Study Abroad Experience:
City University of Hong Kong
Arrival Process and Orientation:
Flying to Hong Kong challenged my usual anxieties about long flight. In the past, I’ve taken long flights from New York to Slovakia, and I usually struggle on them, feeling claustrophobic and stressed out. However, I was able to enjoy flying to Hong Kong. The excitement of flying to one of my dream destinations distracted me from my usual stress. The minute I saw the towering mountains and the extensive blue water in Hong Kong from the plane, I was in awe. Next, I walked into the airport, which was very organized and efficient, from immigration to the baggage claim, making the process of navigating through the airport very low stress. I recognized how high-tech and thought-out Hong Kong was compared to anywhere else I’ve been in the world, being able to expertly handle the constant flow of people.
I attended the orientation program, which began with a tour of the school, where I met some of my friends. The tour showed us the library, the dining halls, and an on-campus Chinese-themed garden with a turtle pond. Even after the tour, it still took me about 45 minutes to find each one of my classes. The campus was maze-like, with nine interconnected buildings, where finding a classroom felt like solving a puzzle, each entrance hidden in a far corner. Fortunately, after finding each of my classrooms in the first week, it became much easier to navigate the campus in my everyday life.
The area where the university resides is very busy. There are some restaurants nearby, and a few metro stops away is Mong Kok, a hub for shopping and nightlife, where I spend most of my weekends.
The area that is local to the dorms, which is about 50 minutes away from the university, is a suburban area surrounded by mountains and beaches. My favorite thing to do is sit by the beach, since there are two beaches a walking distance from my dorm. I also like to spend time hiking in the nearby mountains.
It was a little bit of a culture shock to have the locals stare at me because I’m a foreigner, especially in the area where my dorm is, because it is a suburban area without many foreigners. I’ve grown used to it, though, accepting that it is a worthwhile trade for living in a very beautiful city.
Housing:
Finding housing in Hong Kong was very similar to finding housing in New York, because I applied for on-campus housing. I was able to register for housing, as well as settle all my fees through the school’s online system, which was very efficient and simple.
I paid about a fifth of the price for housing at CityU compared to the price of dorms at NYU. They include the same amenities.
The most unique feature of my housing is the location. It is located in Wu Kai Sha, which is a very suburban area, with it being the last stop of the train (MTR). The area is beautiful, with the extensive Ma on Shan country park neighboring it. There are also two beaches a walking distance away, which I like to spend a lot of my time in, and I even have a view of them from the dorm. The area differs heavily from the student accommodation for local students, which is right next to our university, in a very busy and urban area of the city.
My housing is very similar to the housing I have in New York. Some similarities are that I have a roommate, and that my area of the room consists of a twin bed, a desk, and a wardrobe. On the other hand, I have more storage space in my Hong Kong room compared to my New York room. Another difference is that we have a communal shower and kitchen, used by half of the residents on our floor. In New York, I have always had a bathroom and/or kitchen in my dorm apartment area, which I shared with, at most, 5 other people. Even though these areas feel less private than the ones directly in my dorm in New York, they get cleaned very often. It has always been a struggle for me to coordinate a cleaning system with all my roommates, so it’s been nice not having to worry about that.
The social life in the dorms has been really nice. Everyone likes to hang out in the outdoor areas of the compound, and I am constantly meeting new friends this way. I was able to find my closest friends like this on the first day I moved in.
One challenge has been the transit from my dorm to the university, which is about 50 minutes one way. Luckily, all the exchange students have to take this transit, since we all live in the same dorms, so I usually have company while taking the train or bus. The transportation is also very straightforward, with only two trains or two buses needed to be taken. If you miss a train, there is always one coming in less than 3 minutes, so making it to class on time has not been a struggle.
Overall, the housing at City University of Hong Kong has been one of my favorite parts of my study abroad experience so far.
