsts” during my trips. For example, first time seeing a full rainbow, first time sandboarding in the desert, first time watching sunrise at 4 am and first time going on whale-watching. The list goes on.

I recommend everyone to go on an exchange if it is possible. As cliché as it sounds, I genuinely think this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you will never forget! It helps you grow and become independent. I am more open-minded since I have met people from all walks of life. The world is much bigger than you think, and there are so many ways to live, except getting a nine-to-five job after graduation. I also had many painful lessons during my entire exchange experience, but the outcome is that I became a better version of myself. I am so blessed to be an exchange student for one semester. I am forever grateful for the memories I have made throughout the programme.