Just the word ‘change’ is not enough to describe the transition from the smallest school in Hong Kong to the largest Ivy League university. It took me a whole semester to get used to the many differences I find here at Cornell University. These differences include school work, extra-curricular opportunities, cultures, weather, food etc. Now I will share some of my experience as a freshman over the past six months. One thing that disappoints many college freshmen is that they are no longer at the top of their class like in high school. Students here all work hard and play hard. One should expect more competition and a completely different teaching style from Hong Kong’s schooling. For classes, I have taken many large introductory classes like Introduction to Microeconomics and Introduction to Psychology. These classes may have sizes up to more than a thousand students in a lecture hall. Here, learning takes place mostly from reading, reading and reading. I have once questioned myself to whether it is worth it to come all the way here to ‘self study’. There are several reasons why this is not just ‘self study’. First, learning through reading is part of the development of analytical skills and critical thinking. Second, as classes pass its introductory level, they will have a higher focus and smaller class size. Third, a large part of the education takes place outside the classroom and during discussions with professors and fellow classmates.

Speaking of outside the classroom, there are many extra-curricular opportunities. Unlike my high school, Cornell University is a much larger community. I was overwhelmed when I first arrived by all the unfamiliar faces, the size of the school and the variety of student organizations. At Cornell, there are more than twenty thousand people from all levels of undergraduates, graduates and professors. These people may have a wide variety of interests, from microbiology to ancient history, from snowboarding to opera. One thing that undergraduates should do is to find out where one belongs. Whether you like sports, arts or career development, there will always be other people in the school that share your interest. Get involved! Unlike high school, these groups do not come looking for you. You will have to go out and find them. One shall build his/her social network through work and play. Personally, I met most of my friends in basketball, international students’ orientation and the Hong Kong Student Association. These friends keep me company and help me through the anxiety of adjusting to the new environment.

Extreme weather, foreign food, differences in technology and lifestyle are not causing too much trouble for me. I have expected these ‘challenges’ ever since I’ve chosen to come to an old sub-urban university in the northeast. At times when it is negative twenty degrees out, when the oil from French fries and pizzas turns my stomach, or when walking around the tiny local malls (compared to super fancy malls in Hong Kong), I will miss home. However, to me, these are the little things that enrich my college experience. They make me proud of telling people that I’m from Hong Kong.

My three-month experience in the University of Chicago, short as it may be, has changed my way of thinking. It begins my inquiry in myself and extends it to the bigger picture in the real world.

Crowned as the School of thought , the University of Chicago puts a strong emphasis to develop my critical thinking in not only the discipline I am focusing in, but also my attitudes towards life in general:

All along my life, I have tried to be a good daughter, a good student in school. I believe ‘virtues’ are the qualities that fulfill the expectation of my community. However, the University of Chicago tells me the other side of the story. From reading the Genesis to the Iliad and Plato, I examine a series of competing ways on asking and answering questions about human and civic excellence. I become more aware to the societal forces that shape me for who I am; I have a different understanding of words like ‘honors’ , ‘ignorance’ , ‘virtues’ . Up to this point, like my predecessors, I have yet to find out what truly constitute ‘virtues’ or ‘excellence’ . Indeed, the school has not taught me what ‘virtue’ is comprised of, but it begins my own inquiry in the subject. It makes me realize how and why I used to live in the society values and teach me to truly think outside the box. This is certainly not something that I would pay attention to before coming here.

The University of Chicago and the American political environment have triggered me not only to think critically upon my place in the society, but to cogitate analytically about the wider world as a whole and to see the world with different perspectives:

My experience in the Obama presidential election has shown me the relationship between the mass citizenry and government in the United States. At election night, my Afro-American roommate and my South Asian classmates both situated in the Hyde Park, listening closely to the future president's speech. Both groups enjoy the result of the manifestations of race in the political domain, though both groups have different points of views. While my roommate believes Obama as president signifies a rise of the Black, my South Asian classmates think Obama will bring a political change that help form unity in the society. Through comparing the similarities and differences in the two groups, I learn about why the ‘citizens’ here meets the conditions for a functioning democratic polity- they accept differences, if not appreciate. Instead of living in one single society, people here live in different ‘societies’ , with different social values. Different values interact, instead of compromise. The free flow of ideas here has allowed me to realize and accept the differences among people and learn about the world in a more open-minded way.

Education in the University of Chicago does not provide me with answers on anything, but it provokes me to think and to find my own answer. It allows me to realize ‘correct answers’ and ‘wrong answers’ are only relative qualities that are based on society judgment. I may as well find the one that suits me. It is nothing more gratifying than waking up every morning to realize I do not know, because by then, I can build up my knowledge, which is truly unique for me. Here, I would like to express my gratitude to the GET foundation and my parents for providing me this life-changing university experience.

