From Pakistan to Lingnan: How I Found Family, Friendship, and Growth in Hong Kong
Syed Hassan Abbas | Pakistan | Exchange Student | Marketing & International Business (MIB)
From Airport Nerves to "Hey Hassan!"
Arriving in Hong Kong in January 2026 for my exchange semester at Lingnan University felt like stepping into a new world. From Lahore, Pakistan, I arrived with nerves, excitement, and goals. Friendship started at Hong Kong International Airport where OGE's Staff member Mr. Sam came to pick us up & then with a warm welcome at OGE's office. There were students from Finland, US, Spain, Syria, UK, Colombia, Sweden, Estonia, Pakistan & Mexico at the airport. Hall A quickly became my first lesson in friendship—sharing a room with my Kazakh roommate taught me patience and cultural exchange through shared meals, Russian phrases, and Urdu stories. I discovered Hong Kong's vibrant night markets together, savoring fish ball skewers, egg waffles (gai daan zai), and stinky tofu while practicing my basic Cantonese "Mh-gi" (thank you). Late-night conversations with friends from Sweden, Tunisia, US, France, Netherlands, Wales, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar on the Lingnan Benches, Games Nights & playing badminton with students from India, Bangladesh, Mexico, Mainland China, and Hong Kong turned strangers into friends over board games and shared snacks.
The Hall A’s Annual Dinner, where I won a lucky draw award, made me feel truly part of a family. Hearing "Hey Hassan!" across campus showed me Hong Kong was becoming home. My friends would shake their heads and smile every time they saw me walk into another room, another beach trip, another late-night adventure.
They were amazed. They still are. The answer? I never waited for an invitation. I just showed up
Hong Kong: Where Strangers Became Family
Lingnan's Office of Global Education (OGE) and Office of Student Affairs (OSA) opened countless doors for our batch of 110+ international exchange students. By semester's end, I'd learned every single person's name and background—and they knew mine. For me, this was my biggest personal achievement. I devoured every OGE & OSA email, attending the Nowruz celebrations with Turkish, Pakistani, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz students, and the GAIIA aviation event where I represented Lingnan as a guest. The Disneyland Executive Presentation on HKDL International Market Strategy earned me souvenirs for active participation. Beach trips to Golden Beach became Eid celebrations with friends from Gambia, Senegal, Serbia, and Tunisia—grilled lamb, dancing, lifelong bonds. Kowloon walks with Kazakh and Dutch friends, riding the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour at golden hour, Ramadan iftars at nearby mosque & Hong Kong's Imam Bargah inviting non-Muslim friends, and serving traditional Pakistani milk tea shared in my common room created genuine connections.
Representing Lingnan at inter-hall basketball for Hall A, Holi, Easter, and Chand Raat gatherings filled me with pride. Joining friends for pineapple buns (bolo bao) and milk tea (naai cha) became our daily ritual. I'm also deeply thankful to OGE for graciously accepting the official souvenir from my home university—a gesture of friendship between institutions that meant the world to me. My co-curricular participation showed opportunities must be seized.
The Classes That Shaped My Future
Academically, I chose Global Business Environment because Professor Bradley Barnes, OGE Director, taught it. His insights on PESTLE, Porter's Diamond, and FDI sharpened my global thinking. Our FDI feasibility report recommended Portugal over the Philippines using weighted scoring. International Event Marketing's Disneyland visit revealed queue strategies and seasonal branding; my Taylor Swift Eras Tour project analyzed Hong Kong's HK$3.7B concert economy with SMART objectives and MTR QR campaigns.
Marketing Management's Volcanica Coffee launch taught STP and 7Ps—I directed a 30-second promo video using my Forman Dramatics Club experience. Lingnan's Chinese and Spanish courses were highlights—going from zero knowledge to confidently ordering dim sum in Mandarin and greeting friends in Spanish within one semester.
OGE's Humanity Through My Darkest Days
Then February brought tragedy—my father and uncle passed away. I want to give a shot out to Lingnan full time students Areeba Syed & Areebah Yasin for their support. The way they went to me immediately after hearing my father's news & carried me to Airport was really appreciated. I felt like I'm with my elder sisters.
OGE became my lifeline: they allowed family time, granted fee extensions (thanks to Ms. Stephanie and Jill), and Mr. Sam supported me emotionally when I returned feeling completely exhausted. Michael's jolly warmth at events lifted my spirits. Without their humanity, I wouldn't have continued Nowruz, beach gatherings, basketball, and Ramadan programs, earning recognition for my energetic participation. Lingnan taught resilience through community!
The New Me: Curious, Connected, Resilient
My Lingnan journey transformed me—from nervous exchange student to confident global citizen who'd connected with every one of 110+ international students by name, with friends across continents.
Say yes to hall life, OGE & OSA events, and small invitations. Wear your flag proudly. Thank you, Lingnan's OGE—Professor Barnes' wisdom, Ms. Stephanie and Jill's kindness, Michael's joy, and Mr. Sam's steadiness—nurtured growth beyond classrooms.
Hong Kong isn't just a visit; it's part of who I am: curious, connected, resilient!
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