Isabel's study abroad in Hong Kong
Embarking on an exchange year abroad to study at Hong Kong Baptist University through my history course, was an amazing experience and I’m very grateful to the University of Birmingham for giving me this opportunity. At first, the prospect of living abroad for 9 months was daunting, but by the end didn’t seem long enough!
Before I left for my year abroad, the financial costs were intimidating but the loans and grants available eased that burden, and studying abroad became the most incredible journey. I decided to study in Hong Kong as I really wanted to experience a culture outside of Europe and a city environment. Hong Kong was a great place to live as it also had beaches, hiking trails and lots and lots of islands to explore alongside being an urban hub. My favourite activities included hopping onto the tram to Victoria Peak which overlooked the entire city, going to the ladies market in Mongkok and eating Dim Sum at Prince Edward. Also due to its proximity, I had the opportunity to travel to Macau as well as other countries close by such as Thailand, South Korea and the Philippines! This experience of studying in Hong Kong changed me so much as it not only allowed me to learn new languages, but also permitted me to make new friends from all over the world and develop skills I would otherwise not have gained. Not only did I make friends with the locals but now I have friends in Sweden, Korea, Denmark and Spain. My confidence grew through navigating everyday challenges in a non-English speaking country and conversing with people from a range of different cultures.
Beyond my personal growth and leisure experiences, my exchange year abroad widened my educational focus. While I studied history, I also had the opportunity to study beginners’ mandarin, sociology, gender studies and international relations. Classes at Hong Kong Baptist University were quite different from those at the University of Birmingham. The teaching style varied significantly, and discussing subjects with students from around the world who presented very different perspectives, was truly fascinating. This allowed me to see things from a more global perspective, and really helped me as I prepared to go into final year. A year abroad not only allowed me to travel but also developed my academic learning, it went above and beyond my expectations! I would most definitely recommend a year abroad if given the chance, you won’t regret seizing this once in a lifetime opportunity.