A whole new life opened before me as I stepped through the Van Wickle Gates of Brown University last September. “This is the happiest place to be”, they say, but I did not then know how far this level of happiness could go. As the excitement of orientation sank in and the classes and activities began to bloom, I dwelled in the busyness of all things anew and have almost forgotten to recognize this ‘prophecy-come-true’.

Now that four months have passed I would like to put my fragmented reflection into a temporary conclusion (I say temporary because there is so much more I have yet to experience!). I shall start with the routines of the week. ‘Routines’ could be boring, but it is not so when you enjoy all the classes you go to. Brown is renowned for the free curriculum it offers – the only academic requirement is the concentration course requirements, so students are free and encouraged to explore many fields of studies. Hence, for the courses that we take, we take them out of interest. In class I am surrounded by active learners who are passionate about the subject. Professors are helpful, approachable, and eager to share with us their knowledge. Even university facilities, such as the furniture and the conveniently-within-reach stationary in the library, help make learning an easy and fun thing to do. We are indeed responsible for our own education, but in so great a learning environment we are never alone in the process. Under the encouragement of the Brown education system as a whole, I have chanced myself into a combination of new courses I have never taken before.

Beyond the academics comes the fun of college life. We are given the opportunities to involve ourselves in new interests, if not just to continue our old ones. I was introduced to Brown’s very own theatre world through taking a small-scale acting class, and was then involved in a professionally staged show called the ‘City of Angels’. It was a lot of work at one time but the experience and fun are worth it. Being in a chamber music group with a flutist and a clarinetist is another new experience for me, since as a pianist I seldom had chance to play with other musicians. In this coming semester I am going to start taking organ lessons. All these are new excitements that I might not have experienced if it were not for Brown. I would say that to fully take advantage of college life, it is best to open your eyes to opportunities and take them in when by instinct you believe you will enjoy doing them.

Another great learning opportunity comes with the college boarding life. Living with friends does not only facilitate closer bonding but also allows for one to learn from another. For instance, I sometimes help my roommate from Seoul with her Chinese homework and she is teaching me Korean in return. Another friend showed me the healthy styles of living, while another impressed me with her extraordinary capacity for generosity and kindness, and another with her ultimate planning abilities. The list of my ‘student-teachers’ is endless, and I find it amazing how many great qualities you can discover in your friends. Learning from them is the most enjoyable education process ever.

One might worry about the problem of discrimination in a country so different from ours. Discrimination might occur at the immigration boarder, but not in college. At Brown, students befriend each other based on personality and not on race. In my own experience, I find most students interested in learning from other cultures; at the same time, when working together, for example in a music performance or in a theatre production, I am never treated differently because I am not American. This might have been the case because diversity even within the American community is huge. Brown also has an International Mentor Program that began from orientation week and continued throughout the year. It certainly helps quicken the process of turning the place into another home.

The only problems of living in America concern food and technology. Food in our canteen is seldom good enough to keep us going for more than a week, so I insist on dining out at least once every 7 days. Mobile reception is sometimes unstable so it is important to pick the best company in your area right at the beginning of the year. Common, cheap furniture cannot endure any degree of violence, so it is to your convenience that you purchase those of a standard quality. I believe that it will help make your life easier if you are aware of these problems and avoid them as best you could.

I would not have had such an eye-opening experience were it not for my parents and GET foundation. My sincerest gratitude to them for giving me the opportunity to learn so much more than I thought I would. My perspectives might change depending on what I experience, but these are my impressions of my journey so far. I hope they are useful in helping you prepare for yours.

From high school to college, from one of the largest and busiest metropolis to a small, peaceful town, from being surrounded with love and support from family and friends to learning how to be independent, from being part of the racial majority to the minority – who would ever think that I could adapt to life in the University of Virginia (UVA) that quickly? In the blink of an eye, I have already been studying in UVA for one whole semester. The dormitories, dining halls, classrooms and even the squirrels on grounds (a UVA lingo meaning “on campus”) have now become familiar to me. Having lived in Hong Kong for over ten years, I found Charlottesville a very new and strange environment initially. However, the friendliness and hospitality of the Americans have made it easier for an international student like me to adapt to life abroad. With its beautiful and green settings, the so-called “hick town” is very peaceful and has very few “temptations” or “distractions”, providing a wonderful learning and living environment (apart from the food) for students in UVA. Ever since I arrived here, I learn to slow my pace and enjoy every bit of life (including work) to its fullest. University has proved to be a more thrilling experience than I ever would imagine – definitely much more than books and lectures. During this semester, I was engaged in a variety of activities, including badminton, various leadership trainings and diversity workshops. Although everybody has diverse talents and backgrounds, there are times when all of us come together, such as during football games and music performances. I still remember the first football game I ever went to – the spectacular orange sea of UVA supporters, the cheerleaders and all the slogans that motivate the players on the field. During these occasions, I could feel the spirit and a strong sense of belonging to this 182-year-old school built by Thomas Jefferson. One of the hugest difficulties I have yet come across in the States concerns my race. Self segregation has been a very serious problem in the UVA community. Racial minorities, such as African-Americans and Asians often self segregate themselves and only put an effort into meeting people of their own race. The numerous ethnic student organizations and mentoring programs further aggravate the problem. During the first few weeks of school, I only hanged out with other Chinese but after thinking about my purpose of studying abroad, I knew that I had to step out of my comfort zone. By not confining myself to Asian activities and gatherings, I have befriended people from different ethnic backgrounds, thus enriching my university life immensely. As you may have figured out already, I have been through a lot of unique experiences I would not have had if I was not studying in the States. Hereby, I would like to thank my family, my friends, my high school and the GET foundation for giving me support to make this decision – a decision I will never regret.

