Interview with Laura, Benedetta and Chelsea, exchange students from three different continents

We had the great pleasure to interview 3 of our newly arrived exchange students: Laura Aisbett from University of Technology, Sydney, Australia; Benedetta Alessandrini from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy and Chelsea Tang, from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Let’s hear from them the highlights of their first weeks at USI.

Please tell us something about yourself and your educational background.

Laura: “My name is Laura and I live in Sydney, in Australia. I’m currently in my fourth year at the University of Technology Sydney and I’m studying a double degree - a bachelor or Primary Education and a bachelor of International Studies (Switzerland), majoring in Italian and French. It’s a really cool degree, it means I can become a primary teacher but also get to learn a language and go overseas for a year.”

Benedetta: “My name is Benedetta, I’m from Rome (Italy) and I study Health Management there at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. I took my bachelor in Corporate and Health Economy and Management, and now I’m attending the last year of the Master.”

Chelsea: “My name is Chelsea Tang and I am an exchange student from Singapore. Back at home, I am pursuing a degree in Communication Studies at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University. I am majoring in Journalism, and plan to pursue a career in the magazine and/or publishing industry as a beauty writer.”

Why did you choose USI as your destination?

Laura: “Initially I chose to study in Switzerland because they speak both French and Italian. My University in Australia has a bilateral agreement with USI so I was able to study there even though i wasn’t ERASMUS.”

Benedetta: “At first I didn’t want to come at USI, as it was in the Italian-speaking Switzerland and I didn’t really know it. But then I found out this university was very international and it had so many Master programs that covered every aspect of Economy, and I started realizing this could be a very useful experience.”

Chelsea: “The Faculty of Communication at USI has courses that are different from NTU, in the sense that they offer courses that bring in the different aspects of communication, such as marketing elements. The faculty is also very compatible with my school in Singapore, and seniors and friends who have studied at USI all had rave experiences here.”

What is your first impression of USI and Lugano?

Laura: “Firstly, USI is in a fantastic location, close to the lake and near the mountains. It’s very picturesque and there are lots of outdoor sports to do here. The old town is very beautiful, I love walking around there during the afternoon and grabbing a coffee with my friends. It’s very close to the uni and USIHOME, so I save money in transport. I live in USIHOME with lots of other exchange students, so we always have lots of fun going on day trips, going on hikes or going out at night. It’s never a dull moment living here.”

Benedetta: “The city is quite small, being accustomed to Rome, but it has its little jewels, as Parco Ciani, Santa Maria degli Angioli, the city center and the beautiful lake. USI is amazing: there is a place for everything and everyone: places where to study, where to meet friends, where to eat. Professors are passionate and it’s nice to have classmates coming from all over the world: from China to Norway, from the US to Thailand, a mix of cultures and languages to meet and to know.”

Chelsea: “The first time I saw the University in real life, I was blown away. The main building looks absolutely gorgeous, with the intricate architecture that is very much unlike the buildings back home. The same goes for Lugano as a city — the place is clean, serene and tranquil with a slow and relaxed pace of life. People here are generally friendly, and I’ve greeted countless people with ‘ciao’ and ‘buongiorno’ and they’ve always returned greetings with smiles.”

Please tell us something about your home country and your home university?

Laura: “My University in Sydney is famous for being a “practical” university, meaning that you get a lot of experience in the work force before you graduate. For example, I was teaching at a Primary School in my first week of University and I have already completed 18 weeks of practical experience at a Primary School. This compares to other Universities who only have practical experience once a year and begin in their second year. Australia really is a beautiful place to live, I’ve lived here my whole life and I still haven’t managed to explore all of it. We have the rainforest, the great barrier reef, snow, desert, mountains and much more. As well as our own animals and plants that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Sydney especially, it truly and amazing city to live in. There are so many things to do and see, and the people here are really friendly and helpful. Sydney is also a very multicultural city so you won’t have any trouble fitting in.”

Benedetta: “I love Italy, and most of all I love Rome. Everything smells of history, walking in the streets you can always stumble in something new, and there are a lot of people, everywhere: people walking, people talking, people sightseeing. My university is quite far from the city center, but it is quite a big campus, with the hospital near and a lot of different students, following several programs, all connected with health. The most beautiful thing of UCSC is that you can spend your entire day at the university without missing anything: you can eat there, study there, have a coffee with your friends, play with your class mates, also have parties there always feeling quite at home.”

Chelsea: “Singapore is a bustling city that’s full of energy and spirit. We have skyscrapers built with modern architectural concepts in mind, and a lively hawker culture that boasts amazing food (both sweet and savoury) at pocket-friendly prices. My home university, NTU, is a great place for stu- dents to nurture a healthy balance of study and play. It is also one of the top universities in the world with degrees that are globally recognised.”

In three points, why should an USI student choose your home university for a semester abroad?

Laura:

1. Most of the buildings at UTS have just been built, everything is brand new and we have the most up-to-date technology to assist students with their learning.

2. The location is right in the centre of Sydney, next to Central You can walk to Darling Harbour, Surry Hills or Newtown for a drink with friends or a night out. Or you can jump on a train and take a day trip to the Blue Mountains or to the country from Central Station.

3. UTS is a student community, there are so many clubs to join and places to go with student discounts, that you won’t have any trouble making A brand new shopping centre opened last year right across from UTS and they have some amazing food and shops you can go to during class breaks.”

Benedetta:

“I think UCSC would be a valid choice for an exchange student:

1. It provides a great education, related to health but not only: there are also two master programs in Corporate Management and Accounting.

2. It is in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. 

3. It gives the chance to meet a lot of different students and, who knows, maybe find new friends”

Chelsea:

1. If you’re looking for a change in environment to a more upbeat and fast-paced one, Singapore is definitely the place for you. It’s great exposure and experience!

2. NTU has a wide variety of courses that students could take, and many of them are very practical-based and hands-on, so you can be sure that learning in NTU won’t just be lectures and tutorials in classrooms.

3. We have really friendly Singaporean students in NTU that will be more than willing to guide exchange students around, and an inclusive classroom culture that will sure to excite.