Florence Lee, 20, is a geography student at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge, where she is a member of the university’s Hong Kong society. She has been living in the UK for two years after leaving her home town of Kowloon in Hong Kong
Why the UK?
I had offers from universities in Hong Kong and the US, but I thought being able to visit cities such as London and Cardiff would give me the widest exposure to different cultures.
I had a lot of British teachers in my international high school, where we were taught in British English, so I had a more British upbringing than people from other schools. I also wanted to travel during university and compared to the US, it’s easy to travel around Britain if you don’t have a car.
What have you liked so far?
There are lots of similarities between the UK and Hong Kong because it was a British colony. The buses are the same, the roads are similar and the environment makes me feel like I’ve been here before.
I also find British culture fascinating – there’s lots of British slang, music and movies that I like, such as the word “innit” – it’s a fun way to shorten something.
What has been the most difficult thing about moving here?
Homesickness. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with sadness and crave being back home. I miss the local cuisine – dim sum, wonton noodles, dumplings and traditional cooked meals, like abalone.
I surprisingly miss the really hot weather, the humidity and the crowdedness of Hong Kong. I love the fact that shops don’t close until ten or 11 pm.
How often do you chat to family and friends back home?
I Skype my family every three to four weeks, so not very often, because I’m usually overwhelmed by work. But I text them every other day. Social media and technology help me overcome homesickness the most.
I go home once or twice a year, usually during summer and sometimes during Christmas. I’ve had Christmases when I didn’t go back because I wanted to experience a British winter. I’d never actually seen real snow before.
Do you cook dishes from home?
Yes. I join in with my college’s international activities – we sometimes have Chinese nights. My friends and I have cookouts in our kitchens too, where we make local dishes like steamed eggs, dumplings, fried rice and traditional soup.
My favourite British food? Banoffee pie. And I really enjoy fish and chips, even though it’s very clichéd.
Do your closest university friends come from Hong Kong?
Half and half. I divide my time between college friends, who are mostly from London, Manchester and elsewhere around the UK, and friends from Hong Kong. I cook with both groups but more with the Chinese group, and with the local students I usually go out and do activities.
What do you gain from being with your Hong Kong friends?
A sense that I’m still in touch with my roots. We talk about Hong Kong a lot and about how much we miss home. We can talk in Chinese rather than English, so I sometimes feel that they understand things I say better.
When did you learn English?
I was young when I started – three or four – so my standard of English hasn’t been a problem. Some schools teach in English but the majority teach in Chinese. My parents wanted me to learn in English.
English schools also follow a British examination system and many parents, like mine, don’t want their children to go through the local system, where exams dominate students’ lives. They wanted me to experience a more well-rounded style of learning and to participate in sports and activities.
How does your UK experience compare to your expectations?
The reality has exceeded my expectations. But there’s definitely more work than I thought there would be, especially at Cambridge. University counsellors in Hong Kong said it would be more relaxed than programmes there, but I actually spend a lot of time at university, rather than travelling or going out.
In Hong Kong the culture is very exam-orientated and many students don’t go out or do extra-curricular activities.
Are there other differences between student life here and in Hong Kong?
In Hong Kong, there’s not a very diverse student mix – there are fewer international students and most people talk in Cantonese. In the UK, I can meet people from a lot of different nationalities and backgrounds and they all speak different languages.
The UK also has many student-run societies. They do have some in Hong Kong, but there are far fewer non-academic societies. Hong Kong is very academically-minded and quite stressful – people I know talk about how much pressure they face at university.
Socially, in Hong Kong people spend their time in shopping malls and movie theatres, rather than pubs or clubs. I’d not experienced these before living in the UK.
I’ve been clubbing in Cambridge and I didn’t hate it, surprisingly. It’s enjoyable if you go with a group of friends – and you control yourself. You don’t see a lot of international or Chinese students in the clubs. It’s mostly the locals or people from Europe.
How expensive is the UK compared to Hong Kong?
A sandwich, for example, would cost 30 Hong Kong dollars, but in the UK it might cost £5, which is about double the price.
Have you experienced any hostility because of where you’re from?
Once when I was walking through London some tourists followed me and were badgering me in Chinese, saying “hello” in Mandarin, but I didn’t know them.
What advice would you give other Hongkongers heading for the UK?
Coming to the UK is an investment. It’s very expensive and it’s a privilege, so you should use it to your advantage and learn as much as you can about other people and new things. Don’t just lock yourself away studying too hard and not going out. Travel and experience more.
Also, adjust to the weather – it’s very cold. Asians always get sick in the UK, so take lots of winter clothes.
Read more stories in the series:
• International students in the UK: who are they really?
• Meet a student from... Germany: ‘I brought a meat hammer from Germany so I can make schnitzel’
• Meet a student from... Malaysia: ‘I miss how, in Malaysia, everything revolves around food’
