Rose Garcia (Preferred Name: Rose)
Rose Garcia (Preferred Name: Rose) (she/her) - Stanford in Hong Kong
Major: Urban Studies or Public Policy (Undeclared)
College year while abroad: Autumn 2025
About the photo: Me at the West Kowloon waterfront with the Hong Kong Island skyline in the background!
Contact
Email: roseagar@stanford.edu or click here to schedule an appointment.
Q&As
Why did you choose to study in Hong Kong?
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I was immersed in a multicultural space and loved eating Cantonese cuisine like Dim Sum and Siu Mei and visiting local Chinese bakeries. I had many friends who were Chinese-American, with their families being from the Guangdong province, so Hong Kong seemed like a fun place for me to explore and learn more about the culture in the region. In addition, Hong Kong’s official languages are English and Chinese, making spaces easier to navigate.
How did studying away support your academic growth?
Seeing Hong Kong through film in our BOSP-required class, after scaffolding with readings, made me realize the importance of media in communicating and representing culture. Throughout my time in Hong Kong, I further developed my media literacy skills and analyzed how filmmakers used cinematography to speak to broader themes of identity, oppression, and societal norms. Furthermore, I was able to create my own form of mixed media by combining poems I wrote about Hong Kong onto collaged backgrounds on Canva. By having the opportunity to analyze media and create my own, I was able to expand my artistic horizons.
What did you learn about yourself during your study away experience, especially through any challenges or major cultural adjustments?
Being at Stanford, I’d prided myself on being a Bay Area local; I had comfort places, people, and food. At first, being in Hong Kong was overwhelming; it was the first time I’d been in an unfamiliar place. However, through multiple MTR rides, trying new foods, following signs, and learning more about HK culture (i.e Tai Hang Dragon Dance, art fairs, street markets ), I realized that I could build familiarity anywhere. With the freedom to define myself in Hong Kong, I explored aspects of myself, beyond U.S labels, I hadn’t fully tapped into, like my love for photography, public transit exploration, and writing poetry.
Briefly describe a typical day and your favorite part of daily life in your program location.
On most days, I would get up, get ready for the day, and walk over to the CW Chu Shuttle bus stop to board a bus to class. Depending on the day, I’d grab a meal at one of the canteens beforehand (my favorite canteen meal was the Gochujang Chicken with Rice at New Asia college!) if I had an afternoon class, or I’d head straight over to my morning class. Afterwards, I’d usually head over to the MTR with one of my friends or by myself to have foodie adventures (i.e. try new meals or find cravings) and walk around the Yau Tsim Mong area. My favorite part of daily life in Hong Kong was the extensive public transportation that exists throughout the city and grabbing mango mochis at my favorite stall in Mong Kok.
If applicable, how did participating in an internship, volunteership or experiential-based project help you grow professionally? What specific skills did you gain?
During my time in Hong Kong, I volunteered for the Rural School Service Project! The Rural School Service Project was a collaboration between the International Asian Studies Programme at CUHK and the Hong Kong Metropolitan Schools Council. Through this project, I worked alongside other exchange students with local primary school students and helped them practice English. Through volunteering, I learned to synthesize information into more digestible formats for the students to understand. My favorite moment was the cultural exchange presentations; I got to introduce the United States, its diversity, and traditions to the students.
What was the most essential item you took with you on the program?
Sunscreen! Many say the Bay Area doesn’t have seasons, but Hong Kong’s fall feels like summer, with temperatures of 90 degrees Fahrenheit until October. Applying sunscreen regularly will protect you from burning to a crisp!
What advice would you give students who are considering studying away?
You are capable, you are ready, and the right time is whenever you choose to apply! At every moment of the process, it’s easy to get hung up with fear over adjustment, timing, classes, and being away from home, friends, and family. Choosing to take the leap forward to study away is the hardest part; everything will pull itself together afterwards. Don’t let fear deter you, rather let it motivate you! You’ll learn so much more about yourself through places, people, and the experiences you’ll have abroad.