Apply What You Know
By Isaac Bernal
Although I finished my study abroad program in the middle of June, my trip did not stop there. Because of fortunate circumstances I was to stay in the region for an extra two weeks. Being privileged enough to travel abroad is not something I take very lightly. Rather, it is an opportunity to take advantage of. As such, I decided to backpack through Cambodia and Thailand.
Even though the program I went to in Hong Kong was over, continuing to learn about those issues never really stops. I found myself constantly looking at regions I was travelling through and thinking about what policies the various government could implement to help relieve certain sustainability issues. Each country and region is unique and requires a different tactic when trying to address various issues. Sustainability problems don’t stop at a political border; rather, they often cross over and affect the region as a whole. My time studying in Hong Kong left me with a new lens through which to look at the world. And because of this, I am thrilled. It shows that I really did take important lessons away from the program and experience. So as I was traveling around Southeast Asia, I was constantly reminded about various lessons learned in Hong Kong.