Experience on dealing with bank problem

It all started with me going to the bank to deposit my scholarship check from the GET foundation. Since I was not too sure how banks in the US work, I asked the lady at the counter whether I needed to have the check endorsed by my school first because it was issued to both me and UVA. She probably did not quite understand me since she took my check despite the missing endorsement and told me that the money would be available in a week’s time. However, the money was still not there after 2 weeks and nobody from the bank had contacted me whatsoever. Feeling puzzled, I approached the bank myself and found out that the money was held due to the missing endorsement. More unfortunately, the bank has somehow lost my check, making it impossible for the school to endorse it. To make the situation even more troublesome, people at the bank did not seem to know what they could do for me and were very inefficient in their work. I contacted Mr. Gordon Tam to seek for help. He kindly gave me a lot of advice and helped me retrieve a copy of the cancelled check. The problem was eventually resolved, but lasted for more than two months’ time. Although I would not say that this incident involves discrimination of any kind, I have learnt that it is very important for international students to stand up for their rights. Do not hesitate to ask for help and argue, or else people may easily take advantage of you!

At the wink of an eye it’s my fourth week in Wellesley College. International Orientation and General Orientation were lots of fun, when I stood amazed at the stunningly beautiful campus and experienced the fluctuating weather of New England.

Now that the school year kicks in and the honeymoon days of Orientation wear off, I have been showered with the unique atmosphere of Wellesley College. The campus has shrunk a bit in size as I familiarized myself with it; nonetheless it remains a place where my heart feels at peace. Since the College follows a liberal arts education, every one of us is encouraged to have a balanced program of courses for each semester. The system may seem a bit confusing at first, and the courses challenging too. Yet there is always someone to go to when one needs help or advice. Just go forward and ask.

At times it seems too surreal – not only am I now thousands of miles away from home, the scale of exposure to knowledge, insight and resources I embrace is one that I have never imagined. Professors are passionate about what they are doing while students try their utmost to seek and achieve their goals in life.

One may be interested in Wellesley’s college life because it is an all women’s college. It is true that the College is mostly populated with females, yet it is not as dreadful as some would have pictured. The wonderful city of Boston is only one hour far away. Besides, the sisterhood among students is exceptional and genuine. Traditions that have been practiced since the establishment of the College, such as Flower Sunday, keep Wellesley as special a place as it is.

Diversity, be it cultural or spiritual, is widely celebrated here. International students make up 10% of a class in Wellesley, so there are about 50 of us each class, well taken care of by the International Students Centre. The bonding among us is especially strong, as we know we do face similar frustrations, worries and adjustments. The friendship my Wellesley sisters and I have built, and will share, be they American or international, is something I treasure.

I have no doubt that there will be numerous challenges looming up. Be afraid not as you never travel alone. One acquires new perceptions and emerges stronger and anew through adversities. As I venture further into my college journey I bear in mind what Paulo Coelho wrote in his renowned novel of “The Alchemist”, ‘I’m an adventurer, looking for treasure’. And I hope you all who are wading towards the unknown future share the same excitement as I do.

There has been no looking back since I arrived at Calvin College. The students are friendly, the courses are challenging, and the atmosphere is wonderful. American colleges and universities have a reputation for hard partying, but that has not been the case here. A big part of that is because Calvin College is a Christian private college, and it is also a dry campus, meaning no alcohol is allowed on campus. The American law restricts people under the age of 21 from consuming alcohol. This was a surprise, and I was also surprised that most people obeyed the rules. Of course, there will always be those who want to “have fun”, but the peer pressure is mostly positive. I have found that very encouraging.

Independence is a big part of college life, but I think discipline is even more important. Setting your priorities is easy, but sticking to them is difficult. There are so many activities available on campus, from concerts to Bible studies to sporting events. That does not even include the times your friends want you to hang out with them. It can be easy to forget schoolwork, or to put it off and procrastinate so that you can please your friends and attend countless events. Having the discipline to say “no” is essential. Real friends would understand your priorities and respect them, not try to pull you away from them. Be careful to choose friends that build you up.

College is a wonderful time when you will build memorable relationships. By building these relationships, you can balance out