Things to Do Before Leaving

(Taken from the Univ. of Illinois's HKUST packing list with added commentary)

MONEY CONSIDERATIONS

• Cash: It is a good idea to bring about $300 HKD cash, to use as soon as you arrive.

• ATM Cards*: ATM machines can be very convenient. Check your bank for international fees or what to do in case of an emergency.

• Credit Cards*: Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted. For credit cards there is sometimes a minimum amount of purchase to use them plus a fee for using them.

• Traveler’s Checks: Rarely accepted and thus not very useful.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE LEAVING

General Things, in no particular order:

1. Talk to the IPENG office and/or the University where you will be studying about what classes you will be taking
2. Check out the HKUST website: http://www.ust.hk/eng/index.htm
3. Check out this website: http://www.discoverhongkong.com/login.html
4. Learn courtesy phrases in Cantonese, such as hello, good bye, and especially thank you (for gifts and for favors). Check out my post on gift etiquette here.
5. Brush up on 80’s and 90's popular music (essential for karaoke)
6. Be familiar with law in Hong Kong – drinking and smoking is legal at 18, laws are pretty similar to the States, driving is left side of the road (but don’t drive there)
7. Apply for a Chinese visa for visitors if you plan on visiting mainland China (a visa is also needed to visit Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, etc., so make sure to check on entry requirements while making travel plans)
• Especially for US citizens: Apply for a multiple entry visa while you are in the US. 
• You can only apply for a double entry visa here in HK. If you go to China more than twice, it's annoying and expensive to have to go back to the embassy and pay again for another double entry visa.
8. Set goals to accomplish in Hong Kong (visit every stop on the MTR, etc)
9. Figure out your height, weight, and clothes size in the metric system
10. Find directions on how to call the U.S. (Or just use Skype)
11. Talk to someone who has gone on the program in the past
12. Meet at least one person also going on your program
13. Know a little about your hometown and your home university
• The locals are really interested in school rankings/school achievements and the special things that your school/your hometown is known for. 
14. Let your friends at home know you are going
15. Put your contact info in your carry-on, as well as anything else you might need if your bags got lost
16. Confirm your plane ticket 24 hrs in advance
17. Take a deep breath and don’t worry

OTHER TIPS

• Print the Chinese characters for HKUST (香港科技大學) on a slip of paper
• Pack this in your carry on in case your buddy doesn't show up or you're traveling alone. 
• I found that my taxi driver didn't understand "Hong Kong University of Science and Technology." The closest way of saying this in English is "Fo gae dai hok"
• Print out my post on getting Internet access once you've arrived at the dorms
• Notify your bank and credit card companies that you will be leaving the country so that they do not cancel or place holds on your account due to suspicious activity.
• At the same time, unlock your credit cards for international use. 
• Keep all receipts and record how much you spend, it will help you stick to your budget and you may need them for customs
• Make sure your wallet isn’t exposed—use fanny pack or neck/belt wallet
• I actually think that Hong Kong is very safe. The exchange students and I haven't had any terrible experiences that warranted extra caution; however, you'll definitely need to be more cautious if you intend to travel to Mainland China or anywhere else. 
• Don’t use ATM machines to pull out small amounts of money, it isn’t worth the fee
• Always have coins available, in case you need to pay to use a restroom or bus/taxi
• Shop around, the most expensive hostel or bus doesn’t necessarily mean the best quality.
• Frequently check your online bank account to make sure everything is in order