Week Eight: Cultural Blog (16/3/12)

“Diversity is the one thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day”- Winston Churchill.

I wasn’t as ‘cultured’ as I perhaps should have been upon my arrival in Hong Kong. The ‘culture shock’ which bombarded me when I got here was substantial, and I could not believe how different the way of life was over here. Adjusting to the difference, certainly took time, albeit a reasonably short amount of it on the grand scheme of things. On the global scale, I realise Northern Ireland seems to be a much more ‘sheltered’ country in relation to here, and my experience so far has really taught me the value and importance of diversity. People accept differences in Hong Kong, and members of lots of different ethnicities live harmoniously with one another. I definitely feel that as a future teacher that this mentality can benefit me in my profession, as I will instill the significance of diversity amongst the children in my classroom, developing them into better global citizens.

The culture itself in Hong Kong can be described as a ‘cultural hybrid’ between east and west, in that it’s predominantly Chinese culture has been influenced by its history as a British colony (Louie, 2009). We are travelling to China this weekend, to visit the other Stranmillis students who are studying in Guangzhou. It will be great to catch up with them and to find out about how they are adjusting to life over here, as well as to compare the culture of Guangzhou with Hong Kong. Differences aside, it is nice to know that we are never too far away from some home comforts, such as the three-prong plug and the accessibility of Cadbury chocolate (even though we are off it for Lent)!

Rather surprisingly, a stark contrast between the rich and the poor exists in Hong Kong. I shared the common misconception that it would be a place completely covered in wealth, with its abundance of designer shops and high-rise office buildings. The truth is, although these signs of wealth do exist, one cannot escape reminders that the poor exist here, whether it is from a homeless amputee trailing himself through Mong Kok on a homemade skateboard, or a woman begging for money outside McDonalds. Interestingly, Gagape (2009) highlights Hong Kong as having the largest rich-poor gap in the world. I personally have been blessed with having enough money to come half way across the world to participate in this exchange programme, and seeing people on the streets actually makes me thankful and grateful for what I have, as I understand that not everyone is in the fortunate position that I am currently in.

A sports car indicating the wealth that exists here in Hong Kong.

The homeless population is surprisingly large- even this cat is homeless.

On Sunday, we explored a little (by mistake), by taking a wrong turn on our way to church and found ourselves in the middle of a typical food market. The smell was perhaps the hardest thing to get used to, and I was particularly disturbed at the sight of a chicken being killed and skinned right in front of my eyes at a meat stall. I was amazed at how close this place was from the hustle and bustle of the touristy city centre, but it really showed me just how much of a multicultural city Hong Kong is, as these two different cultures are able to co-exist within such proximity to each other.

A picture of a meat stall at the market- obviously very different standards from back home.

Literally all of the meat is used here! (This is a tongue.)

Another picture of a meat stall.

We got the opportunity to spend time with friends this week, as we went out with them for a traditional Chinese barbeque. The restaurant was outdoors and provided an open fire pit for every table, over which we cooked our own meat on metal prong sticks. We sat around the fire as we cooked dinner, and spent time talking about our individual experiences so far. It just struck me while sitting there, just how great friends are, and I am so glad to be sharing this experience with each and every one of them!

Enjoying our barbeque!

Ngo ngoi pung yo! (I love friends!)

Andrew Scott

REFERENCES

Gagape, E.W. (2009). Hong Kong tops world rich-poor gap, available at http://asiancorrespondent.com/17593/hong-kong-tops-world-rich-poor-gap/ (accessed on 15/03/2012).

Louie, K. (2010). Hong Kong Culture, Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong.

Week Seven: Personal Blog (10/3/12)

“Time flies- it’s up to you to be the navigator”- Robert Orben.

It seriously seems like two days ago when I uploaded my week six blog. Time is flying by, and the days are escaping us so quickly. More than anything, this has really taught us to continue to embrace every opportunity that comes along, so that we don’t regret not doing enough or missing out on chances which we will most likely never have again.

When we first arrived in Hong Kong, Heather and I sat down and made a list of everything that we wanted to do before we returned home. We compiled our twenty five “things we must see before we leave” list rather easily, and it was great this week to look back to this list, to check off the spots that we have been to, to delete the spots which we no longer want to see, to add some spots that we now want to see, and to see what places we mentioned on the list seven weeks ago, and still haven’t visited. It would be very easy for us to get caught up with assignments and group work that both seem to be piling up at the moment, but Heather and I have promised ourselves to really plan the time we have left so that we leave here knowing that we made the most of every second of our time here.

