Education UK Exhibition is here again! Heard from some friends whom I made during the Going Global Conference that they will be coming to promote their universities. aww... too bad I have made plans during the week and could not go down to KL. It would be so nice to catch up with old faces again!
Anyway, the publicity has been good. Saw in the newspaper... the eye-catching advertisement that promotes Education UK as DIY equipment that equip us not only with quality education, but also with fantastic experience! And the vast amount of advertisement from respective universities in UK certainly shouted out loud that the Education Fair is coming!
Best regards to the friends who will be there! Enjoy Malaysia!
LINK to Education UK website
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Saturday, August 13, 2005
# Haze!!!
While Hong Kong and Taiwan have been hit by typhoon, Malaysia is experiencing a serious haze problem due to forest burning in Indonesia. The Air Pollution Index (API) rose up to more than 500 points (over 300 is already hazardous), visibility was poor, pollution was bad and people are having health problems.
This haze problem really gave ASEAN a smack right in the face. Gone are the agreements and the pacts among the countries, as the so-called cooperation to curb the haze problem was nowhere to be seen. Has it been just all words and no work? Has it been just empty promises among countries and no real actions of prevention? The countries in our region really need to sit down and have serious discussion to solve the problem.
One thing to commend Malaysian government is the decision to reveal the API statistics to the public (finally). At least civilians know the hazards they are facing daily, instead of being kept in the dark about the statistics so as not to affect the tourism. One thing to remind, however, is that there is a need to really look at the matter of haze and try to solve it. Haze has been around for very long, even before this serious one, and yet there seems no actions taken to confront our neighbouring country. Each time it occurs, just a simple ‘sorry’ was given and no further preventive measures taken. We need to think, is there more actions that we can do, at least for the sake of our people’s health?
I wait for a better solution soon.
This haze problem really gave ASEAN a smack right in the face. Gone are the agreements and the pacts among the countries, as the so-called cooperation to curb the haze problem was nowhere to be seen. Has it been just all words and no work? Has it been just empty promises among countries and no real actions of prevention? The countries in our region really need to sit down and have serious discussion to solve the problem.
One thing to commend Malaysian government is the decision to reveal the API statistics to the public (finally). At least civilians know the hazards they are facing daily, instead of being kept in the dark about the statistics so as not to affect the tourism. One thing to remind, however, is that there is a need to really look at the matter of haze and try to solve it. Haze has been around for very long, even before this serious one, and yet there seems no actions taken to confront our neighbouring country. Each time it occurs, just a simple ‘sorry’ was given and no further preventive measures taken. We need to think, is there more actions that we can do, at least for the sake of our people’s health?
I wait for a better solution soon.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
# Taiwan Trip
My trip in Taiwan was not only fun-filled with the sightseeing and delicious snacks, but also mind-awakening with the chance to learn from the Hope, MRA people about the ways they organize their volunteering activities.
Taipei
First few days were spent with Xiao Tian. We went to the Palace Museum only to discover that it was undergoing some reconstruction in certain parts. Still I managed to see much more exhibition than I did during my visit in China, hence realizing the vast amount of treasures brought over during the end of Qing dynasty.
I enjoyed very much the trip to Damshui where I found lots of snacks to try – nougats, muachi, fishball soup, ah ge, steel egg, wan tan soup, etc… At the Damshui Fisherman’s Wharf, we crossed the Lovers Bridge and enjoyed the hot afternoon under a ‘n’ shaped huge tree while looking at the Guanyin mountain in the far.
Of course, we went to the famous Shilin night market and also took a look at the highest building in the world – 101 Tower. Personally I think it is not too pretty with its Lego-like architecture design. Still prefer the twin towers in Malaysia, hehe.
Within the first few days, I noticed a few interesting facts about Taiwan. First of all, tuition classes are so common in Taiwan; even the university students go for tuition! I was fascinated by the kiasuism exhibited and wondered how could people actually spent a fortune just to assure themselves they are learning well. Second discovery: girls in Taiwan are so afraid of sunshine that they actually wear a hat + take an umbrella + weal long sleeves + put on sun lotion every time they go out. There is even a saying of ‘triple protection’ to ensure girls get a fair skin. So much for the obsession for fair skin. Third discovery: Taiwanese loves to use abbreviations for almost everything; many words are abbreviated and it was amusing to learn up new words and having a good laugh when my friends can always use 2 or 3 words to shorten my whole sentence.
