11 minute read
FEATURE
MORNINGSIDERS ABROAD 晨興學生在路上
Every year, many Morningside students go on exchange to universities around the world. Here are their stories of academic exploration, travel adventures, and personal reflections.
Ma Yu Sum in South Korea. 馬如心往韓國交流。
Chaichon Wongkham (Left, photo above)
Hometown : Bangkok, Thailand 家鄉 : 泰國曼谷 Major : Computer Science 主修 : 計算機科學
My semester at UC Davis was an unforgettable experience. Academically, I found it very enjoyable as my workload was not very heavy. I took a few classes in Computer Science as well as a music course on the history of Jazz. The campus was a conducive environment for me to fully experience life as a university student. That is to say, my social life was filled with fun and memorable moments. I also successfully auditioned for the University Jazz Band and had an interesting time interacting with many likeminded music lovers.
I enjoyed the social scene at UC Davis immensely. I especially liked interacting and hanging out with new friends, with whom I grew close in a very short period of time. Ranging from a cosy house party and walking through the snow in a beautiful national park, to just hunting for a drivethru meal in the middle of the night, all of these experiences are very memorable, especially when shared with a wonderful group of friends.
At UC Davis, I came to understand the meaning of friendliness by being on the receiving end. I am very grateful to all the people who were unconditionally welcoming to me. Moreover, I think we should be grateful for any experience life gives us. As this particular experience made my life more colourful, allowed me to reflect on my life more, and as a result, I am a more mature person as a whole.
I enjoyed travelling during my exchange. I considered travelling to be one of my top priorities and an opportunity to reach a more comprehensive understanding of the United States. Encountering novel things and seeing new places expanded my horizon and enriched my experience.
After the exchange, I often think about how I can achieve a better work-life balance in Hong Kong, where I consider the pace of life to be quite intense and even stressful. Although academics was not everything during my exchange experience, I think a good balance can still be found even when academics is my top priority. I now believe that enjoying life and succeeding academically are not mutually exclusive.
Study Abroad Destination: University of California, Davis 交流地點 ： 美國加州大學戴維斯分校
在加州大學戴維斯分校交流一個學期的經歷非常難 忘。我很享受在那裡學習，因為功課量不多。我選 修了幾個計算機科學課，還上了一個爵士音樂課。 校園環境有利於我充分體驗大學生活。我的社交生 活充滿了樂趣和難忘的時光。我還成功通過了大學 爵士樂隊的選拔，與許多志同道合的音樂愛好者共 渡愉悅的時光。
我非常喜歡加州大學戴維斯分校的社交環境。我特 別喜歡和新朋友交流和閒聊，在很短時間內我們變 得很親近。溫馨的家庭聚會、在美麗的國家公園雪 地上漫步、在午夜尋找汽車快餐店，所有這些經歷 都非常難忘，尤其是和一群好朋友分享的時候。
在加州大學戴維斯分校，我開始理解受到友善對 待的意義。我非常感謝所有無條件歡迎與接納我 的人。此外，我也認為我們應該珍惜人生中的種種 經歷。因為這次獨有的經歷，我的人生更加豐富多 彩，我對自己的人生有了更多的反思，我也變得更 加成熟。
我喜歡在交流期間去旅行。旅行是我的首選活動， 也讓我更能全面了解美國這個國家。新奇的事物和 陌生的地方拓展了我的視野，豐富了我的經歷。
回港後，我經常思考如何實踐作息平衡，我認為香 港的生活節奏相當緊張，壓力甚大。雖然交流期間 學業並不是一切，但我認為即使學業是何等重要， 也能找到一個理想的平衡。我現在相信兩者是可以 並存的。
Ma Yu Sum 馬如心
Hometown : Hong Kong 家鄉 : 香港 Major : English Studies & English Language Education 主修 : 英國語文研究及英國語文教育
As one of Korea’s most prestigious universities, Yonsei has an esteemed exchange programme that welcomes students from all over the world. Despite our differences, we all shared an interest in Korean culture and a curiosity for self-discovery. My classes at Yonsei included a fantastic mix of bright local students and culturally diverse individuals from elsewhere. Although I initially had many doubts about fitting in and making friends, it was a common love for Korea and the warm and welcoming nature of the locals that made me feel so at home.
Actually living in Korea made those four months so much more memorable than simply being a tourist could have. Thinking back it was due to time – I had so much more time to appreciate every place I went, every person I met and everything I did. My favourite part of the experience was getting to see the changes from season to season. Summer was all about shaved ice and fun on the water. When fall was around the corner, everything green turned autumnal red. Lastly, came my first snow and white Christmas, which meant only one thing – ski trips. As seasons never seem to vary here in Hong Kong, it was amazing to be able to witness such drastic changes. Yet, this also served as a constant reminder that my precious time in Korea was always running out.
