Pre-departure feels
The opportunity to study abroad in Hong Kong has been an equally exciting and nerve-wracking experience so far. I have never been out of the country so I have had to do a lot to prepare for the trip. As my departure day draws near, I feel more and more confident that this will be an amazing journey.
I was born and raised in the valley, and I am very interested to see how the city of Hong Kong is different from the less densely populated area that I have grown up in. I am sure there is so much for me to learn from this trip, and I plan to soak in as much as I can! It’s also comforting to know that I will be sharing this experience with new friends that are also passionate about sustainable policy.
I have spent the last few weeks slowly but surely preparing for the trip. Getting my passport was fun, having one makes me feel so free—I can go anywhere now! So far, I only have to do a few more things before I am all set for the trip. My list consists of a few vague instructions for myself.
Study Abroad To Do:
- Do all the abroad things
- Fill scripts, take vaccine pill thing
- Figure out money
- Print stuff
- Pack
- Do the reading
- Contact bank about monies
Since I have never traveled internationally, all the things I have to do are very new to me. I try to accomplish one item per day, and our faculty directors have been very helpful with giving us tips and tricks and informing us of things that I would have never anticipated. For example, I would have never thought to have directions prepared in case the cab driver from the airport doesn’t speak English. I never considered that social norms such as tipping in restaurants would be different. And who knew they had different electrical outlets in other countries?
With a little less than three weeks left, a full list of to-dos and a hefty arsenal of ambition, I will continue to plunge into the program, and hopefully learn a few things along the way.