Yi Lan
We went to Yi Lan with a group of friends. Once again, I savoured the various food and snacks like DangGui mutton soup, Tian Bu La, Pu Rou, tofu, etc… but I particularly like the Peanuts-wrapped icecream.
Staying at the B&B located next to a vast padi field is enjoyable. It made me feel I am right at home at Kedah, the rice bowl of Malaysia. We managed to come just at the time of the celebration of the Children’s Day and we joined in the celebration to become children again. Besides these, we went to the National Traditional and Cultural Arts Museum and I learned much more about the local music, traditions and arts. Of course we did not miss out the chance to spend a hot afternoon in the Cold Spring~! (It IS very cold!)
TaiZhong/ Changliaowei
I followed Changcheng and Shufen down to TaiZhong. I was lucky to have a chance to go to Ri Yue Lake as GYSD was organizing a volunteer activity there. Besides getting some souvenirs, I was fortunate enough to have a go at pottery-making, all FOC as a special treatment from the owner, seeing that I was a guest from Malaysia. We later went to the 921 Earthquake Exhibition Centre and on our way managed to watch the ‘Bu Dai Xi’ at the roadside.
At night we went to the night market at Feng Jia (going to night markets has become a norm to me in my Taiwan Trip, hehe). Again I was dazzled by the choices available.
The downside of the trip this time is I happened to bump into the typhoon season so certain plapces like Hualian and Kaohsiung are not accessible. However, this gave me a good excuse to have another trip in another time! hehe...
The best experience I had in Taiwan was the time spent with the people in Hope, MRA – I not only got to know lots of new friends but also got a chance to learn about their organization of youth activities and volunteering work. Through the conversations with the social workers, I got to know their work in various parts of the world from India to Samoa. I salute them so much for their great heart and sheer determination, I look up to them for their love for humankind, and I want to emulate them to serve my community better.
Taipei
First few days were spent with Xiao Tian. We went to the Palace Museum only to discover that it was undergoing some reconstruction in certain parts. Still I managed to see much more exhibition than I did during my visit in China, hence realizing the vast amount of treasures brought over during the end of Qing dynasty.
I enjoyed very much the trip to Damshui where I found lots of snacks to try – nougats, muachi, fishball soup, ah ge, steel egg, wan tan soup, etc… At the Damshui Fisherman’s Wharf, we crossed the Lovers Bridge and enjoyed the hot afternoon under a ‘n’ shaped huge tree while looking at the Guanyin mountain in the far.
Of course, we went to the famous Shilin night market and also took a look at the highest building in the world – 101 Tower. Personally I think it is not too pretty with its Lego-like architecture design. Still prefer the twin towers in Malaysia, hehe.
Within the first few days, I noticed a few interesting facts about Taiwan. First of all, tuition classes are so common in Taiwan; even the university students go for tuition! I was fascinated by the kiasuism exhibited and wondered how could people actually spent a fortune just to assure themselves they are learning well. Second discovery: girls in Taiwan are so afraid of sunshine that they actually wear a hat + take an umbrella + weal long sleeves + put on sun lotion every time they go out. There is even a saying of ‘triple protection’ to ensure girls get a fair skin. So much for the obsession for fair skin. Third discovery: Taiwanese loves to use abbreviations for almost everything; many words are abbreviated and it was amusing to learn up new words and having a good laugh when my friends can always use 2 or 3 words to shorten my whole sentence.
Yi Lan
We went to Yi Lan with a group of friends. Once again, I savoured the various food and snacks like DangGui mutton soup, Tian Bu La, Pu Rou, tofu, etc… but I particularly like the Peanuts-wrapped icecream.
Staying at the B&B located next to a vast padi field is enjoyable. It made me feel I am right at home at Kedah, the rice bowl of Malaysia. We managed to come just at the time of the celebration of the Children’s Day and we joined in the celebration to become children again. Besides these, we went to the National Traditional and Cultural Arts Museum and I learned much more about the local music, traditions and arts. Of course we did not miss out the chance to spend a hot afternoon in the Cold Spring~! (It IS very cold!)
TaiZhong/ Changliaowei
I followed Changcheng and Shufen down to TaiZhong. I was lucky to have a chance to go to Ri Yue Lake as GYSD was organizing a volunteer activity there. Besides getting some souvenirs, I was fortunate enough to have a go at pottery-making, all FOC as a special treatment from the owner, seeing that I was a guest from Malaysia. We later went to the 921 Earthquake Exhibition Centre and on our way managed to watch the ‘Bu Dai Xi’ at the roadside.
