A Day in the Life of a International Student in Malaysia
For many international students, studying abroad not only means obtaining a degree and new knowledge, but also a growth experience of adapting to the new environment, cultivating independence and overcoming various challenges. From listening in class to completing homework, from adapting to the teaching mode to understanding foreign cultures, every day's life is full of different experiences. Although studying abroad seems to be full of freshness, it also means that students need to step out of their comfort zone and learn to face various problems in life independently. This article tells the story of QIAN CHENXI, a second-year student from southern China who has been studying in Malaysia for nearly two years. Through her personal experience, we can better understand the real face of international students' study and life in Malaysia, as well as the challenges encountered in the process of studying abroad.
Adapting to a New Environment
When asked why he chose Malaysia as his study destination, QIAN admitted, “I chose to study in Malaysia mainly because courses here are taught entirely in English.” She believes that in an all-English learning environment, she can not only improve her English ability, but also provide a better foundation for future career development. At the same time, compared with many European and American countries, the lower tuition fee and cost of living also make her feel that this is a cost-effective choice. Furthermore, Malaysia is home to a large Chinese community, which means that even though QIAN is not particularly fluent in English, she need not worry unduly about language barriers in her daily life or studies whilst studying abroad.
After two years of settling in, QIAN is gradually adapting to life and study in Malaysia. At first, the weather was the thing that struck her most. Compared to her hometown, Malaysia is warmer and has no distinct seasons. However, as time has gone by, QIAN has gradually become accustomed to this tropical climate and has begun to appreciate the relatively leisurely pace of life here. In her view, the value of living in another country lies in being able to experience its diverse cultures first-hand and adapt to them. She remarked, “At school, studying alongside people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds has become a natural part of her daily life.”
Planning for Everyday Life
Like many university students, QIAN’s daily routine is characterised by a marked contrast depending on his or her timetable. When there is no class, she usually sleeps until noon. After getting up, she will make a simple lunch for herself, or order a takeaway, and then use the afternoon to review the class content or finish her homework. Although she describes her college life as boredom, such a daily life also reflects the indispensable sense of self-discipline and responsibility of students in their independent life.
Conversely, when she has classes, QIAN prefers to schedule them all on the same day, so that she can have more time off during the week. On days when she has classes, she usually stays at school from morning until afternoon. At lunchtime, QIAN generally chooses to eat in the school canteen, as it is both convenient and good value for money. At the same time, in terms of social life, she thinks she is a person who likes to be alone, so she doesn't have many friends around her. However, college life still requires her to participate in classroom discussions and complete group assignments with her classmates. These cooperative learning can provide her with opportunities to communicate with her classmates, and also help her cultivate teamwork and problem-solving skills. Although QIAN tends to be quiet by nature, she realises that a spirit of cooperation is an indispensable part of university life. Therefore, whenever teamwork is needed, she will actively participate and complete her tasks conscientiously.
Facing the challenges in group assignments
However, the study life in Malaysia was not always easy for QIAN. Among all the challenges she encountered after coming to Malaysia, the one that left the deepest impression on her and was the most stressful was the group assignments in university life. In her opinion, group assignments are not only dependent on one's own abilities, but also on the communication and cooperation among group members. If some group members contribute relatively less, then the pressure on the other group members will be greater. To deal with this problem, QIAN would strive to complete her part carefully and also remind other group members to complete their tasks during the process of completing the group assignments. She believes that as long as the group assignments can be completed with guaranteed quality and submitted within the stipulated time, this problem can still be solved.
Learning to be independent during study
Apart from the pressure in the study itself, of course, studying in Malaysia also made QIAN become more independent. In her hometown, when facing problems and difficulties, she usually relied on her family's advice to solve them. But after arriving in Malaysia, she had to solve and complete many things independently. For example, applying for a visa, choosing courses, and arranging her own daily life. After going through these experiences, she also realized that studying is not only about learning the knowledge taught in the classroom, but also about being responsible for oneself in life. Although an individual's study abroad life can sometimes be very difficult, QIAN is not afraid. On the contrary, she regards this experience as her growth experience and an opportunity to have a better understanding of herself.
Culture, technology and future plans
QIAN also believes that Malaysia is a diverse country. In her daily study and life, she can see that Malaysian students, including local ones, Chinese ones and those from India, are studying together on campus, and most of them get along very well. In such a multicultural environment, it enables her to have a closer understanding of the cultures of different countries. At the same time, technology has also made her university life more convenient. She often uses WhatsApp to discuss group assignments with classmates, uses Google Docs to edit and complete assignments online, and sometimes can watch live courses online. This also gives students more flexibility in arranging their daily lives. Regarding the future, QIAN plans to return to her hometown to work for one to two years after graduation because her family and friends are there. At the same time, she also believes that the pace of life in Malaysia is relatively slow and the cost of living is lower compared to other countries. So, if there are suitable job opportunities in the future, she may also stay in Malaysia.