The church that we have been attending since our arrival is in Wan Chai, a popular and central area on Hong Kong Island, and it has two services every Sunday. We decided that we wanted to check out the church that the Stranmillis students who studied here last year recommended us to visit, an international church called ‘Ambassador’. We got chatting to a man after the service who was originally from Ballymena, and he introduced us to former Stranmillis student, Jim Nelson. It really struck Heather and I how small the world actually was, and it was lovely to hear a familiar accent again! Jim studied in Guangzhou during his third year at Stran. Our conversation really opened my eyes to the increased opportunities that studying abroad can give and it made me realise that moving out here to teach after graduation is a very real option, particularly with the current job market for primary teachers in Northern Ireland.

A demonstration in Central: Heather and I feared for our lives!

Some of the people from church invited us out to lunch, and it was great to talk to different people and to find out what brought them to Hong Kong. After lunch Heather and I decided that in light of the beautiful, clear day, a trip up Victoria Peak (the highest mountain on Hong Kong Island) would be very worthwhile. The peak is a very popular tourist attraction which provides panoramic views of Victoria Harbour to the thousands of tourists which flock there every day. We decided to take the most direct route to the summit via the Peak Tram, which was a very exciting experience- a tram and an uphill ascent of 373m just don’t mix very well in my head! Upon arrival at the top, we made our way directly to the viewing platform buzzing with excitement to absorb the beautiful views of Hong Kong. Unfortunately, we soon realised that a thick fog had descended over the Peak, which made it very difficult to see the picturesque views that we expected! We will however, be paying another visit to the Peak before we leave as it is arguably one of Hong Kong’s most notorious tourist attractions, and we do not intend on missing it. We do hope that next time we might be able to see a little more than 25m in front of ourselves!

The starting point for the Peak Tram.

The Peak Tram halfway up its ascent.

I am enjoying the "panoramic" view of Hong Kong Island.

The Peak Tram at the summit of Victoria Peak.

The Hong Kong Institute of Education offers a wide range of sporting facilities for the students free of charge, which Heather and I have both availed of since arriving here. We finalised our travel plans recently, so are very driven to achieve those perfect “bikini bodies” for the Philippines, Thailand, Beijing and Dubai, by spending some time at the university’s gym. This experience is such a great opportunity to see places that we have never seen before, and that we may never have the chance to see again. We are also both really looking forward to visiting the Stranmillis students who are studying in Guangzhou next weekend.

It is so weird to think that we have been here for nearly two months, but continuing to maximise every opportunity will ensure that the fun that we are having here keeps going. I am always so thankful to have been given this opportunity of a lifetime, and to be honest, I never want it to stop!

Heather and I at Madame Tussauds, Hong Kong. 

Baai baai! (bye bye!)

Andrew Scott

Week Six: Cultural Blog (3/3/12)

“Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit”- Jawahalal Nehru.

I have been fortunate enough over the past years to travel to different countries and to familiarise myself with different cultures first hand. Looking back however, none of these experiences can compare to the learning opportunity that Hong Kong has presented me with already. It never ceases to amaze me just how much I’ve learned in the seemingly six short weeks that we’ve been here. I left Northern Ireland, with lots of expectations and stereotypes packed into my suitcase of what the Hong Kong people would be like, and these have all been broken down as I’ve spent my time learning from the locals and seeing past my own preconceptions. This has made me realise, that stereotypes can be quite damaging, and has made me think of how I could tackle stereotypes in my future classroom.

This week, Heather and I decided that we wanted to learn more about the religious element of the culture here. We travelled to one of Hong Kong’s most popular temples, the Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple, which aside from being a bit of a mouthful is a place where all three main religions in China are practiced- Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. We were amazed by the sheer number of people who were at the temple, most of whom were making offerings of burning incense and fruit at the altars, and as time passed, we became increasingly more paranoid that we were the only two tourists there! We spoke with a local Chinese man who was able to share some information about the beliefs of the people who were there. He told us that most of the temple’s visitors come to the temple in search of a spiritual answer via a practice called kau cim. This involves the shaking of a bamboo cylinder filled with fortune sticks until a stick falls out. This stick is believed to give an insight into the worshipper’s future, which is read by one of the fortune tellers which work inside the grounds of the temple. Sure enough, the area around the main altar was filled with the sound of shaking containers, and the odd crash of sticks, as some people got too excited and spilt them everywhere! The intricacy of the detail on the typical Chinese buildings was breath taking, so much so that I found myself just repeating the word “amazing” over and over again to Heather. The temple area was filled with lots of different examples of typical Chinese architecture and it was so easy to see why the Chinese people in general are so proud of their culture (Davis, 2005). This really made me think about how people from Northern Ireland view our own culture, and to reflect on how important they see our culture as being. 

