Inbound Scholars Finding Hong Kong Home Away from Home

Five months have passed since I came to Hong Kong.  The five other scholars have arrived at the same time from the US and the UK.  We have all decided to study at the University of Hong Kong.  Miranda Wang and Samantha Gale are studying public health while Marlynne Bidos is studying law; Glen Carter II is learning mandarin and Merlin Boone has enrolled in international and public affairs, and I am studying journalism.  After settling in and explored around the islands with our new friends, some of us traveled during reading week while some had family visiting.

Here are some of our experience and happenings since we got to Hong Kong:

“Outside of school, I am involved at a local Cantonese church, where I play the piano for their church choir.  Even though my piano skills are not advanced, I am happy to be able to serve with the skills I do have.  Since I have over five years of experience with refugee youth, I have also been tutoring refugee youth once a week at Inner City Ministries, as often as my schedule allows.” Miranda Wang

“During the Mid-Autumn Service Project, my temporary host counselor Alice Tsang “volun-told” me of my acting role in the project.  In addition to helping stuff food and goodies bags, I would be participating in a Chinese game.  The game entailed having a non-Chinese speaker listen to traditional Chinese music, and attempt to replicate the sounds and melody in order to allow the audience to guess the song.  I wouldn’t have minded… except for the 100 person audience of elderly residents!”  Merlin Boone

“I tutor four students a week in one to one conversation classes to help them build confidence with English.  In addition to Peer English Tutoring, I have also been learning golf and KravMaga, an Israeli martial art form, at the University sport centres.  The instructors have been brilliant and I am really enjoying progressing in both sports, despite the blisters and bruises!” Samantha Gale

“I ran my first 10k race, the goal of which was to raise money and awareness for healthy living in Hong Kong, as well as to support the District’s – Social Mobility for Youth Project.” Glen Carter II

Marlynne has been studying mandarin full time in addition to her law studies.  She traveled to Taiwan during reading week while I took a quick trip back to Ulaanbaatar in November.  The four direct flights a week brought our district more closely to each other.  I have been assisting the HK judiciary on Mongolian cases since October and the part time employment has been giving me insight into the judicial system of Hong Kong.

The first few months have been the time of our lives for all of us and we thank our host counselors for kind efforts to make us feel at home with the Rotary family.  Speaking to the Rotary International President as well as the Rotary Foundation Chair during our scholarship year made our purpose stronger to start participating in more service project now that we have settled in.

Scholar Lkhagva Erdene from Mongolia