Why Hong Kong?
'I wanted to explore Asia, so I applied to several universities — in Hong Kong, and Australia, although the latter is not in Asia. In the end, I chose Hong Kong because a friend from UT studied there last semester and had a great experience. His positive stories gave me the final push to pick Hong Kong.'
What’s your first impression of the university?
'Everything is very well organized. The university helped me find an affordable place to live. I share an apartment with another student, and the bathroom is shared with students from a neighboring apartment. Sharing a place took some getting used to it at first. Luckily, making friends was easy. On my first day, there was a campus event where I met a lot of new people. Now, we’re exploring the city together.'
Tell us about your adventures so far
'I really enjoy nature here. Hiking has become one of my favorite activities. I also started running with some friends. The campus is within walking distance of Victoria Harbor, which is a beautiful spot to run. Watching the sunset while walking has also become a fun hobby I’ve picked up — my friends and I usually walk a bit and then pick a nice spot to watch the sun go down. With some snacks, it becomes a really special moment.'
What else have you done?
'I’ve been here since early January and have already traveled a lot around Southeast Asia — China, the Philippines, Thailand, and Japan. Traveling in Asia is affordable and easy. My best experience so far was the Thai Songkran festival. Everyone had water guns and buckets, and they would throw them at each other. It was an unforgettable trip because we didn’t even know the festival was happening beforehand, we also rented scooters and spent time on the beach — it was a tropical trip.'
What cultural differences have you noticed?
'The biggest difference between Hong Kong and Enschede is the social culture. People in Hong Kong tend to stick closely to their own circles and don’t easily reach out to new people. But if you take the initiative, they are very friendly and open.'
What are your plans for the rest of your stay?
'I want to experience more of the city itself. Since January, I’ve mostly been traveling, so I haven’t seen much of Hong Kong yet. Now I want to spend more time hiking, running, and exploring the city. I’ll be here until mid-May, so I want to make the most of my time.'
And after that?
'I’ll continue with my master’s in Singapore! I really like the culture and social atmosphere there. And I definetely want to come back to Hong Kong someday.'