People practicing 'kau cim' outside the main altar.

Overhead lanterns at the main altar.

People offered burning incense in front of this beautiful building.

The detail on the buildings was spectacular.

One of the altars at the entrance to the temple.

I had initially expected Hong Kong to be a very religious place, and my experience at the temple this week would indicate that this was true. However, the majority of Hong Kong residents actually claim to have no religious affiliation at all, with only 43% of the population practicing religion in some shape or form. Coming from the most religious part of the United Kingdom where only 16% of the population class themselves as having no religion, this was a very hard concept to truly grasp (Tearfund, 2007). Despite this statistic, the people here are nevertheless very respectful towards religion, and can be very superstitious with regards to certain things at times. It will be useful to see how this lack of religion impacts the curriculum over here, when I get the opportunity to begin my placement.

When I found out I would be studying in Hong Kong this semester, I was genuinely excited. I have always regarded this part of the world to be somewhere steeped in heritage and culture. Obviously being in the diverse and cosmopolitan city that is Hong Kong, the Chinese culture is not the only culture that I have been able to experience, as I have been exposed to other British people, Europeans, Americans, and amongst others, people from other parts of Asia. The International Office organised a dessert party this week, where we got the opportunity to share some information about our culture, and learn more about the fifteen other cultures which are represented at HKIEd. Through conversations with other students about my own culture, and indeed through learning about others, I have developed a genuine appreciation for the Northern Irish culture. It is not uncommon for people to ask about the more dark times in the Northern Irish history, but these moments have shaped the culture as we know it today. I am proud to be from Northern Ireland, and I welcome the chance to share my own experiences with others. Studying here has been a great opportunity to reevaluate my own view on different cultures across the world, and to really broaden my horizons for the future.

Heather and I enjoying our day at the temple.

The entrance to the temple: a traditional Chinese arch.

Ci di gin! (See you later!)

Heather and I at the International Dessert Night.

Andrew Scott

REFERENCES

Tearfund (2007). Churchgoing in the UK, Middlesex, Tearfund.

Davis, E.L. (2005). Encyclopaedia of contemporary Chinese culture, Oxon, Routledge.

Week Five: Professional Blog (25/2/12)

“Teachers play a critical role in enhancing the ability of the next generation of young people to better understand the world around them and to be able to collaborate with others in the resolution of global patterns. The degree to which teachers can do this is dependent on their own knowledge, experience and ability to transmit this knowledge and skill-set to the students in their class.”

(Lewin, 2009, p.151)

Reflecting on our decision to study the particular modules that we are doing was useful this week, as we have been able to see that they are each specifically targeted towards education related pathways, and each one is beginning to shape us more and more into better teachers. Interestingly, Heather and I are the only international students who are studying primary education, with the vast majority of the others studying business and finance related degrees. This was a genuine shock to me, as I assumed that because of the name of the university (Hong Kong Institute of Education) that all students would study education in some shape or form.

One of our modules, ‘Ethnic Identity’, discusses the importance of developing more culturally and ethnically aware citizens in the classroom. This is one of the objectives of the Northern Ireland Curriculum as it aims to empower young people to achieve their potential and to make informed and responsible decisions throughout their lives, through developing the child as an individual, a contributor to society and a contributor to the economy and environment. I can see so much potential for my professional development with this module, as I will soon be working and teaching in a very diverse classroom scenario: one made up of children from various backgrounds and ethnicities. If nothing else, this experience of learning first-hand about other cultures will help me to include ethnic minorities in my classroom and to encourage an appreciation of diversity amongst the other learners.

We have a group assignment in our ‘Self and Personal Identities’ class, so this week we met up with our group. We discussed what topic area we would study, and decided to select drug abuse amongst adolescents here. Being a volunteer counsellor with ‘Child Line’ I have developed a real awareness of the issues which today’s young people face in the UK and I feel, that sometimes, the pastoral aspect of the teaching role can be overlooked. In Hong Kong, the use of ecstasy and ketamine has increased by 25% in teenagers over the past year, with the main reason for this increase being peer pressure (Hunt et al, 2011). Teachers play such an important role in a child’s holistic development, and being more aware of these issues will allow me to be more of a support to my students and to help guide them in making the right decisions.

