Student from Japan

I’m Marie Rosszell, a year-4 foreign exchange student from the Faculty of Business Administration (FBA), specialising in brand management. I am half-Japanese, half-Canadian, and I grew up in Tokyo, Japan. I’ll start my full-time job as an account strategist at Google Japan in the coming October after graduating from my alma mater – the Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, Canada.

The reason I chose the University of Macau (UM) for my exchange program is that as a student who was considering pursuing a career in business, I thought it was crucial to understand how to conduct business properly on a global scale, so I decided to expose myself to a different culture to enhance my knowledge in international business. During my studies at UM so far, not only have I had the opportunity to meet people from different cultures and backgrounds, but I’ve also learned more about Chinese business etiquette. 

I am currently staying at Lui Che Woo College, which is a close-knit residential and learning community designed to extend the members’ learning experience beyond the traditional classroom setting. I enjoy my college life here very much, as both the staff and students are friendly and helpful. I was delighted when I discovered that my roommate for the coming semester would be a Swedish exchange student. I am excited to learn more about the Swedish and European cultures through this opportunity. I am very thankful that my residential college feels like a home in a foreign country.  

As to be expected, I have had my fair share of challenges as an exchange student. I’d like to say thanks to Ms Sharon Kuok, the student exchange program coordinator, who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that the international exchange students at UM are doing fine. She is reachable at all times. To help me solve some visa-related issues, she took me to the Chinese boarder on a Saturday despite it being her day off. I believe that her sincerity and kindness represents the culture of UM and I hope to become someone like Sharon, who is willing to help others in need.

I like the learning atmosphere at UM. The campus is specious and has various study areas such as the library and the study rooms in the residential colleges and cafes. It’s  nice to learn from one another, in studies and in everyday life.  I also enjoy exploring local areas, such as the Old Taipa Village, where I could taste authentic cuisine like Portuguese egg tarts. I look forward to learning how Macau has evolved from a tranquil fishing village to the gambling mecca of Asia.

 

Student from Malaysia

Hi, I’m Simpson Toh, a foreign student from Malaysia, majoring in psychology, year 2.  I’m a bit shy and yet love to meet people and new friends.

The reason I choose the University of Macau (UM) is that I have been fascinated by its whole new campus situated in a tranquil, beautiful and green island where we find a romantic escape from the hustle and bustle of the gaming city. Moreover, opportunities to grow professionally and personally are everywhere in UM and I’m so grateful to be given lots of chances to excel and achieve my potentials. I’m also impressed with its efforts and resource allocated in assisting both local and foreign students to fulfill their higher educations.

UM is also known for its residential college system, which aims to foster democratic self-governing, to embrace cultural differences and to sprout lifelong friendships with classmates. I’m currently living in Chao Kuang Piu College and it’s a home away from home, where we learn to take care of one another.

We have a lovely college master whom we call him, Grandpa. He is Prof Liu Chuan Sheng, who is an expert on plasma physics. Grandpa loves Chinese culture and his room is nicely decorated with Chinese paintings and calligraphies by his wife and father. He believes that old Chinese philosophies will help us develop a deeper respect for different cultures, people, and things. He treats us like his grandchildren, often sharing with us what he knows about the world and showing kindness and care to us. We are really like one, big family.

The college offers us a warm place to make new friends, to party, to compete with ourselves, to rest after class and to study. Our college staff are also part of the family. They are the one behind the curtain to make everything to run smoothly. It’s just awesome and sweet to have someone that greet you every time you come back from class or elsewhere. Also, for the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them, and therefore I have participated in our House Association, where we take the lead to organise international events, such as inspiring talk by European scholars and exchange trips. It is wonderful and rewarding experience to work with students from different places. There are so many fun moments to remember.

In this campus, I was lucky to have met a life coacher who inspired me the most so far in my life. She was my residential fellow, an elegant lady who taught students to perform in music and Brasil’s capoeira. It was her who encouraged me to believe in myself and gave me good advice whenever I had doubt. With her support and guidance, I have been capable of going through some ups and downs when I first came here. She moved forward for her life and now no longer be with me, but we still keep contact with each other.

What makes my learning at UM more rewarding and meaningful is my engagement in the International Student Group – an organisation to connect all overseas students with the local students. I do have a lot of fun in this Group because each semester we will meet different outstanding and interesting people from all around the world. We organised activities and excursions in English so as to make it convenient to all students. It is a nice platform where we, with different cultural background, could achieve a better global view and thinking.

It is the best of our life when we are still student. When I am exhausted, I’d get some caffeine from a cozy cafe in our library and then keep moving on for my quest of knowledge. I live with no regret and the luck is always with me as my choice to turn a new page of my life in UM is the right one.

 


Source: Communications Office
 

Media Contact Information:

Communications Office, University of Macau

Albee Lei  Tel：(853) 88228004

Kelvin U  Tel：(853) 88224322

Email：prs.media@um.edu.mo

UM Website：www.umac.mo