My wild nights and adventures studying abroad in Hong Kong and Asia

I studied abroad in Hong Kong in the fall of 2015, and I want to tell you what Hong Kong is all about. It is not just some dirty or smoggy city, it is a magical place full of wonders.

Very few students at Syracuse choose to study abroad in Asia, and I think it’s a mistake. Most students choose to study abroad in Europe because it is the easiest option.

It’s only a six to eight hour plane ride compared to heading to Asia 16 hours away.

If you choose to study abroad in Europe, the culture shock won’t be as significant. Chances are, you are more familiar with European culture than Asian culture. Perhaps you believe the food will be “better,” more people will speak English, and you’ll  be relatively close to several major cities like London, Paris, Madrid, Florence etc.

I respect my fellow college mates decisions of going to Europe, but I honestly feel that when Americans go to London, they are not challenging themselves to experience a lifestyle that is drastically different from the one in America. I highly recommend that you don’t go to an English speaking country, instead go to a country that speaks a new language and has different customs.  If you want adventure in life, do something new and different. Adventure is out there if you are willing to take risks.

As an aspiring real estate developer and billionaire, I saw Hong Kong as the mecca, the Donkey Kong, the international city that pumps adrenaline into the global markets.

The culture: Welcome to one of the most exotic countries

Many people have asked me, “how was China?” First things first, Hong Kong is not China, it is Hong Kong. 

Some people even asked me, “How was Japan?”

No, no…it is simply Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is a free capitalist country different from its communist neighbor China. But it is important to take into account that although it is independent, it is a special administrative region of China. Hong Kong’s well structure and capitalist environment has attracted businesses from all over the world to come and establish their headquarters within the growing Asian Market. Also it has drawn foreigners to come.

The culture in Hong Kong is completely different than it is from mainland China. One major difference is that Hong Kong is not communist, it is a free country just like the United States. People’s freedom allows them to uniquely adapt and create their individuality. 

The night life: Blackout or don’t even go out

Who said blacking out isn’t fun? Well, it’s not fun since you will probably not recall anything from your night. If you want to have a good time and remember the adventures you are taking, don’t do it. Pace yourself with the drinking.

Hong Kong is one of the most hard working cities in the world, and because of this, Hong Kong nightlife is without a doubt lit. In Hong Kong’s central district, many go out to a place called Lan Kwai Fong, or LKF, to hit the hottest bars and clubs. Our weekends were well spent at this magical place.

On Thursdays, my friends and I took part in the pub crawl, which united a crowd of people and all together in the form of a mob would hit the bars and end our night at an exclusive club. Good deals on drinks I must say.

Friday and Saturday nights were very well spent at LKF. One cool thing about Hong Kong was the 7-Eleven. Unlike America where you find 7-Elevens rarely, in Hong Kong they are in almost every single corner. So, instead of spending money on expensive drinks at the bars, we would just buy our drinks at 7-Eleven and then hit the bar. Did I forget to mention that there were over four 7-Eleven’s in LKF, which made it even more convenient to spend on a college budget?

LKF was a big celebration, everyone has fun and dances like there is no tomorrow. It was just nothing but excitement. A big carnival pretty much.

Maybe I had a little too much fun.

More than just a city

It’s interesting. Whenever you think of Hong Kong, you think about a smoggy and dirty city with modern skyscrapers. Let me tell you, Hong Kong is pretty clean and it is MORE than just skyscrapers. I must say, New York has less green space than Hong Kong. Hong Kong has mountains that you can hike on, forests filled with monkeys, tropical islands to explore, a massive sea to do water sports and swimming, fine beaches and small towns to explore.

People in Hong Kong, are very fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Hong Kong offers vast amount of green and blue space to explore.

Proximity to other countries

Hong Kong is the heartbeat of Asia, arguably speaking, its location makes it easy to travel to an amalgam of areas such as Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Australia, and more.

My absolute favorite place was Thailand.

Thailand is absolutely magical, and there is no other place where I am eager to visit again than Thailand. The food is delicious, the people are friendly, the culture is welcoming, and it is one of the most open-minded countries in Asia.

After my visit to Thailand, I kicked Italian food out of my list of favorite foods and added Thai second to my list behind Colombian food. Thai food has to be the best cuisine out there.

Not to forget the other places I visited, Beijing, Shenzhen, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, and Singapore. They were all Insane places.

If you don’t study abroad in Hong Kong, when will you get the chance to travel around Asia?

I loved it so much that I am considering moving back to Hong Kong for a couple of years. However, I must keep in mind that there is a difference between studying abroad in another country and actually living there.

If I go back to Hong Kong by myself, with no friends and family, life will be intensely difficult.  It is a good thing I made friends while interning for a fortune 500 company for five weeks.

There is a beauty about traveling abroad, and experiencing life in another country. There is still a whole part of the world that I have to discover. I am for sure coming back to Hong Kong.

Wherever you go, it does not have to be Hong Kong (although I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT) get out of America and study abroad. It will change your perspective on life for the better.

What are you waiting for? Apply now, the deadline for the SU study abroad is September 15th.