Week 8 - What is the culture really like in Hong Kong? (Cultural Blog)

Our table at the Spring Dinner.

This week in our Hong Kong History and Culture class a Professor was invited to share with us his views on living in Hong Kong (for the past 9 months) and the differences in culture between Hong Kong and the United States. This encouraged me to reflect on my own experience of Hong Kong and how I have adapted to living so far away from Northern Ireland. It is hard to believe that in just over a year I (hopefully!) will be graduating from Stranmillis as a qualified primary teacher and joining the many graduates in trying to find a job. Indeed, as teaching jobs are currently quite difficult to get back home I feel this experience of studying abroad has made me consider teaching opportunities outside Northern Ireland, especially here in Hong Kong. So what would be the attraction and what is the culture really like in Hong Kong?

Prior to coming to Hong Kong, I knew little about it (other than the Hong Kong rugby sevens!). As a history student, Asia was not an area of study or indeed a particular interest. In 1997, I was too young to understand the hype regarding the British and Chinese governments’ negotiations about Hong Kong’s status after the 99 year lease ran out! I can honestly say that before I came to Hong Kong I didn’t know what to expect in terms of culture, never mind how it compared to what I am used to back home in Ballymena!

Hong Kong is marketed as ‘Asia’s World City’, and this is reinforced throughout Hong Kong where it is possible to see Chinese statuettes and Buddhist symbols jostle alongside snazzy Western clothes and fashion items. What has impressed me is that Hong Kong is quite an easy place to adapt to as a Westerner, although this is only if you have the money to do so! House prices in Hong Kong are notoriously high, particularly the size of accommodation compared to what you could purchase in Northern Ireland. 

Hong Kong is such a diverse and cosmopolitan city, well known for its impressive skyscrapers and its renowned banking empire. Food also holds an important place where restaurants are available at a level of convenience and variety unmatched anywhere in the world. A fusion of east and west makes Hong Kong unique and earns it the reputable title of “gourmet paradise”. Its materialistic culture and high levels of consumerism confirms it as a premier international shopping centre. However, at the other end of the spectrum, it is not unusual to see hundreds of Filipino domestic helpers gather in Central and Victoria Park on Sunday, enjoying their only day off to socialise and picnic.

Living in Hong Kong is made easier because you are able to communicate relatively comfortably in English. Although I have learned some “niceties” in Cantonese, it is possible to get by fairly easily using English alone. Best of all, the local people are very welcoming, friendly and helpful  -  something that has made me reflect on how we treat people from different backgrounds back home in Northern Ireland. Certainly I now feel we could learn a thing or two from the locals here in Hong Kong.

Ease of communication also extends to travel with the transport system in Hong Kong being world class and a lot cheaper than public transport back in Northern Ireland...so much so that over 90% of the daily journeys are on public transport. Owning a car in Hong Kong is more to do with ‘status’ than practicality as public transport is so cheap.

As you can see there are many attractions to living and working in Hong Kong, particularly as a teacher which is a well-respected profession. Before I came I was worried that I could be overwhelmed by the cultural differences but on the contrary I am really appreciating the Chinese culture and traditions whilst enjoying some ‘home comforts’ such as Western shops, restaurants and socialising with people from a Western background. For me personally this is what makes Hong Kong such a unique and fascinating place, with so many different cultures mixed together. I suppose the culture of Hong Kong can best be described as a foundation that began with China and became more influenced by British colonialism.  Despite the 1997 transfer of sovereignty to the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong continues to hold an identity all of its own.

Allen and I with the student commitee.

This week was the Robert Black Halls Spring Dinner which I had been looking forward to for a while. On Thursday evening we went into Tai Po where we all enjoyed and shared some traditional Chinese food, trying certain delicacies such as shark fin soup, baby pig and my favourite – barbeque pork! Unfortunately I didn’t have the stomach to try some of the baby octopus! Some of the International students went out to a very nice dessert place afterwards and I had some Mango Sago which I particularly liked.

Victor and me.

The international students from Singapore - Gladys and Zhen Hui.

On Saturday evening, after really enjoying the basketball match on a previous occasion, we decided to go and watch IEd....this time they won by a point and it was good fun. I may even start to watch a bit of NBA after developing an interest in basketball. I haven’t lost my passion for rugby however, and Rachel and I went to watch the University play in a sevens rugby match. 

Allen celebrated his birthday this week so we went out for a nice meal (Pizza Hut!!!) and then to top the week off an American Eagle store opened in Hong Kong on Saturday.

Until next time...

 Joi Gin (Goodbye)

Michael