Hi everyone! My name is Jules, and I’m a USC sophomore living and studying in Hong Kong for the year. I’m a member of one of the IB Cohort programs, so I’m studying here with four other USC students learning all about business in China, studying Mandarin language, and experiencing all that HK and Asia have to offer!
We just arrived a month ago after spending the summer in Taiwan learning Mandarin, and it’s been a big, but all in all smooth adjustment. One interesting thing about Hong Kong is that they don’t speak Mandarin (what most people think of when they think Chinese language) but Cantonese, which is a language from Southern China. We learned some basic survival phrases in Canto, but due to Hong Kong’s international nature, most everyone speaks English and/or Mandarin as well, so communication for internationals is never a concern.
So far, we’ve spent our time in Hong Kong getting used to school, going to the beach, and adventuring around different HK neighborhoods like Mong Kok, Causeway Bay, Stanley, and Shatin (where our school is located). Each train stop feels like a completely different place, so there is no shortage of things to explore and be amazed by.
Trip to Hong Kong Park, located on the main island!
Furthermore, we arrived just in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival (a full moon harvest festival celebrated in Chinese culture) and were able to see a unique side of HK throughout the week surrounding the holiday. On Mid-Autumn festival night, my cohort member and I went to the Tai Hang Fire Dragon dance performance. It felt so incredibly special to be there and see the joy and familial environment surrounding the holiday. It brought us a lot of comfort, being so far away from home :)
Making tangyuan (stuffed rice flour dessert) with our residence hall for Mid-Autumn Festival
We also celebrated with a dinner hosted by our CUHK cohort members (students from Hong Kong who will come back to USC with us for our third year). It’s been so wonderful getting to know them and introduce them into the Gamecock family already!
Dinner with our IBCE batch and the program seniors/directors
Night in Mong Kok
My members and I are all so beyond excited for what the year has in store for us, and I can’t wait to share the joys, trials, and experiences of study abroad in Asia with all of you! Go Cocks!
- J
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