Nightclubs at Lan Kwai Fong, horse races, bar-hopping in Wan Chai, hiking to Hong Kong’s optimum peak — it is protected to say Xavier Palle experienced a great time in Hong Kong as an exchange college student. The Swiss Federal Institute of Technological know-how Lausanne pupil was part of the Hong Kong College of Science and Know-how (HKUST) Engineering Exchange Programme.
Palle is initially from the French mountains with Europe at his doorstep and the US and Canada a fairly-very long airplane journey away. So why did he decide on to travel midway across the earth to Asia as an alternative? “International activities have usually appealed to me given that I was younger. Asian culture has one thing various than what I am utilised to in Europe, and was what attracted me there. Hong Kong topped the checklist of Asian nations I desired to go to as it gives the finest immersion into Asian culture and was also close to a ton of other Asian nations around the world which gave me the prospect to vacation around,” Palle suggests.
Below we question him more about the ups (travelling to 5 various countries), the downs (sky-higher drink rates) and everything in amongst about his time at the Vertical Metropolis:
What did you like most about learning at HKUST?
There are lots of matters I preferred about researching in Hong Kong, just one of them getting the university’s place. For instance, when learning from the library, you had the most outstanding see of the bay. In addition, you are also very near to the metropolis creating it straightforward to take a look at, consume, store, and everything.
In this article, Palle is viewed at the library at HKUST in Hong Kong. Resource: Xavier Palle
What was the software like for the class you did in HKUST?
The person in cost of your programme sends you all the info relative to it prior to the starting of the tutorial 12 months, so every little thing is nicely spelled out and straightforward to comply with. Nevertheless, you have to be thorough and stick to deadlines — like the visa deadline so you can obtain it in advance of arriving.
In advance of you get there in Hong Kong, you ought to choose the optimum amount of courses you’d like to have simply because you may well not get all of them. If you have also lots of programs, you can drop some of them throughout an add-drop period, which is the next stage of the class selection.
What are you at the moment executing? Give us much more specifics.
I am now again at the Swiss Federal Institute of Know-how Lausanne, finding out for a important in Mechanical Engineering, specialising in fluid mechanics and a minimal in mathematics in computational science and engineering. I did my third yr of Mechanical Engineering at HKUST.
Tell us about your most unforgettable time at HKUST. What did you like most about it, and why?
In HKUST I satisfied a whole lot of persons from all in excess of the planet. I have under no circumstances fulfilled so quite a few folks who are open to new matters, and fascinated in identifying the world and its population. My unforgettable time listed here contains operating late in the library to post a project, then heading to view the horse races, followed by a night time in Wan Chai — a well-liked and vibrant commercial space.
What I like about Hong Kong is that it is quite intercontinental, so you can meet up with a large amount of persons from all close to the globe and also talk English. Hong Kong is really nicely located in Asia which enables you to travel extremely conveniently.
Tell us a lot more about wherever you travelled to in just Asia from Hong Kong.
I travelled to five different nations around the world! Vietnam, Taiwan, Philippines, Thailand and South Korea — I spent 10 days in each and every state backpacking, a total of one desired destination for each thirty day period. It was a great group of good friends and I that travelled all around together enjoying what Asia experienced to present.
Hiking is just one of Palle’s favorite factors to do in Hong Kong. Source: Xavier Palle
What had been your favourite food items in HK?
I loved Tim Wo Han’s dim sum really a great deal, they have so lots of selections — from soups, to chicken legs, to fried pork balls! I enjoy that you can make your own meal out of a lot of minimal aspect dishes.
My pals and I utilised to do that at eating places since it was significantly a lot more very affordable than having out at a lot more subtle places. On our campus at HKUST we also experienced the alternatives to try out diverse Asian cuisines, and I genuinely appreciated the Taiwanese food items they experienced. A different favorite of mine was the Japanese ramen, I just beloved the point that in Hong Kong meals from all more than Asia was offered.
What had been your favourite bars – would you be capable to give some pics?
We employed to go to Females Night time in Wan Chai (so Wednesday) in a bar identified as Devil’s Advocate. There were being a good deal of men and women there all night time very long and the drinks were being very affordable. In September, I went to some rooftops bars in Hong Kong. The perspective was definitely spectacular but the charges ended up incredibly high. A more inexpensive rooftop would be just as amazing IFC mall rooftop in Central!
Palle with his buddies at IFC Shopping mall rooftop in Central Hong Kong. Source: Xavier Palle
What did you miss out on most from household, and how did you substitute it throughout your scientific studies at HKUST?
Due to the fact I utilized to reside in the mountains in France, I missed them. Hong Kong is very a crowded city which is something I was not quite utilized to. I uncovered peace and calmness by climbing in the mountains in Hong Kong, and carrying out athletics at HKUST. I would also say I skipped my loved ones and good friends back home. On the other hand, interaction nowadays is straightforward many thanks to electronic social networks. I would just get in touch with dwelling any time I would truly feel a minimal unfortunate, and the proximity I experienced with new close friends in Hong Kong served.
What is your best information for some others setting up to research in Hong Kong?
Really do not be also shy at the commencing, all the individuals you meet have picked out to study overseas and face the unknown just like you did. You will certainly find some amazing individuals which you will keep in touch with, even right after you return household.
Really don’t keep on campus all the time (even though HKUST is attractive, you can do a large amount of functions outdoors together with visiting the “Big Buddha,” or heading on a hike to the “Dragon’s Back again,” taking in out at dining places which are surprisingly economical (like “Tim Ho Wan” and his great dim sum), and go shop at the Females Market — there are so many points to do!
Lastly, I would certainly advocate conserving some money to travel all through Asia, the travelling memories ended up for me the most gorgeous part of my trade. Flights from Hong Kong are quite available in selling price, and you can go to a lot of distinct sites.