CW Chu College The Chinese University of Hong Kong eNewsletter

by Miss Allison Needels, an exchange student from the US who spent two semesters with us in the academic year 2014–15

On 26 August 2014, I became a new student… again. My first few days at The Chinese University of Hong Kong were just like the ones I experienced when I was eighteen. Would people like me? Would my Chinese improve? What would my roommate be like? I was already a third year student, but I knew that the upcoming nine months in Hong Kong would require me to start all over again. I had no friends to guide me, no family there to support me, and certainly no Cantonese skills. Naturally, I was nervous.

Any fear that I had was for naught. As soon as I walked into CW Chu College (CWC), four local faces greeted me with a smile. They helped me with my bags, introduced themselves, and asked about my travels. There was no forced tone in their voices, and I knew that these were friends in the making. They showed me CWC's amazing facilities: the outdoor balcony, library and printing room, gym, music room… Needless to say, it was every student's paradise. Once I stepped over the ledge of my comfort zone, my friends in CWC were there to catch me.

The next nine months flew by. Through CWC's numerous social activities, I was making friends right and left, from all around the globe. Communal dinners brought us together during busy weeks of studying. We celebrated Hong Kong's festivals together in the hostel's courtyard, such as the Mid-Autumn festival and Chinese New Year. We played games, ate dumplings, and danced together without judgement. Furthermore, CWCs helpful staff were always there to support both exchange and local students.

CWC was the home base for my adventures. It was where everything started. It was where I met my travel buddies, and where my language skills truly grew. It was also a place for learning about new cultures, and not just for the exchange students. Local students were also given the opportunity to learn about where we came from, and what some of our traditions were. For example, in November I was lucky enough to be asked to introduce the American holiday of Thanksgiving to the students. I gave a speech that helped people understand the background of the holiday, and afterwards we ate a classic Thanksgiving meal: turkey and gravy! I was miles away from America, but being able to share my culture, and receive respect in return, really made me feel like CWC was just another place to call 'home'.

Aside from CUHK's wonders, Hong Kong is easily the most amazing city I've ever visited. Towering architectural wonders intertwine between natural greenery. Monkeys swing across the branches of Buddhist monasteries, while visitors try to get a lucky shot on their glossy Nikon cameras. There is a mixture of the old and new, the European and the Chinese, the poor and the rich. I was endlessly in a state of wonder as I travelled, and as the clock ticked onwards, I could feel my heart tightly wrapping itself around Hong Kong.

However, all things end to make room for new beginnings. Despite this, we are in control of how we react to such endings. I know that I have grown so much as a student, friend, and a person during my stay in CWC. Every student in the hostel knew how invaluable our time together was, and as we all closed our books to prepare for summer, our united memories would give us comfort as we started new journeys.

As I got on the plane to leave Hong Kong, my tears struggled to fall. Although my entire heart felt sore, my eyes remained dry. Why? I asked myself. A smile spread across my lips as the campus bus pulled away from CWC. I wasn't saying 'goodbye'. I was simply saying:

'See you again.'