Getting serious about getting ready
Now that school and graduation are finished, I’ve had three solid weeks of nothing but free time. I knew that this period was coming, and I promised myself that I wouldn’t get bored. I would work out, watch movies and hang out with friends, but I would not get bored. I think I’ve kept up that promise fairly well, but there’ve been moments where I really wanted something substantive to do. So I think this trip is coming at the exact right time. I’ve been appreciating all of the recent communications from our TA on this voyage to Hong Kong, and I really can’t wait to get started.
The Packing Effort
So I’ve started to pack and by that I mean that I’ve retrieved my suitcase from storage. I’ve been known to procrastinate, and there’s no exception here. I’ve been known to forget things from time to time, so I like to at least give myself a few days to think of last-second needs. However, I find that overthinking the packing process makes the preparation days unbearable, so I don’t like to spend too much time on it, either. It’s different for everyone, but I try to take it easy during the packing process.
Being from Wisconsin and St. Louis where it’s very humid and living three years in Arizona where it’s scorching hot, I think I’ll be ready for the hot, humid weather in Hong Kong. I’m packing some swimming trunks, as I was excited to hear about the very nice pool housed at City University of Hong Kong. There’s nothing quite like swimming a few laps to relax after a long day, especially in the weather that I’ll be experiencing. It’s a luxury I’m seldom afforded, so I aim to take full advantage.
Getting the Most Out Of Hong Kong
I get in almost a full day early to Hong Kong, so I plan to spend that time getting to know the city and hanging out with my fellow traveling friends. That being said, I treat this study abroad trip as not just a class or a foreign journey—it’s another fantastic way to meet people. I only know one person who’s going on this trip, and I embrace the opportunity to make new friends. It’s uncomfortable at first, but I’ve learned to love venturing to a new place with new people. I think it’s one of the best ways to further social skills and get the most out of life.