Study Abroad Destination: Yonsei University, South Korea 交流地點 ： 韓國延世大學
作為韓國最知名的大學之一，延世大學有一個迎接 來自世界各地學生的交流計劃。儘管交換生之間有 不少差異，但我們都對韓國文化感興趣，對發現 自我也充滿期待。我上的每一門課都巧妙地結合 了優秀的本地生和來自其他地方不同文化的同學。 儘管一開始我對融入校園生活和結交新朋友有很多 疑慮，但當地人對本土文化的熱愛、熱情好客的天 性，讓我感到在家一般的自在。
事實上，在韓國生活這四個月，遠比僅僅作為遊客 到訪韓國更難忘。回想起來，在那裡我有更多時間 去欣賞走過的每一個地方，欣賞遇見的每一個人， 細想所做的每一件事。我最喜歡的體驗是看到季 節的變化。夏天是吃刨冰和進行水上活動的季節。 秋天來臨時，綠色都變成了紅色。最後迎來了我 看見的第一場雪景和白色的聖誕節，這意味著一件 事 —— 滑雪旅行。由於香港的季節似乎從來沒有 變化過，能夠目睹如此明顯的季節更替真是令人驚 奇。然而，這也不斷提醒我，留在韓國的寶貴時間 越來越少。
I never liked change. As I rarely had to venture outside my comfort zone, I always had very negative feelings towards new things because I feared loss and regret. Four months alone in a foreign country made me rethink the concept of change: new things and new people were nothing to be afraid of. Surely, people are different from one another, yet we always have so much in common. What was just a random group of students ended up being my closest friends whom I miss dearly every day.
The memories and experiences I had at Yonsei made me reflect on the life I lived back home. I came to realize that the golden time of our lives is now. There will be countless opportunities that come your way – some even disguised as challenges or struggles. With time we learn to look past such appearances and recognise them as chances for us to flourish. Don’t wait for another chance – grab it when you can – for it may not come again. I sure am glad I capitalised on this opportunity when I could.
In the beginning, saying I had butterflies in my stomach would be an understatement: I had no idea what to expect and being alone in a foreign country felt overwhelming and daunting. All I had were a bunch of “what if” questions. What if I don’t get into my classes? What if I don’t make any friends? What if my roommate and I don’t get along? What if going on exchange turns out to be the biggest mistake ever?
Before I knew it, my worries and anxieties became the most beautiful and fun memories that I’ll cherish for a long time. I’m forever grateful to have had the opportunity; I am a changed person because of it. From the people to the experiences, it was everything I had hoped for and more. Each and every day, I wasn’t just living it – I was thriving. Looking back now, I want nothing more than to have those butterflies again. 我從來不喜歡變化。因為我很少冒險，總是對新事 物有非常消極的感覺，害怕失去和後悔。在異國他 鄉的四個月，讓我重新思考變化的意義：新事物和 陌生人並不怎樣可怕。誠然，人人皆不同，但我們 總有很多共通點。一群本來毫不相干的學生，最終 卻成為我現在每天都在想念的密友。
在延世大學的回憶和經歷讓我想起了我在香港的生 活。我開始意識到生命中的黃金時間就是現在。在 途中將會有無數的機會 —— 有些甚至偽裝成挑戰或 掙扎。隨著時間的消逝，我們學會超越這些，並認 識到這是讓我們成長的機會。不要等待另一個機會 的來臨，盡可能抓住它 —— 因為它可能不會再來。 我很高興能抓住這次交流的機會。
開始的時候，說我心裡七上八下是一種輕描淡寫的 說法：我不知道會發生什麼事情，獨自一人呆在一 個陌生的國家讓我感到畏懼和難以承受。我心裡只 有一堆「如果」的問題。如果我跟同學相處不來怎 麼辦？如果我交不到新朋友怎麼辦？如果我和室友 相處不來怎麼辦？如果去交流是個錯誤的決定怎麼 辦？
但在我還未意識到之前，我的擔心和焦慮就已經變 成最美好和最有趣的回憶。我永遠感激有這個機 會；因為這段經歷，我改變了。在那裡遇到的人和 事，比我當初所期望的還要多。每一天，我不只是 在過生活，我還在茁壯成長。現在回想起來，我只 想再感受一次臨行前的那些忐忑。
Cecelia Leung 梁美詩
Hometown : Hong Kong 家鄉 : 香港 Major : Global Studies 主修 : 全球研究
I went on exchange for a year in the Pontifical Catholic University in Santiago, Chile. Academically speaking, the students there have a heavier workload than we do at CUHK, with many quizzes, assignments, and readings. Socially, there are fewer extracurricular or studentorganised activities but more parties on campus compared to CUHK. The Chilean students I met are in general open-minded and sociable. Spanish is the principal language of communication and most people I met did not speak English. Punctuality is interpreted differently in Chile, and almost everything works at a much slower pace than in Hong Kong.
