"THANK YOU SWEET HEART. ARE YOU BACK IN SINGAPORE? I DONT CARE ABOUT MOST OF THE PEOPLE I MEET IN MY TRIP BUT I DO WISH I WILL MEET YOU AGAIN SOMEWHERE.. HAVE A GREAT WEEK BABY!"
故事的開始又是面書.
朋友生日,在她的面書墙上寫了祝福語, 以上是她的回覆.
有點震撼,有點曖昧. 不過,其實在墨國時, 已覺得她的曖昧.
在museum 時, 她會從後面攔腰抱住你,把她的頭擱在你的肩上.就算回到旅館,她也會在你看著電腦螢光幕時,從後用手纏在你的頸上, 把臉貼著你的臉. (ok, she only did this to me. I was traveling with Jacintha, a Singaporean girl. she did not do that to her.)
說了那麼久, 主角叫Zoe, 是在墨西哥城旅館遇見的一個以色列女生.
長頭髮的她,卻給人有一點的Tom Boy 的感覺.我們一起去了一個Art Museum, 看了鬥牛.
她說,過去三年, 她過的都是是working holiday的生活,差不多走便了整個澳洲,和東南亞國家. 她的專長是什麼? 潛水. she lived on giving scuba diving lessons.
但她也有自己的煩惱, 當我們一起走在墨西哥城的大街時, 她淡然地說, 25歲的她一事無成, 甚至連一個大學學位也沒有.
"可你去了很多地方, 經歷了不同的人和事,當中的待人接物不是能從書本學來的."
她微笑.
------
在看她的面書時, 一些photo memories 在左側顯示出來,圖中的她在和一個女生跳舞, 於是click 了整個photo album 來看, 是她在泰國時的生活. 她和一個漂亮的女生在跳舞, 很明顯是那個女生into Zoe. 從她看她的眼神,從她對她跳舞的舞姿, 反觀, 你可以感受到Zoe 的被動和一絲緊張. 當中的一張是她們兩個一起坐在沙發上,準備KISS的相... 應該只是party 的艷遇吧, 因為這一幕只佔整個album的1/7.
然後是更多的photo memories. 其中一張是她和前男友的在地中海旅行的親密照, click 來看, 應該是兩人的旅程.
再看看她的relationship status, Single
interested in Man and Women
Reading her facebook reality, 大概可以對她有這樣的解讀,
三年前, 22歲的她和男友分手了,心很痛, how to get over him? how to mend the broken heart? escape from the place, cutting off all the sights and sounds related to him.
然後在旅程中,發現原來自己有同性的傾向...
開始了eat-pray-love 的journey.
旅途遇人無數,人來人往, 人聚人散, 她開始懂得,誰放感情,誰就輸了的游戲規則...
----
雖然只是fancy 的idea, 但, 不知怎的,我覺得, 她很孤獨,是那種 surrounded by millions of people, but could not find one to relate to / connect with 的孤獨.
大概因為曾經深愛,也曾深受傷,所以學會了防禦,到了一個地步,拒絕交心....
那她對我們之間友誼的在乎是....
嗯....
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Stay a Little Longer
地鐵站, 迷茫的他遇到了他,
兩人乘往不同方向的列車
他告訴了他他的思緒,
有那麼一刻的脆弱,
他好想他放棄即將到站的列車--- 陪他坐一會,就那麼一刻也好
他看著他望向閘口的急切,
他明白了
一絲的痛楚劃破他的迷茫
驕傲的他跟他道了一個滿不在乎的別
We were born to be alone
Everybody all alone
Born alone to be alone
We'll stand alone forever
Standing on the world alone
Learning how to stand alone
And always to be alone
We'll be alone forever
兩人乘往不同方向的列車
他告訴了他他的思緒,
有那麼一刻的脆弱,
他好想他放棄即將到站的列車--- 陪他坐一會,就那麼一刻也好
他看著他望向閘口的急切,
他明白了
一絲的痛楚劃破他的迷茫
驕傲的他跟他道了一個滿不在乎的別
We were born to be alone
Everybody all alone
Born alone to be alone
We'll stand alone forever
Standing on the world alone
Learning how to stand alone
And always to be alone
We'll be alone forever
Friday, February 4, 2011
開心
一早起來,收到一個很溫暖的FACEBOOK MESSAGE
happy new year chau=)...
hope you're doing great and got home safe
happy i got to know u!
hope to see u again once=)
message 的作者叫Sena,一個德國女孩, 一個混血兒,爸爸是cameroom,媽媽是德國人, 因為高中時去了美國交流一年,說一口流利帶美國口音的英文. 如果不與她交談,stereotyped 地會以為她是American African.
知道有這個她的存在是在TEC, 交流的大學中, 只是大家的圈子不同, 所以很難有機會認識她.
不過, 要遇見的總會遇見的.
就在 Chiapas, 墨國的其中一個城市中, 在我們各自的旅行中,在完全沒有計劃的情況下,我們在一個Tour Group 遇見了. 當然還遇見了另一個德國男生,在香港科大讀BBA, 同樣在TEC 作交換生.
在一天的行程結束後,已是晚上十點,又冷又餓, SENA 是vegetarian, 知道鎮上有一間不錯的vegetarian餐廳,又有溫暖凡火爐,便提議去那裡.
就在我們一起吃的時候,來了一群artists, activists, they started to play the guitar, to sing songs, to talk about the indigenous movement...
一個美好的晚上.
怎知道, 我們在第二天又遇見了. 又很隨性地一起去了一個另一個的景點.
我們在另一個城市又遇見了. 夜深,我們談了一會, 一開始是一些德國的政治, 然後,她開始說成長的故事.
她說,她爸爸是一個很demanding 的人,她和他之間的關係不太好.
爸爸和媽媽都是帶著已有的孩子再婚, 所以, 她大概有9兄弟姐妹. 而之後兩人又離了婚, 整個家庭都是破碎的...
妹妹在15歲時和男友離家出走,回到家不是拿錢就是吵, 記憶最深刻的一次是, together with her mom and other sisters, screamed at each other, speaking out the inner feelings to each other, it was not a best way to communicate, but it did help them to know what went wrong among their relationships, how each other perceived the same issues.
though their relationship is still under construction, it has been on the track.
