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My Exchange Journey

University of St. Gallen

2019 Fall

Tam King Yan, Ernest BBA (FINA&MGMT) Year 3

Weggis, (03/09/2019) Monthly Activity Log

Interlaken, 8 Switzerland (22/08/2019) August

I arrived St. Gallen earlier in mid-August for putting down my large luggage box brought from Hong Kong. St. Gallen’s weather was warm and comfortable around 17°C to 20°C. But on my first day of arrival, it was raining, so the weather was quite cold and temperature dropped to 15°C.

Then, I had a 9-day trip to Zurich and St. Gallen’s Warm Summer Interlaken in Switzerland, and in . The railway system in Switzerland is famous for its frequency, convenience and punctuality, so I took Swiss trains for the whole trip. There is direct TGV railway connection between , Switzerland and Paris, France. Interlaken, Switzerland

After the trip, I went back to St. Gallen for registration of residency in Switzerland, which is a compulsory procedure for all exchange-in students in Switzerland. The also started its course registration process on 29 August 2019, the ‘bidding’ mechanism is quite complicated and Paris, a Romantic City annoying so I put a lot of time in it. Monthly Activity Log 9 , France (30/09/2019) September

In the first 2 weeks of September, the university arranged a intensive German class for exchange-in students. Although it is optional, I highly recommend you to take the class because you can learn a new language and make new friends from other at the same time. In the class, I met friends from , German Class Buddies , Singapore, etc. During weekend, we were free and Our Tutor for short trips to some nearby cities like Luzern and in Switzerland, Konstanz in and also a tiny called . There will also be some orientation activities after the German class and before the semester start, where you can gain some basic knowledge of the school and also get your student ID card and your HSG email address. Lake Luzern, the Pearl of Central Switzerland

Autumn semester started on 16 September 2019. Most courses were still in their introductory part and some courses started Sevilla, Spain lessons in November. So it is quite relaxing in Mix of European and African September. I traveled to the Italian- Cultures speaking region of Switzerland, Lake Como resort in , and Andalusia in Spain, Côte d’Azur resort area in southern France and with my friends. We chose all these places in Relaxing Vacation southern maybe because we really in Southern France wanted to grasp the last summer vibes in with my Japanese Europe – where you can still enjoy sunshine, and Hongkong ocean, and seafood when the Friends temperature in St. Gallen already dropped to around 12°C. Monthly Activity Log 10 Burano, Italy (13/10/2019) October

Entering October, courses in HSG got more intense and the professors started teaching the core content of the courses. But most courses here do not have midterm exams. So it was still relaxing in October, but you should study after every lesson – otherwise your life in December before the final exams would be very terrible. Still, I was managed to go on a trip to the northeastern part of Venice, Italy: Day and Night Italy including Venice, Verona and Burano Trip with my Singaporean and in mid-October. Hongkong Friends There is a midterm break (around 2 weeks) in every HSG semester. You can choose to Autumn Vibes have a real holiday or take ‘block seminars’ near HSG (=intensive courses during holidays). I chose Campus, St. to relax myself as the normal courses in HSG Gallen were stressful enough. During the break, I went on a long trip to central Switzerland, Germany and .

Blausee, The weather in St. Gallen was getting much Central colder also. The temperature often Switzerland dropped down to 7°C to 8°C. Jackets, scarfs and heater in the flat became the must starting from mid-October. But the autumn scenery in St. Gallen was really beautiful in Konigsee, October, red trees and fallen leaves were Germany everywhere. There is also the OLMA Festival in St. Gallen in mid-October every year, where you can enjoy pig-racing competition and try Switzerland’s signature Neusch- food and drinks there. There are also game wanstein, Germany stalls in the carnival. Monthly Activity Log 11 Hoher Kasten, Switzerland (10/11/2019) November Workload in HSG became heavier in November and I advise you to stay more at school library or your flat’s study room. Some courses had final presentations which count towards the grade, and some courses which end early may have final exams. I still spared some time for travel like some weekend day trips to the nearby mountains as Group Project with my friendly most Swiss mountains are already covered by white Swiss and Hongkong Friends snow in November, which are really wonderful! I visited Hoher Kasten (), Jungfrau (Top of Europe) and Santis (Appenzell). The 2 Appenzeller mountains are near to St. Gallen, within 1.5 hours by public transport.

Top of Europe! Right in Switzerland!

After stressful presentations, I made a short trip to Haute-Savoie in eastern France and the French-speaking region of Switzerland, Lake Lé man, France & Switzerland mainly for the wonderful French cuisine Trip with my UK Friend and wine-tasting there.

