Studying abroad was a dream that became a reality. As cliché as it sounds, it is true in my experience. To travel to a different country is one thing, but to travel to a different continent is a breathtaking moment. Such was the case when I decided to study for a semester in Hong Kong as an exchange student at City University of Hong Kong (CityU).

My name is David Alejandro Chapa. I am currently a student at Texas A&M International University studying for a Business Administration Bachelor’s Degree with a concentration in Management Information Systems. I took part in the Exchange Program to study abroad for the Spring 2009 Semester (January – May) in Hong Kong, China at CityU. As an Exchange Student, I was enrolled in five different classes. Being a D.D. Hachar Honor Students, it was required of me to take 15 credit hours. Those courses included Principles of Entrepreneurship, Information Systems Analysis, Chinese Civilization, and Mandarin. It is required to say that while not all the courses counted towards my Degree, three of the five courses did count. The Chinese culture and Mandarin classes were extra but proved to be very important to my experience. I was able to learn about the Chinese culture from a Chinese professor that dedicates his life to preserving the Chinese culture, and was able to learn Mandarin from a native Mandarin speaker. The classes taught me a lot, and offered me subjects that I could have not taken at TAMIU such as both Chinese classes, a different outlook at Information Systems, a global way of looking at Entrepreneurships, and looking at different Securities and Portfolios through the eyes of a Chinese professor. Studying at City University of Hong Kong proved to be quite the experience. Most of my classes offered a wide range of International Students, and by pure chance, I was stuck in a class where I was the only Exchange student. Being in a class full of locals was interesting (locals meaning either people from Hong Kong or mainland China). I was able to see how they behave in their class and took note that for the most part they behave like many of the students in TAMIU; however, they seem to talk more in their classes, and pay less attention to what the professor is saying. In the classes with International students, the students were typically more attentive and had better respect for the professor.

Speaking of international students, studying abroad helped me make connections with people from all over the world. Not only does one get an international experience from being in a global city like Hong Kong, but the school itself offered many exchange students. Mostly were from San Francisco and the United States, but there were many from Europe and other Asian countries. It was interesting to see how different cultures interacted together. For the most part, being an exchange student allows you not only learn from your host country, but also from other countries. Only in exchange can one experience Korean customs, Spanish speaking the same language with different words to the Spanish you are used to, how Europeans enjoy having fun, and many other cultures sharing their experiences; all in one place! Surely with many other international students, desires of travelling also arise.

Studying abroad provides students with the ability to see a new country where they shall remain during most of their stay. However, all exchange students will say that one has to travel while studying abroad. Students that study in Hong Kong are no exception. Hong Kong is considered the gateway to Asia, and rightly so. One can easily get a flight to Thailand, Vietnam, or the rest of Southeast Asia. Travelling to Japan is also a good option; one which some friends and I took. It was great to see how studying in Hong Kong would directly affect accomplishing one of my life’s dream: going to Tokyo. It was able to walk through the crowded streets of Shibuya, seeing the fashion of Harajuku, and imagining how the Emperor used to live in the majestic Tokyo Imperial Palace. In spite of this, one of the most impacting experiences I went through was visiting mainland China. Visiting cities like Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guilin, Beijing, and Xi’an, was something amazing, that words can barely describe. Experiencing the European influence in Shanghai, the beauty of the West Lake in Hangzhou, taking a raft through the topography in Guilin, seeing the great terracotta army in Xi’an, and climbing the Great Wall all amount to some of the greatest accomplishments I have ever done outside of academics. Because while academics is a big part of studying abroad, is not all about school.

One of the greatest things about studying abroad includes the great financial assistance available by the Office of International Education. They offer two scholarships, and give you the resources to apply for more scholarships and grants. As a plus, financial aid you already receive at TAMIU goes with you abroad. Money should not be a concern for most people when participating in the exchange program and should not discourage anybody. In the end, every expense one makes while abroad will be worth it; down to the last penny.

Overall, studying abroad should be in the minds of every student at TAMIU. If not for the enriching opportunity to grow as a person and increase global awareness, one should do it as an adventure. Typically not many people get chances to ever leave their hometown, TAMIU is offering students the chance to leave the country. Why not take a risk?