We explored the library further this week. Just like Stranmillis, the library has a specific area filled with resources for primary school children, which we will definitely make use of during our placement. We have not yet started our teaching placement, but we are both really looking forward to getting into the classroom and getting first-hand experience in teaching the children here, and comparing this with our previous placements in Northern Irish schools. We know that the time we spend in school is going to be the time that we will see ourselves develop the most professionally, and we really look forward to this incredible opportunity to continue to better ourselves for our future teaching career.

Making use of the primary resources available in the library.

Looking at some books with our Chinese friends Sharon and Wen.

Outside the front of the primary school in which I will be placed.

繁體中文網頁  (Goodbye!)

Andrew Scott

REFERENCES

CCEA (2007). The Northern Ireland Curriculum: Primary, Belfast, CCEA.

Hunt, G., Milhert, M. and Bergeron, H. (2011). Drugs and Culture: knowledge, consumption and policy, Surrey, Ashgate.

Lewin, R. (2009). The Handbook of Practice and Research in Study Abroad, London, Routledge.

Week Four: Personal Blog (18/2/12)

“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!

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.

I was really pleased that I was able to stand this close to a wild monkey at  Kam Shan Country Park.

The group of international students at the summit of 'Monkey Mountain'.

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.

A Stranmillis reunion in a local Chinese restaurant.

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!

Heather and I at Kam Shan Country Park.

Joi kin! (Bye!)

Andrew Scott

Week Three: Professional Blog (11/2/12)

“You can’t open a book without learning something”- Confucius

This quote gives a very fair representation of what our week was like. With classes now back in full swing after the Lunar New Year, and after a recent change in one of our modules, we had to put our life in the fast lane of tourist sight-seeing and cultural immersion at a standstill, albeit a temporary one!

The fact that both Heather and I had to stay in Northern Ireland until the middle of January, as we had to complete our semester one examinations, meant that the other students had a three week head start in settling into their classes and getting familiar with their schedules. There were times this week that we both felt like we had just jumped into the deep end feet first, but this gave us the motivation that we needed to spend this week getting caught up on the work that we missed over the past three weeks, making the library our second home.

Me outside the Mong Man Wai Library on campus.

Studying in the library was a big part of our week this week.

I really enjoy our three classes that we are taking here. They are all directly relevant to our degree, and we are already picking up on new strategies, and lesson ideas which we will be able to implement within our own classrooms in later life. The classes we are taking are: ‘Ethnic Identity, Multicultural Society and Cosmopolitanism’; ‘Self and Personal Identities’; and ‘Educational Development’.  On the whole the classes are very interactive, and involve a lot of discussion in small group settings, with the exception of lectures. Heather and I presented our ideas on the importance of a global education, and on promoting cultural awareness in schools to the rest of our class. It was great to share and reflect our personal experiences in the classroom with our fellow classmates, and also to listen to some of theirs.

Heather and I during our presentation to the class.

Thankfully, the classes all use English as the primary form of instruction and our lecturers can all speak English to a pretty high standard, which was a real relief. It was interesting watching how the local students respond in lectures, and to compare this to how we respond at Stranmillis. On the whole, local students seem more reluctant to engage in discussions and in responding to questions in lectures, often getting embarrassed when their number (which corresponds to their name on the class register) is randomly selected by the lecturer. I have even found myself getting nervous when this selection is taking place, as I wish under my breath that she doesn’t pick number sixty one (that’s me). Desperate times do call for drastic measures, and if this method wasn’t used by the lecturer, then the only people who would be responding to her questions would be the international students. At the same time, students seem to talk amongst themselves while the lecturer is speaking, which although can happen sometimes at home, it is not to the same extent. Sometimes, Heather and I find ourselves struggling to think, and as time has passed, in true studious style, began to sit further to the front in an effort to hear what is being said.  

Heather and I hard at work in class.

The ‘Educational Development’ module looks at the concepts, issues and perspectives of education systems across the world. This week, we gained an understanding about the system in Japan, China and Taiwan. We were able to compare the kinds of schools and the kinds of curricula which exist at these countries with Northern Ireland. We have a tutorial class every two weeks with this module, in which a group of three students presents on a designated topic to the rest of the class, each time. I am in a group with two local students. I’m really looking forward to working with them, and in learning more about their personal experiences in schools here in Hong Kong, as well as here at the university. Developing better communication skills with others, and also in trying to make my voice clearer, and easier to understand, are amongst the various skills which I am already seeing myself build and progress in.

