哔咔漫画

4I Lincoin Lai

Recently, I had the chance to partake in an exchange programme with Sebastian, a student from Hutchins School, Tasmania, Australia. He stayed at my place for 3 weeks and we quickly became good friends. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my school for providing me with an invaluable opportunity like this.

For starters, I had the opportunity to sharing my interests and aspects I find interesting about Hong Kong. We got to taste delicacies that could not be found in Sebastian’s hometown, and went to numerous artistic locations. It was as if I was a tour guide, but also providing subjective opinions on unique recommendations on food/places to visit.

There certainly posed a few challenges in my experience, most prominently, translation. Throughout the 3 weeks, I had to translate each and every Chinese word he saw. However, I would always feel accomplished seeing the joy that I had brought my fellow exchange buddy as we embrace what Hong Kong has to offer.

Another notable aspect of this journey was school life. Compared to what Sebastian had been used to, the environment of 哔咔漫画 was noticeably more compact. However, he tried his best to participate in lessons and engage in meaningful conversations.

Unfortunately, I got into a bike crash during the exchange. Yet, Sebastian was caring and did his best to help me get through my tough times.  Sebastian is an empathetic and kind person that I am glad I met in this exchange programme.

In a nutshell, I learnt to be a better communicator, overcoming the challenge of introducing Sebastian to not just Hong Kong, but also my friends and family. More importantly, I came to see that even though Sebastian and I come from diverse backgrounds and cultures, it was possible to bond and make memories that will last a lifetime by simply living together. Friendships have no bounds. By stepping out of our comfort zones, deep bonds can be created regardless of diversity.

Sebastian Stagg

The Hutchins School, Tasmania, Australia

I am Sebastian. Throughout the past 3 weeks, I have explored different parts of Hong Kong culture as well as, of course, having a great time with sightseeing and food.

First, we had the SAW. We signed up for the coastal conservation activity which although was not my first choice, proved to be more than worth it. Despite the tedious rubbish cleaning work at times, the views we caught glimpses of and the wonderful culture embedded in some places like Tap Mun and Shek O was certainly enough to make up for the effort.  Also, we went to the Palace Museum and M+. I found the exhibits on display to be completely fascinating, and displayed a wide range of interesting topics. In addition, Hong Kong food was, for me, an experience not to be forgotten.

The opportunity to experience the daily life of a country that is not your own, in true authenticity, was a rare privilege. The most significant learning gained through this exchange had been those of understanding the sheer magnitude of life in a metropolis such as Hong Kong; a seemingly impossibly far-cry from the quiet lifestyle of Hobart. Additionally, some of the culinary experiences and knowledge of Hong Kong customs I had been able to gain had made this an experience I hope to cherish for a lifetime.