Week 1 - First Impressions (Personal Blog)

The Hong Kong Institute of Education

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain 

My first few days in Hong Kong have been amazing to say the least and I have tried to embrace the statement made by Mark Twain by making the most of this fantastic opportunity to study abroad. After nearly 24 hours of travelling I finally arrived on Tuesday night at the Hong Kong Institute of Education in Tai Po. Within half an hour I found myself sitting in my first ‘survival’ Cantonese class; Cantonese appears to be a really difficult language to pick up because there are 9 different tones within their spoken language. However, I intend to make a conscious effort to learn some of the language and phrases – despite my Ballymena accent getting in the way! 

Robert Black Halls.

I am staying in Robert Black Halls and sharing my room with a local student called Calvin from Hong Kong. Before I came to Hong Kong I was a bit apprehensive about sharing a room but it has been a bonus being able to talk to a local student and have the opportunity of talking about our different cultures and experiences. Allen, Rachel and I attended a Wii night at our halls on Thursday night, where we met a lot of the local students. I honestly can’t speak highly enough of them; they are very friendly, outgoing and welcoming and do whatever they can to help. Their English is also fantastic so the language barrier hasn't been too much of a problem so far.

Nervous smiles with Simon and his friend Luke before our bungee jump!

On Saturday I met up with Simon Duff, who roomed opposite me in Stranmillis halls during first year. Simon is now teaching in Hong Kong and has been living out here for 18 months. It was his 24^th birthday so we went to Macau and did the highest bungee jump in the world off Macau tower which is 233m high! Doing a bungee jump was on my “100 things to do before you die” list but I certainly didn’t think of this as my toes inched forward at the top of the tower, although the feeling of freefalling is unbelievable.

My leap of faith off Macau Tower!

Today all of the international students went on a tour of Hong Kong. We went to the Hong Kong Museum of History which as a history student I found particularly interesting. After this we walked along the Avenue of Stars which pays tribute to many of the famous actors and actresses from Hong Kong such as Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. We boarded the Star Ferry which gave us a fantastic view of the city, the skyline is amazing and completely different from anything I have seen in Europe. A particular highlight was the Symphony of Lights which happens at 8 o’clock every night in Hong Kong. All of the skyscrapers produce a lights show in sync with music - a magnificent spectacle, which will stay ingrained in my memory for a very long time.

The International students on the Star Ferry.

Tomorrow we start our classes; the modules will address: Assessment, Engaging Reluctant and Challenging Learners and Hong Kong History and Culture. I am looking forward to learning in a different environment and culture and observing their perspectives in education and comparing the differences to ours back in Northern Ireland. 

Trying sushi for the first time!

This week I also tried some new foods for the first time. I had some sushi which is an acquired taste. Ines, a fellow international student from Austria came with us and introduced us to some of the delicacies of sushi! My buddy Emily also was kind enough to make a traditional Chinese dessert, eaten during the Chinese New Year which is during the first week of February. This was an interesting experience because before I arrived I envisaged and dreamt of some banoffee or sticky toffee pudding. However when we sat down to some Tangyuan (a traditional Chinese food made from glutinous rice flour), to say my tastebuds were baffled would be an understatement! However Emily and her friends were very welcoming and we had good fun together.

Eating some tangyuan dessert with my buddy Emily.

The transport here in HongKong is first class, Tai Po is not located in the central part of Hong Kong therefore when we are travelling we use the MTR which is extremely efficient and easy to follow.

The sports facilities at the University are really good and the surroundings are stunning...... This week I hope to play some touch rugby and get involved in the football and maybe play some rugby sevens!  

Until next time.... 

Joi Gin (Goodbye)

Michael

Avenue of Stars.

Statue of Bruce Lee.

  

Jackie Chan on the Avenue of Stars.

Standing at the harbour waiting for the Symphony of Lights to start!

The International Students at the Hong Kong Museum of History.