Bulletin Summer‧Autumn 1991

The University Encourages S tuden t T ra ve ls Each year the University provides different types o f scholarships and grants to enable students to pursue short-term studies abroad, to take pa rt in cultural exchange programmes, to make educational visits overseas, and to attend inter­ national conferences. Recipients o f these scholarships have benefited tremendously from such trips. Not only have they made new friends, acquired new experience, and learnt new skills, but through interaction with different cultures, they have also broadened their horizons and enriched their lives. Through the arrangement o f the Scholarships and Financial A id Section o f the Office o f Student Affairs, 39 undergraduate students were awarded scholar­ ships to make overseas trips in 1990-91. Five o f them who have just returned to Hong Kong talk to the Bulletin about their experience abroad. Scholarships for Language Studies and Cultural Exchange Name o f Award Recipient Canada The University of British Columbia 75th Anniver­ sary Visiting Student Award for Hong Kong Miss Kam Ming-ming (Business Admin­ istration; 2nd Year) Italy Italian University for Foreigners at Perugia Scholarship Miss Cheng Wai-yee (Economics; 4th Year) Mr. Wong Chi-shing (History; 4th Year) International Workshop at the Universita Cattolica in the Milano Scholarships Miss Liu Wai-ling (Journalism & Communication; 4th Year) Miss Leung Shuk-king (Business Admin­ istration; 4th Year) Miss Wong Sze-lai (Business Admin­ istration; 4th Year) School of Italian Language and Cultural Studies at Siena Scholarship Miss Fu Suk-kuen (Business Admin­ istration; 4th Year) Miss Kam Ming-ming The year in the University of British Columbia has given me new knowledge and a lot of friends, and has trained me to be more independent. I have also learnt how to deal with people of different cultural backgrounds. For example, it is very commonplace for Westerners to turn down a request from a friend if they have good reasons. In aChinese society, however sound your reason may be,to refuse a friend's request will usually cause great resentment. Also different is the lively atmosphere in the classroom: video-tapes and real objects are extensively used in instruction; opinions are expressed freely, and discussions are held in a positive manner. All these are what Hong Kong lacks. However, competition among peers is as intense as here and it is not at all possible to slacken one's efforts. I believe the correct attitude towards cultural exchange is to seize every opportunity to par­ ticipate in the foreign culture, and to participate whole-heartedly. Only thus can we fu lly understand the other culture. STUDENTS 24