My name is Simeng Gao
My Chinese name is [Speaking Mandarin].
I'm from Beijing,China.
I study translation interpreting, I'm doing an exchange program here.
I looked on the website that UWS has the best
translation and interpreting major in Australia, so I applied here.
Before I came to Australia,I always saw Australia as a country full of
white people because it's an English-speaking country
But I found out that actually it's a very diverse country, especially Sydney
where people from all kinds of backgrounds are living here together
I think it's a good experience to get to know people
from different cultures and everything, and I really love the life here.
I was really scared on the first day because this is the first time that I have
ever been in an English-speaking country.All the signs
in the airport are all written in English, too much information all at one time.
When I had contact with several local people here
they were so nice and friendly, I feel a lot more relaxed because I know I can always
get help. Students here are really welcoming, I learned
a lot on orientation day from the students here,
and I also enjoy the MATES program. I had a great mentor he has
taught me a lot of things about the studying life
in uni as well as how to adjust to life here in Sydney.
I really appreciate that. The lecturers and tutors are
always helpful when they know that I'm an international exchange student, and also
Student Central provided a lot of help to me, it's
actually really comforting to a foreigner like me.
The tutor will always require us to do some group discussions. That actually gave me more
opportunities to express myself. I think that really benefits my learning.
I got to experience what it was to be like a real interpreter because there's so much
practise in class, and the
tutor and the lecturer would tell us a lot about
what would happen if we're actually doing this job,
so it actually prepared myself as an interpreter in the future, and benefits
my future career. I had many
options about accommodation here but I ended up choosing to
live on campus. I live in a four-bedroom villa. This is new to me, I never lived
with another person before, and it's nice to have each others' back
whenever we need help, so it's a great experience. There's a common room on campus for all the
residents here and people get to be social,
meet new people,
make friends and spend some leisure time together.
During the travel I met a lot of people and learned a lot
from their life experience. It's more rewarding than just
learning, actually! I want to say thanks to all the
people that I've met here because they're always ready to help me
and also they make my life more interesting.
[Speaking Mandarin]