At night we went to the night market at Feng Jia (going to night markets has become a norm to me in my Taiwan Trip, hehe). Again I was dazzled by the choices available.
The downside of the trip this time is I happened to bump into the typhoon season so certain plapces like Hualian and Kaohsiung are not accessible. However, this gave me a good excuse to have another trip in another time! hehe...
The best experience I had in Taiwan was the time spent with the people in Hope, MRA – I not only got to know lots of new friends but also got a chance to learn about their organization of youth activities and volunteering work. Through the conversations with the social workers, I got to know their work in various parts of the world from India to Samoa. I salute them so much for their great heart and sheer determination, I look up to them for their love for humankind, and I want to emulate them to serve my community better.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
# China Synergy Program
The sixth Chinese Synergy Program for Outstanding Youths, 10 July 05 to 25 July 05, is one of the best experience I have had this year! Consisting of 197 delegates from all over the world, we participated in exploration and exchange activities in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Xian, Beijing and Shanghai.
This is a trip for me to search for my roots, as a Hainanese descendant from China, I had always wanted to know more about the country that my grandfather came from. This trip has proven to be a fantastic chance to know more about China, in terms of its economic, social, political, technological and cultural development.
I have to say I have gained so much from this trip – visiting the historical sites, learning about the cultures and traditions, touring major development project centres, participating in exchange activities with local youths, meeting government officials, etc. More importantly, I have met many outstanding and interesting youths and have forged friendships that I treasure so much. The 16-day tour has given a chance for us to get to know our group members well and foster friendships. This type of friendship is valuable as it is neither for the needs of business advantage nor just for the purpose of networking; it is the true feeling of liking of one another and the brotherly love that pull us together.
Spending time with the fellow delegates really opened my eyes in a lot of matters. I feel so happy that we can discuss many issues openly, each one explaining their own views while listening to the others’ too. We saw clarification in many issues, and hope in solving many other conflicts in future.
Each place and each activity gave opportunities to absorb new knowledge and experience. Tours of historical sites gave me more exposure on the history development of China, and understanding my Chinese roots. Talks, seminars, forums provided chance to speak out our minds, and learn from others in return. Touring cities let us feel the lifestyle of different cities, and just being in the country made us realized as Chinese, we may be in different parts of world and yet, we share so much in common.
What I have learned is not confined to historical and cultural understanding; more importantly is the integration and the understanding of one another. The same root that connects us all in the past, is the factor that affects what we are at present. I found my heritage, my roots, my identity.
Hong Kong
Here we had the Commemorating Ceremony. A visit to the Hong Kong Museum of History was enriching in building our knowledge about Hong Kong. In the museum, I was delighted to see depicts about the Opium War which I had been interested in, and to learned about the local traditions, educational system, the famous housing management in HK, the anti-Japanese era and finally the return of Hong Kong to China.
A trip to the Police Training School was fun-filled as the police officers were very friendly. Observed the information system, training process and various other features in the training school. We even had a chance to see a demonstration of scenario training and watched gun-shooting training. The other groups went for visits to HK Airport authority, Trade Development Council, Tourism Board, Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Independent Commission Against Corruption. Felt a bit pity we did not get to visit the ICAC because HK anti-corruption unit is famous around the world.
In the Be a Hong Kong citizen program, we went to Mongkok and other shopping streets like the bird market, flower market, goldfish market and Lady’s Market. Enjoyed the ‘kai dan zai’ and hong kong noodles. Went to Victoria Peak too for a panoramic view of Hong Kong in the dusk.
Well, my impression of Hong Kong is, it is a very busy city with high-rise buildings and exciting activities. It is a great place to do shopping but I think I would prefer some quieter place to stay.
Guangzhou
The most vivid memory I had about Guangzhou would be the tasty food! I would say the best food we have tasted throughout the trip was in Guangzhou. It has certainly lived up to the expectation as a food heaven.
I was impressed by the project of University City which combined several universities at the same place, letting them share the common facilities such as sports ground, research centres, etc. This kind of planning not only saves up cost, but also encourages integration among different universities. From the seminar, we got to know that the planning considered the environmental factor too, but this is yet an issue to be debated as I think that changing certain landscapes to accommodate for university grounds is not really that environmental friendly.