她也說了在TEXAS交流的那一年, 她是第一次感到自己的 Blackness, the whole state is divided according to skin color.
she is torn between hanging out with the black and the white. walking a fine line when choosing different social groups ....
她說, long-distance relationship 是一種考驗, "I have had hard times especially when going parties"
以她甜美的樣子, 歐洲人的身份 (墨國人挺祟歐的), 流利的西班牙語, 身邊一定有不少的傾慕者.
曾聽不少的故事, 原本已有男女朋友的人就在這拉丁美洲的熱情中出軌了...
to resist such temptation requires a steadfast faith in his/her relationship.
當然,談到最後,我們都只是一個負債, 用著未來錢的窮學生. 不過, 大家都知道, 交流這項投資,值得.
she traveled alone because she wanted to try couchsurfing in Mexico, she wanted to do spontaneous traveling, without a string, without a plan...
Anyway, she is that kind of girl of her own opinions.
真的不能想像, 我們之間可以有如此的連接, 我很開心.
happy new year chau=)...
hope you're doing great and got home safe
happy i got to know u!
hope to see u again once=)
message 的作者叫Sena,一個德國女孩, 一個混血兒,爸爸是cameroom,媽媽是德國人, 因為高中時去了美國交流一年,說一口流利帶美國口音的英文. 如果不與她交談,stereotyped 地會以為她是American African.
知道有這個她的存在是在TEC, 交流的大學中, 只是大家的圈子不同, 所以很難有機會認識她.
不過, 要遇見的總會遇見的.
就在 Chiapas, 墨國的其中一個城市中, 在我們各自的旅行中,在完全沒有計劃的情況下,我們在一個Tour Group 遇見了. 當然還遇見了另一個德國男生,在香港科大讀BBA, 同樣在TEC 作交換生.
在一天的行程結束後,已是晚上十點,又冷又餓, SENA 是vegetarian, 知道鎮上有一間不錯的vegetarian餐廳,又有溫暖凡火爐,便提議去那裡.
就在我們一起吃的時候,來了一群artists, activists, they started to play the guitar, to sing songs, to talk about the indigenous movement...
一個美好的晚上.
怎知道, 我們在第二天又遇見了. 又很隨性地一起去了一個另一個的景點.
我們在另一個城市又遇見了. 夜深,我們談了一會, 一開始是一些德國的政治, 然後,她開始說成長的故事.
她說,她爸爸是一個很demanding 的人,她和他之間的關係不太好.
爸爸和媽媽都是帶著已有的孩子再婚, 所以, 她大概有9兄弟姐妹. 而之後兩人又離了婚, 整個家庭都是破碎的...
妹妹在15歲時和男友離家出走,回到家不是拿錢就是吵, 記憶最深刻的一次是, together with her mom and other sisters, screamed at each other, speaking out the inner feelings to each other, it was not a best way to communicate, but it did help them to know what went wrong among their relationships, how each other perceived the same issues.
though their relationship is still under construction, it has been on the track.
她也說了在TEXAS交流的那一年, 她是第一次感到自己的 Blackness, the whole state is divided according to skin color.
she is torn between hanging out with the black and the white. walking a fine line when choosing different social groups ....
她說, long-distance relationship 是一種考驗, "I have had hard times especially when going parties"
以她甜美的樣子, 歐洲人的身份 (墨國人挺祟歐的), 流利的西班牙語, 身邊一定有不少的傾慕者.
曾聽不少的故事, 原本已有男女朋友的人就在這拉丁美洲的熱情中出軌了...
to resist such temptation requires a steadfast faith in his/her relationship.
當然,談到最後,我們都只是一個負債, 用著未來錢的窮學生. 不過, 大家都知道, 交流這項投資,值得.
she traveled alone because she wanted to try couchsurfing in Mexico, she wanted to do spontaneous traveling, without a string, without a plan...
Anyway, she is that kind of girl of her own opinions.
真的不能想像, 我們之間可以有如此的連接, 我很開心.
總結--Exchange Report
回來了,從墨國交流回來了, 可要交Exchange Report. 困在房間一整天, 竟寫了接近2700字的報告, 原來我"吹水"的能力還是挺高的. 很長...
I did my exchange semester in the Tecnologico de Monterrey, i.e. the TEC (Campus Monterrey) Mexico during the first semester, 2010-2011. Despite the worsening security situation in Mexico due to the drag war, I have had a great exchange experience in Mexico. The report is dedicated to share insights, cultural and human touches I have had during the exchange.
Brief Introduction of the Host Institution and the City
The TEC (campus Monterrey) is regarded as the best private university in Mexico and even in Latin America. Its tuition fee is rather expensive. One semester costs about $50,000 HKD. Many students pay the tuition in full. Of course there are also students who depend on scholarship and credit from the University and Government to pay for the tuition. So you can find some fancy students, driving Mercedes to school, slacking on their school works. On the other hand, you can also find students who are down to the earth, work very hard and excel in their studies. It may be an over generalization, yet such materially-rich-yet-intellectually-poor phenomenon can be easily spotted in the campus, or vice versa.
Monterrey is situated northern part of Mexico. It is an industrialized city, where many American companies have their headquarters due to its proximity to the US, is also the richest city in Mexico. It used to be one of safest cities in Mexico. Since the government declared drug war with drug cartels, Monterrey is gradually turning into the second most dangerous city in Mexico. During my stay, shootings occurred near the campus. On one occasion, a grenade was even thrown right in front of the campus.
Academic Culture
The TEC adopts a very paternalistic teaching method.
First, it counts students’ attendance. Lecturers take roll call at the beginning of the lecture. There is a limit for absence. Exceeding the quota will automatically result in failing the course. Being 10 minutes late for the lecture is counted as an absence.
Besides, it emphasizes on role learning with heavy workload imposed. Students are expected to remember all the facts taught in the textbooks, such as dates, causes for event occurred; exams are held monthly, something comparable to the A-Level examination in Hong Kong. Students keep doing work. It takes quantity at the expense of quality.
According to Mexican students, two rationales can be accounted for such teaching methodology.
