So, why Hong Kong?
I’ve never been away from Los Angeles for longer than two and a half months at a time. Last March, I took a school trip to Thailand (Bangkok and Chiang Mai) with a cohort of thirteen other USC students. We were abroad for nine days, which was the longest I’d ever stepped foot outside America. Then, this past summer, I interned at TechCrunch in San Francisco and took two and a half months to get to know a new city. But this time is different. I’ll be away from my friends and family 16+ hours ahead for almost four and a half months. It’s scary—but also kind of exhilarating.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong sits hillside overlooking the glistening Sha Tin Hoi (pictured above) and Tolo Harbour. Only thirty minutes from downtown, the campus is close enough to the hustle and bustle yet far enough to escape the crowds. When I was first exploring studying abroad, I had only really considered somewhere in Europe as a destination since that’s where I assumed most college students chose to be. However, after traveling to Thailand I realized that there was so much more of Asia I needed to explore.
Reflecting on why I chose to study abroad and what I want to get out of it, I’ve come up with three goals for the semester:
1) Get out of my comfort zone
2) Learn about Chinese and Hong Kong culture
3) Explore my industry/career interests from a global point of view
First Impressions
I arrived in Hong Kong on January 3rd, so I’ve been here for about two weeks. I wouldn’t say I experienced an extreme amount of culture shock, as there are many similarities between urban environments like Hong Kong and LA, but there are certain things that remind me I’m in a different city and country.
Everyone in Hong Kong is in a rush. And maybe even if they aren’t actually in a rush, they come off that way. Some may consider people in the street or a food shop worker rude for being rash and abrupt, but to me it reflects efficiency and reminds me of New York. The Central district of Hong Kong is very similar to Times Square, with colorful flashy advertisements slapped onto skyscrapers. There’s a Tiffany Co. and Prada on the same corner, reminding people of the hub’s wealth and glamour.
Another thing I noticed is how trendy most people in Hong Kong are. In America, the Chinese aren’t really the Asian group you associate with fashion, compared to Koreans. Walking around in Hong Kong, observing who enters and exits the MTR platform, I feel a slight societal pressure to look my best. Maybe it’s just a girl thing—but the men are pretty trendy too. I appreciate the fashion statements everyday people set, as their outfits are quite inspirational.
Food in Hong Kong has been delicious for the most part. The canteens (dining halls) on campus are pretty cheap, about 20-40 HKD ($3-$6). They mostly serve Chinese food but also have Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese dishes in certain places. Some dishes have a little more sauce than I prefer, but the breakfast is delicious. My favorite meal served in New Asia College, is fried eggs with sausage and a pineapple bun. A pineapple bun (seen above) is a sweet bun that looks like a pineapple on the top but tastes nothing like it, which is great for me (unpopular opinion: pineapples are not yummy). The food outside of school is beyond comparison, but luckily I also have a kitchen in my housing complex, so I can balance cooking, eating out and eating on campus.
My favorite part about Hong Kong so far is the environment. It’s a gorgeous city with hundreds of skyscrapers, all different colors from peach pastel to a reflective metallic grey. You look up and feel small but at the same time see a world of endless possibilities. I can’t wait to discover what Hong Kong has in store these next few months.
Final Impressions
Hong Kong will forever have a place in my heart. The tiny 427 mi² Island that packs in 7 million people is like no other. I never felt a longing to be anywhere else throughout my four months in Hong Kong. Although I traveled to Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore (and enjoyed every minute of it), I always looked forward to returning to Hong Kong. The exclusivity of CUHK, tucked between rolling green hills, grew on me and provided a peaceful atmosphere. But if I felt the urge to go explore the city, Central was a few transfers away on the MTR. I thrived on the balance between fast-paced walking through Tsim Sha Tsui and strolling through the quiet paths of the university. There was an unconscious equilibrium about Hong Kong. As cheesy as it sounds, studying abroad was truly life-changing. There were challenges, of course, like my housing advisor yelling at me in Cantonese or taking the train in the wrong direction right before an appointment, but the growing pains only enhanced the experience. I met some of the most inspiring people abroad from Australia, Germany, and Macau, who all openly drank in the rich experience of studying abroad. From time to time, I crave a pineapple bun or wish I could hop onto the MTR instead of taking an Uber. I miss Hong Kong. But I know I’ll be back one day.
Grace Martinez
is a senior studying Public Relations. Born in China but raised in Koreatown, Los Angeles. She is interested in digital marketing, specifically in the industries of technology, music, entertainment and fashion/beauty, but also finds issue regarding politics and social justice interesting. She hopes to combine her skills in design with her interest in technology to create impactful campaigns