My first month in Hong Kong has been both the longest and shortest four weeks of my life. Some days, it feels like I’ve walked onto a film set: the street markets, the trams, and the skyscrapers all a world away from Hillhead. Other days, it’s more like stepping into a sauna; I don’t think the temperature has dipped below 30 degrees and/or 80% humidity since I arrived. “Can we nip into this mall to get some air con?” has quickly become part of my daily vocabulary. Coming from Glasgow to the tropics has been a bit of a shock to the system, but one I’ve welcomed nonetheless.
Academically, however, the adjustment has been much easier than I’d feared. The biggest difference is the emphasis on participation – 20% of my grade in some of my courses are attendance and contribution, but lectures and tutorials largely follow the same structure overall due to education in Hong Kong being modelled off of the British system. With just two classes a week per module, I’ve been able to get into the swing of things quickly, and I’ll admit I’ve enjoyed the lighter timetable.
Outside of the classroom, the culture shock has been much gentler than I expected. Perhaps that’s partly down to the nods of ‘Britishness’ found everywhere, a reminder of the area’s colonial history. Most locals speak English, and public transport and menus always have English translations. (And I confess to frequenting the M&S Food Halls dotted around the city for a taste of the one just off Byres Road.) I have also been immersing myself in the local culture, sometimes closing Google Maps and wandering around to see where the streets take me, often to a temple tucked down an alleyway or a hole-in-the-wall serving something delicious. My favourite find so far has been the cha chaan tengs, or Hong Kong style cafes, which combine Chinese and Western comfort food at diner prices. The french toast layered with peanut butter is, frankly, life-changing.
Of course, there have been challenges. Despite going into my third year of university at the ripe old age of 21, I hadn’t anticipated exactly how much it would feel like Freshers’ Week all over again, even down to the flu I came down with. (Why are Chinese Strepsils wrapped in so much plastic?) As someone more introverted, I sometimes struggled to keep up with new friends keen on going to the club most nights, and I found that I had to relearn how to enjoy my own company – and in doing so, I found like-minded people and a rhythm that works for me. The contrast of consciously slowing down while the city races ahead has been a challenge, but also a gift.
One month in, I can already see how my time abroad is reshaping me, not only as a student but also as a person. If you’re in your second year and weighing up a year abroad, all I can say is: go for it!
Photo credits: Behance