The classes I took in Chile mostly covered affairs in Latin America, topics that are not available at CUHK. The most interesting courses I took were Foreign Policy Analysis in Latin American Countries, Formation and Development of Latin American Culture, and Migration and Human Rights. Having class in Spanish was a huge challenge for me, but my teachers and classmates provided me with a lot of support and I completed all the courses I took.
My favourite activity during study abroad was salsa dancing. I joined salsa workshops in the university and met some good friends from various backgrounds. It also helped me to relax from the stressful schoolwork and adapt to a Chilean way of life. Salsa dancing is a good way to experience Latin American culture, which is full of passion and energy. After learning the salsa in Chile, I tried to search for similar classes in CUHK but was unsuccessful. Therefore, I started organizing salsa classes on campus and I’m hoping to promote Latin American culture here in Hong Kong.
Study abroad destination: Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile 交流地點 ： 智利聖地亞哥智利天主教大學
我在智利聖地亞哥的智利天主教大學交流了一年。 從學術上來說，那裡的學生比中大的學生功課量更 大，有很多測驗、作業和閱讀材料。在社交方面， 那裡的課外活動和學生組織的活動比中大少，但校 園裡的聚會卻很多。我遇到的智利學生普遍思想開 放，善於交際。西班牙語是主要的語言，我遇到的 大多數人都不會說英語。在智利，人們對守時有不 同的理解，幾乎所有事情的節奏都比香港慢得多。
我在智利上的課主要涉及拉丁美洲事務，中大沒有 提供這些課程。最有趣的課程是拉丁美洲國家的外 交政策分析、拉丁美洲文化的形成與發展和移民與 人權。用西班牙語上課對我來說是巨大的挑戰，幸 得老師和同學許多的幫忙，讓我順利完成所有課程。
我在智利學習期間最喜歡的活動是跳薩爾薩舞。我 參加了大學的薩爾薩工作坊，結交了一些來自不同 背景的好朋友。這也幫助我從緊張的課業中放鬆下 來，去適應智利的生活模式。學習充滿激情和活力 的薩爾薩舞是體驗拉丁美洲文化的好方法。在智利 學習薩爾薩舞後，我試圖在中大尋找類似的課程， 但找不到。因此，我開始在校園裡組織薩爾薩舞課 程，並希望在香港推廣拉丁美洲文化。
海外交流是寶貴的經歷，讓我體驗不同的文化，挑戰自己。
My biggest takeaway from my exchange experience is learning to send good vibes in everyday life. Chileans always send good vibes (buena onda) as a way of being friendly, welcoming, and helpful to one another. While people in Hong Kong tend to keep a distance with strangers, I hope I can adopt this friendly attitude and influence the people around me.
My best trip during the exchange was a visit to Cuba during the summer break in December. I had always been curious about Cuba, so experiencing it first-hand was mind-blowing. Images of Fidel Castro were everywhere, evoking memories of austerity in the casual tourist, but the people were very warm and relaxed. My friend and I were even invited for pizza by strangers! I will never forget the stunning Caribbean beaches in Cuba and the friendly people we met.
Going on exchange was a precious adventure that allowed me to experience a different culture and step out of my comfort zone. The experience in Chile makes me reflect on our lack of understanding of Latin American culture here in East Asia. The geographic distance is certainly a barrier, and even books or the Internet cannot bridge some of our misunderstandings. Spending a year in Chile helped me eliminate many stereotypes I had for Latin America. I hope more Morningsiders in the future can participate in exchange programmes there, halfway across the world! 交流經歷的最大收穫，是學會在日常生活中傳遞 良好的氛圍。智利人總是透過良好的氛圍 (buena onda) 的傳遞以示友善、歡迎和願意幫忙。雖然香 港人傾向於和陌生人保持距離，但我希望能以這種 友善的態度，感染身邊的人。
在交流期間，最棒的一次旅行是在 12 月的暑假到 古巴一遊。我一直對古巴很好奇，所以那次親身體 驗讓我非常興奮。卡斯特羅的肖像無處不在，喚起 了普通遊客對歷史的嚴肅回憶。而那裡的人既熱情 又輕鬆，我和朋友甚至被陌生人邀請去吃薄餅！我 永遠不會忘記古巴令人驚嘆的加勒比海海灘和友善 的人。
海外交流是寶貴的經歷，讓我體驗不同的文化，挑 戰自己。到智利的經歷讓我體會東亞對拉美文化的 貧乏了解。地理距離當然是一個障礙，有時甚至連 書本或互聯網上的資料也不能釐清我們對這個地方 的誤解。在智利度過的一年令我消除了對拉丁美洲 的許多成見。我希望將來有更多的晨興學生能到世 界的另一端進行交流！
Dulanga Jayawardena (Centre, photo above)
Hometown : Colombo, Sri Lanka 家鄉 : 斯里蘭卡可倫坡 Major : Systems Engineering & Engineering Management 主修 : 系統工程與工程管理學
I really enjoyed my time at Dartmouth! I took three classes, all of which are on the list of my all-time favourites! My professors were amazing: they gave each student a lot of personal attention. The most surprising thing for me was that although Dartmouth did not take attendance, most students came to class and listened attentively.
