Exchange Testimonials -> China

Whatever anyone else would say, the time I spent in Hong Kong proved to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life so far. There is no doubt about it! With exchange options available in countries like America, Australia, or the rest of Europe, I wanted to take myself out of my comfort zone and try something different. Hong Kong delivered just that! Not only was it a thrill to be in this ‘West meets East’ city with a population larger than Ireland as a whole and with a skyline that can compete with any major world city but getting used to the different (yet delicious) types of cuisine, the habits of the locals and all those flights of stairs made everything even more worthwhile!

There’s no doubt about it, the world is undergoing a drastic shift in power from West to East and graduates with this insight and some Asian experience will have an immediate advantage in the job marketplace. This advantage was perhaps symbolised by the high number of international students present at the university which made looking for friends from across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas no problem whatsoever.

In Hong Kong the locals are ever so polite and the city incredibly safe. While I studied Mandarin at the University (ranked as one of the best in Asia), picking up some Cantonese outside the classroom was a great help in breaking down that initial awkwardness around local students. Chinese students will always be delighted to hear a Westerner address them in their tongue so learning even a little Chinese made a world of difference!

If you seek a challenge and want to test yourself in every way possible then the University of Hong Kong is the right place for you. With courses taught in English you will have no problem in the classroom -what you choose to do with the rest of your experience is down to you. Not only was Hong Kong a great place to explore in itself, it was also a first class location to travel into Mainland China and throughout Asia. I finished my year with a two months teaching stint along the Thai-Burma border through a University of Hong Kong teaching programme Migrant Outreach Education Initiative. My 51 weeks experience in Asia was never going to be long enough and I left with only thoughts of when I could next return!