Yuki Chen
BSc Economics and Finance
University of Hong Kong
Hello, my name is Yuki, I am currently in my third year of studying economics. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to study abroad at the University of Hong Kong which lasted one semester. During the application process, I could choose from various destinations, including those in America, Europe, and Asia. Hong Kong was my final choice for many personal reasons – it was close to Mainland China, I could develop my language skills, and I wanted to experience Chinese culture.
Studying abroad is an opportunity that you must take advantage of. It’s a chance to step
outside your comfort zone and explore the world independently. The growth that this
experience provides in a short period is immense. After my semester abroad, I have
grown in confidence, independence and resilience. I have made friendships that will
last for a lifetime, which would not have been possible without this opportunity.
I am exceptionally grateful to be able to secure extra finance through the Forever Surrey
Abroad Award. Living in Hong Kong can get relatively expensive, especially with prices of
groceries and so this award has supported me immensely with all my living costs. It has
allowed me to take advantage of every opportunity to explore and travel without
worrying about the expenses. I once again thank the IEO team for providing this funding.
My study abroad in Hong Kong felt like a fever dream. I was in awe of the scenic landscapes; the combination of city, mountain and ocean views in one spot was stunning. Destinations like Victoria Harbour were among the few sights that demonstrated Hong Kong’s beauty. Also, Hong Kong is one of the most diverse Asian countries I have witnessed, from its residents to its selection of foods.
Throughout my stay in Hong Kong, English was the primary language used amongst its international community. This made it really easy to settle in and enabled me to enjoy myself in the new environment. However, most older staff/residents only spoke Cantonese or Mandarin. This did make some tasks difficult initially, but it could be easily overcome with some patience and experience.
The great food in Hong Kong is one of the highlights of my experience. I personally was
not in favour of the traditional Hong Kong foods, such as soupy macaroni pasta with
ham, or chicken wings with ramen. My favourite food from Hong Kong would definitely be
their speciality – Dim Sum, and their delicious pineapple buns. I would highly recommend trying ‘One Dim Sum’, it’s one of the most popular dim-sum restaurants in Hong Kong. To my surprise, Hong Kong is filled with cuisines from all around the world. I enjoyed Thai food, French food, Indian food, the list goes on. There was never a day of questioning what to eat!
Furthermore, transport in Hong Kong made my experience far more fulfilling. It’s very
cheap and incredibly convenient. It’s nice to be able to choose from various methods of
transport, such as MTR, Trams, Ferries, Buses, and Taxis. Being able to ride on ferries as
one of the day-to-day transport methods was one culture shock I experienced; not only
were the views beautiful, it was also extremely affordable (less than £1). The most
shocking experience was travelling to Shenzhen (Mainland China) for only £5 by MTR!
(given that you already have a visa). Those without visas can obtain an on-arrival visa at
one of the Shenzhen Ports, and it only costs around £13.
One activity which is a must do whilst you’re in Hong Kong is hiking, the great weather and the stunning views is something that never gets boring. Tai Lam Country Park is one of the biggest hiking trails in Hong Kong, I had the most amazing time here because the sights were breath-taking. This particular trail is known for their orange and red autumn leaves which may seem ordinary for those of us living in the UK, but to Hong Kong locals, these are incredibly special. This is because during autumn months, the trees in the city don’t experience any changes in colour, and so travelling to see maple leaves during the autumn season is one of the most common activities amongst locals.
The few difficulties I encountered during my study abroad mainly consisted of finances.
In Hong Kong, Octopus cards are the primary payment method used; they are used for
transport, shopping, food purchases, and so on. Because of this addition, I had to juggle
multiple accounts, making it hard to budget and keep track of transactions. If you are
interested in this topic and want to learn more, feel free to read my blog on my LinkedIn
page (http://www.linkedin.com/in/yukichen-economics-uniofsurrey).
Student life in Hong Kong is quite challenging compared to the UK. Course workload is
extremely high, with multiple deadlines that need to be met weekly. It was also quite
surprising to see how highly participation is valued. In HKU, participation will grant you
more points for your final grade. Group work and presentations are also highly valued.
The most challenging aspect of university life was having classes and exams end at 9
p.m. (or even later) and having to sit exams on weekends. This made it challenging to
adopt a good work-life balance. Despite the difficulties, these experiences have taught
me an abundance of skills, the most important, being resilience. I loved many things about HKU’s campus, including it’s iconic logo which is a hotspot for tourists and students to take a picture with!
My favourite highlight of the HKU campus was its mesmerising city views. On most days,
I was able to watch the sunset and the vast city lights at night. I also loved the campus’s
selection of incredibly affordable foods. My favourite canteens to visit are Bijas
(vegetarian restaurant), Alfafa Cafe, Union (main student canteen), and Starbucks!
Additionally, I found that the on-campus facilities for my faculty (Business &
Economics) were surprisingly small. My lectures were held in small classrooms, much
like those for seminars. The computer rooms were similar to those in Surrey – which
were used for our tutorial sessions. Changing from Surrey’s huge lecture theatres filled
with 300+ students to small classrooms with only 90 students definitely took some time to get used to. The weather in Hong Kong can get extremely hot, but don’t underestimate the power of the AC units in buildings. When studying in the library, it felt like I was living in a huge freezer, so make sure to bring extra layers despite the heat outside. The AC units remained fully operating through the colder
months too (starting mid-October).
University life always has its challenging aspects, but almost always, the people you
meet, and your positive experiences make up for it. I had the best time studying abroad,
and if I had the chance, I would do it again. It’s fantastic to know that after my semester
abroad, I now have friendships all over the world. Overall, my most amazing experience
was being able to spend Christmas and New Years in Hong Kong!
