'People Here Are Very Responsive': Alena Vasileva on Academic Mobility in Hong Kong
Alena Vasileva, student of the Bachelor’s programme ‘International Business and Management Studies’, is currently on academic mobility at the City University of Hong Kong College of Business. Alena shared her impressions of studying at the partner university.
— What advice would you give to students who are afraid to go to a distant and unfamiliar country? Have any of your fears and expectations come true?
— To be honest, I had almost no fears! I have friends in China, so I knew what to expect. But they told me that Hong Kong was more European than mainland China, so I should not have expected any particular difficulties. I only feared possible language difficulties. But English is the second official language here, so it's not that bad!
— What kind of people study at CityU and is it difficult to interact with them? Are there many international students?
— The vast majority of students here are local students (Hong Kongers) and students from mainland China. There are quite a lot of international students, but, for example, in class, only 10% are international ones. I attend a course where I'm the only international student, but it doesn't cause any problems. On the contrary, people here are very responsive: if I have a question about the subject, grading system, or general questions, everyone helps. At least, I haven’t met people who were rude to me or wouldn’t help!
— Are there any differences between your programmes at HSE University and CityU? Are the teaching style or approach to learning any different?
— There are lots of differences! Here, you choose your courses and build your own learning trajectory. Also, almost all courses include group work, which is very convenient, because you can meet a lot of new people from the first week of studies. The grading system here is also a bit different: the grades here are given in letters (like A, B, B+, etc.).
I wouldn't say it's harder to study at CityU than at HSE. It's more about the course content, not its complexity. For instance, I'm taking a trading course, and here, the main aim of the course is not to focus on theory, but only on practice. Of course, it is a bit harder as you spend a lot of time practicing your skills or developing some trading code. For me, it seems better than just cramming theoretical materials for an exam.
— What sights in Hong Kong would you recommend to students on next semester's exchange programme? Are there any unusual places or hidden gems that you want to share?
— M+ Museum, the Big Buddha, Disneyland, Ocean Park, hiking (for instance, to the Dragon's Back!), Victoria Peak and the Peak Tram (a tram that can take you all the way to the top) are definitely worth a visit!
If you want to try local food, you need to go to Mongkok, although there are quite a lot of places near CityU that are pretty good and where lots of students go after a hard day at university (for example, Ban Heung Lau Restaurant).
— Is it difficult to live in Hong Kong without knowing the Chinese language? Do the locals speak English?
— It is not difficult at all. As I mentioned earlier, English is the second official language here, so there are people who speak it everywhere. Moreover, all the signs, banners in the subway and rules are written in both Chinese and English, so here, even if you get lost, you can still find your way using the signs.
— Are there any myths about Hong Kong or China that turned out to be false? What things shouldn’t students be afraid of?
— Before coming to Hong Kong, I thought I would encounter a lot of ‘questionable’ and very spicy food, and that it would be hard for me to adjust to it. But it turned out differently: there are lots of places with European cuisine here—even the university canteen offers food from different world cuisines. When I go with my friends to any cafe, everyone understands my attitude to spicy food and asks to make the dishes not spicy.
Also, don't expect everyone in Hong Kong to speak English. The vast majority do, but many adults and elderly people speak English poorly or do not speak it at all unfortunately, so be prepared for salespeople at the market not understanding you, and you'll have to explain everything in signs. But in such situations, many locals (if they speak English well) usually help you solve the problem!
— Tell us about the campus itself and its infrastructure. What events are held in Hong Kong?
— The CityU campus is very large compared to HSE University. There are more than five main buildings. The Lau building has 19 floors! There is a large library, lots of study rooms and co-working rooms, which is very convenient. I live in a CityU dorm, and it takes only six minutes to get from my room to the main campus!
There is also a large mall and a metro station nearby, so it is very convenient to live and study here. There is a gym and a pool on campus (unfortunately, it is closed now due to the COVID-19 situation); there are also several gyms, three main dining halls and many small cafes where you can buy a sandwich or coffee. CityU has everything for a comfortable life, so I think I spend more time at the university than I do in my room!
— What essential items should students going to Hong Kong take with them?
- Socket adapters.
- As much cash as you can.
- Upon arrival, get an Octopus card. You can pay with this card almost everywhere, even in taxis. Only this card is accepted in the metro, and it's cheaper than buying a ticket every time at a machine.
- Take swimsuits and lots of summer clothes with you, because even in November and December the average temperature here is 27 degrees Celsius.
- Don't forget to take sweaters with you, since it is usually cool on campus because of the air conditioners.
- I would also recommend taking some medicine, as pharmacies in Hong Kong sell almost everything by prescription, and you may have trouble buying the usual headache pills.