I'm not exactly sure if this affected me more than the average person, but studying abroad has been one of the most colorful, enchanting, life-changing, and inspiring things I've ever done. As I sit here at the airport preparing to board my flight back home to Honolulu, I can't help but to be so sad that it's over. I realize, though, how lucky I am to have something so special that makes saying goodbye so hard. Putting into words how thankful I am for this experience is simply impossible; however, I will give it a try anyway.
I'm thankful for the people I've met. Embarking on this journey was a little scary for many reasons but one of the big ones was not finding friends to experience it with. I was surprised at how quickly I met amazing people. I realize now that it takes a certain kind of person to make the decision to study abroad and this experience connected me with inspiring and like-minded people who love adventure and appreciate cultural differences as much as I do! It is because of these people that my time here was so incredible. Together we learned to navigate new countries, taste new foods, and make the most out of every moment. I've made life-long friends here and I can't imagine life without them now. No matter where we all go, I'll never be able to get rid of our memories and to them I am so grateful.
I'm thankful for the cultures I've witnessed. One of the reasons I came to Hong Kong is because of it's very open market and I quickly learned that this openness makes Hong Kong an extremely diverse place. Coming from Hawaii, an also very diverse place, I was surprised at how international the city is (even more so, I feel, than Hawaii). I thought I would definitely get to experience Chinese/Cantonese culture, but instead I feel that I've had a very international experience not only from other exchange students, but from the diverse Hong Kong population and through traveling around Asia. Because of this, I fell in love with new experiences and never want to stop meeting new people with different cultures and perspectives!
I'm thankful for the career opportunities I've learned of. During my stay here, I've been applying to internships upon my return to Honolulu. As I was doing this, I realized that my career search doesn't need to be confined to Hawaii or even the United States. Although it's often harder to work abroad because of visa and citizenship issues, it's still something to be considered for people like me who are interested in international business. There are opportunities everywhere and although I need to return to Hawaii for a while to finish my degree and start my career, I'm now keeping my options open to possibly venture outside of the country for work.
I'm thankful for the perspectives I've gained. The past four months really made me notice how truly ethnocentric we all are naturally -- of course we're loyal to and in favor of what we're used to. This experience, though, has completely changed my way of thinking. I realize that we are all just people in this world with different experiences that make us different and that when we open our minds and step out of our comfort zones, we can see the world through another perspective. I've learned to give people a try no matter how different they may be because I've met some of the most amazing people that way. I've learned first-hand that traveling internationally without knowing the language can be scary and can cause people to be shy so I want to be more patient and friendly with international travelers in Honolulu. When I'm abroad and uncomfortable, sometimes a friendly local makes all the difference and changes my entire stay. This realization is something I'm most thankful for and I will take it with me wherever I go.
I'm thankful for the inspired feeling within me. I'm sure you can tell by my slightly-dramatic tone that I feel fondly about my study abroad experience (haha) but I can't contain how inspired I feel! Thank you, Hong Kong, for completely motivating me and changing my life into something way more than I thought. I've learned not to take time for granted and to live my best life everyday through hard work, friendship, and open mindedness. I will never stop exploring now!
I'm thankful for the people I've met. Embarking on this journey was a little scary for many reasons but one of the big ones was not finding friends to experience it with. I was surprised at how quickly I met amazing people. I realize now that it takes a certain kind of person to make the decision to study abroad and this experience connected me with inspiring and like-minded people who love adventure and appreciate cultural differences as much as I do! It is because of these people that my time here was so incredible. Together we learned to navigate new countries, taste new foods, and make the most out of every moment. I've made life-long friends here and I can't imagine life without them now. No matter where we all go, I'll never be able to get rid of our memories and to them I am so grateful.
I'm thankful for the cultures I've witnessed. One of the reasons I came to Hong Kong is because of it's very open market and I quickly learned that this openness makes Hong Kong an extremely diverse place. Coming from Hawaii, an also very diverse place, I was surprised at how international the city is (even more so, I feel, than Hawaii). I thought I would definitely get to experience Chinese/Cantonese culture, but instead I feel that I've had a very international experience not only from other exchange students, but from the diverse Hong Kong population and through traveling around Asia. Because of this, I fell in love with new experiences and never want to stop meeting new people with different cultures and perspectives!
I'm thankful for the career opportunities I've learned of. During my stay here, I've been applying to internships upon my return to Honolulu. As I was doing this, I realized that my career search doesn't need to be confined to Hawaii or even the United States. Although it's often harder to work abroad because of visa and citizenship issues, it's still something to be considered for people like me who are interested in international business. There are opportunities everywhere and although I need to return to Hawaii for a while to finish my degree and start my career, I'm now keeping my options open to possibly venture outside of the country for work.
I'm thankful for the perspectives I've gained. The past four months really made me notice how truly ethnocentric we all are naturally -- of course we're loyal to and in favor of what we're used to. This experience, though, has completely changed my way of thinking. I realize that we are all just people in this world with different experiences that make us different and that when we open our minds and step out of our comfort zones, we can see the world through another perspective. I've learned to give people a try no matter how different they may be because I've met some of the most amazing people that way. I've learned first-hand that traveling internationally without knowing the language can be scary and can cause people to be shy so I want to be more patient and friendly with international travelers in Honolulu. When I'm abroad and uncomfortable, sometimes a friendly local makes all the difference and changes my entire stay. This realization is something I'm most thankful for and I will take it with me wherever I go.
I'm thankful for the inspired feeling within me. I'm sure you can tell by my slightly-dramatic tone that I feel fondly about my study abroad experience (haha) but I can't contain how inspired I feel! Thank you, Hong Kong, for completely motivating me and changing my life into something way more than I thought. I've learned not to take time for granted and to live my best life everyday through hard work, friendship, and open mindedness. I will never stop exploring now!
