As my summer semester exchange comes to an end, I can only describe my experience as fruitful and joyful. Coming to Hong Kong alone was honestly a commitment that was beyond my comfort zone. As someone who had never been to Asia before especially traveling alone, I was very intimidated initially. yet after a few days here, I knew I’d grow a lot in my time at HKUST. not only were my expectations met but I closed this chapter with so many lessons learned, experiences gained, and expectations exceeded.
My time abroad has opened up my viewpoint on the unique and interesting cultures that I don’t get to see every day back in the US. Coming to Asia, I had to set aside all pre-accusations of what I thought my time here would look like. I was not only able to admire a culture completely different than mine but also get to experience and live within it every day. This is everything from the food I ate to holidays celebrated, and even cultural norms. I got to see a whole different part of the world right infant of my eyes.
As for the lessons I learned from this program, I find myself leaving with have realized the importance of curiosity. Without the desire to learn and grow from the places around you, you will never get to embrace the cultures of the people that make up our planet. Asking good questions and waking up each day determined to learn something new has been an amazing perspective that I’ve been able to pick up after being here. Another lesson I’ve learned is how important history is. Getting to understand why laws are the way they are, why certain cultures dislike other cultures, and what makes this place so different from America has allowed me to grow educationally.
Overall my time in Hong Kong has been filled with many new friendships, growth in my academic career, and a change in the way I perceive cultures different from mine. Aside from the physical place itself, I found I learned most from the people I was surrounded by. I have made friends with people from all over the world and I have been blessed with getting to hear different stories and experiences from people who live a life completely different from mine back home. Yes, picking up everything and moving to a different country for a few months can seem very intimidating, but doing hard things makes you gentle to the ways of the world. I’ve learned to be adventurous, be curious, and be willing to change.
