Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Hong- best trip of my life- Kong Past Review

By (Stephen F. Austin State University) - abroad from 05/12/2017 to 05/22/2017 with

Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA): Business and Culture: Where East meets West

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to open my eyes and my mind! I was scared to travel, but now I am excited to learn more and travel back to Hong Kong. This trip was well worth it, even with all the money, time, and effort put in.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The tour company was amazing! Everyone in our group loved the tour guide. His name was Bill. He lived in Hong Kong and knew it well. I was very impressed with how thorough he was and how well he explained things.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The hotel was in a perfect location, but had some cleanliness issues.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Hong Kong was a fairly safe place. Like any foreign place, it was important to stay in a group.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I fell in love with Hong Kong Island. The diversity of culture, languages, and environment was such a great experience. Once I figured out how to get around I felt comfortable, especially because Hong Kong wasn't too large. I miss the city, the hustle and bustle, and the unique individuals I met. I would love to go back one day!

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Most things in Hong Kong were very inexpensive compared to the US. There were some places that were pricey, so for me, it was difficult to stay on budget.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 650
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Come with a set amount of cash you want to spend, as well as a debit card with a set amount on it. Do not make your savings account accessible! You WILL end up transferring money and spending it. Also- If you want to buy gifts and such, shop around and find the best price. There are typically several places that sell the same things.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The culture
  • The memories
  • The confidence I gained from it.
* What could be improved?
  • Better living conditions
  • Nicer flying arrangements
  • More included meals
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I didn't know how much money I would be spending on food. I wish I would've been more open to communicating with people there. Also I wish I would've learned the language.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.