We spent the night having dinner with the Guangzhou government officials and were entertained by performances and games. I was particularly pleased when the performer of ‘changing face’ came right in front of me and miraculously ‘changed’ her face! It was a wonder how she did it so fast as I did not even blink when she came up to me.
The next day we went to visit the Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family and later on had a Seminar on the Pearl River Delta Economic Development. I would say that this seminar is not up to my expectation; it was a good account of past development but provides little insights to the recent growth and future opportunities, also the speaker could not come up with satisfying answers to questions on the various problems in the development. Perhaps it is also because of the language barrier that affected the communication between the speaker and the audience.
Our stay in Guangzhou is too short and I do not have a good chance to really explore the city. I missed the chance to meet up with Sophie and Zhihua from British Council Guangzhou too due to limitation of time. I think I would have to come down another time to properly enjoy this city.
Xi An
The Ancient City Wall, the City Tower, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, the hot springs, the 72 royal mausoleums and the Cave Dwelling Community – such were the attractions of Xi An.
We could not help feeling nostalgic when being in the oldest city in China, which has been the capital of many kingdoms in the past. Everyone was awed by the magnificent sight of the Terracotta Tomb, and the great view from the City Wall. The Seminar on Chinese History and Culture was mind-awakening as the archeologist Han Wei explained about tombs excavation and relating it to the history. However, I would say the seminar was a bit unfair to people who have not had too much knowledge in Chinese history because the speaker assumed we all have Chinese history background and spoke in much detail about archeology.
The most vivid memory that was engraved in my brain was the trip to the Lan Tian Cave Dwelling community. We visited the local school and observed the poor conditions of facilities and resources. Yet the children are so eager to learn and their innocent faces just made such a big impact in my heart. We visited the village and I noticed they do not even have clean water supply and basic amenities. While the delegates are gulping water from the mineral water bottle, the villagers are sharing water from the well and washing clothes from a stagnant pool of water. While the delegates put on layers and layers of sunblock and insect repellent, the children ran around bare-footed. Such was the vast difference between our fates. I believe there were many more villages with similar conditions and that certainly needs development to improve the quality of life of the people and to bridge the gap between the rich and poor.
In terms of weather, Xi An is a dry city; in terms of historical values, Xi An is a city rich with history and significance. I have to say, I actually like this city.
Beijing
Our stay in Beijing is the longest in the trip. We visited various sites such as the Great Wall, Palace Museum, Yuanming Garden and Yi he Garden. Also, visits to Peking University and Tsinghua University caused much excitement among the delegates. We were given good reception at the military camp as they demonstrated the military practice and showed us around the camp. The visit to the National History Museum, however, was a little disappointing as I did not see many displays available in there. The best I have got out of the museum was the exhibition about the Zhenghe’s Expedition, while the other wax museum and the exhibition of the national treasures are just so-so. I think most have been brought to Taiwan…
The best experience I have got here is to be chosen as one of the three representatives to speak at the Great Hall of People. I remembered the choosing process in the van, the drilling practice in the HQ and the rehearsal in front of all the committee members of CSP. But the most unforgettable memory was the moments of walking up the stage of the Great Hall, standing in front of the podium and speaking to more than 300 audiences in the hall. That feeling was exciting, although my stomach was full of butterflies. I was really grateful for the chance to give a speech here because it really helps a lot in my public speaking, and I secretly realized speaking in public is quite a fun thing to do too! (One tiny setback though: I missed out the interesting Seminar by Beijing Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games due to the rehearsal for the speech)
Shanghai
Shanghai is a vibrant city with presence of cultures from all over the world. As the economic centre of Asia Pacific, it boasts of fast development in the financial, hi-tech, industrial and semiconductors fields. It is the window, the gate, the key and the bridge to the Chinese Economy and it welcomes overseas Chinese like us to invest our future there (I might consider too, )
We visited the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Yuyuan Garden, Chunghuang Temple and Huangpu River. Also we did not miss out the visit to the Qibao Ancient Town to see the old shops and architecture. We had our farewell party there as the Chinese delegates will part with us in Shanghai. I used to think that I will be cool enough not to shed a tear, but ended up crying like everyone else. I think that our bond has grown stronger than we thought it has. I am touched to know that the tears are tears of true friendship, the tears of love and care for each other – we have somehow etched in our hearts the love for our brothers and sisters in the group.
