Exchange student: university life is also about experiences.

Dittmer (left) and Cruz tossing the Yee Sang at a local Chinese restaurant.

Two international students at Monash University recently experienced the Chinese New Year for the first time. The two, Australian student Hagen Dittmer and Brian Cruz from the United States, also had the opportunity to toss Yee Sang at a local Chinese restaurant.

“Malaysia has so many experiences to offer,” said Dittmer, an exchange student from Monash University’s Clayton campus.

“The Chinese New Year celebration is grand and it was fireworks every night,” he said, adding that a visit to Petaling Street added to the cultural experience.

Dittmer said the opportunity to study part of the degree course abroad was one of the great opportunities available for students to expand their horizons while exploring new places and cultures.

Dittmer said he found out about the exchange programme through the university Abroad Exchange programme and opted for Malaysia as the start of his overseas experiences.

“Malaysia is the stepping stone and catalyst for other exchanges. I plan to spend some time in Germany next year,” said the Bachelor of Computer Science student.

“There is so much available (out there), I just want to keep adding to my experiences,” said Dittmer adding that students should not view university education as something necessary to secure a good job. “It’s about personal development and growth through experiences.”

“Students at Monash University are fortunate that they have the abroad exchange programme and if you have the opportunity to study abroad, you should take it up,” he   added.

Dittmer said the transition from Clayton to the Malaysian campus was possible because the same

Dittmer (right) and D’Cruz on Pangkor Island.

 course is taught here according to a similar schedule.

“The English spoken here is different that what I’m used to, but things are pretty much similar here – just different people.

“Because the campus here is smaller, you get to see more of your classmates and I think that fosters a greater sense of studentship.”

Dittmer said he was beginning to make friends in Malaysia and was settling into the campus life. “I haven’t had any bad experiences in that regard,” he said of his experience with students in Malaysia, adding that he was considering extending his stay in Malaysia by another semester to experience life at the university’s new campus.

The new campus, located across the road from the present facility in Bandar Sunway, will open in July.