“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles”- Tim Cahill.
This week marks a whole month since Heather and I took one of the biggest risks of our lives to come and study in Hong Kong. My stay here so far, has completely exceeded my expectations. Looking back on the four short weeks that I’ve been here, I can really see how I have developed personally, professionally and culturally, through getting involved and in grabbing every new opportunity, that presents itself to me, by the horns. This week has also been a great opportunity for me to read the unique experiences of each of the other international students in their respective countries, and to just appreciate how blessed we all have been to have been given this opportunity of a lifetime!
As this week marks a milestone in my adventure here, it was useful to remind myself why I write this blog every week. Writing down my experiences each week allows me to reflect on what I’ve learned, and to directly relate this to how I am being bettered on a personal, cultural and professional basis as a result of being here. The rest of our year, who are studying back home, are beginning teaching practice on Monday. This has been a real reminder, that next year I will graduate, and will begin my search for a job. I have no doubt in my mind that my experience here in Hong Kong will allow me to develop and to prepare me for my future profession, as well as continue to really enrich me as a person on a more holistic level. I love the location of the university. Tai Po is located around an hour away from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong Island, and it is great to be in a place which is not as westernised as other parts of Hong Kong, allowing me to get a different perspective than I otherwise would. I actually really enjoy being in the minority here!
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| The view from HKIEd: a more rural and remote setting than expected. |
We began our week at Kam Shan Country Park or ‘Monkey Mountain’ as it has been dubbed by tourists, which is a place famous for the wild monkeys which populate the area. Heather, Jolie (one of the members of staff at the HKIEd International Office) and I led the way through the sea of monkeys that stood ahead of us when we got off the bus, despite the fact that we were actually terrified of the monkeys, and avoided eye contact with them at all costs, just in case this would trigger an attack. We talked with Jolie about her experiences of studying abroad in England, and about how she felt this contributed to her personal development. I agreed with Jolie, that spending time away from home allows you to grow in independence and it prepares you for later life after graduation. I’ve really found that sharing my experiences with others has allowed me to become a much more reflective person, and it is great to learn from other people’s perspectives.
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| I was really pleased that I was able to stand this close to a wild monkey at Kam Shan Country Park. |
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| The group of international students at the summit of 'Monkey Mountain'. |
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| This monkey sat on the bus stop and gritted it's teeth at passers-by. |
This week, the Stranmillis students who will be studying at the South China Normal University arrived in Hong Kong. It was refreshing to hear their first impressions of the city that we now called home, and it was great to share the experiences we’ve had since our arrival with them, this allowed them to cast some of their fears and worries regarding the next four months aside. Dan even commented on how well it seemed Heather and I had adapted to living here and to the culture around us. It’s funny that after spending a mere four weeks in this country we do consider ourselves to be part of the furniture, and we are so used to life here. We all went to see the light show at Victoria Harbour: ‘The Symphony of Lights’. The Hong Kong skyline was set alight with lasers and spotlights which were in time with music for ten minutes and it was great to just spend time with our friends.
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| A Stranmillis reunion in a local Chinese restaurant. |
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| The Hong Kong skyline is spectacular at night. |
I really appreciate how the exchange students at Stranmillis feel when they come to our university. They are so far out of their comfort zone, and it is so important that our students actually go out of their way to make them feel welcome. This week, I was elected onto the Student’s Union Executive as External Relations Secretary. This role will involve me working closely with the international and Erasmus students who come to Stranmillis next year. Studying in Hong Kong this semester, has given me lots of ideas which will hopefully make me successful in my role, and I really look forward to actually start putting these ideas into action.
I have always been a real people person. I love talking about my experiences with friends, and as I mentioned earlier, this gives me a great opportunity to reflect on them, and ultimately to think about how I am developing as a person. Heather and I have become really close friends since arriving here. I can’t describe just how grateful I am to be sharing this experience with her. I know that Hong Kong has so much more to offer over the coming months, and I can’t wait to discover what that is!
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| Heather and I at Kam Shan Country Park. |
Joi kin! (Bye!)
Andrew Scott
