香港中文大學(xué)（深圳）吸引了來(lái)自世界各地的國(guó)際生。多元的校園文化和精彩的大學(xué)生活在他們的眼中有著何種不一樣的色彩呢？

“本月國(guó)際生”（ISM）系列訪談將向大家講述國(guó)際生的港中大（深圳）故事。本期為您帶來(lái)2021級(jí)經(jīng)管學(xué)院經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)專業(yè)，祥波書院，哈薩克斯坦學(xué)生?Zere Dadebayeva的專訪。

About "International Student of the Month"(ISM)?

The "International Student of the Month"(ISM) interview series is a place where international students get to tell their CUHK-Shenzhen stories. Each month we bring forward one of the most talented and unique international students from our multicultural community to showcase what it is like being an international CUHKSZer.

Name:?Zere Dadebayeva

Nationality:?Kazakhstanian

High School:?National School of Physics and Mathematics, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Year of Entry:?2021

Major and School:?Economics, School of Management and Economics

College:?Harmoina

Q: Can you briefly introduce your hometown in Kazakhstan?

?My hometown is Almaty, the biggest city in Kazakhstan. Almaty has an impressive view because it is surrounded by the mountains of the Trans-Ili Alatau. Almaty offers untouched wildlife, new glass buildings and the European vibe of Stalinist architecture.

?Almaty is a city of apples, parks and fountains. Even though it is the economic capital, life here is slow-paced: spend a day in a coffee shop, work online, take a walk in the park, then go to Medeu. By the way, Medeu is a must-go place, a high-altitude skating rink, a road to a ski resort and a gathering point for all hiking routes.

Q：Why did you want to study in China?

China has always amazed me with its history — it is recorded, preserved and passed on to the next generations. And literature has always seemed to me extraordinarily beautiful: in Kazakh literature, we pay great attention to the description of actions, and in the East, much attention is paid to the description of objects. Studying in China, I have the opportunity to see everything live.

Q: Why did you choose CUHK-Shenzhen?

I chose our university because it combines both the West and the East: it is an Eastern culture in a western style. The CUHK brand also declares the high quality of education. All programs are available in English, which makes CUHK-Shenzhen unique in China. Also, the university attracted me with its location: everyone knows about Shenzhen – China's Silicon Valley.

Q：How did you apply to CUHK-Shenzhen?

I applied with IELTS, high school transcripts and diploma and a UNT.

Q:?What did you enjoy most about CUHK-Shenzhen so far?

?I spent my first year online due to the pandemic, but my professors and Teaching Assistants did everything possible to make my online study comfortable.?

?When I came to campus for the second year, I was glad to sit and listen to real lectures in the auditorium. Shenzhen is a very impressive city: green, clean and young. One interesting thing: the skyscrapers in the city center scares me a little bit. Almaty is in the seismic zone, so we do not build such tall buildings there. I still need to get used to the 30-story residential complexes.?

And of course, I enjoyed the beach in Shenzhen as there is no big salty water near Almaty.

Q:?What challenges did you meet? How did you handle the challenges?

When I was a freshman, it was challenging for me to switch from a high school lifestyle to the university pace. University study requires more effort and time. I never felt this pressure in high school. I learnt to be disciplined to catch up with my studies.?

When I came to live on campus as a sophomore, I struggled with food and living independently. But my college neighbors helped me adapt to my new life. Wanwan and Moding are two fourth-year Chinese students. They cared for me like they cared for their younger sister. They showed me how to use “Taobao'' on my phone and gradually introduced Chinese cuisine to me. Moding is from Chengdu, a Chinese city famous for spicy food. She has developed a tolerance for spices in me.

Q: Can you tell us about your life at Harmonia College?

?Harmonia College is clean, quiet and beautiful. No college architecture is like Harmonia’s. It is both a blessing and a curse. It is unique because the building is not entirely closed. You have good ventilation and can look outside with nothing blocking the view, but you also have many insects flying around after the rain in the open space. I like our kitchen in Block A best. It has panoramic windows offering a view of the entire upper campus. A very cozy place.

Q: How did you decide on your major at the end of the first academic year?

I wanted to study economics when I applied to CUHK-Shenzhen, but I had crises in my studies and doubted my choice. I had a feeling that I knew less than the other students. But after talking to my academic advisor Professor Haichun Ye, I realized that this is a natural part of the learning process. So in the end, I still chose to major in Economics.

Q:Any plans for the third academic year (2023-24)?

I plan to focus on gaining more practical knowledge in the third year. There are many resources for this. CUHK-Shenzhen offers special courses focusing on practice. There are also opportunities to work with professors in scientific research. I particularly want to join in research in my third year.

Q: What would you take them to see if you brought your CUHK-Shenzhen friends to Kazakhstan?

I would give my friends a tour of Alatau. We can visit the plateau of Assy, Kok Zhailau, birch grove, Lake Manshuk Mametova and much more. Of course, one of the hikes must include a horse ride, so my guests can understand the steppe's spirit!

Q:Do you have any advice for prospects preparing for the 2024 entry?

Don't worry! Everything will lead to the best, but you must seriously manage your study files and prepare for exams. Always keep track of the deadlines!

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END

Director: International UG Admissions, Office of Academic Links, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen

Cast: Zere Dadebayeva (SME, Harmoina)

Camera and subtitle: Zere Dadebayeva (SME, Harmoina)

Contents: Rosemary Bai, Roxy Luo

Layout: Zhu Cheng（SSE, Diligentia), David Li (SSE, Ling)

Photo credits:?Zere Dadebayeva (SME, Harmoina)

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