First, Mexicans are known for being lazy, they need to be pushed externally. Somehow, I concur. Party culture is strong in Mexico. Mexicans like going clubbing, drinking, dancing, chill-out a lot. To them, enjoying life, spending time with friends, family matters more than other things, which have both pros and cons. On the one hand, Mexicans are happy people, despite hardship in life, as long as there is a party, beer, music, treasured people around, life is still worth living. A quote from Oscar Wilde tells the gist of Mexican optimism--- “We are all in the Gutter, but some of us look at the stars.” The cost of life quality will be low work efficiency and productivity. “mañana, mañana” which is a favorite phrase of Mexican, meaning “tomorrow, tomorrow, let’s leave it tomorrow.” Underlying message will be “I will do it whenever I feel like to.”
Second, the TEC graduates will usually hold high positions in companies, government and other institutions. So the TEC need to train them in handling such pressure and workload. Such elitism has its ground. With its expensive tuition fee, those who can pay must come from well-established family without rich social networks and resources, so they will usually go into big corporations or governmental agencies. For those depend on credit and scholarship, their academic excellence will gain them a place in those places.
Courses recommended taking
Despite heavy workload in this institution, there are few classes that I found inspiring and interesting.
I really like my Spanish classes. Learning a language will necessarily touch its culture and history. My Spanish teacher is really of knowledge of Mexican culture, when she teaches, she is not only teaching Spanish, but also provides culture context of the language. Students are not only learning Latin America Spanish but also Mexican culture. For example, Spanish phase, “No me gusta”, (I don’t like it), according to the Spanish teacher that, Mexicans don't express their negative opinions directly, they tend to package it in a nice way.
Besides, I have also taken a politics course, called International Negotiation. Through different case studies, I not only got to know the context of hot issues that still linger in the arena of international politics, but also get to know what makes a good negotiator. Such as Israel-Palestine negotiation, North Korea nuclear disarmament, it gives me a context to comprehend the news nowadays. The professor is really knowledgeable about international politics. He has also worked in different international organizations. It is one of few classes that don’t stress on workload but quality of work.
Moreover, I have also taken a course in Latin America history. The course offered me with history of the origin of America, of the intrusion of Spanish conquest, of their struggle for independence, to their modern development, to their search of self-identity and self-pride, all these somehow resonates with what Africans, even lots of Chinese are facing now. Through reading others, I came to know more of my very own identity and culture root.
Contacts with locals
Learning Mexican culture and Mexican way of being has been one of my exchange goals. So I chose to live with a host family, which has given me a closer contact with the locals. I lived with a 63-year-old widowed lady. She gives me a lot personal space. Through her, I get to know Mexican family values; I learn life philosophy from her. She has a son and a daughter. Both of them are married and have their own family. My host mom told me that Mexicans value family a lot; they treat the gender of the child equally. Before marriage, children need to live with their parents. Usually when children grow up and get married, they will move out the family. If they could not afford to buy a house, both girls and boys can stay with parents with their family. Every Wednesday is my host mom’s family lunch. By that time, both the daughter’s family and the son’s family will gather together.
Catholic is the national religion for Mexicans since its introduction by Spanish conquerors. Many Mexican are born as a catholic, and stick to Catholic teaching. My host mom’s daughter got married when she was 19 years old, still studying the university, and right after the university, she gave a birth a boy. All of them never question why they are born to be catholic, but accept this is the way it is.
Because of her age—being old meaning being experienced, having a lot of wisdom to tell, I also learn a lot from my host mom in terms of life. She told me that as long as today is better than yesterday, that’s good; she told me that it didn’t hurt so much when her husband died, that’s life. She also told me that there is a slight difference between her love to her grandchild and her child. She would say life should be enjoyed, just live for today because tomorrow itself will have its own worries.
Apart from my host family, I also get a profile of Mexicans from local students and ordinary citizens. Mexicans like to party a lot. When it comes to weekends, students will go clubbing, drinking, dancing and talking until the dusk, until they are all drunk. To most of them, it is a way of life; it is a way to relax themselves from the pressing life. That is a momentary escape.
Mexicans are very welcoming, friendly and helpful.
When I arrived in Monterrey at the first day, I was buying an adaptor. I didn’t know how to speak Spanish at all. After searching shop by shop, I still could not find one. A Mexican middle-aged man drove me around the town to find an adapter; he even paid for me when the shop keeper could not give change for my $500 peso note.
On the other hand, Mexicans are notorious for being lack of time concept, especially when it comes to social meetings, such as parties, eating out. 10 pm meeting will get started at 11 pm. Sometimes, even you have set the strict time and kept reminding your Mexican partners about the meeting, they can still fail to show up, simply because they forget. When showing up late, they will say, “Well, you know, it is Mexican time.”
Religious, optimistic, family-oriented, friendly, helpful, without time-concept, they are some Mexicans’ personal traits I have observed during my exchange.
Contacts with international Students
It will be hard to avoid contacts with international students, when there are over 1000 exchange students from different parts of the world in the campus.
Not being a party animal, I did not get to know as many exchange students as I should/could. But still, I have made a few good friends out of 1,000 of them.
The first one will be a Singaporean girl. Due to Asian affinity, we soon became good friends. She is the fourth Indian generation in Singapore. Through her, I also get to know her Singaporean counterparts. We shared lot first-times with each other: first time to try bungee jump, first time to do couch-surfing during traveling, first time to borrow uniform from convenience shop owners to attend Halloween party… By hanging out with her, I get to know Singaporean history, its social divisions. Through her eyes, I also see the world from different perspective. Being intelligent, sensitive, reflective, she can tell a world, a person even from a small gesture.
I also make good friends with a group of students from Czech Public. They are independent, know what they want, live life according to their own pace. They are counted as mature students because most of them are 24 years old. They have lived different parts of the world. Instead of academic studies, they live in a particular place just in the name of discovering life calling and self-refinement. That’s pretty a perspective-shattering experience for me. In Hong Kong, or maybe in Asia, people tend to be age-driven—gradate from the university at the age of 21; get promoted as a senior in the company at 25; get married before 30… people live according to the social expectations. It creates pressure if one fails to meet the timeline. Getting to know these Czech students, I realize that there are many possible ways for life to be, just be who we are, no matter what form it takes, it is still our own life.
