Dear all,
Here I am, honouring my promise to NUS - A blog about my study exchange experiences in Hong Kong.
This is The University of Hong Kong's (HKU) Main Building. Does the design of this building not remind you of some ancient building? Well, let me give you some history of HKU.
The University is founded in 1910 - the birth of Hong Kong's first tertiary institution. In December 1916, the University held its first congregation, with just 23 graduates.
It was ten years after the founding of HKU that women students were admitted for the first time. In 1937, Queen Mary Hospital opened and has served as the University's teaching hospital since that time.
Up to today, it is now Hong Kong's largest tertiary-level institution for continuing education with cumulative enrolment totalling more than one million students.
Therefore, I am pretty sure I will be able to gain some quality education over here, together with some cultural exchange and interaction with the local students. I will definitely enjoy my semester here! So dear friends, enjoy along with me! =)
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
31st August - Departing & ArrivalDad, Mom, Edmund, Shawn and Rev Liew came to send me off. Met up with 4 other friends to set off together. Many friends called me and some sent me SMSes before I got on the plane. I love my friends. I will also not forget the farewell dinner that all of them gave me. I miss them lots!!
There were hugs, but no tears...
Jetstar Asia is really small. The plane is small, the seats are small, not to mention the leg space. But what more can I ask for with air fares of not more than SGD$130?
Reached HK Airport in around 4 hours time. The place is nice and clean. Not very much different from Changi Airport. Met up with HKU buddies, and had our first bite of HK food! Not too bad, but a little costly. Well, food in the airport is less price elastic ain't it? Haha
Took the Airport Express Train and cab to HKU. The speed of the train is very fast! But it's kinda costly. HKD$100! It's a good experience though. Took the cab too as my university is not anywhere near the MTR stations.
I am so glad that I went with the guys. Their acts of gentlemen saves me the energy and trouble in carrying my huge and heavy luggage!
The weather is VERY hot. I really have to emphasise on that. We had thought that Singapore is bad, but somehow, it's worse in HK! It's hot, it's humid, and it's polluted! I thought I was in Kuala Lumpur. (Remember the haze problem in KL?)
Reached my hall, and is really very satisfied with it. The best thing of it all is its location. Swire Hall is located in campus. Though it is not new, but they had changed the furnitures and refurnished the place like 2 years ago. So the stuff in there are still quite new. The only bad thing is that you have to climb the stairs for around 4 storeys before you can reach the Ground level to take the lift up to your room. I climbed at least twice a day, meaning at least 8 storeys a day!
By the way, the fan in my room ain't working. Therefore I have to switch on the aircondition instead. Of course, I have to pay for it. I have to purchase an Air conditioning card (shown below), and whenever I want to switch on the aircon, I have to download credits into the machine before I can use. What a chore! Each credit cost me HKD$1 . What a waste of money..
My roommate is from Mainland China. A year 3 Economics and Finance undergraduate. She's not too bad, just that a little.. should I say, calculating? And a little obssessed with cleanliness? And a little afraid of cold? Haha. Whatever. I just have to learn to be accommodating. She's not too bad, so I am sure I can get along well with her. At least I am prepared to humble myself to accommodate and get use to the culture here. I am not here to be a queen afterall.
Took a short stroll around HKU with my friends, and set off for Causeway Bay to get some necessities. I was amazed by the buildings here. They are unorganized and the arrangements and structure of the buildings are really not systematic. They are everywhere! They are congregated together, in other words, crowded. Most of the buildings are quite old too..
I took the tram. Was quite amazed by it too. Didn't know that Hong Kong, being a rather developed country, still has trams for one of their transport! Probably to preserve their cultural heritage or something? It is quite an experience to ride on a tram. It is the cheapest transport, but very slow and hot (No air condition).
Realised that Hong Kong is located on high land. There are just so many slopes and stairs to climb! Especially HKU! I think my university is located right on the hill! People had said that I will put on weight in HK because of the food here, but seriously, I think I will lose weight because of all the stairs I have to climb and all the slopes I have to walk everyday! I am not exaggerating. Most of the places have escalators up but not down! So you gotta climb the stairs down most of the time. I seriously don't understand why they did not build escalators that go down too...
Realised that Cantonese is still the primary language used over here. Most of their standards of English and Mandarin (Called pu tong hua here) are rather low. Many of the undergraduates could not speak English would you believe it? I wonder how they go for lectures and examinations.. Well, there is a little language barrier here and there, and I am still learning. At least I know the usage of some everyday phrases. All thanks to the HK serial I watched before coming. Really learned alot from there.
There's not much things to adapt here. Weather is almost similar to Singapore. Environment as well. The only thing is probably the language I guess.
I hope my days will go on smoothly. =)
11:59 PM , Reminisced
