Living the Hong Kong study dream: Returned student Bethany Pritchard talks about her month in Hong Kong

Bethany (pictured on left) with friends at the Jumbo Floating Restaurant a must-see tourist attraction

Bethany  Pritchard is currently in her fourth year of a Bachelor of Commerce and Business degree at the University of Newcastle and participated on our International Trade Finance in Hong Kong Program in July 2011. Not only did Bethany make heaps of new friends and go on some amazing company site visits, she also got an offer for her dream job when she got back because of her participation on this program! Read more about her experience below.

Hi Bethany! What are you studying and at which uni?

   

Hi, my name is Bethany Pritchard and I have recently completed my third year of a combined Bachelor of Commerce and Business degree at The University of Newcastle.

 

   

Why did you choose our International Trade Finance program?

I chose the International Trade and Finance program as it allowed me to pursue an exchange opportunity without delaying my degree or spending a whole semester overseas. I am about to commence my final year of university, so applying for graduate positions is just around the corner! By completing an overseas course, it assists me to stand out from other candidates and the valuable skills I gained appeals to potential employers. 

Did you have any fears/concerns before doing the program? And if so,

were you able to overcome these fears?

Honestly, I had so many fears but of them all, the scariest was the idea of travelling by myself!! Aim Overseas were great in organizing a Facebook page for students to touch base before the program commenced. Coincidently, there were a few students who had planes arriving at Hong Kong airport approximately the same time as me. We were able to arrange a meeting point at Hong Kong airport to organize a taxi to our hotel. From that point on, I felt comfortable in Hong Kong and always had lots great people around me. 

Bethany and friends lapping up the warm beach weather

How has this program impacted you (personally and/or professionally)?

As employers view undertaking education overseas favourably, it has impacted me professionally by increasing the range of my skills and making me more desirable to employ. I recently applied for a vacation position at a top firm in Sydney and during the interview I was able to apply my Hong Kong experiences to the interview questions. As a result, I received an offer for my dream job!!!

I undertook the course with no previous knowledge of the other participants and no experience travelling in another country by myself. During the course, I formed new relationships and found my way around another country. As a result, I now have increased self-confidence and independence.

Do you have some tips for someone who’s going on this course? (e.g. study tips, travel advice, tips about the best bars to go to, places to avoid and what to pack)

Here are a few quick tips for future participants;

1)    Pack hardly anything and shop over there!! Hong Kong is famous for its shopping reputation and trust me, it definitely lives up to its reputation. There is an endless supply of markets and shopping centres so it is essential you have enough room in your suitcase to bring it all home.

2)    Make the most of your time!! You’ve spent a lot of money to travel overseas so it’s a good idea to organize extra trips on the weekend. A weekend in Macau is a great idea.

3)     Make sure your phone is unlocked before you leave!! It is essential for you to buy a travel sim so you can stay in touch with other students and to organize activities. However, a travel sim can only work if your phone is unlocked!!

Tell me about a typical day at Hong Kong PolyU

A typical day starts with a massive buffet breakfast at the Harbour Plaza Metropolis and then it’s straight off to the Hong Kong Polytechnic University for a 9:30am lecture. The lectures approximately go for three hours and are based on topics relating to the financial world from an East Asian perspective. The lecturers speak fluent English, are very willing to help and are experts in their field.  Even though the lecture goes for three hours the time flies.

After the lecture, there is a short lunch break, normally spent as a group in a food court close by. My favourite part of the day was the afternoon company visits to places such as the HK stock exchange, Bloomberg, HK Monetary authority, Invest HK and Austrade just to name a few. 

the happy AIM Overseas participants for the International Trade Finance program in 2011

Once the afternoon company visits were completed we were free to do whatever we desired. It was always spent with other students having dinner, drinks and the occasionally karaoke session.

What was the highlight of the program for you?

   

I enjoyed every moment of the three week trip but a particular highlight was our weekend in Macau. During this weekend we tried our hand at some of the biggest casinos and successfully completed the highest commercial bungee jump. 

 What would you say to somebody who’s thinking of doing the program?

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St Augustine

So my advice is to just go for it!! 

The International Trade Finance program runs every year in the July uni holidays. To find out more about this program or to apply, please go to our website: www.aimoverseas.com.au or email us on info@aimoverseas.com.au
 

Victoria's Hong Kong Adventure - Victoria Shipp tells us about how studying in Hong Kong has opened up her eyes to exciting new opportunities

Victoria Shipp [pictured above, at The Peak in Hong Kong], a Griffith University student currently completing a Bachelor of Asian Business, travelled to the exciting city of Hong Kong earlier this year to participate in our International Trade Finance program. The experience has opened up her eyes to the huge range of careers opportunities available to her, helped her make up her mind that she was doing the right degree and has inspired her to explore more of Asia. Read more...

Hi Victoria! Where are you currently studying?
I am studying a Bachelor of Asian Business at Griffith University.

Why did you choose our International Trade Finance program?
While I may not be studying banking or finance or economics at university, I chose AIM Overseas' International Trade Finance Program because it taught me all about the Asian finance system from their perspective and not a Western perspective. As a student hoping to live and work in Hong Kong for either an Australian company or a Chinese company, I felt this was vital to my learning.

