Bryan School Study Abroad Program
Adam Landreth
Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
Reason for Going
I decided when I was a freshman that I wanted to study abroad in order to see the other side
of the world and to expand my knowledge of different cultures. I was amazed at the level
of knowledge that I acquired while studying in Hong Kong. Throughout my travels I
experienced not only the Chinese culture, but also how each Asian culture is different
from another.
Accommodations
I really enjoyed my accommodations in Hong Kong because I lived on campus in a dorm
with two other Chinese students. One of my roommates was a local citizen from Hong
Kong and he spoke Cantonese, the other roommate was from mainland China and he spoke
Mandarin. It was a great experience to learn to understand two different Chinese
cultures throughout the semester. Most buildings in Hong Kong are space-efficient,
and my dorm was no exception. However, it provided a great view of the Tolo Harbor
and was close to everything, which made up for the size.
Classes
I took four business classes and one culture class while I was studying in Hong Kong.
The content and concepts are relatively similar to those at UNCG, but the style of
teaching is really different. Depending on the class I would either have one final
exam worth 100% or 2 exams or a paper worth 50% each. This format made it much
easier for me to travel around and the professors even encouraged students to take
trips when possible. I am glad that I took their advice because on my trips I
experienced some of the best times on my life.
Traveling
Traveling in Asia is very cheap, so I was able to travel around quite a bit. I
went to Macau, known as the Las Vegas of the east where I learned about their rich
Portuguese roots and Chinese influences, while visiting some of the grandest casinos
in the world. In Beijing I saw the Forbidden City and trekked 10km across the top of
the Great Wall. I was also able to go to Shanghai and experience the hustle and bustle
of a foreign metropolis. While in Indonesia I saw wild orangutans, rice fields, beautiful
beaches, waterfalls, and foliage. Singapore was a great experience because of its ideal
location and proximity to Indonesia and Malaysia. It was also a great base hub for travel
and leisure, where I enjoyed everything from the architecture to the food.
Future Plans
As for the future, I plan to take what I have learned from this experience and use it
in my jobs and also with school. I am planning on going to the Philippines this summer
for a couple of weeks and I also plan on studying abroad in Japan next year. I know
that as I gain these experiences and skills, the possibilities for future opportunities
are endless. After seeing other parts of the world, I want to travel more and experience
everything I can while I have the chance. I would recommend studying abroad to every
student because once you have this experience your life will never be the same.
Advice
- Research your country’s climate and pack accordingly.
- Go with an open mind and be willing to try new things.
- Get involved on campus because it will help deal with culture shock.
- Don’t spend all of your time with international students and take the time to get to know the people and culture.