I was reminded this week, of one of the main reasons why I submitted my application to participate in the international programme: to develop myself professionally and to gain an invaluable experience in teaching children from a different culture, and ultimately returning as a more competent and well-rounded teacher. I can already see myself building on skills and competences as a result of my active participation in the classes which I am taking. These skills will continue to develop as the time I spend here passes, and as I gain more experience in the education system which exists here in Hong Kong.

I am honestly loving every minute of the time I am spending here, and long may that continue! 

Ci di gin! (See you later!)

Andrew Scott

                                                                           

Week Two: Cultural Blog (4/2/12)

“Every man’s ability may be strengthened or increased by culture”- John Abbott

The Chinese philosopher, Confucius, outlined the importance of immersing oneself in, and learning about other cultures. He argued that it is through personal experience that we can learn the most from others in his famous quote: “I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand”. Heather and I both agreed that the tourist hotspots of the city were not going to be a fair representation of the people’s culture here, so we decided to venture off the beaten track, in an attempt to learn more about the Hong Kong culture.

One of my iPhone applications recommended a visit to the Kowloon Walled City Park, as it was a place steeped in history and heritage. It was a beautiful park modelled on Jiangnan gardens of the early Qing Dynasty, complete with small, tumbling waterfalls, and traditional Chinese buildings. We spent the afternoon walking around the park, and in the exhibition rooms learning about the city’s history. The former Kowloon Walled City was once a semi-lawless, high-rise slum, which was demolished in 1995. The pictures of the living conditions where shocking and it was hard to believe that people ever lived like this here, in the heart of such a modern city. It was such an escape from the busy hustle and bustle that is Kowloon City District which surrounds the park. The serenity of the gardens and the water features was a feeling which was also shared by the locals, as we noticed three individuals meditating at different spots around the park. As the only tourists at the park, it was great to just sit back and watch the Chinese families interact with one another. I have noticed that the families seem to have really close relationships with their grandparents here.

Heather and I at the Kowloon Walled City Park.

Yuk Tong Pavilion at the Walled City Park.

We walked to a nearby fishing village, Sam Mun Tsai on Wednesday. We sat on the harbour for the afternoon and watched some local men fishing. When I left Northern Ireland, I assumed that everyone here would have some sort of office job in one of the skyscrapers on Hong Kong Island, which looking back was quite a naïve assumption to make. It was a great experience though to really just watch the world go by in this quiet little village. It was hard to believe that we were actually in Hong Kong, a place which is typically viewed as a busy city, with everyone rushing from one place to another, 24 hours a day. Hong Kong, really is a place of opposites.

Heather and I at one of the beaches by Sam Mun Tsai.

Sam Mun Tsai.

On Friday, along with the other international exchange students, we travelled to Aberdeen, a town famous for its harbour and floating restaurants, namely Jumbo, a fantastic floating oriental palace. Beginning our day by spending some time in the Tin Hau Temple, it was interesting to observe how the people here respect religious sites such as this one. Walking along the harbour and looking at the amount of boats in the water was amazing. People driving traditional boats called sampans offered tours to the tourists, this highlighted to me how much the people here rely on the tourists for their income.

The international students outside Tin Hau Temple.

Me inside one of the boats at Aberdeen Harbour.

Jumbo: The floating restaurant.

A traditional sampan boat.

Trying as many new things as possible during my stay here in Hong Kong is definitely a priority of mine. Since arriving here, we have had the opportunity to taste new foods for the first time. This week, our buddy’s friend Vivianne invited us to her flat to try the Chinese delicacy that is “yuan xiao” which is a sweet rice ball dessert which is traditionally eaten around the New Year, as the round shape symbolises family unity and happiness. Getting used to the food has definitely been one of my personal biggest challenges since arriving here. As time goes on, and as I try more and more things, I am beginning to find the foods I like, and the food which I don’t, for instance I will not be trying durian ice cream again in a hurry!

As I spend more and more time in this fascinating place, and after really immersing myself in the culture this week, I can tell that I am going to love it here. Building closer relationships with the other international students this week was brilliant, and it was great to get the chance to find out more about their own cultures and also share with them, parts of ours. I don't think I will ever get tired of learning more and more about this place. Everyday literally brings with it new experiences which I will never forget!

Ngo Ngoi Hong Kong! (I love Hong Kong!)

Andrew Scott