I absolutely love Hong Kong! I had a little rough time getting used to this city—about three days. And everyday since then has been a perfect adventure in this city jungle. All my classmates, foreign or local, are very nice. This year there are about 200 exchange students, mainly from Europe, like Germany, France, and Sweden. I think I start to pick up some German and French accents. Local students are just super welcoming. They love to show you around the school and the city. The university life is beyond imagination. The student halls are divided into four groups according to the building (north or south) and floor number (even or odd). I am in Soong hall and just like other halls, there are hall events pretty much every other day. There are competitions between halls and between floors. The hall tutors, aka RAs, are very attentive. Personally, I am good friend with my hall tutor. She has the coolest name—Vegas. Classes are little different here than in Rollins. Bigger class sizes and a lot of lecture instead of discussion. Not much homework, sometimes reflections or essays, but heavily weighted on the finals. Most of my classes meet once a week for three hours, which is long but also allows me to have Wednesdays and Thursdays off. I can just do so much more with it.
Hong Kong has the most amazing landscape. I live on the Kawloon Island, which is the biggest one and connects with Mainland China. Hong Kong Island is just across from Victoria Harbor. Then there are about 200 small islands. So far, I have been to Park Island, Lamma Island and Chueng Chau. They are all beautiful places with beach and water within 1 hour of trip from either Kawloon or Hong Kong Island. Mountains and parks are also everywhere. Being one of the most expensive lands on Earth, you will be surprised to see how much green there are in the city. Hiking is real fun in Hong Kong. The Peak has the best view over Victoria Harbor. A random mountain in Tsuen Wan happens to be home to a lot of monkeys. I felt bad for disturbing a family gathering. Public transportation is extremely convenience. MTR, trains, buses, mini buses and taxis running through the city like blood in vein. It is quite fun exploring the city and sightseeing by taking MTR randomly. Most of the roads, hallways, paths, shops, and restaurants are small and narrow. It is common to over hear conversations or even share a table with other people. Luxury brands and local shops, foreigners and Hong Kongese, grand hotels and old apartments, everything just blend so well in Hong Kong like there is no difference between them. Eating a 20 HKD noodle bowl or a 800 HKD Italian full course can happen in one day. This city has its own charm and beauty beyond my words.
