Chew Sau Jun

Exchanged to University of Auckland, New Zealand and Butler University, USA

How would you compare your exchange at the two different destinations?

I had different experiences throughout my exchange program at both destinations, but I am sure that I learned a lot about myself when I studied abroad in the US. I had plenty of ‘first times’ in the US, from flying there alone to trying the Chicago pizza, and then travelling across the US cities, but I had countered a number of friendly people who I am sure that I will meet them again throughout my journey in America. However, I think I had the best time in Auckland, where I lived in one of my favourite cities, beautiful campus and hanging out with a good bunch of friends when I was there. I have been missing every single friend I met and the student life in Auckland even though it has been so long!

What was the highlight of each exchange in which you participated in?

Auckland

  • Journey to the South Island during the Easter break; I think that was the most beautiful trip ever, and of course emotional because it is absolutely a very memorable trip to me and my friends.
  • The night where I cooked my friends our infamous Char Kuey Teow as a part of sharing our Malaysian culture. I was so glad that they liked my dish so much, and some of them even asked for more!

USA

  • One day trip to King’s Island in Cincinnati on the first day of my arrival. I appreciated the one-day trip, despite I was freshly suffering from the jetlag, and all I could think was about getting the necessities in my accommodation.
  • Watching an NBA game live at the stadium in Indianapolis and it was a match between the Indiana Pacers and Houston Rockets. Never have I ever imagined that I would have a chance to watch an NBA game by my naked eyes, and I’m really thankful to the host university for scheduling this for us. Furthermore, I got to take a personal photo with the team leader of the Indiana Pacers after the match, and it was a fascinating experience.

What made you decide to go on 2 semesters abroad?

I think being a young adult is all about exploring the world if you can with a strong desire, and mostly be different. I am so glad that I made this decision because I’ve been wanting to visit these two countries in my lifetime. It is a decision that I will never regret for the rest of my life and now I’m so proud to tell the world and anyone who I will come across with about my stories and experiences of studying, living and travelling in these places.

This journey has a strong impact on my perceptions about the world, and the values I learned to be a better individual.

How these 2 semesters abroad have enriched your learning experience?

The semesters have ultimately taught me to be honest, bold and confident about who I am as a person, and be brave to speak about my mind. Moreover, now I am already wondering where would I want to travel alone again because travelling alone is pure excitement to me.