There are other encounters with the international students, small but have shaped me in one way or the other. By being an international student in a foreign land, it helps me connect with other international students easier, and hence being exposed to different cultures and mentalities.
Extra-curricular activities
I have participated two voluntary services in the TEC: one is called “English for Normalista”, which aims to provide English enhancement course for both future and working teachers. The other called Mexican Rural—dedicated to provide enhancement classes for primary students in community schools. They have offered me a glimpse of some weaknesses of Mexico education systems.
There are not enough resources to the educational system. Students of different levels need to squeeze in the same class. The teachers are not well trained, one teach needs to teach few subjects, sometimes even all subjects despite not being familiar with.
One incident occurred during the “English for Normalista” class, which shed light on Mexican inferior mentality.
Together with 3 other Mexican students, we designed and conducted the classes on our own. Due to heavy school workload, my teammates did not put lot of effort in the course preparation, I was upset about it , because some of students in the course have to drive for 2 hours to come to the university, for this 2-hour weekly class, I felt bad when we did not deliver a quality class. Then I wrote to my teammate, expressing my disappointment and asking them to uphold the responsibility as a teacher and a teammate. One of them felt offended by the email. He wrote back defensively, saying that foreigners in Mexico like to regard themselves as the savior for the country. He sarcastically apologized:
“Sorry we are not those great economies, which don’t have poor, problems, or these kind of issues, But we have great things, as Mexicans, we are happy, more than it seems, and great feelings, and hope, and desire to improve and get that our country.”
I was offended by this email in turn, replied:
“I don't know by which way I behave makes me to fall into your 'foreigner-self-regarded-savior' stereotype. Anyway, hereby I want to clear out that, such stereotype doesn't work for me. I absolutely agree with what you have pointed out, the positivity, the strength and element of 'Hope' have embedded into Mexicans. I am impressed, and salute for such life-fighter spirit.
Every country has its own problems, US, look at its slow discovery from the credit crunch, UK, just announced 50,000 job-cutting....By no means, Mexico has to demean itself in the face of so-called 'great economies'. Sometimes, it is the self-demeaning mentality that generates victimization.”
After such email communication, all the teammates became more involved in the program. In the end of the program, I had a meal with them, reflecting what we have been through. They admitted that this program was fundamentally flawed as the student teachers were not passionate about teaching, not with an aim to help participants improve their English, but to fulfill their compulsory voluntary services hours. They also shared their ideas about how to improve the education system in Mexico. A sense of relief and comfort has crept in. The intercultural misunderstanding has been overcome by candid conversation, which has changed their perception of foreigners, the way they view the weaknesses of the country.
I am glad I have forsaken Saturdays for these two programs. I see another part of Mexico that even some Mexicans don’t get to know.
Personal Growth
Mexico has given me kisses and hugs, tequila, friends---lots of friends, and family, who keep reminding me to come back because 'it is your home, Chaunog'; Mexico has showed me salsa-- made my body move and shake. Mexico has given me a helpful hand whenever I needed one. I have taken so much from Mexico, all the memories in Mexico hold texture, smells,rhythm and history so it is in my body and in my mind.
This exchange has made me more culturally sensitive when it comes to intercultural communication.
It has also broadened my horizon. By meeting people around the world and learning Mexican beings, I get to know that different possibilities exist in life.
It has made me more independent and confident when it comes to express my opinions among the crowd.
Some reminders when doing exchange in Mexico
• Sharing an apartment with other students is the cheapest accommodation option. You can find it online.
• Mexicans greet each other with face kiss. Putting your right face against the other’s right face and give a symbolic kiss.
• Have basic Spanish knowledge before going there. Not many Mexicans can speak English. Communication problem will result if you don’t do so.
To sum up, Mexico is a good country to do exchange though the academic excellence is not comparable to HKU.
Locals are open-minded and welcoming to foreigners. They are also dignified persons, allowing an enriching cultural exchange.
Mexico is a country with diverse landscapes, cultures and histories. It has a user-friendly public transportation, which enables travelers to explore around the country and get to different Mexican spirits.
I did my exchange semester in the Tecnologico de Monterrey, i.e. the TEC (Campus Monterrey) Mexico during the first semester, 2010-2011. Despite the worsening security situation in Mexico due to the drag war, I have had a great exchange experience in Mexico. The report is dedicated to share insights, cultural and human touches I have had during the exchange.
Brief Introduction of the Host Institution and the City
The TEC (campus Monterrey) is regarded as the best private university in Mexico and even in Latin America. Its tuition fee is rather expensive. One semester costs about $50,000 HKD. Many students pay the tuition in full. Of course there are also students who depend on scholarship and credit from the University and Government to pay for the tuition. So you can find some fancy students, driving Mercedes to school, slacking on their school works. On the other hand, you can also find students who are down to the earth, work very hard and excel in their studies. It may be an over generalization, yet such materially-rich-yet-intellectually-poor phenomenon can be easily spotted in the campus, or vice versa.
Monterrey is situated northern part of Mexico. It is an industrialized city, where many American companies have their headquarters due to its proximity to the US, is also the richest city in Mexico. It used to be one of safest cities in Mexico. Since the government declared drug war with drug cartels, Monterrey is gradually turning into the second most dangerous city in Mexico. During my stay, shootings occurred near the campus. On one occasion, a grenade was even thrown right in front of the campus.
Academic Culture
The TEC adopts a very paternalistic teaching method.
First, it counts students’ attendance. Lecturers take roll call at the beginning of the lecture. There is a limit for absence. Exceeding the quota will automatically result in failing the course. Being 10 minutes late for the lecture is counted as an absence.
Besides, it emphasizes on role learning with heavy workload imposed. Students are expected to remember all the facts taught in the textbooks, such as dates, causes for event occurred; exams are held monthly, something comparable to the A-Level examination in Hong Kong. Students keep doing work. It takes quantity at the expense of quality.
According to Mexican students, two rationales can be accounted for such teaching methodology.
