Cooper's Exchange to City University | Hong Kong
So I spent 4 months studying at City University of Hong Kong in semester 2, 2015. What can I say, I had the craziest and probably the most interesting 4 months of my entire life. I met so many awesome people and made some great friends. I learnt about the history, people, and the culture of Hong Kong and China, both in class and out. I improved my language skills. I also learned about living independently and overall I feel I grew as a person. I basically just had an amazing time and there's not much else to say but to give a few examples of some of the great experiences I had!
For the first few days it was, admittedly, a little intimidating. I didn't know anyone, I was in a strange place all by myself, and it became overwhelming, not really knowing what to do when I know I'm supposed to be having the time of my life. However, that feeling soon disappeared completely. Living in the student dorms, you're constantly surrounded by other students and so it's basically impossible not to make friends and meet people.
From the moment I felt 'settled in' to the moment I had to finally leave and go home back to Australia was an insane rollercoaster ride of non stop fun, as well as learning and personal development. Apart from waking up with the worst hangover of all time and realising I had an assignment due at 5pm that I hadn't started, or having to rock up to a 3 hour long lecture at 9am after a big night, which I did an embarrassing number of times. However, somehow I managed to pass all my courses, and do reasonably well too - it's totally possible to enjoy the exchange student lifestyle and do yo
I visited Macau, the 'vegas of asia', which is just an hour's ferry ride from Hong Kong. I took a 30 minute train over to Shenzhen, part of mainland China, and had a local girl show me around. I climbed to the top of Lantau Peak and saw the Big Buddha, and had my skin turn to bacon thanks to the sunburn. I hiked another mountain with a friend at 3AM, just for a laugh. I walked through a typhoon without an umbrella. I spent a night at the horse races at the famous Happy Valley racecourse. I spent countless nights walking around the city streets drinking cheap beer with my friends (which is legal to do over there). Of course, I woke up in an alleyway in Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong's club district, on more than one occasion.
I even met a celebrity. Perhaps the coolest thing I did though, was go on a tour with a bunch of other uni students, both local, international and exchange students like myself, from all over the world, to North Korea (or the DPRK, as they insist on calling it there). There's not really a way any of us have figured out how to express how surreal it was, even months later. It's something you just have to experience for yourself, a truly unique place on earth.
To any students out there considering whether or not to go on exchange, you have to do it. I can't recommend it enough. Even if it's a bad experience for you (which it definitely won't be), wouldn't you rather at least know that you gave it a shot, instead of thinking back in 5 or 10 years about the fantastic time you could have had?
I would like to thank the people at Murdoch, CityU, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who made it possible for me to go on exchange. I can't express my gratitude enough.
- Cooper studied abroad at City University in Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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