Exchange Report University of at Manoa

LIU Kay Yan Year 4 Professional Accounting & Operations Management Fall 2019

1 Content Page

Page

Part I Monthly Activity Log

Part II General Exchange Information

Part III Items to Bring

Part IV Useful Links and Contacts

2 Part I Monthly Activity Log

August

I arrived on 19 August, a week before the start of the semester. You should consider request a FREE airport pickup from a Baptist Centre, which the details would be included in the admission email from UHM. Simply email them a week ahead your arrival and they will get back to you shortly. You will share the pickup car with a few other students from UH as well, so expect that some waiting time and slightly longer car rides. You can also take The Bus - the only public transport on , but I honestly would not recommend because the bus ride from the airport to Manoa is painfully long (>1.5 hours). Otherwise, you can just call an Uber/Lyft for around $22+ USD.

I applied to stay in Frear Hall, one of the on campus housing; however, the school only allowed students to check-in on 22 August, so I stayed in Waikiki Beachside Hostel for the first few nights. On the first day, I went to the Campus Clinic and did the TB test for $30 for health clearance. Be aware that the Clinic closes on Thursdays. You should do it ASAP once you arrived Hawaii as it takes at least 2-3 days for the test result to come out. I also went to the Student Office to pick up my Student ID card and The Bus Pass (sticker on the card). It is important that you get The Bus Pass so you can take The Bus for free.

I attended the school’s orientation and the MIX check in session. They provided a lot of useful information on how to survive in Hawaii and explained to us about our visa and ways to clear holds. Remember to clear your holds before the start of the semester, otherwise you won’t be able to enrol in classes.

For the rest of the month, I spent a lot of time shopping for necessities in supermarkets. The popular ones are Target, Walmart, Foodland, Don Quijote and Whole Foods. I would recommend Target as it is relatively cheaper and they offer a wider variety of products compared to the others. On the first 2 weeks, there’s free shuttle from Frear Hall to Walmart which is super convenient if you are buying large and bulky items. You are looking for fresh vegetables and meat, go for Foodland, as there are only frozen products in Target and Walmart. There is a Foodland nearby campus, approximately 10 minutes away. There’s also a farmers market on campus every Tuesday and Friday from 8am to 2pm where you can get fresh fruits and vegetables.

Places I visited: Diamond Head, KCC Farmers Market (every Saturday before 11am), Ala Moana, Waikiki (hula dance performance every Thursday, fireworks every Friday), Waikiki Aquarium (doesn’t worth a visit if you’ve been to Ocean Park), China Town (do NOT recommend going alone as it is quite sketchy).

September

3 School is pretty easy so I spent most of the time outside school hiking and catching sunsets. You can sign up for hiking, surfing, kayaking, sailing and diving courses through the school. They provide courses at a low price which includes transportation, coaches and equipment. For instance, a hiking class is $7 and it saves you >1 hour on the bus. It is a great alternative way to meet friends other than orientation parties. If you like to hike, I would recommend you buy and bring along a pair of legit hiking shoes (not your nikes and adidas) or boots as most of the hikes here are slippery and muddy. I did Kuiliouou Ridge Hike, Manoa Falls, Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail and Koko Head in September. I also did a surfing class with the school at Diamond Head Beach, which was fun and rewarding. You can also surf at Waikiki but the waves aren’t as great. You can rent the board at Moku (a shop in Waikiki) and they offer a student discount at $10.

Other than beaches and hikes, I also enjoyed watching sunsets. Kakaako Waterfront Park and Ala Moana Beach Park are must-visits if you are a sunset lover. Check out the street arts and the SALT area if you plan to go Kakaako. There’s a great café my friends and I loved called Morning Brew in Kakaako which is a nice place to do work. I also visited the Honolulu Zoo and saw some adorable animals.

In September, there’s this Aloha Festival where they had parades and performances during weekends at Ala Moana and Waikiki. Definitely check them out if you want to more exposure on the Hawaiian culture.

Places I visited: Kuiliouou Ridge Hike, Manoa Falls, Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail, Koko Head, Diamond Head Beach, Kakaako, Ala Moana Beach Park

October

It is the time of the year – midterms. Midterms are just as chill as the Hawaiian vibe so no need to stress out. Projects and assignments take up around 40% of your grade so treat them seriously. Professors are very friendly so just feel free to ask them whenever you have any questions. Just submit your assignments and attend your exams and your grades will be better than fine.