First, Mexicans are known for being lazy, they need to be pushed externally. Somehow, I concur. Party culture is strong in Mexico. Mexicans like going clubbing, drinking, dancing, chill-out a lot. To them, enjoying life, spending time with friends, family matters more than other things, which have both pros and cons. On the one hand, Mexicans are happy people, despite hardship in life, as long as there is a party, beer, music, treasured people around, life is still worth living. A quote from Oscar Wilde tells the gist of Mexican optimism--- “We are all in the Gutter, but some of us look at the stars.” The cost of life quality will be low work efficiency and productivity. “mañana, mañana” which is a favorite phrase of Mexican, meaning “tomorrow, tomorrow, let’s leave it tomorrow.” Underlying message will be “I will do it whenever I feel like to.”
Second, the TEC graduates will usually hold high positions in companies, government and other institutions. So the TEC need to train them in handling such pressure and workload. Such elitism has its ground. With its expensive tuition fee, those who can pay must come from well-established family without rich social networks and resources, so they will usually go into big corporations or governmental agencies. For those depend on credit and scholarship, their academic excellence will gain them a place in those places.
Courses recommended taking
Despite heavy workload in this institution, there are few classes that I found inspiring and interesting.
I really like my Spanish classes. Learning a language will necessarily touch its culture and history. My Spanish teacher is really of knowledge of Mexican culture, when she teaches, she is not only teaching Spanish, but also provides culture context of the language. Students are not only learning Latin America Spanish but also Mexican culture. For example, Spanish phase, “No me gusta”, (I don’t like it), according to the Spanish teacher that, Mexicans don't express their negative opinions directly, they tend to package it in a nice way.
Besides, I have also taken a politics course, called International Negotiation. Through different case studies, I not only got to know the context of hot issues that still linger in the arena of international politics, but also get to know what makes a good negotiator. Such as Israel-Palestine negotiation, North Korea nuclear disarmament, it gives me a context to comprehend the news nowadays. The professor is really knowledgeable about international politics. He has also worked in different international organizations. It is one of few classes that don’t stress on workload but quality of work.
Moreover, I have also taken a course in Latin America history. The course offered me with history of the origin of America, of the intrusion of Spanish conquest, of their struggle for independence, to their modern development, to their search of self-identity and self-pride, all these somehow resonates with what Africans, even lots of Chinese are facing now. Through reading others, I came to know more of my very own identity and culture root.
Contacts with locals
Learning Mexican culture and Mexican way of being has been one of my exchange goals. So I chose to live with a host family, which has given me a closer contact with the locals. I lived with a 63-year-old widowed lady. She gives me a lot personal space. Through her, I get to know Mexican family values; I learn life philosophy from her. She has a son and a daughter. Both of them are married and have their own family. My host mom told me that Mexicans value family a lot; they treat the gender of the child equally. Before marriage, children need to live with their parents. Usually when children grow up and get married, they will move out the family. If they could not afford to buy a house, both girls and boys can stay with parents with their family. Every Wednesday is my host mom’s family lunch. By that time, both the daughter’s family and the son’s family will gather together.
Catholic is the national religion for Mexicans since its introduction by Spanish conquerors. Many Mexican are born as a catholic, and stick to Catholic teaching. My host mom’s daughter got married when she was 19 years old, still studying the university, and right after the university, she gave a birth a boy. All of them never question why they are born to be catholic, but accept this is the way it is.
Because of her age—being old meaning being experienced, having a lot of wisdom to tell, I also learn a lot from my host mom in terms of life. She told me that as long as today is better than yesterday, that’s good; she told me that it didn’t hurt so much when her husband died, that’s life. She also told me that there is a slight difference between her love to her grandchild and her child. She would say life should be enjoyed, just live for today because tomorrow itself will have its own worries.
Apart from my host family, I also get a profile of Mexicans from local students and ordinary citizens. Mexicans like to party a lot. When it comes to weekends, students will go clubbing, drinking, dancing and talking until the dusk, until they are all drunk. To most of them, it is a way of life; it is a way to relax themselves from the pressing life. That is a momentary escape.
Mexicans are very welcoming, friendly and helpful.
When I arrived in Monterrey at the first day, I was buying an adaptor. I didn’t know how to speak Spanish at all. After searching shop by shop, I still could not find one. A Mexican middle-aged man drove me around the town to find an adapter; he even paid for me when the shop keeper could not give change for my $500 peso note.
On the other hand, Mexicans are notorious for being lack of time concept, especially when it comes to social meetings, such as parties, eating out. 10 pm meeting will get started at 11 pm. Sometimes, even you have set the strict time and kept reminding your Mexican partners about the meeting, they can still fail to show up, simply because they forget. When showing up late, they will say, “Well, you know, it is Mexican time.”
Religious, optimistic, family-oriented, friendly, helpful, without time-concept, they are some Mexicans’ personal traits I have observed during my exchange.
Contacts with international Students
It will be hard to avoid contacts with international students, when there are over 1000 exchange students from different parts of the world in the campus.
Not being a party animal, I did not get to know as many exchange students as I should/could. But still, I have made a few good friends out of 1,000 of them.
The first one will be a Singaporean girl. Due to Asian affinity, we soon became good friends. She is the fourth Indian generation in Singapore. Through her, I also get to know her Singaporean counterparts. We shared lot first-times with each other: first time to try bungee jump, first time to do couch-surfing during traveling, first time to borrow uniform from convenience shop owners to attend Halloween party… By hanging out with her, I get to know Singaporean history, its social divisions. Through her eyes, I also see the world from different perspective. Being intelligent, sensitive, reflective, she can tell a world, a person even from a small gesture.
I also make good friends with a group of students from Czech Public. They are independent, know what they want, live life according to their own pace. They are counted as mature students because most of them are 24 years old. They have lived different parts of the world. Instead of academic studies, they live in a particular place just in the name of discovering life calling and self-refinement. That’s pretty a perspective-shattering experience for me. In Hong Kong, or maybe in Asia, people tend to be age-driven—gradate from the university at the age of 21; get promoted as a senior in the company at 25; get married before 30… people live according to the social expectations. It creates pressure if one fails to meet the timeline. Getting to know these Czech students, I realize that there are many possible ways for life to be, just be who we are, no matter what form it takes, it is still our own life.
There are other encounters with the international students, small but have shaped me in one way or the other. By being an international student in a foreign land, it helps me connect with other international students easier, and hence being exposed to different cultures and mentalities.
