Travelling can be one of the best ways to learn and educate one, however I appreciate that it comes with an environmental cost and heavy footprints.
Going to Chinese University in Hong Kong for a summer term where incredible towers are placed right next to green mountains can be a very lovely experience, however I am also considering how I can be a responsible traveller and don’t hurt the environment. I would like to expand my knowledge and educate myself without leaving a heavy footprint behind.
For me, eco-friendly travel is not just a trend phrase, it is about making wise choices that actually fits well with the UN Sustainability Goals. I believe being sustainable starts at each of our houses. We do not need to change the world or do impossibles, just our everyday habits can make a big difference over time.
I know that flight to Hongkong is the biggest issue when it comes to carbon emission, to help balance that out, I plan to pack as light as possible to reduce baggage weight and I have purchased a shorter flight with less carbon emission where I had to pay much extra than typical available tickets.
I am planning to only use public transport in Hongkong, I already have done research and everywhere is very accessible with public transports, therefore no taxis or cars. I am going to prepare myself to work with their public transport system and navigations.
Mentioning daily habits, I have researched and found that Hong Kong’s street food are legendary, however grabbing food on the go can mean using a lot of single-use plastics which can damage our environment, to avoid this, I am going to travel with my own kit in my backpack consisting of a reusable water bottle, my own food flask and utensils. I will also try to eat at home or support their local economy by eating at neighbourhood little restaurants rather than big international chains, which helps cut down on food waste while giving me a better experience on meeting more people and learning their culture.
Finally, I want to be mindful of how I live and study in Hong Kong, I have already had a meeting with another student who has been in Hong Kong, he explained that they will be blasting air conditioner all the time in the rooms, but I’ll make sure to turn the turn it off when I’m not in room and set a medium temperature where comfort is not the first priority.
In terms of note taking, I will stick entirely to digital notes and cloud storage to save trees from being cut down, just like I already do!
Ultimately, I want this summer school experience to be about respecting the nature, local culture and the environment. This scholarship is a huge opportunity for me with my financial conditions to learn, and I believe I can explore the world and learn while still taking care of our Earth.
