WW Around the World - Hong Kong, China

Hello from Hong Kong! I am currently studying at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology which a school mainly for business and engineering students. The campus here is amazing. It is situated on a hill on the coast of Clear Water Bay. It has some of the best views of any campus I have ever been to as we are surrounded by mountainous islands and the ocean.

I have been taking classes for a couple of months already and the schedule is very similar to that at Penn. All the classes I am taking here are taught in English, though all my professors first language is not English. It sometimes becomes a challenge when you have to try to decipher what the professor is asking on a test!

Although Hong Kong was previously a British colony, the extent of the locals’ English vocabulary is very limited. Cantonese is the predominant language here (though it is extremely hard to pick up!). However, it is very easy to get around here because of the efficient MTR or Mass Transit Railway system and the English signs everywhere.

Hong Kong is a very multicultural city dominated by shopping malls and restaurants. Basically no matter where you get off the railway system, you are bound to end up at huge mall that is packed with people. The one downside to our campus is that is takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get to the main malls or hangout places. Therefore, the most part, the weekends are confined to campus or the mall that is about 10 minutes away by bus from campus.

So far, I have traveled to Macau, Shenzhen, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Macau is known as the Las Vegas of China as casinos are the predominant attraction there. Macau was both the first and last European colony in China and hence, signs are in both Chinese and Portuguese. Go to Macau if you like Portuguese food or gambling!

Vietnam was quite an experience. We stayed in Ho Chi Minh City and took day trips to the beach in Phu Quoc, the Mekong Delta, and the Chu Chi tunnels. Ho Chi Minh was dominated by motor bikers who could care less about road rules. In order to cross the streets, you couldn’t rely on any sort of traffic light. Rather, you had to cross slowly with confidence so that motor bikers would be sure to see you and be able to swerve around you.

Malaysia was an amazing place. We spent time in Kuala Lumpur, Penang island, and Langkawi island. In Penang we went to a tropical fruit farm with over 100 different types of fruits, a snake farm, and had delicious seafood. In Langkawi, we rented motorbikes and drove along the remote roads, went to the beach, and went snorkeling. One of the coolest things about Malaysia was the abundance of monkeys roaming the streets!

Being in Hong Kong has given me the opportunity to study at an amazing campus, explore Southeast Asia, and meet exchange students from around the world. Despite the crowdedness and constant hustle, the locals here are extremely nice and always willing to help you out. Overall, it has been such an amazing experience to live abroad for the past two months!