Axel Rydbeck (from Finland to Hong Kong in 2009-2010)
My school life in Hong Kong has been a school for my life here in Hong Kong. It is a crash course that introduces me completely to the way of life of an ordinary local student. School here is a more solid part of myweek, and an important window to meet new people. Iam thrilled to realize that beneath the differences on society and school systems, students here share the same drive as we do back home, which is a will to excel and learn.
Francesca Brusa (from Italy to Hong Kong in 2009-2010)
My experience started on a Sunday almost ten months ago when I first met my host family.Thanks to them I learnt to live with a younger sister, and to share my feelings with a new family from another culture whose views are different from mine. Now I understand that there are no right or wrong to differences; differences are enrichments.
Story of Eveline Lemahieu (from Belgium to Hong Kong in 2009-2010)
Everything was quite ordinary the moment I stepped into the home of the Yeung’s. Tom the father was playing mahjong with grandma and a few close relatives, while Yvonne the mother was preparing dinner at the kitchen with her sister. Nothing from this typical Chinese family startled me until the smiling face of a young lady with natural blonde hair and crystal blue eyes popped up. This was Eveline, affectionately known as Oi Ki, who has been living with Tom and Yvonne for the past sixmonths. This exchange student from Belgium started off her journey to Hong Kong with nothing, but was bringing home a luggage full of fond memories and dear friendships, particularly with her host family.
No normal Belgians in their right mind will consider possible living in a place so densely populated.Eveline had the same thought before coming to Hong Kong, but utterly amazed herself when she started feeling rather at ease surroundedby the locals. This “outsider” marveled at little things we locals do, such asqueuing at bus stop but never so at train platform, and testing students oneverything they learnt at the end of school year instead of right after completing the module. These “funny” practices did not deter her determination to mingle with the locals. Through dancing and playing drama at school, Eveline made friends from other classes and spent much time with them after school.
TheYeung formed a big part of Eveline’s life in Hong Kong. Beyond the frequent exchange of sweet and sour pork and Belgian cheese cake wasan interaction of two cultures that cannot be more distinct. Even so, therewere no hints of tension among Yvonne and Eveline, in fact the mother and daughter seemed to get along better than many with real bonds. Smilingly, both admitted that there were hard times when problems and challenges arose, and a lot of patience and effort were made on both sides to adapt and to bridge their differences, to understand and empathize with other’s perspectives. But thereward is well worth the effort. Eveline and the Yeung now share a close bond that will sure last long, and this is exactly the essence of intercultural exchange.
(Contributed by Chris Au)
