Jason Li

I wanted to experience the student life in a different country and learn Chinese characters, so I decided to study abroad in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

I learned about common mistakes foreign language learners make when learning Putonghua. The pronunciation for “cup” and “comforter” are similar. Despite learning about this mistake, I made the same mistake when I was looking for a cup, I instead asked for a comforter.

The biggest challenge was the housing options because I did not know which accommodation option was the best.

First, I would wake up and go to class. After classes, I would do some homework. When dinner came around, some friends and I would get together and go out to try a new restaurant and explore the country.

I took language and cultural courses while abroad. The courses were comparable to Berkeley classes, maybe a bit lighter.

The most meaningful aspect of my time abroad was becoming friends with people from other countries. We took language classes and that language was our way of communicating with each other because that was the only common language between us.

I feel much more open-minded and more knowledgeable about other cultures.

TRY TRY TRY to make it happen. It's such a rewarding experience. You learn so much about the world and about yourself.