| Reflections
on Hong Kong
Source: Kristina Ng
Three weeks in Hong Kong came and went so quickly. Time was
spent exploring everything from its healthcare to its bustling
nightlife. With its abundant offerings, we experienced an
array of exciting experiences including checking-in to a traditional
Chinese medicine clinic, learning a Japanese dance at a senior
center, bargaining at the Lady’s Market, and eating
the cheapest and most delicious foods. Through all the excitement,
I learned a lot about myself and the culture of Hong Kong.
I come from a traditional Chinese upbringing, my father being
from Hong Kong and my mother Macau, so I am well-versed with
traditional Chinese medicine and have much interest in it.
Going to Hong Kong to explore its healthcare system, I was
enthusiastic to see how traditional Chinese medicine would
be incorporated into a modern network. Unfortunately, it has
not been extensively integrated with only one government-funded
clinic. The art has been left to small street clinics similar
to those found here in America. This separation made me realize
that Hong Kong, 100 years under British rule, has lost much
of its traditional Chinese influence and is seeking to reclaim
it. I was disappointed initially, but slowly came to a new
conclusion. Hong Kong’s struggle similarly mirrors the
struggle of many Asian Americans, including myself. We live
in a culture that is not our own and seek to claim a culture
that is not ours either, which is not adverse, as I had previously
believed. In the process, we create a unique fusion- a culture
we can call our own. For the first time, I can say that I
have a sense of belonging to a place. |
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