Linh Nguyen's Story
Linh Nguyen is nearing the end of her three-year International Business degree in Melbourne. Linh's two and a half years in Melbourne have been full of learning, new friendships – and great food.
‘On a normal day, I’ll go to university in the morning and then share lunch with my friends. We often end up spending the afternoon studying at the library together. In the evening, I’ll either cook or go out for dinner. Melbourne is a really multicultural city, so it’s not only my friends that come from around the world, it’s also the food we eat. My favourite cuisines are Japanese and Korean,’ says Linh.
Multicultural Melbourne
The fact that Melbourne is multicultural, was a big drawcard for Linh.
‘I came to visit Melbourne a few years ago and was attracted by the multicultural environment here. When I then discovered that Melbourne is known around the world for its high-quality universities, it was pretty easy to decide where to study.’
Linh is from Hai Phong in northern Vietnam. She was used to living in a big city but she worried about how to make new friends and feel at home so far from her home country. In the end, she settled into her new life quickly, following a few simple challenges she set for herself.
Thing positively and keep happy
‘I always try to think positively. I also always try to keep myself busy; if I am feeling a little lonely, I’ll challenge myself to get up and do something. There’s so much to see and do here, and Melburnians are so kind, friendly and polite. Making friends and feeling at home is actually pretty easy when you make an effort.
Living far from home might be tough, but it makes you become more independent. My best advice is to be strong and confident, and never stop exploring – you learn so much from challenging yourself.’
Exciting ways to learn
Linh has also learnt a lot from being immersed in a learning environment that encourages participation and creativity. She points to the lecturers’ constant encouragement to ‘think creatively and explore new ideas’ as one of the most exciting elements of studying in Melbourne.
‘Melbourne offers such an exciting learning environment and the city is a great place to live. I love studying here.’