Apart from studying, I did some more exploring. I went to Sandy Beach where I saw a wildlife monk seal. Be mindful that these monk seals are endangered and protected animals, so don’t get too near them. I also visited Kahala Beach and Cromwell’s Beach. They are more rocky but they are less crowded than Waikiki so I loved it there. Moreover, I participated in a school kayaking class to Chinaman’s Hat and it was amazing. I climbed to the top of Chinaman’s Hat and witnessed breath- taking views, just like the ones you see on Instagram. I also hike the Lanikai Pillbox and the views were extraordinary. I recommend hiking from Kamahele St to Lanikai Beach so you can see the island from different angles.

4 October is also the month for Halloween. I visited the Aloun Farms with my friends where they have pumpkin patches, sunflower fields, hay rides, food stalls, and many more. You can also go to the Haunted Village for haunted houses. Most people go to Waikiki in costumes on Halloween.

Places I visited: Sandy Beach, Kahala Beach, Cromwell’s Beach, Chinaman’s Hat, Lanikai Pillbox, Lanikai Beach, Aloun Farms, Aloha Stadium Swap Meet, Pearl Harbour

November

Both Thanksgiving and Black Friday are in November. I suggest you shop online to avoid crowds and enjoy the same discount as physical stores and free shipping. The long weekends provide a perfect opportunity to explore the outer islands. I travelled to with my friends and did a road trip round the island.

Since the workload is lighter after midterms, I also had a lot of time to do some more exploring in Oahu. I hiked to Maunawili Falls with the school. It was not an easy hike and my shoes got soaked with mud afterwards! My friend from Canada came visit me and we visited the Waimanlo Farm where they have super instagrammable sunflower fields and spectacular views. We also visited the Waimanlo Beach, which is also known as the white sand beach. We then went to and did some snorkelling. During the month, I also visited Kailua Beach, the Waikele Premium Outlet, spent a day at North Shore and swam in 5m waves. I also did the Pink Pillbox Hike with my friends on the West side of the island.

Places I visited: Maui, Maunawili Falls, Waimanlo Farm, Waimanlo Beach, Kailua Beach, Hanauma Bay, Waikele Premium Outlet, North Shore, Pink Pillbox Hike

December

I spent a weekend studying for my finals. The finals are slightly more challenging than the midterms, more essay type questions and less MC, but I’m sure they would still a piece of cake for us who came from UST.

5 During the month, I did some shopping for souvenirs to bring back to Hong Kong. If you plan to buy chocolate coated macadamia nuts, go to Don Quijote for cheaper prices and more options (local suggestion). I also visited the Kakaako Farmers Market and watched a movie at the Consolidated Theatre. The theatres here are very different from those in Hong Kong. The seats here are adjustable and even comes with a leg rest. I hiked to with the school (where you can see a lot of sea birds and monk seals), and went to the Spitting Cave, Halona Beach Cove and China Walls on my day offs. Me and my friends went to a free Christmas dinner and celebration held by the Baptist Centre. It was worthwhile.

After the semester ended, I went to Kualoa Ranch to do zipline and spent some time in the Secret Island Beach. I also hiked the Maikiki Valley Loop to reach the Tantalus Lookout to watch the sunset and got to see Oahu from the top. I flew off to Big Island then to Los Angeles before I returned Hong Kong.

Places I visited: Kakaako Farmers market, Consolidate Theatre, Kaena Point, Spitting Caves, Halona Beach Cove, China Walls, Christmas dinner at Baptist Centre, Kualoa Ranch, Makiki Valley Loop, Tantalus Lookout, Big Island Part II General Exchange Information

1. Visa Procedure

Wait for the email and documents from UHM then apply for the J-1 visa. The whole visa application process is not short, so I suggest you start early and apply once you received the documents. Simply follow the instructions online and pay the Sevis Fee and Application Fee, then you can schedule an interview for the Visa. Remember to check and bring all the documents specified in the applications for the interview (e.g. 2x2 photo, passport, financial statement). The US Consulate only allows you to carry a bag of certain size to enter the building. I suggest you do not bring any bags and just take your files and folders with you to the interview. The interview was simple and short, just act normal and you will be fine. Once they approved your application, they will collect your passport for the visa at that point, and you can pick up your passport at certain locations or have it delivered. If you plan to travel before your exchange, make sure you plan well when to do your visa.

