Choose Hong Kong!! Past Review

By (Public Relations, Advertising, Applied Communication, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 09/01/2015 to 12/24/2015 with

Chinese University of Hong Kong: Hong Kong - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was totally worthwhile! I gained a whole lot of self confidence, learned how to be waaaaay more independent, and figured out the art of traveling in a group and by oneself. Such a great experience. :)

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.

School anywhere outside of where you're from is likely to be different, so as long as you go into an abroad program ready for change, then you'll be fine. I was not aware of this, so it was a bit of a shock to me. Most classes at CUHK (and I think in Asia in general) tend to have one or two tests a semester, along with maybe a paper or a big presentation. At my home university I'm used to having many assignments to keep my grade up, so the pressure to get really good grades was fairly high in this new setting. Having said that, classes weren't difficult at all. It was just the difference in how to handle the classwork that made things hard.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Works a bit slow, but it wasn't a huge issue.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

This was my first experience living in the dorms, and I would say that it couldn't have been better, haha. I was placed in a normal student dorm and it was great. If you choose to live in the student dorms, pray that you will be placed in Daisy Li. It's a little out of the way, but hands down has the best view in the university and is the newest dorm out of the New Asia college dorms. The faculty of the dorm was a delightful married couple who were there to answer any question I had, and even went the extra mile to include me in dorm activities. I felt so welcomed in a very new and foreign setting (being in Hong Kong and being in a dorm setting for the first time), which is more comforting than words can express. The bathrooms were kept clean all the time (Staff clean them every morning), they were supplied with their own toilet paper (something some dorms do not do, unfortunately), and there was a good amount of shower/bathroom stalls! There is a canteen pretty close by, as well as vending machines everywhere, haha. The dorm staff was sooooooooooooo friendly, I can't stress that enough. Overall a great time was had at Daisy Li. Hopefully if you opt for the student dorms and not the international house, you are blessed with a spot in this dorm haha.

* Food:

The canteens on campus are fine, but not great by any means. I went off campus for food pretty often-- almost every day, I'd say. If you are super into noodle soups, you'll be delighted to know that almost every canteen specializes in just that. If you're not, you'll be bummed to know that good foods are few and far between. Lots of experimenting is necessary in the canteens. But they are super convenient and not a bad in-between class option. Also very inexpensive, about $3-5 for a meal+drink. The most I ever spent was like $8 for a personal sized pizza, and that was the most expensive thing I saw in any of the canteens. Also... not good pizza, so don't splurge on that. But for dinner or on weekends, definitely go out into Hong Kong and check out the amazing food the city has to offer!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The local students are pretty nice if you're in a class with them, or living in the same dorm as them, but for the most part you won't meet many outside of these settings. They're polite, but distant. There are so many international/exchange students coming in and out of the university, so most local students don't see the point in making an effort to be friends if you are just going to leave soon. With that said, there are plenty of groups on campus for exchange students to mix 'n mingle with local students, if that's what you're looking to do. Also a few culture clubs on campus have trips around famous spots in Hong Kong, so if you are interested in getting a local perspective on Hong Kong, definitely go on one of these trips! Super interesting stuff.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I got sick almost as soon as I arrived in Hong Kong and went to the health clinic to grab some meds. I was in and out within like fifteen minutes. Also everything was free, so my antibiotics and appointment were completely free of charge. It was insanely easy, much more efficient than my home university's healthcare system.

* Safety:

Most of Asia is actually really safe, so even in an insanely densely populated city like Hong Kong, I never felt in danger. I walked alone many times on campus late at night and never thought anything of it. Within Hong Kong (Mongkok, Central, etc.) I was out late at night a few times by myself and still didn't feel threatened. Be aware, of course, but HK really is much safer than most cities in the US.

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

CUHK was a beautiful university that I miss every day now that I'm back. It was far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the huge city of Hong Kong that you could enjoy the lush scenery and beautiful landscapes, but still close enough that you could easily be in the city within 10-15 minutes. The students were friendly, food was cheap, and the administrators were some of the most enthusiastic I have ever studied under. Such a great experience, I would love to do it all over again.

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)

Every month I would pull out about HK$2000 (about US$250) and that would last me the entire month for meals and transportation. Canteen meals are cheap, so if you have a tight budget, take advantage of that! If you have a bit more wiggle room, definitely go out in Hong Kong and splurge on some great food every once in a while. Also the night markets are great and very cheap, so try to include some extra money for shopping at a few of those spots! All in all, though, Hong Kong can be super affordable if you are not looking to spend a whole lot but still want an incredible abroad experience. :)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

You definitely don't need Cantonese, but it is so fun and rewarding if you do choose to learn it. Almost everyone on the CUHK campus can speak English, so I wouldn't say it was encouraged for me to use it, but there are a few people who do not speak English and it was super exciting to use my new language skills and be understood!

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 2 years of Mandarin Chinese - not Cantonese, but it did help in learning Cantonese
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Take the Cantonese course! Also try to chat with those you encounter who don't speak English, don't shy away from speaking to them. A lot of local Hong Kong people will be happy to know that you're learning their native language and will try to help you! The absolute most rewarding place to use beginner Cantonese is at night-markets. Most of the stall owners know enough English to communicate with you, but will be so delighted if you try to speak Cantonese with them haha.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Being in Hong Kong
  • The CUHK campus
  • Meeting lots of people from all over the world
* What could be improved?
  • Campus food :(
  • Transportation up and down campus
  • Integration into the local culture
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Nothing, really. I think just jumping in teaches you way more than knowing what to expect. :)

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Contemporary Chinese Pop Culture

Course Department: CCSS2005
Instructor: Brian Skerratt
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Such a great class if you want to learn about the region you're going to be living in for the next four months! Skerratt is a great lecturer who is extremely knowledgable in many different aspects of Chinese culture. The class set up is similar to ones back home: a reading or two a week with a blog post about the topic, two papers, and a final presentation. The coursework is always kept interesting and relevant. Skerratt is very easy to talk to and seems genuinely interesting in getting to know all of his students. Definitely take this class if you're interested in learning more about Chinese pop culture, or if you just have an open spot in your schedule! Absolutely recommended, 10/10 :)
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Intro to Cantonese

Course Department: CCAN1113
Instructor: Jonathan Chang
Instruction Language: English/Cantonese
Comments: If you're going to do a semester in Hong Kong, it's super useful to learn a little bit of Cantonese. Although many people understand and speak English, it's respectful to the Hong Kong people to learn a bit of their native tongue. It is not uncommon to meet people who don't speak any English, so knowing a little Cantonese is also extremely useful in these situations. Jonathan is a really great instructor who is soooo enthusiastic about teaching Cantonese. Also he is just such a happy and friendly man that going to his class is a delight in itself. The classes are small, so asking questions when you don't understand something is very easy and encouraged. Cantonese is really not a hard language, and this class only teaches the spoken form, so don't worry about having to tackle those scary Chinese characters. :)
Credit Transfer Issues: