First Week in Hong Kong

Hi everyone!

It’s my first week in Hong Kong!

The jet lag has been pretty difficult (13 hours is a big difference!) but everyone has been very nice and I am excited to be spending the next 4 months here. Hong Kong reminds me a lot of New York City, and also Los Angeles. There are lots of cool shops and tasty places to eat.

PolyU has a beautiful (and convenient) campus, and meeting other exchange students from around the world is very fun. I’m excited to start classes next week, and see how they compare and differ from those at FIT.

While I am excited for all to come, I’m definitely tired! It is a lot of adjustment coming to not only a new country but a new school. PolyU uses Blackboard like FIT, but their methods of checking out classrooms to work in and other policies and procedures are different. I feel like a freshman all over again!

Overall I am more excited than ever to explore, learn and meet new people. The first week of any new endeavor is always challenging, but what I have seen so far makes me even more excited for what is to come.

Looking forwards to share more,
Sam

Hong Kong Bucket List

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Hi everyone!

If you read my last post, you’ll know I’m headed to Hong Kong for an exchange semester with Hong Kong Polytechnic University! As I pack up to leave, I thought I would share what is on my bucket list to do while I am there.

Hong Kong Disney Land

I’d love to go see Hong Kong Disney land, and see what it is like compared to my experiences at home with Disney!

Go to a Concert

One of my favorite things to do in NYC is catch a show of a band I like, and it would be super cool to have that experience on the other side of the world! Unfortunately tour dates might not align, but I would love to see one of my favorite bands abroad if I have the chance.

Visit the Beaches!

Hong Kong is not just an jam packed cityscape, it also has beautiful beaches as it has loads of coastline. I love going to the beach, and hope to check out a few different options.

Find a Favorite Coffee Shop

Going out for coffee with friends or with homework is so relaxing, and I want to find a local spot I love to study and socialize at.

Visit Starbucks and McDonalds

I know I can do this any day in New York but I’m curious to try the local specials! I read an article that showcased special soft-serve flavors that are sometimes served at Hong Kong McDonalds locations, and I’m eager to taste-test.

Shop at the Night Markets

Hong Kong is infamous for its beautiful night markets, where vendors serve food and sell a variety of items. I’d love to get a souvenir or two from one!

Attend a Sporting Event

Rugby and Equestrian sports are very popular in Hong Kong, and I have never been to an event for either. It would be really cool to go and cheer on a team or horse!

I’m sure many more things will get added to this list, especially as I explore! As I accomplish something on the list, I’ll share here so you can follow along.

Sam

I’m Going to Hong Kong!

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Hi everyone!

Soon I will be embarking on a semester abroad in Hong Kong! FIT has a direct exchange with Hong Kong Polytechnic University, which means I can complete my Production Management major required classes while I am abroad. Learn more about FIT’s study abroad programs here.

Studying abroad is something I wanted to do during my college experience, and I am excited to have the chance to spend the whole semester! FIT offers semester-long programs, as well as ones that take place during Winter and Summer breaks. I am taking my major classes at my host university, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, which means I stay on-track to graduate. FIT’s curriculum is very focused on your major classes, so I am glad I will not fall behind while I am away. Also, studying and interning in Production Management means a lot of discussion about international manufacturing. Hong Kong and China are two massive players in the apparel manufacturing realm- studying there will give me plenty of chances to better understand the local customs, geography, and to make connections.

Studying abroad is not only a great way to learn, but to have fun! While I am there I would like to make a trip (or two!) to Japan and to Hong Kong Disney Land. I’m looking forwards to visiting the night markets, checking out local cafes, and going to the beautiful beaches they have there.

I will be blogging here all along the way, from what my classes are like to fun activities I get to partake in! Be sure to follow along.

Best,

Sam

My Favorite Free Student Resources

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Hi everyone,

Being a student at FIT means being creative- in more ways than one! In order to get the most out of my time at FIT, I have found some unconventional ways to study and boost my productivity so I can best use my time. Here are my favorite (free!) student resources to give you a leg up while not lifting a finger.

Business of Fashion Student Account

Thanks to TopShop, students can receive free access to Business of Fashion’s extensive library of articles related to all things apparel and beauty industry. BoF sends a daily digest email so you can skim the headlines, or download the app to read on the go- articles download offline daily so you can read on the train. Learn more about signing up here.

Chrome Extensions

If you regularly use Chrome for your web browser, check out some of the extensions available in the web store– many are free! I use several to help me study Japanese while I’m working (or not working) on other tasks. My favorites are Characterizer, which changes the first letter of a word to the Kanji character with the same meaning as the word, and Mainichi, which translates kanji characters I hover my mouse over.

Podcasts

I’ve already written about some of my favorite educational podcasts- read that blog post here if you missed it!

Audio Books

By now many people have heard of Audible, Amazon’s audio book service, but did you know that most public libraries have ways to check out audio books from your phone? My library uses Overdrive, and I download audiobooks to listen to while I commute, run errands or clean my apartments. Click here to see what NYPL offers through overdrive. Check to see what digital resources your library has to offer by looking at their website!

These are just a few ways I like to multitask- have any of your own suggestions? I’d love to hear them!

Sam

My First Semester in Upper Division

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This week marks the end of my first semester of my Bachelors program at FIT! I attended FIT for the past two years for my associates degree as well- our school is structured as a “two plus two” system. This means that you earn an Associates degree, and then reapply for your Bachelors program.

This program set up gives students the ability to transfer to another major (provided they have the required courses to do so) for their Bachelors or continue on to complete a Bachelors in their original program. I decided to stay in Production Management, as I find it is what I am looking to do after graduation still. However, many students have started in Production Management, for example, to transfer to Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing, International Trade and Marketing, or Entrepreneurship. Students at FIT are able to build an education that suits the career they one day hope to have.

So what’s different between the Associates program and the Bachelors? Here are a few things I noticed after being in upper division.

New Classmates

My program gained new students from majors inside FIT, and out! While a few of my friends left for other programs, it was great to receive new classmates whom I can study with and learn from. FIT students are passionate about what they do, and everyone has worked hard together.