2. Orientation Activities

You will receive a couple emails from UHM about orientations for exchange students before the start of the semester. You can select the sessions that you are able to attend and they are pretty useful. The International Business Organization (IBO) will also email you about their orientation events and their exchange buddy program. Do meet with your buddy! They are nice and friendly, and they will show you around the campus and give you tips on how to survive in Hawaii.

3. International Services & Activities

The International Student Association (ISA) is popular among exchange students. I think you have to pay $10 to join the club. They organise fun activities like hiking, day trip to North Shore and camping. For some of the activities they would charge extra. Other than ISA, there are a lot of other school activities that you can participate in like watching volleyball and football tournaments. The school even provides free shuttle to and from the games. You can also watch a theatre show at school at a low price and participate in handcrafts workshops for free. For example, I made a free plushie for

6 the event ‘Novembear’ at UH. You will receive emails for the events and activities, so do check your email often!

4. Accommodations

I would recommend Frear Hall if you decide to stay on campus. Frear Hall is the only on-campus accommodation which has air conditioning. I stayed in a 4 people room and we had our own private shower. Me and my roommates also shared a small fridge that we bought from Walmart because the hygiene of the shared kitchen in Frear is horrible. On a side note, the Baptist Centre gives out a lot of free and unused items like rice cookers and fridges etc. at the start of the semester, so you should definitely go check it out.

If you live on campus, you must purchase a meal plan. I chose the plan with 7 meals a week and I think it is more than enough. You can start using the meal plans on the day you check in to your dormitory. The meal plan is all-you-can-eat style, they have legit everything, from salad bar to ice cream. They offer options for people with different dietary needs.

5. Course Registration

You will receive an email from Mr. Rikki Mitsunaga about business courses registration. He can hold certain business courses for you because exchange students are usually the last batch to register. For non-business courses, you need to register on your own through STARS Registration. Please be reminded that even Mr. Rikki Mitsunaga helped you to hold the seat for your selected business courses, you still need to register them through STARS.

6. Teaching and Assessment Methods

I took 4 courses in total, 2 accounting courses and 2 science common core courses.

ACC 418 – Auditing

Professor: Jian Zhou, Ph.D.

Honestly, this course was not easy. This course teaches you about the entire audit procedure, and there are many concepts and processes that you have to understand and recite. It is a small class so attendance is absolutely required. There are 2 midterms (all MC), 1 final (MC + essay), 1 newspaper presentation, 2 group papers, 2 essays, 1 group presentation, and online homework for each chapter. Gradings are lenient for assignments and group projects; however, the exams are a bit challenging. The professor is very nice but his lectures are quite dull. The slides are far too simplified. You will have to read the textbook and study on your own for the finals.

ACC 415 – Advanced Financial Accounting

Professor: Dr. Jenny Teruya

This is an easy course; however, some classmates are taking this course for their PG. The syllabus includes consolidated financial statements and governmental financial statements. There are 2 midterms, 1 final, pre-lecture online homework, homework assignments for every chapter, and 3-4 pop-up quizzes. I like the way Jenny teaches. She is patient and makes sure that you understand the concept thoroughly. You will have to attend all the lectures because there are many blanks in the notes she uploaded online. Midterms are very easy, as long as you know how to do the questions in

7 her notes, you’ll be fine. The level of difficulty increases throughout the course as everything is accumulative. You will need to spend at least 2 hours on pre-lecture and chapter homework every weekend.

OCN 102 – Introduction to Environment & Sustainability

Professor: Michael Cooney

This course is very easy and straightforward with light workload. You only have to submit the answers to the questions the professor put in the lecture slides (which he will provide during lectures) after lectures, and submit a short summary/ reflection every weekend. Attendance taken through an i-clicker, or the application REEF (something like iPRS). There were 2 midterms and 1 final, all MCs. Some of the questions are really basic like S3 science. Nevertheless, the lectures are very rewarding with interesting content that raises environmental awareness.

ATMO 101 – Introduction to Weather & Climate

Professor: Steven Businger

This is an easy course. The course provides you with comprehensive knowledge of the earth’s atmosphere and large-scale climate processes. Some of the course content is actually covered in OCN 102 as well. There are 4 quizzes (like midterms), 4 assignments, and 1 report. As long as you show up for your quizzes and submit all your assignments, you will pass the course. Exact words said by the professor. Assignments are easy, unfortunately the quizzes are slightly more challenging. You would need study the lecture slides thoroughly and listen in class to understand the concepts. Lectures are intriguing and lively.

