My Chinese name is [Speaking Mandarin].

I'm from Beijing,China.

I study translation interpreting, I'm doing an exchange program here.

I looked on the website that UWS has the best

translation and interpreting major in Australia, so I applied here.

Before I came to Australia,I always saw Australia as a country full of

white people because it's an English-speaking country

But I found out that actually it's a very diverse country, especially Sydney

where people from all kinds of backgrounds are living here together

I think it's a good experience to get to know people

from different cultures and everything, and I really love the life here.

I was really scared on the first day because this is the first time that I have

ever been in an English-speaking country.All the signs

in the airport are all written in English, too much information all at one time.

When I had contact with several local people here

they were so nice and friendly, I feel a lot more relaxed because I know I can always

get help. Students here are really welcoming, I learned

a lot on orientation day from the students here,

and I also enjoy the MATES program. I had a great mentor he has

taught me a lot of things about the studying life

in uni as well as how to adjust to life here in Sydney.

I really appreciate that. The lecturers and tutors are

always helpful when they know that I'm an international exchange student, and also

Student Central provided a lot of help to me, it's

actually really comforting to a foreigner like me.

The tutor will always require us to do some group discussions. That actually gave me more

opportunities to express myself. I think that really benefits my learning.

I got to experience what it was to be like a real interpreter because there's so much

practise in class, and the

tutor and the lecturer would tell us a lot about

what would happen if we're actually doing this job,

so it actually prepared myself as an interpreter in the future, and benefits

my future career. I had many

options about accommodation here but I ended up choosing to

live on campus. I live in a four-bedroom villa. This is new to me, I never lived

with another person before, and it's nice to have each others' back

whenever we need help, so it's a great experience. There's a common room on campus for all the

residents here and people get to be social,

meet new people,

make friends and spend some leisure time together.

During the travel I met a lot of people and learned a lot

from their life experience. It's more rewarding than just

learning, actually! I want to say thanks to all the

people that I've met here because they're always ready to help me

and also they make my life more interesting.

[Speaking Mandarin]