By Daryl Egan, Hilary Term Business School Exchange to the Chinese University of Hong Kong
My name is Daryl Egan and I am a 3rd year Trinity College Dublin Student studying BESS. I am a little over a month into my Hilary Term Business School Exchange to the Chinese University of Hong Kong and it’s safe to say that the time has absolutely flown by! Hong Kong is a truly incredible place and is nowhere like I’ve ever been before. There is the unconventional cocktail of steel skyscrapers, consumerism and an urban feel only comparable to great cities of the world such as New York mixed with the stunning natural beauty of the forests and beaches. The chaos of the neon lit streets and vibrancy of the markets in Mon Kok is a complete juxtaposition to the tranquillity and calm one experiences hiking through the forests or camping on a secluded beach. It is this variety that Hong Kong offers which appeals to me most.
Before moving to Singapore, the city-state was a bit of an enigma to me. My brief research prepared me for an extremely strict society with rules and regulations unheard of in the Western world. Since moving here it has become clear that it is due to these unique laws which Singapore stands as a developed pillar among the rest of Southeast Asia, boasting eye-catching architecture, virtually no crime, a resilient economy and a litter free atmosphere.
Singapore is an incredible city to live in; super modern, clean, safe, lots of greenery right in the city, good (and cheap) food, great nightlife, friendly locals, great weather and countless travel opportunities. I arrived here a month ago on New Year’s Eve and have definitely fallen in love with the city.
January 7th, 2018: I am moving to Hong Kong tomorrow. I. Am. Moving. To. Hong. Kong. Tomorrow. I am moving to Hong Kong tomorrow. No matter how many times or different ways I say this to myself the reality of my upcoming relocation to the other side of the world tomorrow just won’t sink in. People keep asking me if I’m nervous, and the truth is not really. Perhaps if I could actually believe that this was happening to me then maybe I would be a little nervous. But for now, I am going to enjoy my serene state of mind. All the same, I really should start packing.
I think it’s safe to say that I was completely unaware of what was ahead of me when preparing for my semester in Hong Kong University. Having never been to Asia, the big move seemed like a distant endeavour, something I said I was doing but never really believed myself. Come January, I would be back on the cobblestones of Front Square for my third Hilary term in TCD.
The World of Trinity 