Lindsay Choi
"The most interesting cultural experience I had abroad was going on a field trip with my classmates to the Big Buddha monument at Lan Tau Island. We got to see all of Hong Kong by cable car to the monument, and I was in awe of the contrast between the city and the mountain life. The Big Buddha was quite enormous as well; I don't think I've ever seen a Buddha that large before!"
For me, studying abroad is a classic college experience that should be done at least once in a student's lifetime, and I love traveling to new countries to learn internationally. I initially chose Hong Kong because I've never been to and I had heard great things about Hong Kong culture as well as food. Hong Kong was also the closest country to my home, so it was easy for me to visit my family quickly before traveling to my program.
The most interesting cultural experience I had abroad was going on a field trip with my classmates to the Big Buddha monument at Lan Tau Island. We got to see all of Hong Kong by cable car to the monument, and I was in awe of the contrast between the city and the mountain life. The Big Buddha was quite enormous as well; I don't think I've ever seen a Buddha that large before!
The biggest concern of my study abroad experience was the ongoing political and social unrest of the local people; specifically, the anti-extradition bill protests. However, by keeping myself updated through news sites and our host university, I was able to progress smoothly throughout the summer without any incident. I actually got to know a lot about Hong Kong history and the local attitudes, so I saw this as a valuable historical experience.
A typical day would be waking up around 6 AM, getting ready to leave by 7 AM, and taking an hour-commute to my internship company. There, I would do all duties required of me by my supervisor, and making sure I was completing all tasks within the time given. Around 6:30 PM, I would leave my company and take the hour-commute back to the dorms, shower, eat dinner, and fall asleep.
I took two required courses from UC Berkeley; one online, UGIS W157, and the other at the host university, IAS 196. When taking courses abroad, I had to be aware of the different time zones and how this affected turning in assignments on time. This made me more aware of my time and work management, as well as my work ethic in completing assignments.
The time spent with my colleagues at my workplace and my fellow Berkeley classmates was the most memorable aspect of my time abroad. Not only was I able to forge relationships with other creative minds in Hong Kong, but I was able to connect culturally with other students I would never have even talked to from UC Berkeley.
Personally, studying abroad made me more aware of the international issues and what was happening on a global scale. In Berkeley, I really never paid much attention to what was going on outside of the US besides that of my home country South Korea. I was also made aware of the differences in international workplaces outside the US, and the possibility of working in other countries.
I really recommend students making sure to thoroughly research before selecting a country to go abroad; awareness of the different local customs, language barriers, and public services can really help students traverse their host country a lot easier and exploring places without any fear!