Kenneth Imade: Hong Kong was 'extremely worth it'
Kenneth Imade enjoyed this breathtaking view from atop the Dragon’s Back near Hong Kong. “I encourage everyone to hike at least once in life and enjoy the sceneries that come along with it,” he said.
Whether he was eating with chopsticks or learning Mandarin, Kenneth Imade ’16 was able to immerse himself into the Asian culture with ease during his study abroad experience in Hong Kong this summer.
“As a result, I realized everybody is the same,” said the electrical and computer engineering major. “We are all socially interconnected. Factors such as culture, language, and environment are what separate us. However, through active immersion, I gained a better understanding of the different types of people I have met from Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Mainland China, Australia, Denmark, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and much more.”
During his six-week stay, Kenneth completed a six-credit course in Putonghua (Mandarin) that counted toward his humanities/social sciences requirements here. He hiked into the hills around Hong Kong for breathtaking views of the global financial center, with its tower-studded skyline. He even climbed the Great Wall of China.
“The fact that it was both a sweaty, arduous walk to the top and a path filled with so much history made it even more worthwhile,” Kenneth said.
Kenneth with a friend from Switzerland at the Great Wall of China
He received an International Experience Scholarship from the Hajim School and an Evans Lam Study Abroad Scholarship Grant. “With those two combined, my entire expense during my six-week trip in Hong Kong was covered. The only thing I had to pay out of pocket was my plane ticket.”
The process of applying for and arranging his trip was “relatively easy and straightforward,” Kenneth added. He recommends these steps for fellow Hajim students interested in studying abroad:
- Attend any study abroad global fair offered throughout the semester. Study abroad representatives will assist you with any questions or concerns.
- Have a checklist of study abroad topics ahead of time to discuss with an academic counselor. Discussing your plans and actions with an academic counselor definitely helps you stay on top of things.
- Depending on the study abroad program you are applying to, make sure that the courses you want to take are transferrable back to the U of R. The academic counselors have a list of equivalent courses.
Kenneth with classmates from his Mandarin class at Tai-Po-Hui market in Hong Kong.