Winter finally came to St. Gallen. It was very cold around 3°C. The first snow came in early November but it seldom snowed later in the rest of the month. Everywhere in St. Gallen often got foggy and windy and my friends and I always stayed indoor. Sunshine and blue sky were really rare in Swiss winter. Please treasure beautiful weather and hang out to the outdoor! Skiing in Santis (Appenzell) with my Singaporean and Hongkong Friends Monthly Activity Log 12 St. Gallen, Switzerland (01/12/2019) December

Christmas is coming to town every December, St. Gallen turns herself into a magical ‘star city’ with Christmas decorations throughout the old town and a beautiful Christmas market with food, drinks and local products. But at the same time, HSG students are all having a stressful life in December – final examinations, project reports and Christmas Light Show at Grand presentations. In December, most of my Place, , time was in my room and school library to study for exams and finish the group projects. After the end of semester, I went on a 8-day trip to Belgium and the UK to celebrate the wonderful Christmas in Europe.

Beautiful Weather in ,

0°C was considered ‘warm’ in St. Gallen’s December, since the temperature often dropped below it. But we were adopted to such a cold weather as November was not warm already. In mid- December, the whole HSG campus was even covered by white snow, don’t forget to wear HSG hoodies to take pictures with Saying Goodbye to HSG and your friends in such a beautiful my International Friends campus before you finally leave. Information St. Gallen, Switzerland (17/10/2019) Visa Procedures School Activities • Do not apply Swiss student visa by yourself as HSG will send • Buddy System: a student-led organization in HSG organizing you a ‘visa grant’ (Ermächtigung zur Visumerteilung) a few activities for exchange students from 2 weeks before the months before your exchange. Then, pay CHF 96 online to semester start to the semester end, e.g. Fondue Night, Hiking HSG for visa grant. Day, Bowling Day, great chance to make new friends, and • Visit the Swiss Embassy in Hong Kong (Wanchai) twice: the first the events are ALCOHOLIC!! They will also form ‘buddy groups’ time for applying the visa with your visa grant from HSG, of local and exchange students before September. , HKID card and 2 photos, the second time for • Orientation: lasts for 2 half days, a few days before the claiming back your passport with Swiss visa and don’t forget semester starts, a talk introducing Switzerland, St. Gallen, the to bring the letter they gave you in your first visit. Time interval school and the exchange program, and an important IT between the 2 visits was 2 working days for me. Session distributing the student ID card and email address. • After arrival to St. Gallen, visit the City • German Intensive Class: lasts for 2 Hall (next to the train station) for weeks before the semester starts, registration. Then, visit a government exclusive for exchange students, office in SG for fingerprint. Soon, you optional, but great chance to learn a will receive the Swiss resident permit new language and make new friends card in your flat mailbox (so you need • Clubs and Societies: HSG has a variety to provide your flat address in St. of student organizations, like the Gallen during your registration. Investment Club I joined. There are • Before departure from St. Gallen, visit academic clubs, recreational clubs the City Hall again for a deregistration. HSG Campus and ethnic clubs (e.g. Asia Club), and You can keep your Swiss resident card they often organize events like if you tell them you will visit other gatherings, seminars and firm visits. Schengen countries afterwards. Finance Accommodation • Opening a bank account here for one • Option 1: off-campus housing semester only is costly and provided by the school (no on- unnecessary. Credit card (Visa / campus housing in HSG), sharing the MasterCard) is widely accepted in flat with other exchange students, with Switzerland including supermarkets, CHF 250 non-refundable fee, monthly Orientation at HSG Auditorium restaurants, train stations, bus stops rent ranging from CHF 500 to 800, I do and even school canteens. I also not recommend because you cannot brought cash from Hong Kong in CHF, choose where the flat is and who you EUR and GBP with a total amount will live with. around HKD 12,000. You can also • Option 2: housing listed on HSG withdraw money from local ATMs if Facebook group ‘Sharing is Caring St. your bank debit card supports Gallen’, shared flats and private flats overseas withdrawal function (advise available with monthly rent ranging your bank and activate the function from CHF 500 to 800 also, higher before your departure from Hong flexibility in location and flatmates. HSG Library Building Kong!) • I rented a 2-bedroom private apartment with my HKUST • Living in Switzerland is costly, it will be more expensive if you exchange mate (chef!!), monthly rent per person was CHF travel frequently. I spent most in traveling, groceries and local 658, the flat was around 65 square meters and fully furnished, transportation (even with half-fare card). Dining in restaurants and the location was right in the city center, with 5-minute is very expensive as well, cook more if you want to save walking distance to the main train station, supermarkets, money! My total expenditure for the exchange semester was department stores, shopping streets and the main plaza, and around HKD 110,000. 