Connecting Two Places and Three Hearts, A Reunion After Thirty Years

Thirty years ago, a 17-year-old named Matteo left Italy and arrived in Hong Kong through the AFS overseas exchange program. He held dreams for the future in his heart and embarked on a year of living and learning in this vibrant, multicultural city, quietly absorbing this unique cultural experience.

Thirty years later, he reunites in Hong Kong with eleven fellow exchange students with whom he shared wonderful times. This return is not only to commemorate their pure friendship but also to rediscover childhood memories, retracing the paths of his host family and school, allowing those buried memories to resurface.

A Touching Search Across Time

Matteo admitted that he had lost contact with his host family for many years, and this time he was only staying in Hong Kong for a few days, making him feel that the chances of reuniting were almost impossible. He hoped to reconnect with his long-lost host parents through the assistance of AFS Hong Kong. After extensive searching, AFS was finally able to find the phone number of the company where his host father, Billy, worked. When the call was connected and they mentioned Matteo’s reunion invitation, Billy sounded nervous and said, “It’s been thirty years; I don’t know what to say!” It turned out he still clearly remembered “the tall Italian boy from thirty years ago.” Coincidentally, Matteo’s host mother, Winnie, was not in Hong Kong at that time. After thinking it over for a night, Billy agreed to meet him.

The 30‑Year Embrace

On the day of the reunion, due to scheduling conflicts, Matteo almost missed the meeting. However, he ultimately arrived just in time, and Winnie has made a special trip back to Hong Kong. Upon meeting, Matteo greeted his host parents, Billy and Winnie, with a big Italian hug, causing Winnie to shed tears. In that embrace, it felt as though thirty years melted away, and buried emotions resurfaced.

While waiting for Matteo, Winnie reminisced with the AFS staff about this big boy, “He learned Cantonese, refused haircuts, cooked for himself but didn’t know how to use a rice cooker, and even called for help when he needed it. He also complained about the dog, Victor, “going to the bathroom everywhere.” She laughed, saying, “He was a little boy — with a beard!”

Memory of Mak Tsz‑ho 

Winnie and Billy said that they were the youngest host family at the time. The idea to host an exchange student came from Billy watching an AFS program. They had expected to host a girl, but instead welcomed the tall and shy Matteo.

Billy chuckled, “His pasta was always undercooked, unlike our Hong Kong Style.” Winnie added softly, “The day he came home with us, I knew we had gained a son.”

Matteo’s Chinese name, Mak Tsz‑ho (麥子浩), was chosen by Billy and Winnie. From helping him apply for an ID card to attending school meetings and waiting for him to return home for dinner, the young couple’s life was filled with a warmth of family.

Now, Matteo works in environmental protection, dedicated to improving air quality. He reflects, “That important year of my life—I’ve forgotten many things.” Yet, he still remembers how to write “Mak Tsz-ho” , can say a few words in Cantonese, and carries the memory of being a Hong Konger, for him, Hong Kong is another ‘home’.

Continuing the Unique Spirit of AFS

Before parting, Matteo invited his “Hong Kong mom” for a stroll. The tall son and his petite mother walked side by side —creating a warm and touching scene.

This reunion serves as a testament to the meaning of the AFS exchange program: that across time and culture, the connections between people never fade. He returned searching for people, but what he ultimately found was family and gratitude.

AFS has always aimed to cultivate globally minded young leaders with a sense of social responsibility, promoting global exchange and mutual support. Thirty years later, this spirit has clearly blossomed in Matteo.

Message from Matteo

I knew that returning to Hong Kong after thirty years would be full of rediscoveries and emotions. What I didn’t know was that I would see one of the families I lived with in 1995/96, when I was a student at Wah Yan College in Wan Chai. I had lost contact with them, but the AFS office did an amazing job going through their records and could reach them after so many years. In two days, a meeting was arranged, and I think none of us was prepared to such an intense conversation. Memories and stories flowed, smiles and tears appeared, and the bond that was created thirty years ago tightened again.
The family that welcomed me upon my arrival had no other children, whereas in my family of origin I have three siblings. This added another change to those I experienced during my exchange programme. Living in such close contact with Billy and Winnie meant sharing everyday life even without big conversations, in the little things. As I slowly learned some simple phrases in Cantonese, often just a few words were enough to understand each other and discover, on the one hand, similarities and differences between daily habits and, on the other, that deep bonds of friendship are created regardless of language, culture and personal history.
Thank you Elise for helping us meet and communicate beyond the language barrier; thank you AFS Hong Kong for working hard to remove practical and cultural barriers and connect students and host families; thank you AFS for allowing young people from abroad and local families discover and experience different ways of life, and making this world a better place.

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