David Sutanto

The University of Melbourne, Australia
Exchange to The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

As I write this, the end of the nightly Disneyland fireworks show can be seen in the distance from my ninth floor window, across the harbour dotted with lights of vessels. One of the biggest changes I faced when coming to Hong Kong was swapping a two-storey house in suburban Melbourne for a shared room in a high-rise hall of residence here in Hong Kong. I was a bit apprehensive at first about sharing a room with someone else, and my (local) roommate looked very surprised when I suddenly appeared in our room late one evening. Now, however, we get along well and the other students on my floor were very welcoming. Living in a small space now seems perfectly normal to me. It even has its advantages, as it is much easier to keep a few square metres tidy and organised!

Meeting new people has been very easy here. Staying in a hall meant that I was surrounded by new faces, whom I soon got to know. There are also exchange students from all over the world, including two others on my floor. Academically, university life here is very similar to that in Australia, and I didn’t have any trouble at all adjusting. I’ve found the experience of completing group assignments together with local students a good way to get to know them better. Joining activities with some of the student clubs has been another good way to meet more local students.

Hong Kong is well-known for its dense, urban areas packed with tall buildings, but its best kept secret would have to be the undeveloped areas of the territory. In fact, only about a quarter of its area is developed – whilst over 40% is set aside in country parks. When I got here, it was very quickly apparent why this is the case - much of Hong Kong is simply too hilly to build on. The upside of this is that these green areas offer a very accessible escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, and are ideal for outdoor activities. I have enjoyed hiking around many parts of Hong Kong, both with other local and exchange students, as well as with a local hiking club. True, it can be very strenuous clambering up (and scary slipping down) many of the steep mountains that dot Hong Kong, but the reward is very often a breathtaking view. However, this is not to take away from the built-up areas of the city, with the skyline of Hong Kong Island being simply stunning, especially at night.

Having the opportunity to travel around China and the region has also been one of the best parts of my time here. So far, I’ve been to Macau, Mainland China, Taiwan and the Philippines. Visiting China was a highlight, both when visiting must-see places such as Beijing, the Great Wall and Shanghai, and also lesser known areas such as rural Yunnan province. These places are so easily accessible from Hong Kong, and there is ample time during weekends and on holidays to explore the area.

I would highly recommend Hong Kong as an exchange destination (indeed as a place to live, if you ever get the chance), as it really has something for everyone. I’ve had a fantastic time here, getting to know people from all over the world, living in a new city and seeing many new places. My time here has flown by all too quickly, and I will certainly be sad when it soon comes time to say goodbye.

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