Back to Hong Kong
I had a funny experience when passing the Airport Immigration. I was quarantined a while due to having high fever (I didn’t even know I had!) and was suspected for SARS. I was advised to seek hospital treatment later and was released, luckily. So I went to the Baptist University Hospital and WOW, the bill amounted to more than HK$600! Omigosh! I ended up having to use my credit card to pay the bill. I certainly hope that I can successfully claim the medical insurance I bought during CSP because this is just too exorbitant! Lesson learned – try not to get sick in foreign country while traveling or you will have to pay your price.
Adios CSP6 fellow friends! We will be in touch!
To friends who are interested in taking part next year, please go to the CSP website.
LINK
This is a trip for me to search for my roots, as a Hainanese descendant from China, I had always wanted to know more about the country that my grandfather came from. This trip has proven to be a fantastic chance to know more about China, in terms of its economic, social, political, technological and cultural development.
I have to say I have gained so much from this trip – visiting the historical sites, learning about the cultures and traditions, touring major development project centres, participating in exchange activities with local youths, meeting government officials, etc. More importantly, I have met many outstanding and interesting youths and have forged friendships that I treasure so much. The 16-day tour has given a chance for us to get to know our group members well and foster friendships. This type of friendship is valuable as it is neither for the needs of business advantage nor just for the purpose of networking; it is the true feeling of liking of one another and the brotherly love that pull us together.
Spending time with the fellow delegates really opened my eyes in a lot of matters. I feel so happy that we can discuss many issues openly, each one explaining their own views while listening to the others’ too. We saw clarification in many issues, and hope in solving many other conflicts in future.
Each place and each activity gave opportunities to absorb new knowledge and experience. Tours of historical sites gave me more exposure on the history development of China, and understanding my Chinese roots. Talks, seminars, forums provided chance to speak out our minds, and learn from others in return. Touring cities let us feel the lifestyle of different cities, and just being in the country made us realized as Chinese, we may be in different parts of world and yet, we share so much in common.
What I have learned is not confined to historical and cultural understanding; more importantly is the integration and the understanding of one another. The same root that connects us all in the past, is the factor that affects what we are at present. I found my heritage, my roots, my identity.
Hong Kong
Here we had the Commemorating Ceremony. A visit to the Hong Kong Museum of History was enriching in building our knowledge about Hong Kong. In the museum, I was delighted to see depicts about the Opium War which I had been interested in, and to learned about the local traditions, educational system, the famous housing management in HK, the anti-Japanese era and finally the return of Hong Kong to China.
A trip to the Police Training School was fun-filled as the police officers were very friendly. Observed the information system, training process and various other features in the training school. We even had a chance to see a demonstration of scenario training and watched gun-shooting training. The other groups went for visits to HK Airport authority, Trade Development Council, Tourism Board, Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Independent Commission Against Corruption. Felt a bit pity we did not get to visit the ICAC because HK anti-corruption unit is famous around the world.
In the Be a Hong Kong citizen program, we went to Mongkok and other shopping streets like the bird market, flower market, goldfish market and Lady’s Market. Enjoyed the ‘kai dan zai’ and hong kong noodles. Went to Victoria Peak too for a panoramic view of Hong Kong in the dusk.
Well, my impression of Hong Kong is, it is a very busy city with high-rise buildings and exciting activities. It is a great place to do shopping but I think I would prefer some quieter place to stay.
Guangzhou
The most vivid memory I had about Guangzhou would be the tasty food! I would say the best food we have tasted throughout the trip was in Guangzhou. It has certainly lived up to the expectation as a food heaven.
I was impressed by the project of University City which combined several universities at the same place, letting them share the common facilities such as sports ground, research centres, etc. This kind of planning not only saves up cost, but also encourages integration among different universities. From the seminar, we got to know that the planning considered the environmental factor too, but this is yet an issue to be debated as I think that changing certain landscapes to accommodate for university grounds is not really that environmental friendly.
We spent the night having dinner with the Guangzhou government officials and were entertained by performances and games. I was particularly pleased when the performer of ‘changing face’ came right in front of me and miraculously ‘changed’ her face! It was a wonder how she did it so fast as I did not even blink when she came up to me.
The next day we went to visit the Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family and later on had a Seminar on the Pearl River Delta Economic Development. I would say that this seminar is not up to my expectation; it was a good account of past development but provides little insights to the recent growth and future opportunities, also the speaker could not come up with satisfying answers to questions on the various problems in the development. Perhaps it is also because of the language barrier that affected the communication between the speaker and the audience.
