Wales is a magical place, the language, the culture, how people are so passionate about dragons and of course, sheep. I have tried a lot of new things and met amazing people from all over the world. Though the weather in Wales did not seem to be welcoming in the first few months I came here, after all Wales is said to be one of the rainiest countries in the UK, I managed to make the most of the time here. A long walk down the beach and hiking in Mumbles were my favourite activities in Swansea, especially when the Summer breeze was twirling up the waves in Caswell beach, sparkling lights rippling on the ocean, Swansea was the loveliest view in my mind. Here I enjoyed the beautiful view, different learning environment, of course, and how British people partied. (Photo: Vincent and his friends at the Dance Society’s Annual performance)

My exchange institution is the University of Keele, which is in the English Midlands. Many people offered me a helping hand during those few months. There was a time when my phone stopped working, so I could not pay for the bus fee with my e-ticket. I only had a 20-pound note with me, but the driver did not have sufficient cash to pay back the change. When I felt helpless, a local student paid the fee for me. In school, a lot of students introduced England to me enthusiastically. These were all heart-warming experiences in a foreign country to me. Throughout my exchange experience, not only have I experienced foreign cultures, but I have also discovered different sides of myself.

The experience of studying in Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) in Spain was unforgettable. Madrid is a truly immersive city and I could feel its vibes at every corner. As I’m also minoring in Spanish, Madrid is a city that I had been longing to visit for years. The summer in Madrid allowed me to have an authentic taste of the local life and culture, which is also a vital part of translation studies.

I took the course Environmental Economics and Policy Analysis at UAM. Though it’s very different from what I studied at HKBU, the course taught me new economic knowledge and raised my awareness towards environmental issues like climate change. Apart from classroom learning, the course also included site visits of some private sites not open to the public, such as the Congress of Deputies and Bolsa de Madrid (Madrid Stock Market). These were very special experiences that tourists don’t usually have!

The nightlife in Madrid is also fascinating. Many restaurants open till late night for people to socialize (typical Spanish culture!). One night, I watched a flamenco performance. Wine and tapas were provided during the show, which is very different from the show-watching experience in Hong Kong! Tapas, architecture and traditional craft... there are so many things to explore in Madrid. The summer was well-spent and I definitely hope to visit there again!

Studying abroad has long been my dream, and this dream has been realised through participating in the Leeds International Summer School 2019 organised by the University of Leeds in the UK. The most fantastic part of the programme is the global friendship. Many students tend to make friends with students of the same language background, attempting to avoid the language barrier, but the international summer school can be deemed as a valuable opportunity for students living in a Chinese-speaking society to speak a foreign language bravely.  Hence, I decided to grab this unique chance and meet new friends from diverse nations, for instance, students from Australia, South Korea, Singapore and the Philippines. We worked together on our projects, travelled around the nearby cities and had a memorable time in local pubs. Our bonding has enriched my knowledge about amusing everyday English and local slang and brought in new insight into various issues. Even though the programme has ended, we are still keeping in touch.

My host institution is Rollins College in Florida, USA. The year in the USA is a year with great changes. By participating in community service in Winter Park, I met some new friends from many countries. I earned my trip to Toronto and Montreal by working on campus and therefore met interesting people during the trip. Besides this, I got the chance to take an art history class, which let me become interested in art and paintings. Last but not least, for the first time I contributed my photography works to the campus magazine and one of them was chosen to be the cover photo. That's really something for a newbie photographer.

This year I found my own pace in a brand-new environment and got involved. Thoreau said in Walden that "All change is a miracle to contemplate, but it is a miracle which is taking place every instant". I'm infinitely more assured to enjoy every instant now.