Nervous mom of AA daughter going to HK: Questions!
May 19th, 2012, 12:43 AM
#23
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I've traveled in Hong Kong solo (female) quite a lot and have always felt completely safe. My Visa ATM and debit card has never failed me there. Be sure to tell the bank you will be there. Otherwise they may put a block on the card.
May 19th, 2012, 09:57 AM
#24
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I too thought that this was an alcohol tolerance-related question. Then I thought, "No, maybe it's an American Airlines employee sending a child abroad." Wrong again.
You have gotten some wonderful advice above. Hong Kong is an extremely sophisticated and wonderfully stimulating international city. How fabulous that your daughter can spend time there this summer.
I too have a 24 yo daughter. She lives in NYC and I must admit that I would be less worried about her safety if she lived in Hong Kong.
I'll add a minor comment. In Asia, people do sometimes stare at those non-Asians among us who seem extreme in appearance. I have blonde hair and blue eyes which children, in particular, sometimes find spooky looking. This is far, far more common in the PRC than in Hong Kong, but one sometimes crosses paths with non-locals in Hong Kong. Pale skin, dark skin, red hair, blue eyes, extremes of height -- all may attract some innocent attention that reflect curiosity about differences. I hope that doesn't pose a problem for her and I hope that she has a great experience.
You have gotten some wonderful advice above. Hong Kong is an extremely sophisticated and wonderfully stimulating international city. How fabulous that your daughter can spend time there this summer.
I too have a 24 yo daughter. She lives in NYC and I must admit that I would be less worried about her safety if she lived in Hong Kong.
I'll add a minor comment. In Asia, people do sometimes stare at those non-Asians among us who seem extreme in appearance. I have blonde hair and blue eyes which children, in particular, sometimes find spooky looking. This is far, far more common in the PRC than in Hong Kong, but one sometimes crosses paths with non-locals in Hong Kong. Pale skin, dark skin, red hair, blue eyes, extremes of height -- all may attract some innocent attention that reflect curiosity about differences. I hope that doesn't pose a problem for her and I hope that she has a great experience.
May 21st, 2012, 12:06 PM
#25
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There are few non-Asians in HK, but more so than in Seoul. HK folks are very westernized and sophisticated, much less likely to stare as they do in Korea. I found it a very safe city, so don't worry about her well-being. It's such a fabulous place that she will be swept up in it immediately. The only problem we had was fitting our enormous feet on the steps of the trolley to go to the top deck!
On my first trip to HK in 1998, we stayed at the Biship Li Hotel. A sign over the bathroom sink said "don't drink the tap water." On my last trip in 2008, we stayed for a month in the residence at the UHK and the attendant brought us a jug of water every morning which we used for coffee and brushing our teeth.
At what university will your daughter be studying?
On my first trip to HK in 1998, we stayed at the Biship Li Hotel. A sign over the bathroom sink said "don't drink the tap water." On my last trip in 2008, we stayed for a month in the residence at the UHK and the attendant brought us a jug of water every morning which we used for coffee and brushing our teeth.
At what university will your daughter be studying?
May 22nd, 2012, 01:33 PM
#26
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I go through this with my Mom when I travel and I will tell you as a woman in her 20's, calm down, she'll be fine. I know she'll always be your little girl, but don't worry so much. 
As for calling you immediately when she lands... ask her to call you within 24 hours of landing, NOT immediately. That way if a flight is delayed you don't panic and if she's wiped out tired from the flights, you won't panic if she forgets to buy a SIM card and it takes a few hours after landing for her to get settled in and get a SIM card. As long as you hear from her within 24 hours of landing, that's good enough. She's an adult, trust her. I used Skype and it was fantastic.
With the understanding that I was in mainland China, not Hong Kong, my debit and credit cards worked just fine. I used cash a lot more often than I do at home, but using credit cards was fine in many places. I certainly wouldn't suggest that she take enough cash to last the entire summer! Tell the card issuers ahead of time or they'll flag the accounts. Also a backup is always good (I have two checking accounts for just this reason so that if I have a problem with one ATM card I can use the other while I get it sorted out).
