Page 26 - 161 varsity ebook

24 /

I Cannot

Leave This City

While more French people leave Hong Kong during the
pandemic, some are determined to stay in
their adopted home.

By Gabriella Lynn

orn and raised in France, Elsa to keep things afloat after setting up loves to swim and run long-distance.
Jeandedieu came to Hong Kong her studio in 2015. When she is outdoors, she finds inspi-
Balone in 2008 at the age of 24, “When there is a challenge, I never ration in Hong Kong’s natural scenery
upon an invitation from a childhood give up. I do not want to go back to and feels more motivated to paint.
friend who already settled in the city France because that would mean it is “I love the nature of Hong Kong.
for work. She decided to stay perma- a mistake to live in Hong Kong. I want I can swim in the ocean in the morn-
nently after living in Hong Kong for to stay here until I succeed and man- ing or hike a trail after work, and I
a year. age to make something with my art,” can [only do that in Hong Kong],” Je-
Jeandedieu never thought of going the muralist says. andedieu says.
back home, even when she struggled Besides painting, Jeandedieu also “I know a lot of French people who