Hongyi Dong is a second-year in the School of Information and Library Science, pursuing a MS in Information Science. He is a TCK (Third-Culture Kid) born in one country, but raised in another. He loves to learn new languages- he has a minor degree in Spanish, taught himself some Japanese, and is currently wrestling with Russian on Duolingo.
1. What made you choose UNC/NC when deciding on a program/place to study?
I wanted to be in a reputable program, and UNC’s School of Information and Library Science was the best one out of the 3 institutions that offered me admission. I was also living nearby at the time, so it worked out conveniently.
2. What is the most different thing you’ve seen or experienced since being here in comparison to your home country?
You know how people here like to use the phrase “How are you?” as a form of greeting? 10 years after and I still can’t tell if people actually meant to ask the question or are just saying hi… Now, I find myself asking that question to other international students as a form of experiment.
3. What is something you wish you had known before moving here?
Ask your parents or grandparents to teach you how to cook because you are gonna need it.
4. Where is a place in your home country that every tourist should visit and why?
I would vote for my hometown, Xiamen, because it’s a famous tourist spot, and also because we feed you sipunculid worm jelly: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sipuncula#As_food.