Everyone I met on campus was very friendly and accepting – to everybody! The downside of this was that I found it hard to tell whether or not people genuinely thought of me as a friend. Although I felt lonely at times, I was never alone.
My favourite class was a course on engineering design. My team designed a backpack using lights and reflective materials to help drivers see pedestrians at night. We researched, modelled, designed, soldered, stitched, 3D-printed, and focus group tested our product, working day and night and even throughout the weekends!
Dartmouth’s all-you-can-eat canteens, labs that had tools enabling work with a myriad of materials, and four extremely smart and passionate groupmates enabled me to learn things I never would have learned otherwise. It is an experience I will cherish for life.
Study Abroad Destination: Dartmouth College, USA 交流地點 ： 美國達特茅斯學院
我真的很享受在達特茅斯的時光！我選了三門課， 而這三門課都是我最喜歡的！教授也很棒，因為他 們認真關注每位學生。最令我驚訝的是，儘管達特 茅斯學院不記出席率，但大多數學生還是會來上 課，並專心聽講。
我在校園裡遇到的每一個人都很友善，也很包容 —— 他們對每個人都是如此！但這樣卻讓我很難判 斷他們是否真心把我當成朋友。雖然我有時感到寂 寞，但我從不孤單。
我最喜歡的課是工程設計。我們的團隊設計了一款 利用燈光和反光物料做成的背包，這種背包可以幫 助司機在晚上看到行人。我們通過研究、建模、設 計、焊接、縫合和 3D打印，並進行製成品測試。我 們日夜不停地投入到這個項目，甚至於週末也沒有 閒著！
達特茅斯的任吃自助食堂，工具齊全的實驗室，還 有四個極其聰明和熱情的同學，讓我學到了一些從 來沒有學到的東西。這個交流經歷讓我終生難忘。
看到達特茅斯的朋友經營大學有機農場，並成為機械商店助理，讓我後悔沒有在 大學一年級時做類似的事情。
Dartmouth overwhelmed me with its wanton distribution of merch at orientations and department visits and job fairs, extravagant parties that almost everybody was throwing multiple times a week, and the lavish buffets where students would just toss out food on a whim. Meanwhile, the sidewalks of Los Angeles and San Francisco were sprayed with tents of homeless people who could barely afford America’s broken public transportation. As it turned out, many things I saw in the media were not being exaggerated.
Somehow, I felt more included in Dartmouth’s community than I do at CUHK, but this also made me realise the unique perspective I brought to Hong Kong and CUHK as an ‘outsider’. Seeing my friends at Dartmouth run the college organic farm and become machine shop assistants made me regret not doing something similar as a freshman at CUHK. I am starting to wonder what I could do to help create an environment that is inclusive and welcoming to all kinds of people at CUHK and Hong Kong.
Going on exchange and travelling around the US allowed me to meet a group of extremely smart and motivated people, revolutionised my views on capitalism and inequality, and exposed me to various forms of structural marginalisation I had never expected to see. I would encourage every Morningside student to go on exchange in a region you have not been to before and explore as much of it as you can! 不過，當我看到校方在迎新和招聘會等活動上大量 分發紀念品，看到幾乎每個學生一周都要參加多次 奢侈的聚會，還有看到學生在自助餐隨意丟棄食物 時，達特茅斯有時也讓我有點不知所措。因為同時 我卻看到洛杉磯和三藩市的行人路上放滿了無家者 的帳篷，他們幾乎支付不起美國破舊公共交通的費 用。原來我在媒體上看到的許多事情都沒有被誇大。
不知何故，相比中大，我覺得自己更能融入在達特 茅斯的生活。但這也讓我能以「局外人」身份去看 香港和中大。看到達特茅斯的朋友經營大學有機農 場，並成為機械商店助理，讓我後悔沒有在大學一 年級時做類似的事情。我也開始思考能做些什麼來 幫助中大和香港營造一個更加包容的環境。
在美國交流和旅行，讓我認識了一群極其聰明和積 極向上的年青人，也徹底改變了我對資本主義和不 平等的看法，並讓我意外地接觸到結構性邊緣化的 事例。我會鼓勵每個晨興學生去一個從未踏足的地 方進行交流，並盡情探索！
