Sunday, November 19, 2006
Outsider
I am Hong Kong people. I ride and push people on the same trains and subways, eat the same food, take classes pertaining to China and it's many markets, wear my CUHK t-shirts and date local girls. I have liked Hong Kong from the moment I saw it from the airplane window and have tried my best to absorb the culture. The local students are happy to share my company help me with Chinese or answer questions about how Hong Kong or the Mainland.
Upon my arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport I was greeted by a group of CUHK students who knew my name and on which flight I was coming. I was helped with transportation to campus and all the while was greeted by numerous locals and exchange students alike. Hong Kong people are not at all surprised to see westerners. As a former British colony the locals are all very used to interaction with western people groups and their culture. Hong Kong people love to hang out and are always wanting to share food and ceremonies.
Before getting of the bus from the airport to campus I had already joined the international club and agreed to come to a "Hot pot" dinner with many of the locals. This is the first time that I have been in the minority for anytime over a few hours in my entire life and I really have been enjoying the whole experience. I have been invited to do a lot of fun stuff as well as study and make presentations with locals. We have inside jokes, go surfing, share 3 AM noodles and discuss matters about which good friends often converse.
The one barrier, however small, would be language. English is one of the official languages of Hong Kong and students are fluent, however the first language of the locals is Cantonese. Students are always willing to speak in English for a western onlooker or friend, but this does seem to increase the time needed to really interact on a deeper level with the locals. This barrier is not a huge issue but it does exist and takes a little extra effort to overcome. I practice my Chinese with the locals as much as possible and I am improving. I actually had an entire phone conversation today in Chinese which involved me giving instructions on when and where to meet for a group project. I am happy that I have been so widely accepted here. During my time Hong Kong is my home and I will treat it as such.
Upon my arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport I was greeted by a group of CUHK students who knew my name and on which flight I was coming. I was helped with transportation to campus and all the while was greeted by numerous locals and exchange students alike. Hong Kong people are not at all surprised to see westerners. As a former British colony the locals are all very used to interaction with western people groups and their culture. Hong Kong people love to hang out and are always wanting to share food and ceremonies.
Before getting of the bus from the airport to campus I had already joined the international club and agreed to come to a "Hot pot" dinner with many of the locals. This is the first time that I have been in the minority for anytime over a few hours in my entire life and I really have been enjoying the whole experience. I have been invited to do a lot of fun stuff as well as study and make presentations with locals. We have inside jokes, go surfing, share 3 AM noodles and discuss matters about which good friends often converse.
The one barrier, however small, would be language. English is one of the official languages of Hong Kong and students are fluent, however the first language of the locals is Cantonese. Students are always willing to speak in English for a western onlooker or friend, but this does seem to increase the time needed to really interact on a deeper level with the locals. This barrier is not a huge issue but it does exist and takes a little extra effort to overcome. I practice my Chinese with the locals as much as possible and I am improving. I actually had an entire phone conversation today in Chinese which involved me giving instructions on when and where to meet for a group project. I am happy that I have been so widely accepted here. During my time Hong Kong is my home and I will treat it as such.
# posted by A. J. Stivers @ 9:14 PM 
