Kicking it with Q – Episode 5 – The Struggle in Hong Kong
The Drop – Episode 4 – Hong Kong
What is your Halloween?
Grab your broom and discover how its celebrated in other countries!
student spotlight
Candace Hansen
Staff Writer
Chung Yan Li is an eighteen year old international student from Hong Kong that aspires to major in communications after she transfers to the University of Washington. However, before Li can do so she must overcome the challenges of adjusting to the American way of life. “I’m afraid to speak to Americans because of the language barrier. I’ve had no real practice speaking the language before coming to the United States.” explains Li about the biggest challenge that she has faced after attending Pierce for six quarters.
Li says: “I decided to join the Study Abroad program because I thought the new educational system in Hong Kong was not suitable for me, and I wanted to achieve a better level of English. I didn’t like that the new educational system focused on a “self-created” learning style. It was stressful and lacked any real form of learning structure.” In contrast to Hong Kong’s new educational system, Li has found that she enjoys Pierce better because it provides much more subject variety and has a better learning structure.
After being in the United States for a year and a half Li is better at speaking English and has learned to be more independent. She currently lives with her boyfriend in an apartment that’s not too far from campus. This is a luxury that Li appreciates very much: “The house that I lived in when I came to the United States was huge and has gorgeous front and back yards. It also has four bedrooms and two bathrooms.” For people who are not familiar with Hong Kong, the average living space for a family is an eight hundred square foot apartment. Li says: “I love the environment here, especially the trees, lakes and mountains. It’s a wonderful change in scenery. Back home in Hong Kong I cannot see the sun when it rises because the buildings are too tall.”
When remembering her first days in the United States Li is happy to report that her original fears of adjusting to the American way of life have mostly dissipated. She is now dealing with the challenges of transferring to a four year University, which is not unfamiliar for many transferring college students. The one thing that she dislikes about Pierce is that, “There’s no specific advisor to help with the applications process to transfer to a four year University.” To cope with the stresses of her college student life Li enjoys: “trying as many new restaurants as I can. I love to eat. My favorite restaurant right now is Subaru Sushi which is located in Portland, Oregon. ”
“When I’m finished with my degree in communications I want to travel the world and write about my experiences.” In doing so, Li’s readers will be able to relive the fascinating adventures that she embarks upon, this is her ultimate dream job and there’s nothing that will stop her from achieving it.
