A sudden cut in the graduation trip subsidy for each student has made many students dissatisfied.

"At first, it was said that each of us could claim $1,000 for our trip, but now we can only claim $500," Teresa Fong, an undergraduate of University of Macau (UMac), said.

Every year, fourth year students of UMac form excursion groups to different places, and they can claim a maximum subsidy of $1,000 from the university.

Roberto Antonio Noronha, head of Student Affairs Office, said that the amount of graduation trip subsidy for each student has been reduced because the fund has to cover other expenses as well, such as student clubs, student activities and facility improvement.

"Originally we proposed $350,000 for the graduation trip subsidy, but the University Management Board approved only $175,000 for it," said Noronha.

Although the students were unhappy with the subsidy cut, they still enjoyed their trips. These trips have left them a memorable experience as a part of their university life.

"I enjoyed it very much.  I think that it was very precious experience for us," said Belinda Long who went to Thailand in December

The excursions do not mean only a trip for students, but also a time to strengthen the friendship between classmates.

"Since nobody took care of us during the trip, we could only rely on one another," said Jenny Tam, who also joined the Thailand trip.

Tam also thought that she would have surely regretted if she had not joined the graduation trip. 

Rosela Yip had her luggage locked in a cargo section in the plane on the first day of her trip when she landed in Seoul.

"They said that it was too cold to open the door.  We waited for three hours in the airport before we could get back our belongings," Yip said.

She also had to wait for an hour for another tour bus because the original one was broken down.

Although many unlucky things happened, she said that she really spent a good time with her classmates.

"Originally, all of us planned to go to Korea, but it was too expensive, and in the end only two of us went for this trip," Teresa Fong said.

Some of Fong's classmates who could not afford to go to Korea spent their holidays in Hong Kong instead.

Some of the graduates plan to have their trips in April. Noronha said that students can still claim the subsidy if they go before the end of August.
 
 
 

We were nearly blown away by the wind.