Common sense and common courtesy go a LONG way.
Trust that you've raised an intelligent young woman and that it's always a learning experience. I know that as a mom it's your job to worry, but try to remember that she's an adult and she'll be okay.
As for calling you immediately when she lands... ask her to call you within 24 hours of landing, NOT immediately. That way if a flight is delayed you don't panic and if she's wiped out tired from the flights, you won't panic if she forgets to buy a SIM card and it takes a few hours after landing for her to get settled in and get a SIM card. As long as you hear from her within 24 hours of landing, that's good enough. She's an adult, trust her. I used Skype and it was fantastic.
With the understanding that I was in mainland China, not Hong Kong, my debit and credit cards worked just fine. I used cash a lot more often than I do at home, but using credit cards was fine in many places. I certainly wouldn't suggest that she take enough cash to last the entire summer! Tell the card issuers ahead of time or they'll flag the accounts. Also a backup is always good (I have two checking accounts for just this reason so that if I have a problem with one ATM card I can use the other while I get it sorted out).
Common sense and common courtesy go a LONG way.
Trust that you've raised an intelligent young woman and that it's always a learning experience. I know that as a mom it's your job to worry, but try to remember that she's an adult and she'll be okay.
May 30th, 2012, 07:44 PM
#29
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Hi, I am the OP! I have returned! And THANK YOU to all of you for the wonderful replies. See, I am a single mother of a single child. Hover? Uh, yep! But only till I am comfortable myself, then I thankfully back off. Some time has passed since I first wrote, and I have gained much information, here on CC as well as other places and from other folks. I am much more comfortable now. My D will be studying at City College HK, and working with refugees in HK. I am so proud of her and excited for her. If I were in better health, I would so want to visit her there, but I will have to visit through her experience. She is part Vietnamese, and will also being going there for a brief stay. I am excited for her. Thanks, everyone.
Jun 23rd, 2012, 03:43 PM
#31
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Well, here I am again, with a progress report. I am the OP, mother of an African American (AA) daughter in HK (Hong Kong). She did not call me for almost two days after arrival. Couldn't, but knowing this to be the case, it wasn't too bad. She did text me from Japan before leaving to HK. She adjusted pretty well the first week....just getting settled in. Second week she and her professors (Chinese) went to Vietnam. All had their laptops stolen from a 2 star hotel with no safe. (The school wanted to save money) Their passports were kept in a plastic bag at the desk. (Yep) That was devastating to her, as she had worked hard to get that Mac, and babied it. Of course, no insurance, no backup (for any of them). She ate the freshest seafood she had ever eaten on the beach at sunset in Danang. (Now that's worth every penny on the trip right there!) Back in HK she was bumped out into the dark by herself to find dinner the first day at work. Pretty uncomfortable (not a great area near her work) but she made it through it (without dinner). She is going hiking by herself tomorrow, and is excited. I....am thrilled.....and proud.
Jun 23rd, 2012, 07:31 PM
#33
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Joslin88, I did not put it together that the Hanoi post was about your daughter. Given that it was a University-sponsored trip on which her Mac was stolen, you have a few more options. For sure write a letter/email to the HK school complaining about this lapse on the part of the school. Poor supervision and what sound like inexperienced staff. If your daughter is attending the HK school via a college/graduate school in the US, then contact the school in the US and make a similar complaint, and include the point that the US school should drop its association with the HK school unless the HK school institutes better supervision. Send a copy of that letter to the HK school. Either school may have insurance that will cover the loss, or may be willing to compensate the students directly her in another way (like a refund of some portion of fees, room and board charges, etc). I would certainly ask for this in both letters.
You also may have a legal claim against either school; again you have to weigh costs versus benefits. But Hong Kong law is based on common law (like most of the US) and has a very good court system which is mostly fair (unlike Vietnam). All proceedings and filings can be in English. So brining a claim in Hong Kong is a much more viable option. You could also go for mediation or arbitration, which the US school may offer in any event.
