Newsletter | Page 9

. , arrival was quite the shock I came from a cold , relatively quiet suburban town in Australia and arrived , ; to the sweltering chaotic region of Hong Kong a , . , mixture of sounds smells and colors I had previously , , never experienced Hong Kong I came to realize is a . 156 place of contradictions The colonization of the British and the subsequent years of British rule has left . ’ Hong Kong in a state of duality Train stations named ‘ ’ ‘ Prince Edward and Admiralty serve as a reminder of . 10 , ’ the British occupation However don t be surprised if after walking five or minutes down a street in Hong Kong that you are faced with very little English signage . or English speakers This happened to me on one of my ! first days in the New Territories As I spent more time in , Hong Kong I realized that I have more in common with . , the locals than I had previously thought In actuality . Australia was originally a British colony as well This realization fundamentally changed how I viewed this . urban jungle It is fair to say that I did not expect this complex and diverse area of the world to have such a profound effect . on me I have never spent such an amount of time in . any other place than my homeland I often find myself ,“ thinking back to what that family friend said .” will prepare you Nothing It is always a shock and a thrill to . arrive in an unfamiliar country Often we fear that we , . will never adjust but this is the risk that we take , ’ ? Ultimately isn t that why we all do it Jessica is an exchange student . from Australia She is studying Early Childhood Education and came to Hong Kong to experience life in another country before completing her . final year of University DECEMBER 2016 | 09