7. Sports & Recreation Facilities

All sport facilities are opened to all UHM student for free. You can even participate in workout classes for free at the gym. Email the Student Recreational Services for the class schedule. You will need your student ID to enter the facilities. You can also sign up for water sport or hiking classes at the gym.

8. Finance & Banking

Visa & Sevis Fee $3040 Air Ticket HKG - HNL (round trip) $5300 Accommodation Fee & Meal Plan $ 41680 TB Test $240 Textbook and Online Learning $1300 Food and Miscellaneous $15000 Estimated total expenses $79640 HKD

9. Social Clubs & Networking Opportunities

You can always join activities and events held by student societies like ISA and IBO. I met most of my closest friends in hiking and surfing classes organized by the school. You will meet both local and

8 exchange students there. You can also go to the Baptist Centre for free lunch every Thursday, there you will meet many exchange students and friendly people from the church.

10. Health & Safety

There is a campus clinic at UHM. I suggest you bring your own medicines and put some in your room, just in case if you fall sick and don’t want to go to the clinic, but also do not have the energy to go the local pharmacies. Manoa is a relatively safe neighbourhood, if you are in the campus area at night and do not feel safe, you can always call the UHM Safety Escort service for a lift to your dorm. Very often you will receive emails from UHM about bike burglaries and people breaking into school facilities. So don’t leave your belongings unattended at any time and remember to lock your doors every time you leave the house. There are a lot of homeless people in Hawaii, I do not suggest you go out alone at night.

11. Food

There are lots of Japanese cuisine in Hawaii, but you can also find different cuisines here as Hawaii has a diverse culture. Hawaii is famous for its Loco Moco and Poke. I don’t dine out often because it’s the quality of food is not worth the price. You would have to tip at least 15-18% every time you dine at a restaurant. You can download ‘Yelp’ if you’re looking for places to eat, it’s like the Hawaiian ‘Open Rice’. I usually eat at the school cafeteria and use my meal plans and points. If you live on campus, you can also choose to cook at the kitchen.

12. Transportation

You can take The Bus for free with the bus pass, which is distributed to all students along with the student ID. You can download the app ‘Da Bus’ or just use Google Map to check the ETA of the buses; however, the times shown on the apps aren’t always accurate, I recommend you be at the bus stop at least 5 mins before the said time on the app. Buses aren’t frequent in Hawaii, if you miss a bus you might have to wait 20-30 mins for the next one to come. You may also travel by Uber/Lyft but they are relatively expensive.

13. Climate

It’s mostly sunny and blue skies during daytime, bring sunglasses and hats; however, it might be quite chilly and windy at night especially in November and December so remember to bring some warm clothing. There might also be some sudden showers here so you may want to bring an umbrella.

14. Communication

I bought 4 Sim cards, each around $140 HKD from 3HK in Hong Kong. Each can be used for 30 days. There are 6GB high-speed data and unlimited slower data afterwards. Each SIM card comes with a unique HK mobile number, you can make both HK and US phone calls with it. It is cheaper than most of the mobile plans in Hawaii.

15. Cautionary measures

Hikes in Hawaii might be quite challenging, do consider the risks before hiking and be well-prepared. Some of the hikes like the famous Stairway to Heaven is illegal. I suggest you hike with friends who are experienced or join the hiking classes at school. Beware of strong currents and huge waves when

9 surfing/ snorkelling/ swimming. Listen to the life guards and check the weather forecast before going in the water.

Part III Checklist

1. Travel documents (passport, visa, insurance proof, school required documents, health related proof etc.) 2. Daily clothes (all-seasons clothing, bring extra thick clothing if you are planning to go to / Maui/ visit the Mainland) 3. Sunglasses 4. Swim wear (including water shoes) 5. Laptop and charger (if you want to have stable internet connection bring a Lan cable) 6. International driving license (If any) 7. Medicine 8. Cash 9. Credit card 10. Travel adaptors 11. Personal items

Part IV Useful Link and Contacts

STAR registration (for course registration) https://www.star.hawaii.edu/studentinterface/

Check the estimated bus arrival time http://thebus.org/

UHM Emergency Escort Service

+1(808)956-7233

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