Highlighting the Monash Experience

11 September 2023

by Jackson Koh Zhe Xian
School of Business

Day 1

Recently, I had the honour and privilege of being invited by Monash University in Australia to visit and have a taste of Student Life at the “Land Down Under”. My morning began with excitement as I made my way to KLIA, curious and looking forward to the memories I would soon make in Australia. The 8-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne was delightful, with a hearty in-flight lunch of nasi lemak, a small bowl of fruit, yogurt and bread. Eight hours passed in a flash thanks to the wide variety of in-flight entertainment, offering movies of several genres, including Crazy Rich Asians, Creed and The Suicide Squad. Upon landing, I was unexpectedly greeted by the cold weather, a stark difference from Malaysia’s usual humid climate. However, the Australian hospitality more than made up for the chilly weather as I was greeted with a warm smile and quickly chauffeured my accommodations.

Day 2

After a good night’s sleep, I was given a tour of the Caulfield campus by Kat and Rachelle, who were very friendly and informative. My initial impression of the campus was its size compared to the Sunway campus. However, I was told that this paled compared to the Clayton campus. The Open Day festivities on the Caulfield campus resembled that of a music festival, with Cub Sport, a Brisbane-based indie band, being the main attraction, as well as several stalls that offered free food from various food trucks (paella, soy latte in an edible cookie cup and gummies). I was then allowed some personal free time and chose to explore the city, chilly weather notwithstanding.

Day 3

The third day of my trip certainly didn’t disappoint as I was overwhelmed, mostly by the excitement of the unknown, as I ventured through the Clayton campus, which was truly amazing. I was fortunate enough to meet and catch up with the person who had made my trip possible, Nicholas. The lively buzz of mingling students also brought in a warm feeling of familiarity and coziness, although I was thousands of miles from the Sunway campus. The remainder of the day was spent in a very tourist-like fashion as I visited the La Trobe Reading Room and had a warm and scrumptious dinner in the comfort of my accommodation.

Day 4

My fourth day in Australia kicked off with more urban exploration, this time in the streets of Melbourne, where I spent most of my time battling the fierce, bone-chilling weather, seeking shelter in several art galleries and exhibitions. The rest of my day consisted of visiting Australia’s main grocery store. I could get my hands on several international products, snacks, and chocolates to be brought back to Malaysia as souvenirs for my other office-bearers.

Day 5

My final day culminated in a (currently) secret filming project, accompanied by a sudden dip in temperatures, reaching the lowest it had ever been during my five-day trip, to the extent in which frost began to form on several surfaces, making the roads slightly slick and slippery. After filming was completed, I made the most of the remainder of my time by visiting the Remembrance Shrine and was given a recap of Australia’s rich history. By night, it was time for me to say a reluctant goodbye. Although disappointed that I could not stay for a few more days, my overall experience was immensely satisfying, touched with a tinge of sadness as I boarded my plane back to Kuala Lumpur, already looking forward to my next visit.