Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 1998

What They Say after Two Weeks... Guo Lu Lu (Integrated BBA Programme) ‘Why give up a highly reputable university like Peking University?' is a question eighteen -year-old Guo Lu Lu, graduate of a famous secondary school in Beijing, often had to answer both beforeand after coming to Hong Kong. For the majority of students of this secondary school, getting in to Peking University or TsinghuaU n i v e r s i t y is nothing out of the ordinary. HenceLu Lu was not overwhelmed by her acceptance by Peking University. She said, 'There are multifarious things in this world. True understanding only comes withe x p e r i e n c e . ' She believes that The Chinese University can offer her more by way of experiences. Guo Lu Lu is enrolled on the Integrated BBA Programme at the University. Sheexplained her shift from her original proposed major of English at Peking University to business: 'Language is only a tool. If I can master it through the study ofother specialities, why shouldn't I choosean area I like?' Is language a stumbling blockfor putonghua-speakin g Guo Lu Lu? She pointed out that all classes use English as a medium of instruction. The only exception is physical education classes which use Cantonese. Sheconsults the dictionary whenevershecomes across unfamiliar terminology, which is quite often. Yetshesaid local students have the same problem. When shefirst arrived sheused to loseher way frequently asshe was new to the campus. Has making friends beeneasier? 'Both teachers and students havebeenvery warm to us. They take good care of us,' shesaid. Besideslocal students havea habit of exchanging names, numbers and addresses with people they meet on campus. She said it has enabled her to know more people. Yang Zheng (Department of Electronic Engineering) Yang Zheng, the youngest of the 28 students from the mainland, will turn 18 at the end of the year. Although he's come all the way here on his own, he is not at all worried about living in a new environment becausehe is 'young and highly adaptable'. He began using the computer three years ago.This past summer heparticipated in a training programme organized jointly by MIT and mainland universities. Originally acceptedby the theory-oriented electronics department of Peking University, Zheng found The Chinese University better suited to his needs becausehis true lovewas computers. He also felt the University had better learning facilities and an environment more conducive to learning English. He said he decided to come to Hong Kong without a second thought and added with a laugh that 'It's just that I choseThe Chinese University. I was not rejected by Peking University.' As Zheng had expected, adaptation has been easy. Despite the four-week delay, he's caught up in all his classes. Neither is he particularly homesickashe communicates daily via e-mail with his family. Even his only original reservation—that Hong Kong people might be colder—has dissolved. 'Everyone is very warm. Takemy roommate for instance. Not only doeshe let me use his computer, he also spent time shopping with me at Mid-autumn Festival. Hong Kong peopleare not that much different from mainlanders. It's just that oneneedsmore initiative in going about things here,'he observed. Zheng describedhis life on campus as 'free, busy, crammed with activities and late nights.' He hasn't had time to take a step hack and 'feel' certain experiences. He has no definite plans in mind for the future, nor anywhere definite wherehe would like to start his career. There is little cause for worry since,ashesaid, thosewho are adaptable can survive anywhere. Sun Huan (Department of Architecture) Eighteen-year-old Sun Huan from J i a n g su Province is the only student from the mainland who is studying architecture at the University. Why did he, whose backgroundwas in physics, choose architecture? 'Hong Kong is famous for two things: finance and architecture. I've seenon TV many interesting buildings in Hong Kong. I want to try something new and architecture is something of which I know almost nothing about, ' he said. When asked which buildings in the world he likes most, Sun Huan named, amongst others, the Sidney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower, and the Bank of China. Having spenthis primary and secondary schoolyears on the mainland, Sun Huan was attractedby the idea of pursuing his tertiary education in Hong Kong where, he said, the conditions for study weregood and he could gain different perspectives. His parents fully supported his decision to come to the University, though with him being an only child, not without the slightest apprehension. 'You know what I had to bring with me? Lots and lots of clothes since we wrongly thought clothes were expensive in Hong Kong, two dictionaries weighing 5 or 6 catties each, stationery, toothbrush, toothpaste, my personal rinsing cup, and even my chopsticks from home! ‘ he recounted excitedly. But his parents' worries must have been allayedby now after his calls and letters home. Sun Huan is residing on the ground floor of Madam S.H. Ho Hall on Chung Chi campus and is enjoying dormitory lifeimmensely. 'The environment is good and I love living on the ground floor. It gives me easy accessto the microwave oven, the fridge, the TV, the daily paper,and the laundry room. I alsoget to know morepeople that way,' hepointed out. As for his classmates, Sun Huan finds them far more 'warm and kindly' than he had expected. He said he used to think that Hong Kong peoplehad to be very different from mainlandersbecause of the difference in the structure of the two societies. But he discovers now that they're not that much different. 'My roommate, for example, always answers the phone and leaves messages for me when I'm not in. That's something I didn't expect him to do,' he explained. Sun Huan 'sgoal right now, he said, is to do the best he could in his studies since it is 'too early' and 'impractical' to think about too much else.Tosum up hesaidhe 'feels very lucky to bestudying here'. • Mainland Students on CU Campus 45