I would never leave a passport at a hotel desk. Wile I think for the most part it would be safe there (even in a plastic bag), it is that it is too good an opportunity for someone to copy information. The passport itself is unlikely to be stolen, but information could be copied to be used to create another passport or other things like credit cards. (I don't know that anyone tries to re-use an actual passport these days, it is too easy to create good fakes. What they need is the information which it contains.) While most countries, including Vietnam, are obligated to make a copy of the passport for internal security reasons, and so you run somewhat of the same risk just with that, I would not tempt fate further by leaving the actual passport.
In addition, foreigners are required by law to carry their passports in most Asian countries and produce them if asked by the police. If the passport is at a hotel, you are usually OK as you can go to the hotel and get it if asked, but again if the passport were gone at that point, she might have more questions to answer than she would like.
I would suggest carrying the passport at all times. That is what I always do. She should ignore her professors on this point (who seem to lack common sense in any case). If she is concerned about theft, then use a money belt, and it can hold other valuables.
She should have a copy of the info page of her passport and keep it separately from her purse, like in a suitcase. You should have a copy as well which you can fax or email her as necessary. She can then use it to replace her passport in the unlikely event that it is stolen.
You also may have a legal claim against either school; again you have to weigh costs versus benefits. But Hong Kong law is based on common law (like most of the US) and has a very good court system which is mostly fair (unlike Vietnam). All proceedings and filings can be in English. So brining a claim in Hong Kong is a much more viable option. You could also go for mediation or arbitration, which the US school may offer in any event.
I would never leave a passport at a hotel desk. Wile I think for the most part it would be safe there (even in a plastic bag), it is that it is too good an opportunity for someone to copy information. The passport itself is unlikely to be stolen, but information could be copied to be used to create another passport or other things like credit cards. (I don't know that anyone tries to re-use an actual passport these days, it is too easy to create good fakes. What they need is the information which it contains.) While most countries, including Vietnam, are obligated to make a copy of the passport for internal security reasons, and so you run somewhat of the same risk just with that, I would not tempt fate further by leaving the actual passport.
In addition, foreigners are required by law to carry their passports in most Asian countries and produce them if asked by the police. If the passport is at a hotel, you are usually OK as you can go to the hotel and get it if asked, but again if the passport were gone at that point, she might have more questions to answer than she would like.
I would suggest carrying the passport at all times. That is what I always do. She should ignore her professors on this point (who seem to lack common sense in any case). If she is concerned about theft, then use a money belt, and it can hold other valuables.
She should have a copy of the info page of her passport and keep it separately from her purse, like in a suitcase. You should have a copy as well which you can fax or email her as necessary. She can then use it to replace her passport in the unlikely event that it is stolen.
Jun 23rd, 2012, 08:21 PM
#34
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Cicerone I have been in a few hotels (and cruise ships) in various countries across Asia that maintain posession of your passport during your stay.
If I recall correctly, just about every hotel we stayed at in Vietnam followed this procedure. The system seems to be very organized with all passports kept in a single location. As I usually keep my passport in the safe rather than on my person, I was happier to leave it at the front desk rather than carry it around with me when there was no safe.
If I recall correctly, just about every hotel we stayed at in Vietnam followed this procedure. The system seems to be very organized with all passports kept in a single location. As I usually keep my passport in the safe rather than on my person, I was happier to leave it at the front desk rather than carry it around with me when there was no safe.
Jun 25th, 2012, 04:53 AM
#36
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Thanks for the F/U and i am sorry to hear of the theft. At least the passport wasn't stolen nor was she injured. It seems you are doping well but nervous and of course that OK. Afterall you are a mom. .
Hang in there and do you have any plans to visit? HK is wonderful. I'll bet you two would have a ball seeing it. Cheers, Larry
. Hang in there and do you have any plans to visit? HK is wonderful. I'll bet you two would have a ball seeing it. Cheers, Larry
