Not only does Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange offer programs during the semester, but we also offer students the opportunity to spend an academic year abroad on select programs. Anita Kwan, a senior studying East Asian Languages and Cultures as well as Economics, took this opportunity to study at the University of Hong Kong for the 2016-2017 academic term. Because she was there for a full year, Anita was able to take part in unique academic opportunities, learn about different cultures and sample new food; experiences she may not have had if she had studied at HKU for a semester. And with the help of the Gilman Scholarship, she was able to finance her time abroad with less stress.
As soon as Anita arrived for the Fall semester, she was introduced to the culture through various activities on campus. “We took tram rides, learned about local religions and had local food at a Chinese restaurant near the university”. Upon her arrival, Anita was able to take advantage of the Family Sharing Program at HKU that assigns exchange students to host families. “I was fortunate enough to be able to join a family that founded the Hong Kong International Hula Association. After about four months, I was able to perform and spread awareness of Hawaiian culture and Hula dancing.”
Anita quickly learned that Illinois and HKU differ when it comes to academics. “At Illinois, we are used to registering for courses months before starting the semester. That was not the case at HKU”. Something that surprised Anita when she began her courses was that her English vocabulary and fluency was not as good as she thought. “It was only after I started reading the materials required for class that I realized how much I lacked when it came to my native language.” She felt as though the humanitarian courses at HKU were quite advanced and required a lot of reading each week. But, after a semester of taking multiple courses at HKU, Anita found a new interest in Hong Kong Studies. “During winter break, I took the opportunity to attend the Annual Hong Kong Conference. This conference not only broadened my perspective of the importance of local cultures, but inspired me to explore my graduate options.”
"My five other roommates all came from different countries, including the UK, France, Austria, Romania, and Ireland. We were all able to learn different accents, adapt to different usages of vocabulary, and learn about and try each other’s food preferences."
Although studying took up a good amount of her time, Anita still made sure to enjoy Hong Kong’s culture through its food and customs. “Being an international city, Hong Kong houses foods that range from cheap to quite expensive. Most of the cheaper, local foods, like Tsim Sha Tsui or Mong Kok, can be found in the bustling districts of Kowloon and certain residential areas”. In addition to the local foods, Anita got the chance to explore and experience many of the most popular attractions. “I was able to travel to various landmarks in Hong Kong, including the Peak, Big Buddha, Man Mo Tample, Ocean Peak, Stanley Bay and Ladies’ Market. If you do some exploring, there are still areas where the culture of Hong Kong is still present, like the village areas in Yuen Long, or the residential areas on Lantau Island.”
When it comes to the cost of studying at HKU, Anita said that tuition was much cheaper than studying at Illinois. However, she had some advice to give students considering studying abroad in the future. “One tip that I would give is to keep the cost of transportation, living expenses and miscellaneous costs in mind”. Because she received the Gilman Scholarship, her rent and other expenses were covered during her time there. “The Gilman Scholarship is available for all U.S. citizen undergraduates to study or intern abroad. It wouldn’t hurt to apply, even if you don’t end up studying abroad.”
By spending a full academic year abroad, Anita was able to attend conferences, experience local customs and meet people she may not have, had she studied at HKU for only a semester. Overall, she learned a lot about a new culture and herself. “I was able to not only learn how to live on my own, but I was forced out of my comfort zone to make new friends who had vastly different backgrounds than my own.”
