Monash University Malaysia Visit

During my study tour, I mentioned to the professors that after the tour I was hoping to visit the Monash University campus in Malaysia. Throughout my studies, I often came across lecturers and students from this campus and was therefore interested in visiting as a Monash student. One of my tour professors was kind enough to agree to meet me for lunch along with another professor from the Caulfield campus, Colin.

When I arrived at the campus, I was instantly asked by security if I had a pass to be there, which is something that has never happened to me at Monash in Australia, so I was quite surprised. After explaining I was a student at Monash University in Australia and showing my student ID card, he politely allowed me to enter and said I was free to look around. I spent some time walking around, visiting the cafeteria area and library. I noted that the campus was similar sized to the Caulfield campus. I wanted to find a gift store there (we have one in Australia) to buy some Monash Malaysia merchandise, but sadly they didn’t have one, so I just took a brochure for the upcoming open day as a souvenir.

After walking around the campus for a while, I met up with Ellinor and Colin, who were between meetings with faculty leaders at the campus, for lunch. We had some good discussions about the study tour, and I think it was beneficial for them to hear some student perspectives in a more casual conversation. It was interesting to hear some of their stories from other study tours. We took a photo together in front of the “I love Monash” sign as well before parting ways.

In the afternoon I just relaxed back at my hotel and went to the hotel gym. I also had a call with one of my dad’s companies’ business partners here in Malaysia who I will be meeting up with tomorrow for lunch. For dinner, I went back to the Malaysian restaurant called Madam Kwan’s under the Petronas Towers to have some nasi lemak and banana fritters. On the way back from dinner it started to rain. So, rather than walking, I called a Grab (taxi). I noticed my driver’s phone appeared to be in Cantonese, so I tried to ask him in English if it was, but he didn’t seem to understand. So, I asked him in Mandarin, and he replied that it was. We spent the remainder of the taxi drive chatting in Mandarin.