Hong Kong: Urban, Expensive, Western, English, British, and Service and Education plus Pollution Past Review
By Mark G (Chinese and International Studies, Trinity University) for
Study Abroad Programs in Hong Kong
Yes and No. I was difficult, because I wanted to learn alot, but wanted to have fun as well with the new friends I made and balancing that was hard. The other international students mostly from the US, seemed to go out every single night to party and drink. I was pressured alot because I felt I needed to experience Hong Kong that way.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload was not alot which is fine, but I feel like if there was more assignments I could have learned a little more. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The size was very small, which is good. The people I made friends with were good, but some people from other American universities had to create drama all the time and that really put a downer on my experience. My roommate was talking bad things about me behind my back and he was an American student. I would much rather have liked to choose our roommates. I would have choose someone who was Chinese. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
In the hostel there was a mix of international students and Americans. My program provided a bed spread, pillow, and sheets. |
| * Food: |
I was fine. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Seeing the Big Buddha, Going to Ocean Park, Eating at Bubba Gumps restaurant at the top of Victoria Peak, going to some bars and clubs. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt safe. As long as you take care of your stuff then your fine. I was very disturbed though when I lost my Olympus camera and brand new pair of Mizuno running shorts in my dorm, but there were security cameras everywhere. There were guards in every dorm/hostel 24/7, but the would fall asleep on the job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 250 USD |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Restaurants in downtown Hong Kong are all super expensive, like were talking 30-40 USD per meal. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Wisdom, you need to want to go their badly, with a passion specifically for Hong Kong and learn Cantonese. The type of student who would benefit the most is someone who wants more international experience abroad, wants to learn a new language i.e. Chinese, or wants to become a business professional someday or wants to do social work in Asia. |
