從小已非常渴望可以去旅行，可是家境實在不算太好！眼看身邊的同學每年放假也會去旅行，心裡總是戚戚然！爸爸媽媽跟我一起旅行的次數少之有少，而老實說，有很多很多我去過的地方他們也從未去過〔也可以說是因為他們不像我有這麼多便宜遊世界的機會。〕但無論怎也好，我也非常感激他們放手讓我去衝、去闖、去看、去認識這個花花世界！下列是幾個曾經助我踏出香港的好途徑！
I always love traveling abroad since I was very young. Yet I am not coming from a rich family. Unlike some of my classmates who travel abroad every year with their families, my parents and I seldom travel together. To be honest, they’ve been to places way less than I do (because they can’t get the same opportunities like me). Nevertheless, I am grateful that they let me go and see the world. These are some of the ways how I manage to get myself away from Hong Kong without spending too much mommy’s money!
1. 學校的交流團 Exchange tour by secondary school/university
第一次自己離開香港是13歲。剛好學校被市政府邀請作中秋節表演，因而有機會去美國加洲的矽谷！當時大概去了十天左右，當中除了遊覽不同的旅遊景點外，還到了當地的中學上了一星期的課，還跟當地的Host Family一起住！還記得就是因為時差的關係，渡過了一生最長的生日！出發那天正是我的生日，乘了十多小時的飛機後，到達美國還是生日天的下午！到大學時亦看見不同部門或學會也有不同形式的交流團，有興趣也可以報名參加。
The first time I traveled alone was when I was 13 years old. My secondary school was invited to go to the United States (Silicon Valley, California) to perform in the Moon Festival. We went there for around 10 days, in which we spent a week studying in the local school, lived with the host family and went to all those touristic places. I still remember I also had my longest birthday ever! We departed on my birthday, and when we arrive after 10+ hours, it’s still the afternoon of my birthday! I notice that my university also arranged different exchange tours as well, so it can be your chance!
2. 制服團體或青少年組織的交流團 Exchange tour by uniformed groups*/youth organizations
中學時一直在校外參加制服團體，直至大學！每年暑假，這些團體經常也會舉辦前往不同地方的交流團！由於很多也有資助，所以團費非常便宜。而且由於年每也舉辦，主辦單位也經驗充足！我也曾經到過4個不同的地方：內蒙古、上海、長江三峽及澳洲！
I was a member of a uniformed group in Hong Kong when I was younger. During summer time, these uniformed groups or some other youth organizations always organize different exchange tours. Many of these tours are subsidized, so they are relatively a lot cheaper. Since they are organizing these kinds of tours almost every year, they are experienced in the arrangement as well. I’ve been to 4 different trips with these organizations: Inner Mongolia, Shanghai and Yangtsz River in China and Australia.
上海世博 Shanghai during World Expo!
*Uniformed groups are those youth organizations aimed to provide disciplinary and expedition training like Scouts, Cadet Force, Red Cross, and so on.
3. 政府附屬組織的交流計劃 Exchange program by government affiliates
每年民政事務局及青年事務委員會也會接受不同的民間組織推薦，挑選一批年青人參與國際青年交流計劃。透過這個交流計劃，青年將有機會免費到訪以下其中一個國家：英國、受爾蘭、日本及新加玻！而當地地的青年也會來到香港進行交流。而我亦有幸前往新加玻一星期，並且認識了一班非常要好的新加玻朋友！
Each year, the Home Affairs Bureau and Commission of Youth on Hong Kong select some young people recommended by different associations and schools in Hong Kong to participate the International Youth Exchange Program (IYEP). The program gives delegate opportunity to go on an exchange tour for free to one of these countries: the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan and Singapore. Young people from the respective countries will come to Hong Kong as an exchange as well! I was lucky enough to get the chance to go to Singapore for a week in which I met some lifelong Singaporean friends!
新加坡的朋友在迎接我們 Welcome by our Singaporean friends!
4. 義工計劃 Volunteer Program
我曾經在土耳其的一所語言學校當了6個星期的義工。期間他們提供了免費的住宿，因而為旅程節省了不少開支！而我亦有很多不同的機會跟當地人相處、生活，了解他們的文化！我也深信了解當地人的生活及文化才是旅行的真正意義！這樣我才會得到一般遊客看不到的東西，而這些東西才是當地人的最真的一面！我的host曾經教我烹調一些土耳其的家常便飯及一起跳肚皮舞！
I volunteered in an English language school in Turkey. During my 6 weeks there, I got a chance to live with some locals and interact with them. I didn’t have to pay for my accommodation, which usually is the biggest spending for my trips abroad. I enjoyed the experience a lot because I believe having the chance to talk with the locals is giving me the most out of my trip! That’s how I can really learn about the local culture there and know some secrets that normal tourists won’t know at all! I learnt to cook some Turkish food and belly dance from my host!
邊當義工邊感受土耳其文化 learning the Turkish culture and contributing to the Turkish society!
5. 交換生 Exchange student
去丹麥當交換生一個學期給了我探索北歐的機會！這也是我第一次離開香港一段”長”時間，讓我嘗試獨立生活，無人能依靠的滋味！很多大學也有很多不同的交換生計劃讓同學報名，而很多時候，大學也會給你一些津貼，讓你不用過分擔心經濟問題！
Having the chance to study in Denmark for 1 semester has given me the chance to explore the Nordic world. It’s the first time I lived alone and leave my home for such a ‘long’ time but I think it’s worth it! Many universities offer different exchange students program for their students (like Erasmus in Europe) and if you apply for it, you may even get some subsidies for your time abroad.
認識北歐的文化 get to know the Nordics!
6. 海外實習 Overseas internship
作為一個學生，有其甚麼還會比一邊到海外實習工作，一邊遊歷世界更吸引？到澳洲悉尼作實習生不但給予我實習的機會，更讓我能在假日探索澳洲的其他城市！雖然實習是是無薪金的，但學校卻提供了足夠的資助讓我能在那邊生活！
As a student, what else can be better than getting some internship experience and enjoying another culture at the same time? Going to Sydney(Australia) for a summer internship allowed me to discover other cities during my weekend on top of my internship experience! Even though the internship was not paid, I got subsidies from my university to cover my day-to-day cost!
在充滿活力的澳洲工作 working in the vivid Sydney!
7. 國際研討會 International conferences
一些國際學生組織如AIESEC及Model United Nations也會不定時舉辦不同的國際研討會讓會員參加，有時有些院校也會提供資助讓該校的學生到外地參加研討會。這是一個結識來自五湖四海的朋友的好機會，而且也能一同探討一些青年人關心的議題！正因為這些研討會，我也有機會第一次踏足了意大利、希獵及台灣！
There are some international student organizations like AIESEC and Model United Nations. These youth organizations hold international conferences from time to time, and sometimes they have subsidies as well. It’s actually a good way to meet people from other countries and learn something new together! This is how I got a chance to go to Italy, Greece and Taiwan! Sounds cool, right?
邊學邊走 learning and traveling!
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其他相關機會 Other related opportunity: EF US Study Tour 美國遊學計劃 , Engliver City in Turkey
其他相關文章 Other related article: 5個海外留學慳錢秘笈 5 tips to save money when studying abroad