Day One…Foggy

I think the foggy weather throughout the day was very representative of everyone’s mental state. It was thrilling to wander through Hong Kong on the ferry, bus, and subway while working through jet lag and adjusting to a new environment. After an orientation of syllabi, sandwiches, and speed-dating, the Williams and Lingnan students went for a large banquet at a restaurant on campus. We were also lucky enough to meet some of the faculty at Lingnan. Our conversation with the Dean of Social Sciences was particularly memorable for me. After pleasantries and some general tips for life in Hong Kong, we discussed the social welfare system, specifically the pros and cons of the interesting healthcare system available to all permanent residents of the city. Healthcare is free here. As a result, many people frequent hospitals for smaller issues, and subsequently force hospital staff to prioritize patients. This prioritization has led to some tragic consequences. In the case of the dean, his father had internal bleeding that the nursing staff did not detect, and he passed away waiting for care. After this somber exchange, one of the Lingnan students (shoutout to Harry) volunteered to bring us around the city, and so we left for Victoria Harbor. We eventually arrived at Government Center, where the Umbrella Movement played out. Harry pulled out his phone and proudly showed us pictures from the protest, and told us that he had actually participated. We then asked him why the movement ended. Pausing for a moment, Harry just said that students never got what they wanted and the government never cracked down on them. There is a long list of things that impress me about Hong Kong, but the one that stuck out today was the candid way people here talk about their lives with complete strangers. Chinese people can be very straightforward, frequently asking about your salary or love life, but I felt like the people I met today were very willing to open up to us, and share not only the good times and fun they’ve had, but also devastating tragedies and failure.