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Hong Kong: Student Comments
“Hong Kong is one of the most vibrant cities in the world. The nightlife is full of energy until the sun starts shining and then some. You can go out and enjoy all the city has to offer and still do well in your classes. The instructors are very understanding of the fact it's most people's first time in Asia and are very flexible with assignments. You won't understand now, but the 7-11 at LKF will be a staple of your nightlife!” —Seyed Kaveh Miremadi, UC Santa Barbara “I took advantage of having a selection of courses that aren't offered at UCI and also learned about cultural interactions and about myself by default. Going abroad has been the best thing I've ever done to enrich myself.” —Desiree Sayther, UC Irvine “Living in a different country makes you appreciate things you often take for granted. Traveling around Asia and discovering the disparities of lifestyles with the U.S. was eye-opening. Meeting new people from all over the world was also eye-opening because I came across so many different personalities. The trip also really gave me a chance to learn more about myself-my own values. It has given me a lot to think about once I get home.” —EAP Student “Don't expect things to be all fun and games. Sure you'll have a great time, but things won't be great all the time. When you're down you might wish for all the things back home, but if you do, you'll miss the wonderful experiences that studying abroad has to offer. After all, didn't you opt to go abroad to open yourself to a new culture and new experiences?” —EAP Student “My year spent in Hong Kong has been invaluable. Living in Hong Kong for the past year has made me realize that California is not the center of the universe. I realize that there are so many options out there-the world is suddenly so huge! I have been exposed to so many new ways of thinking; my opinions and views of myself and of America have been drastically altered. Basically, after a year away from the U.S., I realize that I will never be content with the status quo.” —EAP Student “EAP has clarified my career path, enhanced my cultural understanding, increased my language knowledge, and definitely made me more mature and more aware of my surroundings. Going on EAP was truly worthwhile, and I highly recommend it to every college student.” —EAP Student “EAP has helped me to grow as a person. It opened what I had already considered an open mind. The EAP experience has, without a doubt, been the most enriching four months of my college career and life thus far. I've gained perspectives and understanding of another culture and language I could not have achieved anywhere else due to the unique position of my host country. Gaining insight into university life in another country has taught me to not only value my UC education, but also to appreciate the difference.” —EAP Student “My six-month stay in Hong Kong at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology was an adventure from start to finish. And since then it has inspired my interest in international awareness and love for adventure. Though it was just a brief six months, I had the good fortune to meet some very special people who made me realize that this trip was a gift, for I received more than I anticipated.” —EAP Student “During the second semester and after having had time to settle down and make friends with local students, I found my EAP experience to be the best college experience I've had so far. EAP has drastically improved my career perspective as well as my cultural understanding of Hong Kong. Most of all, I love the fact that I can call Hong Kong my second home.” —EAP Student “Going to one country doesn't mean that you will leave from that country. I was on EAP in Hong Kong, where I befriended some Japanese students who were studying at the same university. When the program ended, I traveled all over Japan for two months, staying at my new friends' homes along the way. What an adventure!” —Steven Chan, UC Berkeley “I enjoyed meeting people from all over the world; I still keep in touch with them.” —Stephanie Cheung, UC Davis “Hong Kong is actually my birthplace. It was really pleasant to see how this place has been changing and constantly improving. My only complaint is that this city can never be mastered-it changes again before you get familiar with it. Therefore, I wasn't ashamed of myself when I got lost all the time!” —Chi Kong Lam, UC Santa Cruz “I can definitely say that these were some of the best experiences of my life, and college is most certainly the ideal time to explore and learn more-not only about foreign cultures, but also about ourselves. You learn to be so much more open-minded about people, cultures, and life itself. It's also a great opportunity to grow as a person and learn to be more independent.” —Alexandra Lee, UC Santa Barbara “At CUHK (Chinese University of Hong Kong) I was part of the English Debating Team. It was exciting to be an exchange student and at the same time have the chance to represent my host university at different local competitions against other Hong Kong universities. It was exciting to have practice debates about local issues and not only hear what local students think about them but also actively discuss with them what's important. It was even more exciting to be one of six students to represent CUHK at the XVIII World Universities Debating Championship in Athens, Greece, at the end of December. The experience of going to the Worlds was highly involved. Suddenly, we all became travelers and representatives of 'home' in another country. We were asked the common questions about whether anything has changed in Hong Kong recently and about the bird flu. But in the context of the Worlds, we also were given the rare opportunity of international dialogue. In every debate, there was a rich understanding of world politics, economics, and the interaction between nations. We debated with students from Australia, Eastern and Western Europe, Africa, North and South America, and some of our own Asian neighbors from the Philippines, Singapore, and Japan, to name a few. We debated on such topics as information technology, land mines, economic progress, and social policies. It was truly yet another instance of fruitful international exchange. ” —Alexander Paguio, UC San Diego “Going on EAP to Hong Kong was probably the most important single thing I did while at UC. It gave me an understanding and perspective that has really been useful. What you learn while abroad is how to deal with change and challenge. I graduated from UCSD in 1990 with degrees in computer science and economics. Currently, I work as a sales representative for the Internet Commerce Group at Sun Microsystems.” —Chris Tolles, UC San Diego
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