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Adjusting to Life in the UK
By Madeleine Dodd, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong The inevitable end has arrived after a tumultuous and unforgettable year abroad. It is a shock to transition from an exciting and chaotic lifestyle to a stagnant one. Where my days were once filled with questions of where to explore next, they now consist of job hunting and pulling out winter jackets despite it being June. It’s not all bad though. I had seeing family and friends to look forward to and my first night sleeping on a mattress. A full fridge, tap water and space to walk on sidewalks (Hong Kong was like playing Mario Kart every time you needed…
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Exam Season at PolyU, Hong Kong
By Madeleine Dodd, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong, Hong Kong Exam season is always a stressful time, especially if it’s in a different country with different teaching styles and grading systems. Whilst the majority of other exchange students only faced a pass or fail outcome, my results contributed 20% to my degree and were to be later translated to the UK grading system equivalent. This only added more stress to the ambiguity of a different country’s exam style. But, like many of the host universities, PolyU was supportive and attentive to my worries. Workload Throughout the term time, lectures covered the content that will eventually be tested in the…
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The Best Easy Hikes in Hong Kong
By Madeleine Dodd, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong, Hong Kong My 3 must-do hike recommendations for those who want amazing views of Hong Kong without the need for experience. Dragons Back There are many different routes and finishing points for this one, we actually got a bit lost and had to do the last leg by minibus to reach our destination of Shek O Beach. It took around 4 hours but was not challenging to do (other than the heat!). https://www.hongkonghike.com/how-to-hike-dragons-back-hong-kong-most-famous-easy-hike Sheung Luk Waterfall From one of the best beaches in Hong Kong, Tai Long Wan in Sai Wan, this short hike leads you to a glistening waterfall. Simply…
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14 Days in Japan
By Madeleine Dodd, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong, Hong Kong With endless things to do and areas to explore, planning a trip to Japan can be overwhelming. I’m going to share a day-by-day itinerary of what I did…and ate.
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An Accident Abroad
By Madeleine Dodd, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong, Hong Kong As the beginning of my exchange drew near, the long checklist of forms, flights, visas and necessities weighed heavy. Ensuring everything is in line to avoid issues along the way, alongside the nerves of moving across the world encouraged me to rely on the help of the program staff. Months later, I paid a heavy price.
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A Long Weekend in Taipei
By Madeleine Dodd, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong, Hong Kong The great thing about being situated in Hong Kong is that any national holiday (and there are a lot) is an invitation to travel. For the 75th Anniversary of Republic of China, we jetted off to Taipei, Taiwan.
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Long Distance Relationships: overcoming the distance
By Madeleine Dodd, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong, Hong Kong Leading up to my departure of 5,981.38 miles away, the reality of beginning a long distance relationship became a daunting and heavy feeling. You can only prepare yourself so much, but I will offer you some of my experience in navigating this difficult chapter. Although a hard decision to make, turning down an important life opportunity in favor of a more comfortable relationship is something I promised myself I would never do. And I’d never want my partner to either. Especially with today’s technology, it is not impossible and the growth and lessons learnt through such an experience will…
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
