What do you know about China? A country on the other side of the world, with an estimated population of about 1.36 billion people that is known for exporting goods. Do you envision yourself living there for four years? This is what six students from Univates have decided to do. On the 10 th of August, they will be boarding to Macao, one hour from Hong Kong by ship and one hour from Singapore by train. They will study Chinese for Foreigners (Major) at Macao Polytechnic Institute.

 

Alexandra Leticia Ostapiuk, 18, from Montenegro, is one of the students who will go to China. She studies International Relations at Univates, and says that studying Chinese will be a long-term investment. “The main reason why I chose to do the exchange programme was the opportunity to learn a new language. When I come back to Brazil, I will have acquired a new experience. I liked Macao due to the Portuguese culture and, although it is an Asian city, there are streets in Portuguese and other influences.”- says she. Alexandra says everyone in her family was really pleased to know she was going to study in China, specially her uncle, who is a teacher, and has always supported her since the beginning.

 

“I have always felt like leaving Brazil, not because I don’t like my country, but because I believe we need to get out of our reality to have a better perspective of it.”, says Felipe Hillebrand Heberle, who is also doing the exchange programme. Originally from Estrela, a nearby town, the language is also a source of motivation or him. He says there is a lot of tourism in Macao. “I hope to find different cultural features, like the Brazilian, which will help me feel less nostalgic”. Heberle plans to carry on with his studies in Public Relations and advertising at Univates when he comes back, but his main idea is to keep the connection with China.

 

Each of the students is awarded a scholarship that covers full tuition, accommodation and food for 4 years, total course length, which starts in September. These scholarships are funded by the Chinese government and by Macao Polytechnic Institute. “Having a scholarship has helped me a lot. Here, I could only take few disciplines, but now I can

graduate in four years.” – says Alexandra.

 

More about Macao