My life in the Fragrant Harbour

On August 28, 2006, I sat on a plane from San Francisco to Hong Kong for 14 hours. After what seemed like an eternity, I arrived in the International City of Hong Kong, which in Chinese (xianggang) means the fragrant harbor. I will be spending a year in the outskirts of the city (the New Territories) at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, studying Chinese history, culture, literature, politics, economics, and the actual language itself (Putonghua, or as we call it in the west, Mandarin). I will also be traveling to other places in mainland China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, and Zengcheng, plus other Southeast Asian countries. I hope this journal will provide you a perspective on three different aspects:

1.) I hope I can offer a unique view into the Asian world as a whole. Asia is a complex region, yet there are unifying facets that bring the east together as one region. While each place has its own history, culture, and world view, there exists a regional one as well. I hope to show both the diversity and unity of East Asia.

2.) I also hope to demonstrate the essence of what it means to be Chinese today. The Chinese culture is the only culture that has existed unbroken for almost 3500 years (depending on when you want to mark the beginning of Chinese culture...we see the beginning of the written language in about 1500 BC with the Shang dynasty. Possibly earlier, but that is disputed) and still exists today. It is fascinating, deep, and so very different from western conceptions about the world, philosophy, morality, etiquette, and tradition.

3.) Hong Kong itself has a culture that is very different from China. Some would call this a good thing (the locals will say that they are much more courteous, modern, and mature than the mainland students) some would criticize Hong Kong for being a banana (yellow on the outside, white on the inside. Before you criticize me for being racist, this metaphor was actually given to me by a mainland Chinese person, not a white person). Nevertheless, while the heart and soul of Hong Kong is Chinese, it is different in many ways. I hope to illustrate that in this journal.

And now, I embark upon one of the greatest experiences of my life, and immerse myself in a culture that is so very different, but so amazing. Hope you enjoy as well.