Hong Kong July 2008I have just returned from a week's trip to Hong Kong. I attended an education exhibition organised by one of our very close partner agents, Hong Kong Overseas Study Centre based in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. The event is always brilliantly organised and this year was no exception. The photo shows me in the middle with Jimmy Wong, CEO of HKOSC on my left.
What impresses me every year is the quality of students that I get to meet at these fairs. Overseas students looking for UK boarding schools can be as young as 10 when they come to see me on my exhibition stand. I try not to be scary but me sitting in front of them in my smart suit must be intimidating.
I was very impressed this year by a young boy called Eric. He is only 13 years old but so confident, so motivated to come and study in the UK. His English is also excellent and he has Grade 8 oboe to boot! What a great boy and would be a great asset to any school. We are now doing our best to find him the best boarding school possible for next year.
I enjoy my trips to Hong Kong. The families that I meet are so well educated, speak excellent English, are so well briefed on the British Education System and our schools. They really care about their children and their futures.
We have a lot of students for whom we are guardian who are from Hong Kong and so I enjoy following their progress. This year a couple of our students have gained places at top UK universities so we feel very proud to have helped them on their way through their boarding school life onto university.
We have a new testimonial booklet which includes quotations from some of our students. Just ask us and we will let you have a copy.
Anyway it was pouring with rain in the UK while I was there and believe it or not it was raining in Hong Kong too!
I am now back safe and sound and gearing up for a new academic year starting early September. We are now planning all the host families for all our new and returning students coming back after their summer holiday.
