Meggan BOAG

Student of The University of Adelaide, Australia
Exchange to The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

In many ways university exchange programs allow students to live and study in another country they may have otherwise not been able to visit. Such an opportunity allowed myself, Meggan Boag, from the University of Adelaide, to attend The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) for one semester beginning January 2015. The exchange program provided me with a number of opportunities, skills and memories I will always cherish. The city of Hong Kong itself provides experiences worth remembering, from the immense skyscrapers to the abundance of street food, temples, and hidden alleyways, beckoning to be explored. You will never feel lonely or bored in Hong Kong as you will quickly lose yourself amongst the rich culture and customs.

One of the more mesmerising experiences was simply living in Hong Kong during Chinese New Year. Hong Kong was full of travelers from China and across the globe to attend a number of specific events, including the world renowned street parade and fireworks display. The city was dressed in shades of red and gold, and was alive at all hours of the night. Hong Kong is a unique city with colossal skyscrapers surrounded by a beautiful harbor; it is hard not to fall in love with the beauty. Hong Kong also has a number of secluded islands nearby which are easily accessible. These islands are home to an array of wildlife, including bird and monkey species. It was difficult to imagine that you were only a short boat ride away from a bustling city.

During the semester, I had the privilege of living on campus at CUHK which was surprisingly a very spacious campus compared to the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. Aesthetically, the campus was very beautiful – I even had the honor of living in a building right along the waterfront which provided picturesque views throughout the semester. The University placed me with a local roommate who was always willing to share her tips on Hong Kong and to cook me her favourite Chinese delicacies. Academically, CUHK offered an extensive range of classes to take in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. The teachers themselves were very prestigious and passionate about their subjects and were always willing to teach the international students about Chinese history, customs and traditions. My classes had a range of students from local Hong Kong students, to Mainland China and a number of other nationalities. The University provided me the opportunity to make friends locally and across the world.

The location of Hong Kong allowed me to travel both to Mainland China and throughout a number of countries in Asia; including Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Myanmar and India. Therefore, this exchange not only provided me with the chance of living in Hong Kong it also allowed me to gain more experience travelling throughout Asia.

I would like to extensively thank the Cheung Kong Group for selecting me to receive the Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Awards. Not only did the Award help me with the expenses associated with going on exchange it provided me with additional funding to explore Hong Kong, China and a number of other Asian countries. I will never forget the memories I have made at CUHK and in Hong Kong.

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