Did you have any fears or concerns before doing the program?
I had a load of fears. As this was the first time that the course was being offered, I had no-one to ask about their experience and what it was like living in Hong Kong for a month. My biggest fear was not being able to communicate with the locals and not fitting in well with the other university students also joining me. My fear of not being able to communicate with the locals was overcome once I spoke to Jooliet about how well the locals speak English. As for the fitting in part, I didn’t really overcome that until I met the other university students.


Victoria and friends posing in the hotel lobby in Hong Kong, about to head off to the races

Tell me about a typical day at Hong Kong PolyU
A typical day at PolyU involved a lecture from 9am to 12pm. The lectures were taken by two different lecturers who had the most amazing knowledge of the Asian Finance sector so I knew that we were in good hands. They were great teachers who used real life examples in their lectures to help get the lesson across.

At 12pm we broke for lunch until 2.30pm where we would head back to the university for a field trip. Field trips included trips to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the Hong Kong Monetary Fund (Hong Kong’s version of the Reserve Bank of Australia), Bloomberg and Austrade.

At 4.30pm, we were given the option of being taken back to the hotel or staying in the city to do some shopping. Nine times out of ten we stayed and went shopping of exploring until late at night. Bedtime usually came around 11pm each night as there was always so much to do and see!

Fridays were our days off where we took part in full day tours of Hong Kong. The full day tours were amazing and the tour guides were so friendly and down to earth. Lunch on the full day tours consisted of a traditional dim sum lunch and was always highly anticipated. The food in Hong Kong is AMAZING!

What was the highlight of the program for you?
The highlight of the program for me was going to Bloomberg and Austrade. As someone who wishes to work for Austrade once I graduate, it was great to meet a fellow Australian who was achieving her dream of working around the world. She was such an inspiration!

Another highlight would definitely be the trip over to Macau some of us did. I along with four friends went bungy jumping off Macau tower, which happens to be the world’s highest bungy jump at 233 meters! It was the most amazing experience of my life and showed me what I was capable of achieving anything (I gave my Grandma a mini-heart-attack when she saw the video but my Dad is STILL watching it!).


Victoria and fellow AIM Overseas participants at the world's highest bungy jump at Macau Tower, Macau


3... 2... 1... JUMP!

Do you have any interesting facts about Hong Kong culture or Hong Kong people?
The nightlife in Hong Kong is off the hook! We attended beer festivals, and multiple bars from all around the world. There is a wicked nightlife every single night of the week and no matter what night you go out drinking, there are always locals eager to serve you and make you feel completely at home.

The locals are the friendliest and down to earth people I have ever met. They are always willing to drop everything to help an Aussie out when we got lost (which was often!). They will also do anything to make a sale. The markets hidden in alleyways are the best places to get the best deals on everything from shoes, to handbags, to watches. You can find a bargain everywhere in Hong Kong! As for ‘lost in translation’ moments, nearly everyone in Hong Kong speaks great English so I found it really easy to communicate when I was by myself and asking for directions or bargaining for a deal.

Do you have some tips for someone who's going on this course?
Some tips for someone who wishes to do this course would be to attend every lecture (you will learn invaluable information and they aren’t recorded like they are in many Australian universities) and definitely attend the field trips. By attending the field trips, you meet people in the field you are studying and you never know, you could be working for them one day!

The best nightlife I experienced was in Lan Kwai Fong or Wan Chai. Lan Kwai Fong has bars from all around the world and the people there are so friendly are welcoming. We even attended a beer festival in Lan Kwai Fong one night!

Pack a lot of cool clothes as the weather over in Hong Kong in July is hot, sticky and VERY muggy! I lived in shorts and singlets every day as it was too hot to wear anything else. Also, pack an umbrella as it is the rainy season in Hong Kong in July. It rained for one, maybe two weeks while I was there and the umbrella became a lifesaver many times.

And remember, whenever in doubt, just ask Jooliet as she is from Hong Kong and can help you with any questions you may have (and trust me, you’ll have loads and Jooliet is always more than happy to answer them).

How has this program impacted you?
Professionally, this program was a dream come true. It helped me make up my mind that I was definitely happy doing the degree I was doing. It also steered me in the right direction while showing me what jobs were available to me once I completed my degree. Before I left for the program, I couldn’t answer families and friends questions when asking me the type of company I would work for once I completed university. I came back from the program telling family and friends that I was hoping to work for Austrade once I finished university. The International Trade Finance Program opened my eyes to the huge range of jobs that were actually available to me.

This program impacted me on a personal level because it helped me grow up and make decisions about the future. I learnt to stand on my own two feet and make my own decisions. I was bitten by the travelling bug after returning from Hong Kong and now can’t wait to explore Asia more!

What would you say to somebody who’s thinking of doing the program?
To anyone thinking of doing this program, go for it. You will have the experience of a lifetime and make life-long friends. What you learn is invaluable, the people you meet are incredible and the memories you make while participating in the program will stay with you forever. You will not be sorry by choosing to participate in this once in a lifetime experience.


Taken at the Jumbo Floating Restaurant, a must-see tourist attraction in Hong Kong that has been visited by Queen Elizabeth II, John Wayne, Tom Cruise and now the participants of AIM Overseas' 2011 International Trade Finance Program! :D

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with us, Victoria! We hope you get to visit Asia again some time soon!