PESENTI FOUNDATION

Julia Szewczyk’s account from Hong Kong – 1st quarter

Julia Szewczyk’s account: from Bergamo to Hong Kong, (city of Tsuen Wan) for one year with Intercultura and the support of Fondazione Pesenti.

FIRST QUARTER: SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER 2019

Relationships with the host family:

My relationships with the host family are different from those that many exchange students have with their respective families: my family gives me a lot of independence and expects a lot of responsibility and self-management from me, without, of course, neglecting some moments with them.

Relationships with the host community and friends:

I have adapted well to the new community, I maintain relationships with my Italian friends and with the other 43 AFS students here with me, but I try to focus mainly on the relationship with my new classmates and people of Hong Kong.

Integration and school performance, both from the point of view of results and personal relationships with teachers and students:

Both students and teachers are very helpful and this has allowed me to have a good integration, despite the huge language barrier; I also think my performance is more than satisfactory for what is required of me.

Extracurricular activities:

I have many activities organized by the school: I am a member of the English Campus Reporting team, English Society, the basketball team and on some occasions also of the Long distance running team, but I always participate in AFS activities as well.

The three things I will never forget (positive):

  1. Trip to Victoria Peak with the other exchange students and our first friends.
  2. Talking with the host sister before going to sleep and joking a little about everything.
  3. Lady’s Market in Mong Kok, where I perceive the local culture and the chaos of the place.

The three things I will never forget (negative, if any):

  1. The initial difficulties with the family and the household chores I am called to perform.
  2. The metro closure due to the protests and the consequent search for a way to get home.
  3. Understanding how to behave when you miss home so much.

Other (anecdotes, reflections, assessments):

I want to sincerely thank Fondazione Pesenti for giving me this opportunity: I am really trying to take full advantage of it.



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