Eduardo Garcia-Escobar
Eduardo Garcia-Escobar - Hong Kong
Major: Mathematical and Computational Science
College year while abroad: Sophomore
Contact
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Q&As
Why did you choose to study in Hong Kong?
Honestly, Hong Kong seemed like the best place for me offered by BOSP. I wanted to study in a place that had very little cultural connection to my own culture, and a place where I could be immersed in a language that had no phonetic similarities to my own. I also had always wanted the opportunity to learn more about Chinese culture and international business, and Hong Kong offered me the opportunity to do both.
What were your expectations before you went and how did they change once you were in Hong Kong?
My expectations were nonexistent. I had never left the US so I didn’t know what to expect. I went into the experience not knowing what would happen, who I’d interact with, or what some of the biggest challenges would be. I will say, that Stanford’s support once in Hong Kong was amazing. They helped navigate a lot of the bigger, more technical obstacles and then let us take care of the rest. In the end, I think Hong Kong created many expectations for other abroad experiences that I think I went in with!
What were some of the academic benefits from studying abroad in Hong Kong?
Being abroad helped me improve my writing skills. I hadn’t (and still haven’t) taken many classes with many written components, so taking classes that emphasized writing helped me in the long run. I also think that, for language specifically, being immersed in the language made a lot of it stick much more than if I had learned it on campus. (I still remember a lot of the characters I learned in Hong Kong!)
What did you learn about yourself while studying abroad?
In Hong Kong, though, I couldn’t go out of my way to do many stimulating things because I lacked knowledge of the culture, customs, laws, and language. So, I resorted to doing new things, but just things that were calmer or not as stimulating. Over time, I developed a love for these low-stimulating experiences, as they felt like they didn’t drain me and I could do with more people. I’ve continued doing these sorts of activities since coming back, finding myself drawn to these more than my pre-abroad habits.
What was the most challenging experience you encountered while abroad and what did you learn from it?
I went to Hong Kong without knowing any Chinese. This quickly led to many issues, since I needed to use language to get through daily activities. It felt alienating since I couldn’t speak to anyone, and lonely since I spent a lot of time alone. With a lot of intentional effort, I learned basic Cantonese phrases and sounds from my roommate and classmates which helped with everyday life activities. I also began appreciating being unable to talk to anyone, since I could just exist in the background and people-watch, learning more about body language than ever before.
What was the biggest cultural adjustment you had to make?
Hugging not being as common. That and affection being very small. I come from a culture that has a huge emphasis on physical touch and displays of affection even for platonic relationships. It took a bit of adjusting to realize that a lot of the locals in Hong Kong wouldn’t respond too well initially to my attempts to be physically friendly, but slowly I learned to refrain from using it as a default and asking people about their levels of comfort when we first met.
What was your favorite part of everyday life?
I loved going to stores. I don’t mean huge malls or anything similar, but the grocery stores and wet markets around all of Hong Kong. I feel like food is the gateway to a culture, and I was curious to see what the food in Hong Kong was like in its most basic forms (ingredients). It was amazing to see similarities between what I had grown up seeing in stores with what completely new items there were and how some of those items might be used. I also enjoyed knowing that, regardless of the ingredients, the food was always great!
What was the most memorable experience you had while in Hong Kong?
It wasn’t just one experience, but a set of them. I always find myself drawn to months with large festivities since festivities can highlight some of the beauty of a culture. September and October were truly memorable months in Hong Kong. I learned more about the different spiritual and religious practices that occurred in Hong Kong like the mid-Autumn Festival, explored different legends in the region, took a ghost tour of Hong Kong Island, and enjoyed a Hong Kong-style Halloween with friends at Ocean Park and in the city’s rich nightlife areas.
What 5 words would you use to describe the experience?
A truly unforgettable four months.
What was your favorite food or music?
My favorite food was the Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice. Right next to my dorm, there was this one restaurant called Be The Light, a small Taiwanese restaurant. When I got the dish, I was fairly hesitant to try it because it didn’t look all that appealing to me. But when I tried it, I became instantly hooked. I felt ashamed I had thought it wasn’t appealing because the combination of spices and seasonings was so good that I had the dish at least once a week while in Hong Kong. Music: Rêve and Beyoncé
What was the most valuable item you took on the program?
I think that my water bottle was immensely useful. There weren’t as many public drinking fountains, and many restaurants didn’t automatically offer water, so my water bottle tended to be my main water source. I was always thankful that I brought it because the heat was intense for long periods and being able to hydrate myself was always a huge relief.