Bao Yen TANG

Student of Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia
Exchange to The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

In 2011, I asked God for my break.

On August 28th I received my gift and flew into Hong Kong and landed a day after.

Prior to exchange, I held three jobs and worried that finances would be an issue on whether I would be eligible to partake in this experience. Shortly after applying for the Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Awards, I received a grant that was more than enough to cover me for not only one semester, but two! So midway during my exchange, I gratefully extended my studies in Social Work/ Psychology.

I caught my first taxi from the airport direct to the Chinese University of Hong Kong where I would call home for the next 10 months. Unable to speak Cantonese I just pointed to a map of Sha Tin, New Territories, directing my driver as we crossed the engineering marvel Tsing Ma Bridge that links Lantau Island to the rest of Hong Kong. For the first time, I saw mountains meet skyscrapers.

It was beautiful and I was okay with sitting in silence with my driver as I literally glued my face onto the window.

Upon reflection, this experience has allowed me to grow into a more mindful person. I have benefited physically, mentally and spiritually.

I took a course in archery, did a semester of Kung Fu (Shaolin style), cycled scenic trails, played girls basketball and won 2012 Championship, hiked on Hong Kong’s highest mountain, Tai Mo Shan (and had the firemen come get us after hours of being lost!)

Mentally, I allowed myself to be deeply immersed with the people, food, music, culture, clothing and even down to the language. After a short duration, I was surprised at how much Cantonese I could speak and understand.

Spiritually, I connected with two churches and saw my walk with Christ expand as I made decisions as an independent adult.

Ex-exchange students told me that it was ‘the best thing ever’ and there really isn’t another way to say it, but it changed my life.  There are so many ‘in awe’ moments that this summary does no justice but one thing cannot be left out, and that is, the people I met is the reason why I fell in love.

I now have a network of friendships all over the world, a girl named Meien from Boston who baked me a Durian birthday cake, a lady named Peggy whom I now call mum and a community of friends who continue to pray for me continents away.

I had been so blessed for that time, where I did more than just stop and smell the roses; I danced with them and will always hold this experience as nothing less than precious.

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