How I dealt with culture shock
STUDENT INTERVIEWS
By Fei Chen, International Student (on-shore) – 4th year, Economics/Science
Moving from one country to another was definitely an adventure and a huge change in my life. As an undergraduate student at UNSW, I would like to share my story in Australia and UNSW with you all.
I was born in China and when I first came to Sydney during high school, the excitement of exploring new things came and went within weeks. Sydney is a city with beautiful nature. I would awake to the birdsong in the mornings instead of busy traffic. The sky is bluer here and always reminds me of the wallpaper of a Windows desktop. Even now, I am still amazed by the sunset each day.
During my time at high school in Sydney, I was curious about what university would be like would be like in Australia. I went to UNSW Open day as a Year 12 student and particularly liked the culture here. It was really organised, and I got a chance to learn about all the courses that I was interested in. All the staff members and senior students were patient with answering questions. Even though I still felt quite uncertain about my future path, the friendly and welcoming atmosphere made me want to start my undergraduate journey at UNSW.
After I started at UNSW, the excitement did not last for long. Even though I had the experience to deal with the cultural differences during high school, the different way of thinking and academic structure were still obstacles for me. I was frustrated about unsatisfactory marks and lacked confidence in public speaking. My grades did not turn out that great, even though I tried hard. Compared to my first year in Australia, I felt like I started to lose my self-confidence.
However, I kept telling myself that I am capable of doing things better. I understood transition was quite hard and I felt lucky enough to have friends and peers to support me. My mentor from the Science faculty peer mentoring program checked in with me and I felt welcomed with all their greetings and recommendations. There were also PASS classes for Business School students, which is a weekly peer-assisted study session held by senior students. I started stepping out to get involved in events and activities on campus such as volunteering, Practera industrial program, Leadership and cultural mentoring program. Through this, I met more friends and developed my interpersonal skills a lot.
One thing that I had learnt through my journey is that everyone has their own timeline, sometimes things just come slowly compared to others. But trust me, it will come! Even though there are many differences, I feel more comfortable in Australia and it now feels like a second home. I catch up with friends regularly and share what is new in my life. We watch musicals, explore new stores and food together. I enjoy the small talk and simple greetings in the different neighbourhoods. And even though shopping centres always close early at 5pm or 6pm (except for Thursdays), I have gotten used to it. I appreciate the diverse cultural backgrounds in Australia, which gives me a great opportunity to experience different cultures and practice inclusivity and respect for others! If you do not know how to cook, I am sure you can find a restaurant with authentic dishes similar to tastes from home as well!
Culture shock is a common feeling, and everyone can have their own unique stories. But when you experience confusion and frustration at UNSW, take your time to step back and reflect. Reach out to available services, friends and family - everyone is here to help you out! Also, make sure you get involved – the time passes faster than you think, so seize the moments! I believe your experience of studying at UNSW in Australia will enrich your understanding and broaden your horizon, like it has for me.
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