A New Home In Hong Kong

In June 2021, I received final confirmation of my study abroad destination: Hong Kong. Less than 6 weeks later, I was jetting off to my new home with nothing but my passport and a suitcase. After two weeks of isolation in mandatory hotel quarantine, my exchange year studying at the University of Hong Kong was off to a start! Arriving in the peak of the summer season, my first memories consisted of meeting hundreds of new people, settling into campus and my new student flat, and exploring everything the city had to offer. While I knew that this year was bound to be amazing, little did I know just how worthwhile it would be; and just how difficult to condense into any length of text!

Camping quickly became a highlight of Hong Kong, as a chance to escape the big city for a night or two. Sai Kung Country Park was the most popular destination, harbouring numerous beaches that could only be reached by boat or a long hike. Whether it was making s’mores by a campfire we earnestly tried to keep alive, or taking a midnight swim in the warm shallows of the South China Sea, these camping weekends created some of the most pleasant memories of my year abroad. Our camp was even raided by wild boars one night, much to our dismay (and amusement) the following morning!

Other notable moments of my year abroad included enjoying culture and arts with an intricate mix of Asian and Western cultures, such as Puccini’s Madama Butterfly presented by Opera Hong Kong, and Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker presented by Hong Kong Ballet. I also visited many museums, while taking a walk along the Avenue of Stars, which commemorated stars of Hong Kong cinema, was a regular pastime as well.

Regarding academics, HKU certainly provided intense workloads and a rigorous academic environment. Aside from traditional exams and reports, assessments at HKU included presentations, podcasts, case formulations, and interviews, which offered a greater variety of assessment to what I was used to back in Glasgow. I was also able to better tailor my course choices to my personal preferences, due to a larger overall selection and flexibility.

Attending in-person lectures for the first time in over a year was also greatly appreciated, and it allowed me to meet and interact more with local students. Furthermore, I had the pleasure of partaking in a lab internship in my second semester, which allowed me to put my knowledge into practical use, and develop real-life skills amidst professionals in research and academia. While it was occasionally difficult to balance my studies with the rich and eventful experience of being abroad, I quickly learnt to sacrifice certain activities to make time for things deemed more important. Let’s just say that there was no need to pay for a Netflix subscription when every day felt like a movie!

Hong Kong certainly did not fall short when it came to food, and on any given day you wouldn’t have trouble finding whatever cuisine you were craving. However, dim sum became the go-to for a quick, cheap meal out. The staple dishes of char siu bao (barbeque pork buns), xiao long bao (soup dumplings) and lo mai gai (sticky rice in lotus leaf) were enjoyed on a regular basis. These were usually finished off with nai wong bao (egg custard buns) for dessert and washed down with a classic Hong Kong-style iced milk tea, which over time developed into a bit of an addiction. The canteens and restaurants at HKU also offered a variety of delicious foods for low prices, which made the long days spent on campus even more pleasant.

 

My year abroad took a slight turn a few weeks into my second semester, when Hong Kong saw a sharp rise in COVID cases. As a result, university was moved entirely online, and activities such as meeting friends and eating out were heavily restricted. Most exchange students decided to use this as an opportunity to travel to Southeast Asia, where we were able to complete distance learning with the luxury of fewer restrictions.

After some of coordination and planning, I chose to spend a month in Thailand, followed by a month in Vietnam. Both countries were explored from head to toe, slowly travelling from north to south by use of overnight trains, 10-hour buses, and island ferries. While it was a shame to leave Hong Kong earlier than anticipated, these two months of travel allowed me to explore new countries and cultures with new friends and led to beautiful experiences that truly put the cherry on top of my year abroad. These travels were topped off with a few days in sunny Singapore, before boarding the 14-hour flight back home after almost 10 months away.

 

Going on a year abroad was incredibly worthwhile, and I would, without a doubt, recommend it to everyone who has the opportunity to do so. It is the easiest way to move abroad and study in a foreign country, where you are supported by both your home and host universities. This has greatly enriched my university experience as a whole, and taught me valuable lessons in courage, independence, and amity. Hong Kong has genuinely become another home to me, and I eagerly await the moment I can return for another round of dim sum.

First published: 12 July 2022

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