Asia
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An Indoor Climate Crisis: Lessons in Cross-Cultural Understanding
By Zahra Sachikonye, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong I won the roommate lottery. From the day we met, my roommate remains one of the kindest and most brilliant people I’ve known. I remember the moment I met her and how grateful I felt to have her company and share a space with her. Here I was, halfway across the world about to share a room with a stranger for the next 9 months.
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To Hong Kong, With All My Heart: For the Friends
By Zahra Sachikonye, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong ‘You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place’ (Miriam Adeney)
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Dealing with Political Unrest While Abroad
By Malaikha West, Seoul National University, South Korea Martial Law. Political Rallies. Presidential Impeachment. You never think it will happen around you.Until it does. It was 22:27 on the 12th of December when President Yoon declared Martial Law over South Korea. I was in bed doom-scrolling (as you do) when I got a notification about being under Martial Law. Martial Law? As in the same Martial Law that I have learned about in my studies? Surely not. Initially, I thought it was a spam notification, until two minutes later I received the same notification through the AIG Travel Alerts on my email. I sat up and looked over at my…
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Best Food Spots Near PolyU Halls
By Anna Belsham, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong One of the biggest adjustments when moving to Hong Kong was having to eat out for most meals. In Hong Kong the groceries are super expensive and at PolyU halls there are limited kitchen facilities, so it works out cheaper to eat out for most meals. There are 1000s of restaurants in Hong Kong and it can be overwhelming, after living in halls for a year I found some great nearby places to eat that are not too expensive. Here are a list of my favorites:
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It Was Not Supposed To Be This Good: My Trip to the Philippines
By Zahra Sachikonye, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong When I booked my trip to the Philippines, I thought I might meet some people to have dinner with one night but expected to be alone most of the time. I even brought a novel and colouring book, thinking I’d spend my time alone on the beach, reflecting and maybe journalling. I was not expecting to find myself in the presence of strangers and come back feeling like a piece of my heart had been left behind. What was meant to be a short solo getaway became one of the most joyful and memorable trips I’ve ever taken. I flew from…
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Surviving HKU: Classroom Culture Shock
By Zahra Sachikonye, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong ‘Ranked number 1 in Hong Kong by Times Higher Education ranking (2025), the University of Hong Kong is well-known for its high academic standards.’ This sentence may be received in two ways.
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Best Places to Travel from Singapore – My Top Picks from a Year Abroad
Written by Felecia Ogunnuga, National University of Singapore, Singapore As I sit on the plane heading home after a transformative year in Singapore, I’ve been reflecting on the incredible travel experiences that shaped my exchange. While many students chose to travel throughout the semester, I took a slightly different route, saving my big trip for the end of the year. With Singapore’s Changi Airport being the largest and most connected in Southeast Asia, it’s the perfect launchpad for affordable travel across the region. Here are the destinations that stood out most during my time abroad. 1. Tioman Island, Malaysia – Underrated Paradise Tioman Island is one of Southeast Asia’s hidden…
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14 Days in Vietnam
By Anna Belsham, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong After finishing up my studies in Hong Kong I took the opportunity to make the most of being in Southeast Asia and met up with two of my friends from home to spend two of the most magical weeks in Vietnam. It was one of the most amazing places I have travelled to, bursting with culture, breathtaking scenery and the most kind people I have ever come across. Hoi An: 3 Nights Accommodation: Fuse Hostel Old Town. Would highly recommend staying here, was super social with so many hostel activities and lovely staff that will help you to book things. In…
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An Impromptu Solo Day Trip to Macao
By Zahra Sachikonye, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 3 hours before we were meant to depart for Macao my friend called to let me know she was ill and would not make it. The ferry was booked, the tickets were non-refundable, and I had bought a Macao data pack and cleared my schedule. I felt sad for my friend who had invited me on this trip but could not go. We both agreed that I should go anyway and make the most of the day.
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A Year in Singapore – Discovering Hidden Gems Beyond the Tourist Trails
Written by Felecia Ogunnuga, National University of Singapore, Singapore If you’re heading to Singapore for a student exchange, chances are you’ve already got a list of “must-visit” spots—Gardens by the Bay, Lau Pa Sat, Chinatown, and the Singapore Botanic Gardens. These iconic landmarks absolutely live up to the hype and are well worth exploring. But Singapore is compact, and after ticking off the top attractions, it can feel like you’ve seen it all. That’s why discovering the lesser-known gems can truly enrich your time abroad, especially if you’re here for a semester or a full year. 1. Pulau Ubin – A Slice of the Past Located off Singapore’s northeastern coast,…
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A guide to living in one of the most expensive cities in the world
By Cher Morente, Singapore Management University, Singapore Read for where to eat, have fun and everything else under the sun, coming from a student who made the most of her year abroad in Singapore without breaking the bank! (although I almost did)
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From Strangers to Friends
By Cher Morente, Singapore Management University, Singapore Many travel to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat, infamously known as the real-life Temple Run but, after coming across videos of Koh Rong, I knew I couldn’t skip it. It suddenly became one of my favourite trips ever as the bonds that were enriched over the course of 5 days were irreplaceable.