Extra-curricular activities
I have participated two voluntary services in the TEC: one is called “English for Normalista”, which aims to provide English enhancement course for both future and working teachers. The other called Mexican Rural—dedicated to provide enhancement classes for primary students in community schools. They have offered me a glimpse of some weaknesses of Mexico education systems.
There are not enough resources to the educational system. Students of different levels need to squeeze in the same class. The teachers are not well trained, one teach needs to teach few subjects, sometimes even all subjects despite not being familiar with.
One incident occurred during the “English for Normalista” class, which shed light on Mexican inferior mentality.
Together with 3 other Mexican students, we designed and conducted the classes on our own. Due to heavy school workload, my teammates did not put lot of effort in the course preparation, I was upset about it , because some of students in the course have to drive for 2 hours to come to the university, for this 2-hour weekly class, I felt bad when we did not deliver a quality class. Then I wrote to my teammate, expressing my disappointment and asking them to uphold the responsibility as a teacher and a teammate. One of them felt offended by the email. He wrote back defensively, saying that foreigners in Mexico like to regard themselves as the savior for the country. He sarcastically apologized:
“Sorry we are not those great economies, which don’t have poor, problems, or these kind of issues, But we have great things, as Mexicans, we are happy, more than it seems, and great feelings, and hope, and desire to improve and get that our country.”
I was offended by this email in turn, replied:
“I don't know by which way I behave makes me to fall into your 'foreigner-self-regarded-savior' stereotype. Anyway, hereby I want to clear out that, such stereotype doesn't work for me. I absolutely agree with what you have pointed out, the positivity, the strength and element of 'Hope' have embedded into Mexicans. I am impressed, and salute for such life-fighter spirit.
Every country has its own problems, US, look at its slow discovery from the credit crunch, UK, just announced 50,000 job-cutting....By no means, Mexico has to demean itself in the face of so-called 'great economies'. Sometimes, it is the self-demeaning mentality that generates victimization.”
After such email communication, all the teammates became more involved in the program. In the end of the program, I had a meal with them, reflecting what we have been through. They admitted that this program was fundamentally flawed as the student teachers were not passionate about teaching, not with an aim to help participants improve their English, but to fulfill their compulsory voluntary services hours. They also shared their ideas about how to improve the education system in Mexico. A sense of relief and comfort has crept in. The intercultural misunderstanding has been overcome by candid conversation, which has changed their perception of foreigners, the way they view the weaknesses of the country.
I am glad I have forsaken Saturdays for these two programs. I see another part of Mexico that even some Mexicans don’t get to know.
Personal Growth
Mexico has given me kisses and hugs, tequila, friends---lots of friends, and family, who keep reminding me to come back because 'it is your home, Chaunog'; Mexico has showed me salsa-- made my body move and shake. Mexico has given me a helpful hand whenever I needed one. I have taken so much from Mexico, all the memories in Mexico hold texture, smells,rhythm and history so it is in my body and in my mind.
This exchange has made me more culturally sensitive when it comes to intercultural communication.
It has also broadened my horizon. By meeting people around the world and learning Mexican beings, I get to know that different possibilities exist in life.
It has made me more independent and confident when it comes to express my opinions among the crowd.
Some reminders when doing exchange in Mexico
• Sharing an apartment with other students is the cheapest accommodation option. You can find it online.
• Mexicans greet each other with face kiss. Putting your right face against the other’s right face and give a symbolic kiss.
• Have basic Spanish knowledge before going there. Not many Mexicans can speak English. Communication problem will result if you don’t do so.
To sum up, Mexico is a good country to do exchange though the academic excellence is not comparable to HKU.
Locals are open-minded and welcoming to foreigners. They are also dignified persons, allowing an enriching cultural exchange.
Mexico is a country with diverse landscapes, cultures and histories. It has a user-friendly public transportation, which enables travelers to explore around the country and get to different Mexican spirits.
開始--- Study Plan
我的GPA不高,不過,我想大概是我的study plan 寫得不錯, 再加上想去墨西哥的人不多, 所以, 我有機會exchange.
The Following is my Study Plan-- explaining why I would like to go on exchange.
I want to go on exchange because it is a journey of self-refinement and self-growing, making me a better person and a better global citizen in turn.
To study in foreign country will broaden my horizon, which is a vital attribute in this increasingly globalised world. Due to the information technology advancement, information about the country can be obtained easily through the internet, why do we care to go there, especially taking the uncertainties and difficulties during the journey into account. as a Chinese saying goes to “walking through thousands miles of journey is better than reading thousands of books.”, going on exchange means to live in that country for a period of time, to actually live your life in a local way. All the encounters are real, which you can feel them with your senses, tracing back, and memories live vividly.
As a girl from underprivileged family, if not for the university programs, I will not have the opportunity to study aboard on self-financed basis. Life in Hong Kong is rather hectic and materialized. Through this exchange experience, to live in another life style, it is hoped that I can have better insights to my life and better vision towards my future career.
I especially want to do my exchange in Mexico.
First, it is a Latin American country, which is rather alienated to me (though it is the origin of the Swine Flu, with extensive news coverage.) I am a person who loves exploring new things and accepting challenges. The more sideway the journey, the more I will discover life (both others’ and mine) more. Human beings will be haunted by fear and worries in times of uncertainties. The strange land/ culture will enhance such phobia. I still remembered the very first days I immigrated to Hong Kong in 1999. Speaking neither English nor Cantonese, dressing in a rather old-fashioned way, people looked at me with sort of despise and peculiar expression. Such experience had humbled me down. Later on, I gradually learned how to live up to the famous quote from Eleanor Roosevelt---“Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Besides, those unpleasant encounters were just a small portion of my life. Good and caring people definitely outnumber those cynic ones. Many people have inspired me to learn and live. Without them, I would not have been the present form of Wong Chau Nog. It has been ten years since my arrival. Now, I can speak both Cantonese and English fluently, attending the world-renowned university in Hong Kong. Of course, the three-month period in Mexico cannot be compared to the ten-year stay in Hong Kong. The reason for me to bring up this experience is that I am prepared to take up the challenges ahead and indeed, I will be greatly inspired in such encounters.
