Hong Kong, Fall 2018 Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/01/2020 to 12/17/2018 with
University of Hong Kong / HKU: Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Gained a better sense of my identity as a diaspora Chinese, met other diaspora Chinese. Was able to retrace my family roots through travel during breaks. Also gained a broader perspective of global issues, since my previous perspectives always were adjacent to whatever was happening in the United States.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Less rigorous in the social sciences/humanities. Office hours aren't as common, so you have to be a bit pushy about it. I did receive amazing one-on-one mentorship and guidance about coursework and beyond from certain professors that I sought out, though. Other professors, not so much. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
You have to be persistent; exchange students are pretty low-priority. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It was disaster at first (broken appliances, doorframe, and leaking windows) but after many emails and assistance from OIS (thank you again), my roommates and I got it sorted out. |
| * Food: |
NA |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Felt very integrated, especially compared with other exchange students despite the language barrier due to volunteering and activiies. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
NA |
| * Safety: |
Seldom felt unsafe, even late at night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Doing a direct exchange without any other Wellesley students was rough in the first week or so, but the nature of this program allowed me to break out of my shell and meet, learn, and travel with people of all backgrounds ,abilities, and ages. |
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) |
Hong Kong is affordable in terns of food. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $55 USD |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan ahead, apply for student discount travel expenses. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| 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? |
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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? | To be persistent and keep self-advocating |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
