Liam's Exchange to Zhejiang University of Technology | China
I will keep this precise and do my best to be as honest about my experiences as possible. I will premise the article with 2 quick points: firstly, my experiences are limited to Hangzhou and more to the point ZUT (for the sake of brevity, when I refer to China I am thus referring to mostly Hangzhou and ZUT). And secondly, this testimony will be somewhat atypical in that I won’t recommend people come to China through cherry-picked stories of inspiration and pleasure because I feel that would be a disservice. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had an absolutely amazing time in China and have forged great friendships and have memories that I will hold on to forever; but China is not an easy place to spend a semester abroad – and people need to know this before they decide to make the move.
Let’s start with the positives, China, and Hangzhou in particular, is an incredibly fascinating place to live. The food, the absurdity of the development that has taken place within only three decades, and the truly amazing scenery are something to behold. I was able to experience all of this in my first few weeks in China thanks to a couple of spontaneous cycling trips firstly with a French guy I met at my hostel in Hangzhou and secondly with a Chinese guy I met on route from Hangzhou to Suzhou.
During these cycling trips I was also introduced to the shocking contrasts that can’t be avoided in China – whether that be in regards to the astonishing wealth that’s on display in Shanghai and Hangzhou, compared with the cruel poverty you can see in the outer suburban areas; or the vast beauty of its many mountain ranges with crystal clear waterways, compared with the foul pollution that is found around the suburban areas. It is these stark differences that make life in China interesting.
While life in China is interesting, it is important to note that nearly every facet of your life here is vastly different to that which you are accustomed to back home in Australia. This can be exciting at the outset; however it does begin to take a toll on your psyche after some time. It is these differences, which are often unexplainable, that will quickly turn some of you into the jaded, cynical expat that you had read about on blogs and had vowed never to become. I won’t go into all the details because you can search online for what to respect in that regard with China; but I will say that a lot of foreigners find themselves swinging between pleasure and despair in China. And in some ways that’s what makes it beautiful.
So how do you avoid this trap? How do prevent these cynical seeds from taking root? In my experience you often need to take a step back and remember the reasons why you came to China. For me it was a blend of wanting to experience complete foreignness along with more practical goals such as advancing my mandarin study as well as furthering my career prospects. It is also important to be aware of your Western mindset and to understand that there are cultural as well as historical reasons for why things are done a certain way in China.
Another important point to consider is that China is not your typical study abroad destination, and thus many of the experiences that you find elsewhere, such as wild debaucherous student parties, are rarely going to be found within the compounds of your university. This is not to say that they don’t exist; rather you have to venture outside to find them.
That last point is actually a good metaphor for your time in China.
Good things won’t always come to you in China, you have to set out and find them yourself. Take risks, go traveling, make friends with locals, join a group like the Hash House Harriers, and most important of all step outside of your comfort zone. The expat community in particular is a melting-pot of interesting people. Also the fact that you are sharing similar experiences means that the social stratification and snobbery that is found back home is largely absent in China’s expat community. Students and professionals, academics and laymen, hipsters and suits, and the young and old socialise in a way that just doesn’t happen back home. As a result I have built up an excellent network of connections which is an invaluable asset for my future career.
I’ve had a great time in China and the fact that I have decided to continue living here for another year is a testament to this. I am thankful to Murdoch for providing a pathway to experience other parts of the world and I can say without reservations that my semester abroad in China was a rewarding experience and a highlight of my student life. I hope that more Murdoch students make the journey over to China – just make sure you are prepared!
- Liam studied abroad at the Zhejiang University of Technology in China
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