Moreover, as a student studying in politics, I can apply the learned comparative politics theories in to real life cases. Mexico is a developing country. The world regards the Latin countries as emerging economies in the next decades. Mexico’s precinct country Brazil, together with China, Russia and India are termed as the BRIC countries in the world’s economy. By studying and staying in Mexico, I will gain more cultural, economic and political understandings about the Latin countries. Subsequently, I can compare it with China. Knowing the commons and differences between them, I will have a better worldview. Knowing where I am footing, I can know where I am heading.
Additionally, I can learn Spanish in a more efficient and practical way. Both Mexico universities that I have applied to (Techologico De Monterrey and Universidad of Monterrey) offer Spanish courses for international students. There is a saying that “learning a language will give you another spirit.” It is because speaking another language opens the window of another world to you. Learning a language will simultaneously bring about the related-culture and way of life to you. Somewhat you will have another life. Though I have not learned Spanish before, that is the beauty of adventure. I remember one person who has been to Africa, told me “if you can overcome language barriers, then you can overcome everything during your stay in a strange land.” Just one semester exchange, I can acquire two kinds of philosophical knowledge in person. (Of course, to facilitate my learning, I will take a Spanish certificate course before I go on exchange.)
I believe the above-mentioned experiences and expected knowledge acquired will be internalized as my asset to benefit my future both career pursuit and living.
As an aspired journalist, I want to feature in the international news, that’s why I am taking politics and African Studies as my second major and minor. Having exchange experience in other countries will further develop my ability to make sense of the world and life. It is sincerely hoped that my application can be granted. It will be my great honor to be interviewed should there is such a need. Thank you for your attention.
The Following is my Study Plan-- explaining why I would like to go on exchange.
I want to go on exchange because it is a journey of self-refinement and self-growing, making me a better person and a better global citizen in turn.
To study in foreign country will broaden my horizon, which is a vital attribute in this increasingly globalised world. Due to the information technology advancement, information about the country can be obtained easily through the internet, why do we care to go there, especially taking the uncertainties and difficulties during the journey into account. as a Chinese saying goes to “walking through thousands miles of journey is better than reading thousands of books.”, going on exchange means to live in that country for a period of time, to actually live your life in a local way. All the encounters are real, which you can feel them with your senses, tracing back, and memories live vividly.
As a girl from underprivileged family, if not for the university programs, I will not have the opportunity to study aboard on self-financed basis. Life in Hong Kong is rather hectic and materialized. Through this exchange experience, to live in another life style, it is hoped that I can have better insights to my life and better vision towards my future career.
I especially want to do my exchange in Mexico.
First, it is a Latin American country, which is rather alienated to me (though it is the origin of the Swine Flu, with extensive news coverage.) I am a person who loves exploring new things and accepting challenges. The more sideway the journey, the more I will discover life (both others’ and mine) more. Human beings will be haunted by fear and worries in times of uncertainties. The strange land/ culture will enhance such phobia. I still remembered the very first days I immigrated to Hong Kong in 1999. Speaking neither English nor Cantonese, dressing in a rather old-fashioned way, people looked at me with sort of despise and peculiar expression. Such experience had humbled me down. Later on, I gradually learned how to live up to the famous quote from Eleanor Roosevelt---“Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Besides, those unpleasant encounters were just a small portion of my life. Good and caring people definitely outnumber those cynic ones. Many people have inspired me to learn and live. Without them, I would not have been the present form of Wong Chau Nog. It has been ten years since my arrival. Now, I can speak both Cantonese and English fluently, attending the world-renowned university in Hong Kong. Of course, the three-month period in Mexico cannot be compared to the ten-year stay in Hong Kong. The reason for me to bring up this experience is that I am prepared to take up the challenges ahead and indeed, I will be greatly inspired in such encounters.
Moreover, as a student studying in politics, I can apply the learned comparative politics theories in to real life cases. Mexico is a developing country. The world regards the Latin countries as emerging economies in the next decades. Mexico’s precinct country Brazil, together with China, Russia and India are termed as the BRIC countries in the world’s economy. By studying and staying in Mexico, I will gain more cultural, economic and political understandings about the Latin countries. Subsequently, I can compare it with China. Knowing the commons and differences between them, I will have a better worldview. Knowing where I am footing, I can know where I am heading.
Additionally, I can learn Spanish in a more efficient and practical way. Both Mexico universities that I have applied to (Techologico De Monterrey and Universidad of Monterrey) offer Spanish courses for international students. There is a saying that “learning a language will give you another spirit.” It is because speaking another language opens the window of another world to you. Learning a language will simultaneously bring about the related-culture and way of life to you. Somewhat you will have another life. Though I have not learned Spanish before, that is the beauty of adventure. I remember one person who has been to Africa, told me “if you can overcome language barriers, then you can overcome everything during your stay in a strange land.” Just one semester exchange, I can acquire two kinds of philosophical knowledge in person. (Of course, to facilitate my learning, I will take a Spanish certificate course before I go on exchange.)
I believe the above-mentioned experiences and expected knowledge acquired will be internalized as my asset to benefit my future both career pursuit and living.
As an aspired journalist, I want to feature in the international news, that’s why I am taking politics and African Studies as my second major and minor. Having exchange experience in other countries will further develop my ability to make sense of the world and life. It is sincerely hoped that my application can be granted. It will be my great honor to be interviewed should there is such a need. Thank you for your attention.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
起義
昨晚一直守在電腦前, 看著AJE的LIVE TV, 當然另一方面和不同的朋友用不同的instant chat programs chatting on different issues, one hand is about those little things about life, being fat, bringing boyfriend to meet families, on the other is seriously about the Egyptian revolution...
quite absurd, on the one hand, the atmosphere is filled with reunion, happiness, warmth, on the other hand, blood is shedding...
waking up, viewing the photo album from Life.com on Egyptian Revolution, quite number of them have moved my heart.
http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/55071/cairo-the-latest-pictures?xid=newsletter#index/42"
Its caption has moved my heart.
"Die for something is better than. . . live for nothing."
http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/55071/cairo-the-latest-pictures?xid=newsletter#index/49"
in this foto, you can clearly see that the police is firing at protesters.
How has history been evolved??
--------
Yes, I have got a kinda good news.
