CW Chu College The Chinese University of Hong Kong eNewsletter

Sir Isaac Newton once said, 'I was like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.' Indeed, knowledge is boundless; knowledge is eternal. As I now pursue my education, I stand before the mighty and endless sea of knowledge, waiting for the waves to sweep the shore, sending me new pretty shells.

With this tenet in mind, I eagerly came to The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) for my study abroad program, as arranged by a partnership program between CUHK and my home University, Brown University. I saw the study abroad program as an invaluable opportunity to screen across a new shore for new pretty shells to add to my collection. Little did I know that I was in store for far bigger things; my eyes were to bear witness to a place that my heart would grow to love with such tremors of passion.

From the first day of me arriving at CW Chu College, I was immediately greeted by the smiles of kindred soul. I can't help but smile as I am writing this, for my memory has begun to wander back to that first day. The welcoming aura of the whole college staff at the front desk who were always reminding me of upcoming important dates, and the friendly cleaning staff at my floor who showed me around the college, despite us speaking two different languages; all of those fragments of my memory would usher in an experience unforgettable for a lifetime.

It did not take long for me to feel at home. The people I meet, from the echelons of advisory professors, college staff, and fellow students, have indeed left long-lasting impressions that are to define the joys I encountered throughout my stay in Hong Kong. As a student of International Relations and Political Science, I believe strongly in the concept of advancing global good through mutually cooperative and cordial understanding between individual countries and peoples; indeed, my interaction with the rest of the community had encouraged me to hold on to such idealistic belief. The fact that I can call a community, previously unbeknownst to me, from a different culture 'my family' surely conveys that there is still good in this world, and that humanity as a holistic and united body is truly worth fighting for.

I felt loved during my whole stay here. Not only did the college provide me with a bed to sleep in, it welcomed me with open arms to actively participate in College activities. Invited by my neighbors who shared the same passion of playing football, I soon became a member of the College football team. We sweated, ran, and laughed together on the field; we yelled at each other's mistakes, we picked each other up after a hard tackle, and we pushed each other to rise above the status of underdogs. On that field, I made friends; on that field, we became brothers.

Never would I have imagined to be immersed in such depth during my study abroad program. My classroom experiences did not end with the bell, for my discussions with fellow students and College faculty members continued to open up new dimensions and perspectives for this American student. My interaction with Francis extended into a friendship filled with laughter and jokes, as he took me around Hong Kong on weekends. I saw Alice, Melody, and Prof Wong not just as figures of authority, but also as voices of wisdom and caring friends, as they invited me to meals filled with delicious food and critical discourses. I even met my best friend there, the gentle soul who is Gi (there's your shout-out, man!); a brother who would definitely be one of the best men at my wedding.

Furthermore, the College encouraged me to not just be a learner, but also a teacher. I was given the honor to be MC at the Fourth High Table Dinner, to speak in front of the whole College and share some of my (hopefully) witty jokes and to openly express my gratitude to the community that I have grown to love. A stage was even prepared for me to share some of my talents through the keys of the piano. As I played, a great host of emotions was flowing through my body and concentrated towards the dancing fingers, for there were indeed so many feelings of love, thankfulness, and merriment unspoken by words that I sincerely wished to deliver to you all. It was indeed a privilege also to be invited as a speaker at a sharing session within the College on the topic of entrepreneurship. I was truly glad that the College acknowledged me, but most importantly, I was filled with joy knowing that I was able to reciprocate the kindness shown by the College towards me by sharing some of my own experience with faculty members and fellow students. In that sharing session, I felt a great sense of belonging as I recounted stories of my childhood and past hardships, as well as personal struggles, motivations, and goals. I was not speaking to outsiders; I was speaking to my family. Oh, how blessed I am, travelling thousands of miles away from home to discover that I still have a home, filled with a family of love inseparable and unbreakable by distance.

In Hong Kong, I was given the chance not just to screen the shores and beaches for pretty shells; I was endowed with the golden opportunity to dive into a sea of knowledge. I discovered not just the whole ecosystem that the ocean has to offer, for I have found my own kingdom under the sea. Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and CW Chu College had indeed become enchanting castles under the sea for me; a place of wonder that would forever remain close to my heart. As I return back home to the United States, I am filled with tremendous gratitude for the treasures that you have given to me during a point of climacteric in my youth; I have taken along with me valuable tokens of friendship, solidarity, and knowledge. With those tokens, I want to initiate a positive chain of reaction; to inspire others, to make others smile, and to comfort the wounded. I miss you all very much, and I am sure that one day, our paths will cross again. Until then, may the sun continue to shine upon you, unraveling the way forward so that we can all be builders of a brighter future. I love you, Hong Kong. I love you, CUHK. I love you, CW Chu College.