Debbie takes Hong Kong!

I have been planning my study abroad semester since I can remember. I imagined the different places I could visit, the interesting people I was going to meet and most importantly, the delicious food I was going to eat. As you can imagine, for someone who has been planning this semester since forever, deciding on an actual location was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. I’ll walk you through my process!

Step 1: Elimination

• I had already spent a summer abroad in England at the University of Oxford and while I was there, I visited Italy and Ireland so those three countries were out (-3).
• My siblings went to school in Canada and Scotland so those might as well be second homes to me (-2)
• I am Nigerian and have visited a few African countries and could easily go to more (Removes the whole continent)

In a world with over 194 countries, even after all these eliminations, I still had over 135 countries (Help!!).

Step 2: Ask friends and family

• This might seem like such a mundane task. However, almost a quarter of Northeastern University students have done a semester abroad (which is very representative of my friend groups) and almost everyone you ask says theirs was the best thing since sliced bread. So this was harder than anticipated. I got good recommendations on locations and this helped reduce my number to about 30 countries – Good Progress!

Step 3: Course equivalencies

• As an Economics and Finance major with a minor in International Affairs, I do not have many free electives. A major determinant of my study abroad semester would be locations that allowed me transfer necessary courses back to Northeastern for my major and minor. Luckily this further reduced my number to 8 different countries (about 15 different schools).

Step 4: Language Barrier

• I wanted to go to a new culture, but I didn’t want to go somewhere that no one could understand a thing I was saying. Those 8 countries turned to 4.

To be honest, if you saw me during the weeks I was making this decision, you would have thought I was writing the MCAT exams (no offence to my friends writing them now J Good luck!). I needed somewhere that was going to be everything I wanted and more; somehow, after much deliberation, I reached a decision. Somewhere that was not even close to my radar in the beginning of the process. For my study abroad semester, I was going to go to the University of Hong Kong .

It was in an ideal location, had all the courses I needed, it was formerly a British colony so most people speak English and I was going to have the novelty of different traditions and culture all at the same time. It was perfect… for me at least – You should have seen my dad’s face when I told him.

I know people who had been planning what they were going to do once they arrived since they got admission to the schools of their choice. My experience was very different. I stressed about the location but once the decision was made, I let everything just fall into place – probably not the best idea. I genuinely don’t think it felt real until I my 13 hour flight was descending into Hong Kong International Airport. At that point, It became very very real. Luckily for me, a few of my friends from my previous study abroad go to school here so moving from the airport wasn’t too much of a struggle. I dropped my luggage in my room and went about the town.

I’ll tell you this for free – there is no place like Hong Kong. It is a mix of the deepest parts of Lagos, Nigeria and New York City, USA with the street food and busy streets, tall buildings and bright lights. That night while fighting jet lag, I was determined to do everything I could before Orientation and life started the next day. I tried new food, picked up my octopus card, did a little grocery shopping  and much more. I am not sure I would recommend it, but my first night in HK was a memorable one. I returned to my room exhausted; collapsed on my bed and only opened my eyes 40 minutes before orientation started – Oops!