23 Aug Intern in Hong Kong: Top Tips
My internship in Hong Kong is now over, and I cannot believe how fast the past month has gone and how much it taught me. It differed from my expectations, but definitely in a positive way. I was so frantically busy the whole time, but it meant I experienced so much in such a short space of time. To future students interning abroad, I would advise them:
- Keep an open mind and be flexible at all times; plans will definitely change last minute and you will have to adapt to whatever happens. Some of the best experiences are not pre-planned, so if you’re someone who likes to plan ahead, be adaptable with your ideas and say yes to everything. This way you’ll experience and make the most out of your time abroad.
- Be open minded to other cultures. Whilst you’re away you’ll probably feel some culture shock while you get used to a different way of life, if you haven’t been before. One thing I struggled with was how slow people walked on the metro. When I woke up late and was rushing to work, people seemed so relaxed in comparison with the pace in Britain, I couldn’t help getting frustrated. Hong Kong waiters always seemed so angry and rude all the time, before we realised it’s just their way of talking; if someone comes across as rude, it may just be a cultural misunderstanding.
- Be patient with language barriers. When you order something in a restaurant, 90% of the time it will not be what you expected. Just laugh it off, treat it as part of the experience, and stop at McDonalds on the way home.
- Enjoy your time in Hong Kong, but don’t let this affect the internship aspect; it’s your manager who will give a reference to future employers and you want an internship abroad to benefit you in the best way possible. After all, it’s the reason for you being in Hong Kong.
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