Student Sharing

On August 22, 2022, I received an unexpected email from my future roommate, Henry, a Hong Kong student I had never anticipated. 

Due to the pandemic, I spent my freshman and sophomore years studying online. Although I had been learning Cantonese, the lack of practical application made my spoken Cantonese sound like a malfunctioning robot, as my friends teased. I feel relieved and warmed when I hear others speak Putonghua, which makes me gravitate towards spending time with students from the mainland.

Eventually, I had the opportunity to continue my remaining two years of studies in Hong Kong. When filling in the hostel application form, I deeply wished to have a mainland student as my roommate. When I realized that my roommate would be a local Hong Kong student, I felt a wave of anxiety: What if my Cantonese is too poor for him to understand? Would he have negative feelings towards mainland students? In his introductory email, Henry mentioned his passion for environmental protection and his preference of non-air-conditioned spaces. As someone coming from Kunming, known as the Spring City, I wasn’t used to the heat in Hong Kong. How could we navigate these differences?

I vividly recall our first encounter. He knocked politely at the door and entered the room with a fresh green potted plant in his hand. We started to chat, and I soon realized that starting a conversation wasn’t as complicated as I had imagined. That first step marked the start of my vibrant hostel journey. This encounter taught me a lesson to share with junior students later: Don’t let worries hold you back from interacting with others. Be brave and say hello! It’s not as difficult as you might think, and it can open a new chapter in your life.

Our conversations often centred around Hong Kong, much like the scenarios in my Cantonese textbook. Despite my limited Cantonese, my roommate was entirely accommodating. As a student of Urban Studies, he clicked on an online map, zoomed in on small alleys and streets, and thoughtfully explained the characteristics of different areas such as Kowloon City, Yau Ma Tei, and Lamma Island. Later, when I visited these places, I looked for the scenes he had described and felt the unique atmosphere of Hong Kong. I realized that this city is not just an international metropolis filled with skyscrapers, but a place full of stories and warmth.

Our interactions allowed us to share our stories and develop mutual understanding and care for each other. He once surprised me with carrots and roselle he had picked from his home garden, while I often shared seasonings and spices from my hometown, though he politely declined because he couldn’t handle spicy food. Whenever I asked him for help with Cantonese pronunciation, he was always patient and encouraging. These small interactions, though seemingly trivial, helped forge a deep friendship between us. It’s the little moments in everyday life that bring people closer together.

The hostel allocation system of Wu Yee Sun College brought together two individuals with very different lifestyles. Although I was initially worried, our mutual understanding and adaptation opened up new possibilities. It expanded my life horizons, allowing me to learn a new language, experience diverse lifestyles, and embrace a vibrant attitude towards life.

As we approached the end of our hostel life, my roommate gifted me a postcard of the Tsing Ma Bridge at night. The bridge was a place I passed by every time I went home, and I was delighted by the coincidence. Our year of encounter mirrored that bridge, illuminated by small lights—subtle, gentle, and serene.