10-minute walking distance to the university campus. Health & Safety Communications • HSG requires you to have a proof of health insurance in Hong • St. Gallen is in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, so Kong, otherwise you will need to buy Swisscare provided by German is the most common language here. But most the Swiss government. people here can speak English as well. • There is a large and modern hospital in St. Gallen and also • I bought a Vodafone SIM card from Hong Kong for my mobile some small clinics in the city center. Cost is high for non-Swiss phone. It also included a UK phone number. I just needed to residents so it is really important to have health insurance for top up every month to add data, and company often offers exchange students. free data. It covers the entire Europe including the UK. • Switzerland is one of the safest countries in the . St. • My flatmate and I also share a Sunrise SIM card in our flat, Gallen and the entire Switzerland are really tidy and safe and which was bought in local stores. Monthly fee was CHF 49 for you don’t need to fear even walking in dark at night. 2 people with unlimited data. Information St. Gallen, Switzerland (30/08/2019) Food Transportation • Dining out in Switzerland is expensive, a decent meal in • Switzerland is famous for her convenience railway system. St. restaurants in St. Gallen often costs CHF 20 to 40. But there are Gallen is a large railway hub in eastern Switzerland with direct also some nice takeaway restaurants with meal about CHF 10. trains to Zurich city center, Zurich Airport and even Germany. • School canteen is another good choice, an average lunch • Remember to download the SBB app, which can purchase all here costs CHF 8 to 10. It is run by Migros Restaurants, which tickets of trains, buses, boats and mountain cable cars are also available in other locations in St. Gallen. operated by SBB. Remember to link credit card to the app. • Most exchange students cook at their flats to save money. • Bus is the most common transport mean within St. Gallen city We did grocery shopping in local supermarkets and Asian center. There are buses connecting HSG campus and the city supermarkets in St. Gallen. Some of my friends went to center. You may also walk upstairs to school to save money. Konstanz in Germany (35-minute away by train) to do grocery • Remember to buy the SBB half-fare card (CHF 100) to get 50% shopping, price is 30% lower than in St. Gallen. off for every purchase in SBB network. • Don’t forget to try cheap and fresh seafood during your trips • If you buy tickets earlier in SBB app, sometimes you can get to as the seafood in Switzerland is expensive supersaver discount, e.g. the train price from St. Gallen to and not fresh! Zurich Airport is down from CHF 14 to CHF 4.2 with ‘supersaver’. Courses Taken • St. Gallen is cold since it is 700 1. Corporate Finance (7,107) above sea level. It is 10°C - 20°C in It is a HSG master-level course equivalent September and October, below 8°C to a 4000-level FINA elective course in in November, and around 0°C in HKUST. It composed of regular lectures December. and exercise sessions with 2 different • Remember to bring jackets, scarfs instructors. Regular lectures focus on and gloves to St. Gallen. theories and exercise sessions focus on application. Final exams count 100% of St. Gallen City Center the final grade. Sports & 2. Family Business (7,242) It is a HSG master-level course equivalent Recreation to a 4000-level MGMT elective course in • HSG has a large sports complex with HKUST. It is a comprehensive course gym room, indoor basketball court covering the governance, finance, and football pitch. All sports facilities strategy and organization of a family firm. are free-of-charge to exchange It has final exam and group project report. students. 3. International Management (5,133) • Buddy System of HSG organizes It is finally a Bachelor-level course, football gatherings for exchange equivalent to HKUST’s MGMT 4230. It is a students every Thursday. HSG Campus covered by Snow theoretical course about running a multinational business. The course composes of final exam and group Items to Bring presentation. The workload is significantly Passport including Swiss Visa, HKID Card, less than those master-level course. Jackets / Downs, Formal Suit, Laptop, 4. Leadership in Action (3,746) Credit Cards, CHF & EUR Cash, Medicine… It is equivalent to HKUST’s common core course MGMT 1120. It taught abstract Useful Links concepts that are not tested. There are • Compass (https://compass.unisg.ch/) no exams but you have to submit 2 • Course Directory papers about a catalytical project you (https://www.unisg.ch/en/studium/vorlesunge want to carry out. n/veranstaltungsverzeichnisse) St. Gallen during Christmas Course Registration Teaching & Assessment • Course registration in HSG follows a complicated ‘bidding’ • Courses here have 1 lesson per week and usually 3-4 hours per system. Each student will have 1,000 points to bid against the lesson. spots of courses for 3 rounds. You will only compete with other • Local students take central exams (in January / February) but exchange students. Remember to allocate your points wisely, exchange students take decentral exams (in December) e.g. allocate 201 points instead of 200 points to one course for • Most courses here don’t have midterm exams, but there are higher probability. final exams and even group work. • HSG will send you clear instructions about bidding later, so • Some courses are ‘block seminars’, which are 5-day intensive you can ask your HSG local buddies for some bidding courses during the midterm break. Look carefully before strategies. registration, otherwise you may lose your holiday.