Our stay in Guangzhou is too short and I do not have a good chance to really explore the city. I missed the chance to meet up with Sophie and Zhihua from British Council Guangzhou too due to limitation of time. I think I would have to come down another time to properly enjoy this city.
Xi An
The Ancient City Wall, the City Tower, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, the hot springs, the 72 royal mausoleums and the Cave Dwelling Community – such were the attractions of Xi An.
We could not help feeling nostalgic when being in the oldest city in China, which has been the capital of many kingdoms in the past. Everyone was awed by the magnificent sight of the Terracotta Tomb, and the great view from the City Wall. The Seminar on Chinese History and Culture was mind-awakening as the archeologist Han Wei explained about tombs excavation and relating it to the history. However, I would say the seminar was a bit unfair to people who have not had too much knowledge in Chinese history because the speaker assumed we all have Chinese history background and spoke in much detail about archeology.
The most vivid memory that was engraved in my brain was the trip to the Lan Tian Cave Dwelling community. We visited the local school and observed the poor conditions of facilities and resources. Yet the children are so eager to learn and their innocent faces just made such a big impact in my heart. We visited the village and I noticed they do not even have clean water supply and basic amenities. While the delegates are gulping water from the mineral water bottle, the villagers are sharing water from the well and washing clothes from a stagnant pool of water. While the delegates put on layers and layers of sunblock and insect repellent, the children ran around bare-footed. Such was the vast difference between our fates. I believe there were many more villages with similar conditions and that certainly needs development to improve the quality of life of the people and to bridge the gap between the rich and poor.
In terms of weather, Xi An is a dry city; in terms of historical values, Xi An is a city rich with history and significance. I have to say, I actually like this city.
Beijing
Our stay in Beijing is the longest in the trip. We visited various sites such as the Great Wall, Palace Museum, Yuanming Garden and Yi he Garden. Also, visits to Peking University and Tsinghua University caused much excitement among the delegates. We were given good reception at the military camp as they demonstrated the military practice and showed us around the camp. The visit to the National History Museum, however, was a little disappointing as I did not see many displays available in there. The best I have got out of the museum was the exhibition about the Zhenghe’s Expedition, while the other wax museum and the exhibition of the national treasures are just so-so. I think most have been brought to Taiwan…
The best experience I have got here is to be chosen as one of the three representatives to speak at the Great Hall of People. I remembered the choosing process in the van, the drilling practice in the HQ and the rehearsal in front of all the committee members of CSP. But the most unforgettable memory was the moments of walking up the stage of the Great Hall, standing in front of the podium and speaking to more than 300 audiences in the hall. That feeling was exciting, although my stomach was full of butterflies. I was really grateful for the chance to give a speech here because it really helps a lot in my public speaking, and I secretly realized speaking in public is quite a fun thing to do too! (One tiny setback though: I missed out the interesting Seminar by Beijing Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games due to the rehearsal for the speech)
Shanghai
Shanghai is a vibrant city with presence of cultures from all over the world. As the economic centre of Asia Pacific, it boasts of fast development in the financial, hi-tech, industrial and semiconductors fields. It is the window, the gate, the key and the bridge to the Chinese Economy and it welcomes overseas Chinese like us to invest our future there (I might consider too, )
We visited the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Yuyuan Garden, Chunghuang Temple and Huangpu River. Also we did not miss out the visit to the Qibao Ancient Town to see the old shops and architecture. We had our farewell party there as the Chinese delegates will part with us in Shanghai. I used to think that I will be cool enough not to shed a tear, but ended up crying like everyone else. I think that our bond has grown stronger than we thought it has. I am touched to know that the tears are tears of true friendship, the tears of love and care for each other – we have somehow etched in our hearts the love for our brothers and sisters in the group.
Back to Hong Kong
I had a funny experience when passing the Airport Immigration. I was quarantined a while due to having high fever (I didn’t even know I had!) and was suspected for SARS. I was advised to seek hospital treatment later and was released, luckily. So I went to the Baptist University Hospital and WOW, the bill amounted to more than HK$600! Omigosh! I ended up having to use my credit card to pay the bill. I certainly hope that I can successfully claim the medical insurance I bought during CSP because this is just too exorbitant! Lesson learned – try not to get sick in foreign country while traveling or you will have to pay your price.
Adios CSP6 fellow friends! We will be in touch!
To friends who are interested in taking part next year, please go to the CSP website.
LINK
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)