Nine Days in Shenzhen, Four Days in Hong Kong

This summer, economics took me much further than a classroom. I travelled to Shenzhen, China, to represent Türkiye at the 2026 International Economics Olympiad, then spent four days exploring Hong Kong.

My favourite part of the IEO was meeting students from 56 countries who shared my interest in economics. We came from different places, but we already had something to talk about. It was exciting to be around so many people my age who wanted to explore similar questions. I also became part of a team with four other students representing Türkiye whom I had never met before. We had to get to know each other while preparing to compete together. Being selected individually was one thing; becoming a team meant learning how the others thought and how we could work together.

The nine days in Shenzhen combined competition with the chance to experience Chinese culture. Winning a silver medal was a proud moment, and being selected as one of twelve IEOx Youth Talks speakers gave me another opportunity to contribute. But what I remember most is the people I met and the experience of sharing those days with them.

Outside the competition, I was struck by how much everyday life relied on technology. Payments were especially noticeable. So many of the transactions I saw happened through phones that cash felt almost unnecessary. As a visitor, I was impressed by how smoothly these systems seemed to work. It made me curious about what allows digital payments to become such a normal part of daily life.

Hong Kong felt different. After nine days organised around the Olympiad, I had four days to explore a city with an incredibly international atmosphere. My interest in finance made its role as a major banking and investment centre particularly exciting. I was seeing a place I had previously encountered mostly through reading about financial markets.

I also visited the University of Hong Kong. Seeing the campus and the facilities made studying there feel much more concrete. I left impressed by the opportunities and wanting to learn more about the university.

The trip gave me plenty to think about: how strangers become teammates, how technology changes everyday habits, and what it feels like to explore a city through an interest you already have. I came home with a medal, new friendships and quite a few new questions.