Detachment
● Hong Kong State of Mind
It took some time before I allowed myself not to be occupied with all the to-do lists and busy calendars in
the first few days in Augsburg. The efficiency-orientated and money-comes-first way of life in Hong Kong
has proven to have had a negative effect on me. As far as meals go, I was surprised to discover that it’s
quite rare to find the kind of waiters in the restaurants who take away the plates immediately after having
finished a meal. Instead, people are free to sit at a random bistro or inside a nicely decorated restaurant
for however long the time you’d like. Ultimately, the best benefit of studying in Europe for me is to escape
from the utilitarian and the damned-fast-pace lifestyle that dictates my time. The second is, of course,
you will never see those waiters with provo cative faces forcing you to order something in five seconds
ever again.
● Collectivist State of Mind
It’s a common conception that “Asians go together”, describing the idea that in China or Hong Kong,
people love to work, study, and travel in groups, and are more likely to possess complicated and
intertwined social relationships. This idea, of course, can be traced to the political and historical
background of these places. It was only after coming to another continent far away from China and Hong
Kong that I realized how the collective state of mind has influenced my emotional and personal well-
being: I realized how vulnerable I am to the judgements and comments (regardless of whether they are
positive or negative) from others, forcing me to hide my true feelings and opinions. My hesitation of
debating with others and my silence on important topics have eaten me up inside. Let’s talk about
politics: why have I kept silent and calm when supporters of sexism, racism, and totalitarianism try to
justify themselves? Take sexuality for example, why was I scared to talk about it in front of a group of
young adults with homophobic tendencies? Why exactly did I hesitate to fight back in words when being
insulted by some students who are less aware about the concept of respect for other humans? This
experience is teaching me how important it is to have individual thought and to become independent
from the collective state of mind.
● Consumerism State of Mind
I was freaked out when I packed my baggage and put away my possessions to be stored while leaving
Hong Kong, and what I learned from this experience is: don’t own too many things! In Hong Kong, a city
where people pass through numerous shopping malls just to get to the metro station, it’s seemingly
impossible to escape from the endless advertisements. One must find their own source of control in order
to resist consuming instead of following all of the exaggerated, evocative verbal images. The standard of
a long term trip I now set for myself is to take all the materials needed just for the purpose of immigrating
to another country. Participating in an exchange program is almost like immigration in that you will get
your foreign residence visa, enjoy local rights and laws, and have your new identity card. I hardly
remember the objects and all the heavy items I left in Hong Kong after having settled in Germany. So, I
encourage you to buy less, own less, and pack lightly.
MAY 2017
|
07