Bill Bryson once said that, “The greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” On the 20th January 2012, this statement became true of the life that I was about to enter into, as I boarded a plane to Hong Kong where I would spend the next 5 months, experiencing the culture and exploring the fast-paced life of this country and all that it has to offer.
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| View from HKIEd |
After a tiresome journey full of a range of emotions, we finally arrived at the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) where we would be living and studying in. I was quite surprised that the university was surrounded by mountains and trees and situated in the ‘countryside’, as I was unaware Hong Kong actually had a countryside, naively perceiving it to be more like a ‘concrete jungle’ with its impressive skyline and high-rise buildings. Obviously I have so much more to learn about this diversely beautiful country and I can’t wait to do so. As we arrived at the start of the Chinese New Year celebrations, the halls which we are living in, Robert Black Halls, were mainly deserted as many of the native students have went back home to spend this important holiday with their families. As a result of this, I am yet to meet my roommate but I am looking forward to spending time with her and we will hopefully be able to communicate well together.
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| Outside my halls |
Arriving at the mouth of the Chinese New Year celebrations was just perfect, even though getting use to the time difference was difficult, we used this occasion to help bond with the other international exchange students. On Monday, we all travelled into Tsim Sha Tsui to watch the New Year Parade, which was filled with colourful cultural displays from many different countries. The following day we all headed back again to continue celebrating the Year of the Dragon with some of the home students, by watching an epic 25 minute long firework display over Victoria Harbour.
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| The Year of the Dragon |
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| New Year Parade |
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| A few of us enjoying the fireworks |
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| Chinese New Year fireworks |
There is a vast difference between the culture that I have grown up in and the one which I now exist in. The sheer volume of people in one small proximity has been an overwhelming shock for myself, comparing the 7 million residents of Hong Kong to the mere 1.8 million of Northern Ireland. There is also the contrasting factor of cuisine, which my Saturday night’s Chinese take-away did not represent correctly. Monique, our buddy, invited Andrew and I to her home for dinner on Saturday, enabling us the opportunity to experience traditional Chinese food with her family.
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| Enjoying a traditional Chinese meal with Andrew, Monique and her mum |
I am eager to continue to try all the new things that this culture presents and use this opportunity of international experience in Hong Kong to develop both as a person and in preparation for my future profession. Hopefully, I will master the technique of chopsticks too!
