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From My 50-Year-Old Diary
Geography Sketches: From Squatters to Campers on Lantau Island
Exploring landscapes, dodging lectures, and finding freedom in unexpected places
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Background Context
I went to Hong Kong in 1974 as an exchange student at the University of Hong Kong. HKU was the top university in Hong Kong, and probably in all of Asia. Courses were offered in English (except in the Chinese department) and followed the British system.
At the time I was there, subjects were half-year or full-year and students would normally take 3 or 4 courses/subjects for the entire year. That means they would sit for 3 or 4 final exams at the end of the year.
Of all the subjects offered, ‘Geography and Geology’ was the only one that interested me. That subject comprised 2 courses, which meant I would sit for 2 final exams at the end of the year. (At least I think that is how all this worked — it was over 50 years ago, after all.)
Instead of selecting a second subject, the university let me take some non-graded classes through the HKU extramural program as my second subject…
