Law and Fjords

Ying decided to study at the University of Bergen because there is an exchange agreement between her university and UiB :
-Also, I know that the University of Bergen is quite a famous university in Norway with many international students pursuing their academic studies here, and I thought a stay here could offer me wider and deeper insight into law and other aspects. Moreover, I am drawn to the beautiful scenery of the fjords and the nice humanistic environment here.

-So far it has been totally beyond my expectations. First of all, people here are very nice and helpful. Whenever I have a problem and ask a Norwegian or anyone else, they are so friendly and help me. I never feel lonely or homesick. Besides, the professors in my classes, like Introduction to Copyright law, are so nice and knowledgeable, and they usually inspire me to think differently and more deeply. And also, the natural surroundings are amazing.

Culture Shock

Ying tells us that she did experience a culture shock because of the differences between the Chinese and Norwegian culture:

-For one thing the faculties of the university are located around in the city, mingled with residence areas, shopping zones, restaurants and so on. This provides the students with a comfortable and free study environment. In China, we have university-specific zones, as there are also shopping areas, residence districts, and so on. This intense structure with a vast number of university buildings together has its advantages, such as intensifying the academic atmosphere and increasing the opportunities to communicate between schools, but it also puts more study pressure on students and reduces their opportunities for entertainment and real social life.

-Also, without a doubt, the living standard here is much higher than in China, especially in the areas of food, service and public transport. The Norwegian government obviously puts great emphasis on education because tuition is practically free here. But in China, although the government underscores the importance of education, students are still required to pay tuition fees to study beyond the nine-year compulsory education.

Different Entertainment Forms
-The forms of entertainment here are mainly parties, skiing and travelling. In China, partying is not included in our forms of entertainment, even though some people might occasionally do that. We tend to sing in karaoke bars, go to amusement parks, visit places in other provinces and so on.

When Ying returns to China, she is planning to pursue her master's degree in UCL specializing in International Economical
Law:

-The most important academic outcome I have gained from my time in Bergen is definitely the English language skills and to have the opportunity to speak English in daily life with other international students.