Vietnam

Towards the end of my stay in Hong Kong I decided to take a ten day trip to Vietnam. My plane ticket costed about $350 USD and my visa was $500 HKD. 

I decided to take this trip for many personal reasons. From what I understand so far of my own personal background, my grandparents were from China and had immigrated to Vietnam where they have settled and eventually raised a family and my parents. 

Side Trip to Okinawa!

This past semester I was lucky enough to make a couple of good friends that I was able to go traveling with. Both these friends are local Hong Kong residents that also live in Hall 10 with me. Although different ages and backgrounds we are all able to get along through common interests and compatible personalities.

As a Hawai'i resident, it is questionable why I choose to take a trip to Okinawa as their environment and living style is very close to Hawaii's. But what Okinawa had that Hawai'i didn't was amazing food and traditional hot springs. 

Winter Holidays

This year was the first year I spent my winter holidays away from home. Being Asian, my family and I aren't huge Christmas and New Years celebration types of people.

Back home my friends and I would get together for a nice dinner and exchange gifts. Christmas and New Years morning I'd have Dim Sum with the family and go to a relatives house to play all day and night.

The Good-Byes

From elementary to college I've had pretty much the same pool of friends; one reason being because Hawai'i is very small and second because we all lived in the same neighborhood so coming together to hangout was really easy. After leaving Hawai'i to go to Hong Kong I was forced to meet and make completely new friends. Through common goals and interests I was able to meet a bunch of exchange and local friends. Although it has only been a little over four months ago since I've learned their names, I sometimes feel as if we have been friends for many years.

School, Midterms, Finals!

My lack of posts lately was, sadly, not because I was having too much fun in the wondrous land that is Hong Kong. It is because many of my deadlines were quickly arriving all at once.

After having done my semester abroad, I've come to the conclusion that attending school in another country, english speaking or not, will always be difficult. Many people think that because their exchange school teaches in the same language their taught in then everything should be fine. But no, the language may be the same but the usage is different. Just like how from state to state we are able to hear different slangs, pronunciations, and means; here in Hong Kong its the same way only magnified ten thousand times.

Hall 10

Never have I ever been able to experience the college dorm life because of factors such as distance and costs. Living only fifteen minutes (driving) from UH Manoa I never felt the need to live on campus. Although a little cheaper than renting an outside apartment, the cost of living for staying in a dorm is still pretty costly.

As an exchange student, anywhere, living on your own or with a friend is inevitable. Currently living at the Student Residence in Hall 10, one of two new halls that opened a little more than a year ago, I'm really enjoying the freedom I have.

Pizza (from scratch) Night & Freshwater Hairy Crab Night

O-Camp

Unique to Hong Kong, Orientation Camp or O-Camp for short, is an event that aims to integrate new students into a club/organization. Usually run by returning students, this event can last anywhere from one to three days, include multiple venues per day, and can involve as many as 100 students. This event is considered one of the biggest events an organization will put on for their members.