'Aarhus Is a Place to Live, Not Just for Travellers.'
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Exchange Report for Aarhus University BSS, Denmark Joe Leung (GBUS & MARK) ‘Aarhus is a place to live, not just for travellers.’ Aarhus University, School of Business and Social Sciences PART 1: Monthly Activity Log One sentence to conclude my 6-month journey? It is to live the cities I have been to, and best interact with every single individual I encounter. August After hectic catch-up with my friends in first half of August, I departed Hong Kong with my family to Copenhagen, via Dubai on Aug 17. Directly, we travelled by DSB train to Aarhus, took us around 4 hours. (Warm reminder! Taking a train or Flixbus would be more economic than a flight to Aarhus :) And store your luggage under the space between seats on train.) My lease for dorm residence at Skejbyparken started on Aug 15, and I did my check-in at International Centre. Information on transportation, advice on biking, a Lebara SIM card and other practical stuffs could be found in the information pack! Lovely welcome. Everything settled, then I travelled with my family and friends to Odense and Copenhagen (3rd and 1st largest city, Aarhus the 2nd). On the last week, I am back Aarhus preparing for the introduction week. I organized a gathering with the Hong Kong gang in Aarhus Street Food, with 10 of us from different Hong Kong universities. The Introduction Week was indeed the best beginning to learn about Aarhus and other exchange students. There were pretty much activities scheduled everyday - talks, games and parties at night time. The best thing is I always hang around with my new-met friends from my mentor group! ^(Red route: IC or ICL trains from Copenhagen Airport via Copenhagen H to Aarhus H)(Blue crosses: Cities in Denmark I visited- Odense, Herning, Aalborg, Skagen) September My September was a fabulous one to feel myself around Aarhus. Is was the time for Aarhus Festival as well as celebration events for Aarhus as European Capital of Culture in 2017. I spent most of the time exploring special events before the summer ends. I rode my bike to the deer park, ran into a food fair by the ocean and cycled around with my friend uphill and downhill for almost 10 kilometers - something you will never do in Hong Kong. I started my first class on 5th, while I found the starting dates of each class different. We have to specially check each week’s schedule as there might be clashes only in particular weeks. As I only have 3 classes in the first week, I kicked off my first trip on exchange to Oslo for my birthday celebration. I stayed over for an weekend, meeting the UST exchange gang in Oslo. It was a pleasant one. September is also more for adaptation. The international student fair and Aarhus International Welcome bring me into more support - subscribed to international facebook groups and I also took my first Danish course by LaerDansk. Group gatherings were also vital for my adaption. My US group member initiated some potlucks (i.e. picnics) at the University Park where everyone got to bring one dish from their home country; whilst my Danish mentors invited us to their home for meal gatherings and parties. In the midst of all, I received my Danish on 20th, around 3 weeks after my registration. Then on, I could enjoy free medical service as Danish do. My September ends with a LegoLand Trip at Billund, organized by Aarhus BSS. Fantastic touch on Aarhus! October Right after my LegoLand trip, I spent my first week in London as a student ambassador of HKUST. I travelled to different high schools in UK and presented my experience in uni. London is pretty cosy as it just feels almost the same as in Hong Kong. The workload of this month is rather less as I have no classes with presentations or mid-term tests. Though I had some interesting time on classes - the professor invited me to explain about WeChat to my fellows in my International Marketing class. Always get prepared when you might be the only Chinese in class haha! There is a 12-day mid-term break in my schedule instead. I spent the weeks in Sweden and Iceland. Not gonna tell how great the places are, but gonna share an accident happened in Copenhagen Train Station. I got my backpack stolen while eating at the restaurant. It was in the beginning of my trip yet I am glad that I was calm enough and helping hands were around from my friend. One take-away to share was contacting the most emergent contact first and sort help from the Hong Kong Immigration Department and Consular Section in the Chinese Embassy of that country. I ended my October with a trip to Copenhagen, for the sake of my new passport and visiting my friends at CBS. I found Copenhagen a quite different place from Aarhus despite the fact that they are the 2 largest cities in Denmark. In the capital, more crowded, more international faces, and more touristy. November Weather starts to get chill cold when I returned to Aarhus. I joined both the exchange fair and Halloween International Night on the first week. A nice time to catch up with all my international exchange friends who all had a great vacation and so willing to share their exciting moments. I had one of my best Halloween party as we danced the whole night in make-ups and masks. On Nov 2, I joined the Aarhus Symposium. I wrote an essay back in September expressing my opinions on future changes in workplace, and I was admitted into the Symposium as a delegate. The Symposium focus the topics on future development trends including A.I technology adaptations and future leadership. Speakers from notable brands were invited as the panel. I had a fun day with most Danes and ended my day at the Christmas Tuborg Beer Launch party down at BSS Klubben. Christmas started its invasion in early November! The rest of my month? I spent my time on revision, and some trips around the region. I explored Herning on myself, went to Skagen, Aalborg and Grenaa with a Korean friend and travelled to Hamburg with my Singaporean roommate. It is a fast month as it goes on and maintaining a good study-life balance is vital. I started cooking almost all the time after being inspired on my October trips. The fireless electric cookers encouraged me a lot on trying myself on being a chef! Then I shall be ready for the exam! December I started my December with the first exam in Aarhus. It was a take-home essay exam for 72 hours. Challenging as it might seem, it worked well when it allows a brief discussion among us for a better start. Ultimately, it encourages knowledge exchange. I have my last class after this exam and two more on-site exams afterwards. I spent the first half of the month in Aarhus. It gets Christmassy and I went for ice-skating several times at the outdoor rink near AROS museum. I also indulge myself as a tourist in Aarhus, visiting Tivoli Friheden and Den Gamle Bly (old town open-air museum) with student discounts. The second half of the year? I started my travel plan, to Berlin and Leipzig in Germany meeting a German friend I met last year, Nitra in Slovakia meeting my host family from last year’s AIESEC project, and Prague. My 2017 ends with a crazy countdown at Copenhagen with the Hong Kong exchange gang from Aarhus! Year well spent. January Best start of 2018? Exam!! This month, I completed my last two take-home essay exams, one on Jan 2 and one on Jan 22. I stayed in Aarhus for both of my exams and meet my mentor group before I leave Aarhus. In between, I travelled to Switzerland, Frankfurt and Amsterdam, meeting some of my friends on exchange next semester. I also met my friend Michelle, also from UST, who is my ‘successor' for USTxAarhus. We had a great time at China Star Grill, say farewell to the lovely cantonese-speaking boss. Last night in Aarhus, I had a farewell dinner with my mentor group. Here it marked the end of my journey. Jan 25, I am back Home Kong, via Paris. PART 2: General Exchange Information Visa Application Non-EU students are required to apply for an residence permit for the long stay in Denmark as early as possible. I applied mine on May 3 and received by June 12. What we need to complete and bring were financial proof, ST1 form and some money. The visa fee itself costs around 2400DKK. Transactions at the centre were in cash. It is wise to bring enough cash for visa payment, around 1500RMB, while extra cash for administration fee, etc. There are no Danish Consulates in Hong Kong, thus we need to travel to Guangzhou. I made a mistake on my first visit to Guangzhou. We should be going to “Denmark Visa application centre”, not “Visa and Consular Section” at the Embassy. Also, do check out their opening hours and special office close-down as the first time I was there, their staff were at Denmark for training and service was not available. Despite of all I mentioned, I receive the information from friends that visa application procedures can now be performed in Shenzhen. It is advised that future students at AU to check carefully the details on AU emails and official websites.