Bodomo said he might need a teaching assistant.
meaning, he is opening the post for me.
that's an attractive option, stable, prestigious...
yet, Life is that all?
what about other alternatives? what about the fascinating outside world?
how to be like that? or maybe there has never been an outside world. what I am trying to find, not the ultimate destination, but the seeking journey.
I am afraid of that my curiosity will be eroded once entering the mundane world.
god. what should I do?
quite absurd, on the one hand, the atmosphere is filled with reunion, happiness, warmth, on the other hand, blood is shedding...
waking up, viewing the photo album from Life.com on Egyptian Revolution, quite number of them have moved my heart.
http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/55071/cairo-the-latest-pictures?xid=newsletter#index/42"
Its caption has moved my heart.
"Die for something is better than. . . live for nothing."
http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/55071/cairo-the-latest-pictures?xid=newsletter#index/49"
in this foto, you can clearly see that the police is firing at protesters.
How has history been evolved??
--------
Yes, I have got a kinda good news.
Bodomo said he might need a teaching assistant.
meaning, he is opening the post for me.
that's an attractive option, stable, prestigious...
yet, Life is that all?
what about other alternatives? what about the fascinating outside world?
how to be like that? or maybe there has never been an outside world. what I am trying to find, not the ultimate destination, but the seeking journey.
I am afraid of that my curiosity will be eroded once entering the mundane world.
god. what should I do?
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
一切都是小小的.
大概是因為農曆新年的到來,所以生活的步伐放慢了,一切都很順利似的.
乘火車不用走到車頭便可以有座位, 去金雞坐回大學的小巴, 是車等人, (平時早上要等3-4架,才可以上車.)
回到大學,上Feature Writing,GENE跟我們討論了我們交給他的 feature and Profile 的MEMO.
我的是Couchsurfing 和一個德國男生的故事.
GENE說, 當中的意念很facinating,無論是墨西哥的couchsurfing 還是那個德國男生的故事...
回到香港,有點迷失,有點煩,有點亂.怕曾經在墨國的一切,怕在曾經覺得世界很闊,很多可能性的生活會在日子的重複中給磨蝕掉...雖然那種害怕其實早在LA的街頭已有,也寫了一封信給自己,只是回到香港更是加深了當中的乏力.
而在fature writing 中討論, 好像找回那種曾經很闊,也拾回對生命可能性的信心.
-----
上星期約了朋友今天吃飯,臨掛線前, 她強調說, "哪,約實你GA LA, 到時唔好唔來."
偏偏沒有帶電話,下了課, 很狼狽地去CC,在G-chat看有沒有Common Friend, 找到那個朋友的電話.
去到餐廳,拿著剛獲得的電話號碼,很唐突地找了一個女生借電話,再打給那個朋友,得到的回應是, 她來不了.
雖然她很體貼地問我是會不會阻礙我的課,話語間卻充滿了不願... 於是便說再約...
可我還是獨自在餐廳吃了一個curry pork.
或許我對承諾少一點的信心, 少一點的在乎, 而自己少一點任性和執著,日子可能會好過一點.
在墨國時,明知在美國的新墨西哥州,沒有人可以接濟自己, 而我又拖著一個大行李, 但因為之前和非洲女士的約定, 雖然她放棄了我, 可我還是獨自一人由墨國乘巴士過境去了新墨西哥州, 認識了幾個梳化客,和一個加納女學生一同坐了一程車, 談了生活的難;一個人在新墨西哥州近幾十年來最冷的一天,走遍了它的整個downtown area.
----
晚上看了一套電影, the unbearable lightness of being. 因為故事setting 是在布拉格,(因為之前在墨國認識了幾個來自布拉格的朋友,而最近阿拉伯世界的起義, 不多不少講到捷克1989的春天, 中國的六四),所以在library 借了它來看.
其中的一句 "How come life can be so light for you, while so heavy for me?"
---
一切都是小小的,但卻又在小小的上面,積攅了生命的種種.
乘火車不用走到車頭便可以有座位, 去金雞坐回大學的小巴, 是車等人, (平時早上要等3-4架,才可以上車.)
回到大學,上Feature Writing,GENE跟我們討論了我們交給他的 feature and Profile 的MEMO.
我的是Couchsurfing 和一個德國男生的故事.
GENE說, 當中的意念很facinating,無論是墨西哥的couchsurfing 還是那個德國男生的故事...
回到香港,有點迷失,有點煩,有點亂.怕曾經在墨國的一切,怕在曾經覺得世界很闊,很多可能性的生活會在日子的重複中給磨蝕掉...雖然那種害怕其實早在LA的街頭已有,也寫了一封信給自己,只是回到香港更是加深了當中的乏力.
而在fature writing 中討論, 好像找回那種曾經很闊,也拾回對生命可能性的信心.
-----
上星期約了朋友今天吃飯,臨掛線前, 她強調說, "哪,約實你GA LA, 到時唔好唔來."
偏偏沒有帶電話,下了課, 很狼狽地去CC,在G-chat看有沒有Common Friend, 找到那個朋友的電話.
去到餐廳,拿著剛獲得的電話號碼,很唐突地找了一個女生借電話,再打給那個朋友,得到的回應是, 她來不了.
雖然她很體貼地問我是會不會阻礙我的課,話語間卻充滿了不願... 於是便說再約...
可我還是獨自在餐廳吃了一個curry pork.
或許我對承諾少一點的信心, 少一點的在乎, 而自己少一點任性和執著,日子可能會好過一點.
在墨國時,明知在美國的新墨西哥州,沒有人可以接濟自己, 而我又拖著一個大行李, 但因為之前和非洲女士的約定, 雖然她放棄了我, 可我還是獨自一人由墨國乘巴士過境去了新墨西哥州, 認識了幾個梳化客,和一個加納女學生一同坐了一程車, 談了生活的難;一個人在新墨西哥州近幾十年來最冷的一天,走遍了它的整個downtown area.
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晚上看了一套電影, the unbearable lightness of being. 因為故事setting 是在布拉格,(因為之前在墨國認識了幾個來自布拉格的朋友,而最近阿拉伯世界的起義, 不多不少講到捷克1989的春天, 中國的六四),所以在library 借了它來看.
其中的一句 "How come life can be so light for you, while so heavy for me?"
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一切都是小小的,但卻又在小小的上面,積攅了生命的種種.
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