The Unplanned Curriculum: Lessons from My Third Year in Hong Kong
Christina Sui | Myanmar | Year 3 Student | Global Development & Sustainability (GDS)
1. The Lesson of the Wallet: Financial Responsibility
I came to Lingnan University for a degree. What I’m getting is a masterclass in a life I never could have planned. To be honest, as someone from the Chin State, Myanmar, my first reality check was Hong Kong’s cost of living. It didn’t just nudge me; it shoved me into a world of financial responsibility. My weekly budget became sacred. That bubble tea? It came at the cost of three meals back home. This wasn’t just about scarcity; it was about shifting my entire mindset.
The part-time jobs I took on campus didn’t just fill my wallet; they taught me about professionalism, time management, and the sheer satisfaction of earning on my own. This financial boot camp is forging a more resilient version of me.
2. The Lesson of the Watch: The Gift of Punctuality
Amidst the financial scramble, I found an unexpected solace: punctuality. I fell in love with the fact that in Hong Kong, everyone and everything was on time. Trains, meetings, study sessions, they all ran with a reliable rhythm. Coming from a background where time was more fluid, this structure was a revelation. It forced me to master my schedule, living by a planner that balanced classes, work, and hanging out with my global circle of friends. Being on time became more than a habit, it was a mark of respect, and it opened doors to opportunities I once thought were out of reach.
3. The Lesson of the Voice: Finding Connection in Silence
I arrived with the naive assumption that English would be my bridge. The reality was a wall of Cantonese that left me feeling isolated. Ordering coffee was an achievement. Asking for directions, without the safety net of Google Maps, made me feel like I was taking a high-stakes exam for which I wasn’t quite prepared for.
But in that silence, I learned to speak a different language. I learned the universal dialect of a patient smile, of kind gestures, and of a shared laugh over my mispronunciations. The language barrier, that I had viewed as an insurmountable mountain, instead turned out to be an opportunity that allowed me to become a better listener and a more creative connector.
My Global Village at Lingnan
My friends are now my global village: a Brazilian dessert expert who can discuss politics over sweets, an Italian artist who shares my love for manhwa, a local Hong Kong friend who’s my emotional anchor, a Vietnamese K-pop enthusiast, and a Mainland Chinese gift-giver who knows my love for all things cute. Together, we created a mini-United Nations, and our conversations are my favorite class.
So, my degree is still a work in progress. But the person I’m becoming? That transformation is happening in real-time, funded by a tight budget, paced on the rhythm of a city that never sleeps, and celebrated with a global family. The classroom gives me the theory, but Hong Kong is giving me the story.
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Last updated: September 3, 2026