Oddities

Chinese boy goes to school by plane, each time he has to travel 9,000km to get to class

TB (summary) December 21, 2024 14:06

Tu Quang Loi decided to fly from Shandong (China) to RMIT University in Melbourne (Australia) every time he attended class instead of renting a house there.

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RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia where Tu Quang Loi studied for a master's degree in arts management

In August 2024, Tu Quang Loi, 28 years old, began the final semester of his master's program in Australia.

Because he only attended class once a week, he decided to return to China and fly to class because this option was much cheaper than staying in Australia with its expensive rent and living expenses.

It took him three days to travel from Quang Loi to school each time. When he arrived in Melbourne, he would stay overnight at a friend’s house and go to class the next day. Each trip cost $645 for airfare, taxis, and food.

"The airfare is only about the same as the rent, but living expenses in Shandong are much cheaper than in Melbourne," he said.

Tu Quang Loi has tested many different airlines, taking the opportunity to visit several cities in China and Vietnam during transit.

After posting videos of him going to school by plane on social media platform Douyin in mid-December, many Australians expressed sympathy for his decision.

One account from Australia said: "I recently returned to visit family in Melbourne and was shocked at how expensive everything was. My mother asked me if I would consider moving back from Scotland. Even with family support, I couldn't afford the living expenses."

This person said that moving like Tu Quang Loi could potentially save a lot of money. "It's better than living in student poverty," he wrote.

Some argue that international students who do not live in Australia will not be allowed to study at their universities. However, others argue that such a move could ease pressure on the rental market.

TB (summary)
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Chinese boy goes to school by plane, each time he has to travel 9,000km to get to class