Lim Gene-Harn (Japheth), an architectural student from Universiti Sains Malaysia, went for exchange in Shanghai, China, in his first year of his university life.
He chooses Shanghai for a few advantages in his personal agenda, namely the world's largest expo - Shanghai Expo, and as well he believe in Shanghai being the most vibrant and culturally modern mixed urbanscape in the whole China, proven by being the economic center of whole China.
Before going to China, Gene-Harn was feeling challenged because of his mandarin language level, as he thought it could be a barrier for communication. At the same time, he was also feeling anxious, as it was the first time for him to step out of Malaysia and to travel alone in a foreign land. But he knows... that this experience will change him entirely by able to see things for himself abroad.
Reaching the land of China for the first time in his life, Gene-Harn felt "This is it!!". The moment he stepped out of the plane, his heart told him "I knew I was on a journey to experience and understand myself better because it was only me, myself", feeling like there was a total new chapter and new connections in his life, that he would need to transcend whatever he had learnt before and apply in the new environment.
Eight weeks in Shanghai, he was involved in a project called Green Power Now project, which has a learning partner from Greenovate. Together with 6 team mates, they were trained under Greenovate and educated more than 3000 students in higher secondary schools. They also helped the NGOs in any of its side activities, including MAGIC MADE Green in China project, which encourages the participants to come out with innovative designs from waste that is marketable. It was totally a brand new things to learnt.
Even though he was from Chinese education background, one of the challenges that he faced there is communication. That is because communication is always different everywhere because of culture. However, that is the funniest experience he had. Chinese words are often categorized into modern and traditional writings. Thus, for a modern Chinese educated person like him, he tend to treat all the words in Shanghai as it, so he misintepreted a few streets name, as the map does not have English translation then. So, he spent few hours walking blindly on the streets. However, he discovered more interesting parts of Shanghai.
According to Gene-Harn, "I have learnt independence and gained my passion on Environmental issue. It is indeed one of the most essential turning point of life I had. I learnt of cultural acceptance and a better understanding of myself and my country." When he was back in Malaysia, many friends of his noticed that he had some positive changes in him.
Going for an exchange was not what he could imagine before entering university, because he did now know there would be such wonderful opportunity and organization that provide such experience. Ending his exchange, he noticed there was always a force in him that pushes him forward in everything he does.
"My exchange experience is really indeed, an EXCHANGE experience. Such exchange does not only help me but others, because a lot of locals in China would know more about Malaysia and about cross cultural practices. This programme is essential for all parties. I would really encourage everyone to go for any exchange ASAP, as the earlier you realize more about your own and the world, the more you will feel the urge to do something!"
For more information regarding Gene-Harn's exchange, do log on to http://geneharnshanghaiexchange.weebly.com
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