Amongst this densely packed metropolis, everybody is constantly in a rush. There is not a second throughout the day where there isn’t something going on in the bustling city of Hong Kong. To some, it’s nothing but an international business hub; to others it’s a juxtaposition where East and West intertwine and where tradition meets modernity. To many people it’s a place of culinary excellence, while others only see the congestion of the city, but nestled within this vivid city is the place where I found myself.   

Coming to college, I didn’t care much about studying abroad, I have travelled to many places, never failing to go on a trip out of state at least once a year for as long as I can remember. What can studying abroad do but add another check mark to my already long list of places I have travelled to? 

Two years ago, I had a conversation with one of my cousins that changed my whole perspective on studying abroad. He is well into his 30s now, but he, along with his wife, strongly urged me to study abroad especially since neither of them got the chance to. My cousin doesn’t have strong opinions on things, so when he urged me to study abroad, I knew that there must be something special about it. The rest of the conversation was a bit of a blur to me, but I trusted him because he has always taken care of me and still does to this day.  

As I started researching places where I wanted to study abroad, one thing was for sure, it had to be in Asia. Everything from the cheap eats to vibrant culture, to the levels of safety and efficiency, and even the fast and widespread public transportation drew me to this region of the world. As I continued in my research, I narrowed down my choices to Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea. Hong Kong was out of the picture as I didn’t see that as an option. I opted to not pursue Korea as I thought Japan would be the best fit for me. I was super excited and started preparing for my departure. But soon after, I found out that Japan was no longer a viable option for me. I was super bummed and frustrated, but I continued to research my possible options.  

It turned out that I didn’t do enough research initially. Hong Kong was an option! With one week to turn in the application I had the support of my advisors as well as family members goading me on. I was able to turn everything in on time and got notified that I would be attending The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). I was ecstatic at the opportunity to explore the city where my moms side of my family is from and to rediscover my roots on my own terms.

For me, attending CUHK wasn’t just about going to a random university across the world to gain a new perspective, it was to better understand myself, my roots, and my family history. Back in the 80s, my uncle attended this exact university. I grew up hearing stories about his time here and how influential that experience has been on his life. My sister nearly attended CUHK as well for a semester abroad. Unfortunately, this was just around when COVID hit so she was unable to go. 

I knew that going to Hong Kong and specifically attending CUHK was the right choice and everything leading up to this was meant to happen. I wasn’t just going to Hong Kong for myself, I was going for my sister, my uncle, my cousin, and my entire family. Every fiber of my being knew that I had made the right choice. 

 

Studying abroad in Hong Kong was one of the most impactful experiences of my life. I am proud of the person I have become and the person that I am becoming. Through this experience I not only was able to rediscover my roots and my cultural identity, but I also evolved as a person. I gained new perspectives on life, a better understanding of who I am, and was able to connect with people from all over the world. I’ve grown into a more confident and self-assured person– no longer scared of the unknown nor discouraged when something doesn’t go my way. When you step outside of your bubble, you will discover who you truly are and how much your environment dictates who you are. Don’t be afraid of the unknown, it’s the best thing that can happen to you. 

I have painted a picture of what my journey of going to Hong Kong was like, but something that is severely underscored throughout this blog is the amount of anxiety, pressure, and stress I felt through this entire process. Deciding to study abroad was not something that I took lightly. Yes, my family and my background played a part in my decisions, but I almost said no because of my fear of the unknown. Through this experience, I learned to be scared and take risks at the same time. It is better to try things and fail than to regret not taking any steps towards your goals or ambitions. I almost let my worries and fear hold me back, but now I get to look back and smile at the memories that I made and everything that I have accomplished.   

So, what would have happened had I not taken that leap to study abroad? 

  • I would never have tried cheer 
  • I would not appreciate my culture as much or understand my roots 
  • I would never have met so many amazing people that made my heart hurt when I had to say goodbye to them 
  • I would never have known my calling in life 
  • I would never have been able to rediscover the birthplace of my mother 
  • I would never have loved life and appreciate everything I have as much as I do now
  • I would never have known what it means to live life and stay in the moment


Hong Kong will forever be my home away from home, from the comforting food of my heritage to the friends and family members that will always have a place in my heart. I can never think about Hong Kong and not smile. Doing something you’re scared of is frightening, but it is way less scary than having the fear of regret. 

So, to Hong Kong, thank you for everything, the memories will never be forgotten. I can’t wait to make my return. 

多謝大家閱讀我的故事。

If you want to see a photo album of my time abroad, here is the link 🙂

 

Kristen Ng

Statistics B.S. & Economics B.A.

Minor: Analytics

Fall 2024 | Hong Kong SAR

The Chinese University of Hong Kong