January 26, 2015, by Student blogger
Why I decided to transfer from the UK Campus to China
Louise Lasfer
By Louise Lasfer
BA International Business Management
When Louise Lasfer arrived at The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) from the UK Campus it was meant to be a one-year exchange. So what motivated her to transfer her course and finish her degree here in China, rather than return to the UK?
“If I’m honest, the night I arrived at UNNC I wanted to get on the first plane home. Back to the comfort of the UK, where friends and home comforts existed and the journey home to London from Nottingham was less than a two-hour train ride.
However, here I am, over a year later beginning my final semester at university at UNNC. I decided to continue my experience at the campus around a year ago, after just one semester in China. When I tell people that I transferred campuses, their first question is always ‘why?’ There was not one exact motive; rather it was an accumulation of factors.
Firstly, I feel that you can only grow and mature fully when you are completely out of your comfort zone. Compared to the UK, China was definitely different. Understanding and embracing the Chinese culture was completely new to me but I have loved living in a country that is so different to home. I have become more culturally aware, open and appreciative. Moreover, I had always been close to my family and had never been away from home for more than a month. Being in China has meant that I only see them once a year but this has allowed me to grow up and begin to make adult decisions for myself. And, to my mother’s delight, it also meant that I finally learnt how to do my own laundry!
Secondly, with the Chinese language growing in popularity and becoming essential in business, I couldn’t think of a better place to be to learn the language. My Chinese has improved extensively, just by taking weekly classes and challenging myself to speak with locals whenever I can. This has even motivated my decision to spend next year studying the language in Shanghai.
The diverse community that surrounds you at UNNC was another selling point for me. I love meeting new people from all walks of life and coming to a campus with people from all corners of the globe allowed me to make amazing friends and learn so much about other cultures. This was not only the case with students but also with lecturers. Because it is a smaller campus than the UK, the relationships between students and lecturers become far stronger, allowing you to comfortably ask for academic assistance as well as general advice regarding life after university.
In addition to the amazing travel opportunities around China, being situated in Asia allows you to discover a host of countries that would remain a ‘some day’ experience if I were still in the UK. I love travelling and my transfer has allowed me to see more of the world than I thought possible.
Overall, my experience in China has been amazing. I have learnt so much throughout my time at UNNC, from how to not to cause another financial crisis to more subtle lessons such as understanding and valuing cultural differences between the East and West.
I can honestly say that I do not regret my decision to stay in China and at UNNC. It has allowed me to evolve as an individual and learn so much, both inside and outside the classroom.”
Very proud of you mim. You have our full support.