Interview with Elise De Witte
Elise De Witte is from Ghent and is in her third bachelor’s year in applied economics at KU Leuven. Before that, she graduated from high school with a degree in economics and sciences at the Sint-Barbaracollege in Ghent. In the first semester of her third bachelor’s year, she left on exchange to the City University in Hong Kong.
TIP-IM: Why did you decide to go studying in Hong Kong?
EDW: I definitely wanted to go on exchange and I was hesitating between a European destination or not. In the end, I came to the conclusion that the opportunity to study outside of Europe would not come back anytime soon. Asia appealed to me because it is an economic engine and a growing political center in the world market. Since I had only been to Asia once, Hong Kong seemed like the perfect opportunity to discover this continent. When I saw Hong Kong, I also got the feeling that it is an Asian city with a lot of Western influences. Moreover, I had also heard a lot of positive feedback about the city, which increased my interest. My choice was made to put Hong Kong as my first choice for an exchange semester.
TIP-IM: What do you currently study in Hong Kong?
EDW: In the first semester of the third bachelor’s year in Applied Economics at KU Leuven, you are given the option to go on Erasmus, within Europe, or on exchange, outside Europe. I studied for six months at the City University in Hong Kong as part of my studies at KU Leuven. My majors in my third year are finance & accountancy and production & logistics. KU Leuven also gave me the option to take an elective course at CityU, which I filled with the course “Intro to Financial Markets”.
TIP-IM: What has surprised you the most so far?
EDW: Hong Kong has completely exceeded my expectations. The combination of the metropolis with the nearby mountains and beaches makes Hong Kong a unique place. The city has a lot to offer: you can mingle in the busy city, but you can also quickly escape the chaos by taking a hike or spending a day at the beach. There is a nice mix between local restaurants and more upscale places. In addition, I am also surprised by the mixing between the east and the west. Everything is always well marked in English and Cantonese. Moreover, more and more Mandarin Chinese is coming up, for example, the announcements in the metro are always in the three languages. Hong Kong is also a very accessible city and it goes smoothly to integrate there. You can also easily find your way around the metropolis thanks to the readable metro network that quickly takes you around the city. You really feel that you live in a metropolis, it is a busy city and everyone is more focused on themselves.
People are often more focused on their phones than on other people. You find yourself in a bustling city where there is a lot to do and everything goes at a faster pace. Everyone is busy and you often have to claim your place among the masses.
There is also a culture where eating out alone is very normalized. People are often put together at tables in restaurants, but then it is not the intention to speak to each other. You are also served quickly and you are not supposed to dine for long.
Everyone is constantly busy in the city and there is not much dawdling. Another fascinating aspect of Hong Kong is its internationality. At City University, for example, there are already many Asian students who are doing their bachelor’s in Hong Kong. In addition, CityU is also strongly committed to exchanges, creating an interesting mix of students.
TIP-IM: Which aspects of Hong Kong society are already real sources of inspiration for you? What do you see/feel on the spot that we could certainly use in Belgium, in terms of mindset, creativity, etc.?
EDW: In Hong Kong there is more structure and they can control the crowds well. When there are crowded events, the city ensures good organization. The Hongkongers stand in line in a disciplined manner every time and are patient. For public transport, there are always indications about where everyone should stand so that peak hours are well absorbed. In addition, there is a general rule that one must stand on the right side of the escalators so that there is a smooth passage on the left. Each person strictly follows these guidelines, which means that there is a structured hustle and bustle. These simple guidelines already make for a much more efficient city. Another positive aspect is the cleanliness of the metropolis. It is unbelievable how they keep a busy inhabited area so clean. Hong Kong has many outdated buildings, but the streets are always waste-free. One of the biggest pluses is Hong Kong’s security. Personally, I have never felt unsafe there. Usually there is always life on the street so you never feel alone.
Moreover, there is also good security by means of cameras and people are not likely to do much harm. The Hong Kong mindset is much more progressive. City University, for example, is committed to innovation. They are currently working with Shenzhen on a site for innovation in technology. This is located in Shenzhen, which is only 30 kilometers from the center of Hong Kong. Sporting motivation is also higher among the Hong Kong population. In parks you see many elderly people who come together to exercise in groups and stimulate each other.
TIP-IM: Which aspects of Hong Kong society are already real sources of inspiration for you? What do you see/feel on the spot that we could certainly use in Belgium, in terms of mindset, creativity, etc.?
EDW: I would recommend an experience in Hong Kong to anyone. It is very enriching for students, because there are several universities and many international exchange students. Hong Kong is also very centrally located for travel in Asia. You can be in Asian cities as well as at a paradisiacal destination within a three-hour flight. I had the opportunity to discover Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo, Macau and Taipei in 4 months. Due to the smooth network of high-speed trains, I was also able to visit Shenzhen and Guilin in China. Shenzhen is only 17 minutes from Hong Kong. Hong Kong also has a lot to offer professionally because it is a financial center. They want to focus on strong connections between China and the rest of the world, making it a very important anchor point. I am very grateful for the opportunity I was given to study there. It was a fantastic period in Hong Kong and I hope I can go back there soon.
