Sunny Chan blogs Can you see the Logic in my Madness?

Looking back

by Sunny Chan


Posted on Wednesday December 23, 2009 at 08:10am in Anything


The cat is now out of the bag, and I am slowly shutting down my life over here. I think it's time to do a review and take stock of what I have achieved and looking ahead


Most people have thought that my mom and dad made the decision for me to come over here, on the contrary it is actually me initiated the whole studying in UK. I was not happy at the school I was studying in Hong Kong and I see this as a way out to the terrible time I had in Hong Kong - I considered myself being bullied by my teacher and I thought certainly this "mother" country could not be worse. (The colonial government did a good job of brain-washing me :-).


When I first set foot in this country it feels strange yet farmiliar. The car drive on the correct side of the road, except that everything is in English. I certainly can feel the chill but I do find the people are very welcoming and have a strange sense of humour. But I certainly didn't forsee my experience in Felsted - it changed my life completely.


I definitely remember the first night in Follies. I was sobbing like a little baby in the little desk that we have for the NIPs (stands for Not Important Person). I think most of my housemate is puzzled - I think it is the thought of having to fence for myself from that point onwards. But soon after I get into the strive of studying and living in the boarding school, and I definitely make good use of my time there. Initially I am pretty sceptical of the gwai chais there. My parents have told me a few things about what they are like and I have found out that it is completely different - once we have worked out our cultrual differences I think my friends Felsted are warm and welcoming, and much more down to earth then I first thought. I have certainly made a lot of really good friends and we are still in touch 20 years later.


I am a pretty open minded person and after my "training" in Felsted I can really apperciate the way of life here and the culture. What I really love about this country is that people are humble and they are able to laugh about themselves and being selfless in a lot of ways. They like to engage with people and encouraged to look outwards and dream. I feel free to be myself here - as long as you don't go and kill people, you can do whatever you want. There are certainly a lot more social norm and convention out there in Asia, which would be very interesting to deal with.


I will definitely feel sad to leave behind all my good friends I made over the years, as well as the piece of London that I own (okay, the little piece of London that have been leased to me for another 70 years :-). I would definitely missed the days that I can go to the football games or take a spin in the winding road down in countryside.


However, I feel that it is the right opportunity to make a change in direction for my life. It would be a big culture shock when I am back in Hong Kong but I don't want to regard it not doing this while I still can. Who knows where life would take me but I certainly would be quite happy to come back and call UK home.





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