I'm just wondering, why can't the the expats just send their kids to the normal schools instead of having so much problems with school places shortages at the International schools. I suppose most of these expats and people who are returning to HK feel that they have to give their kids the best school. Snobbery, yeah. But I suppose when I have kids, I want them to go the best school we could afford (*hint hint, my hubby's school.. heehee). But most expats are business people, and status is everything, even more so in HK.
But on the other hand, HKU was snubbed by a top student and chose Peking University, even though she was offered $560,000 scholarship.
It's a fake, asmy bro pointed out. I had this saved in my google notebook, but never got a chance to post it... It's a hoax!.
IBC got a mention in a podcast by podcasting.ie. I was especially interested in the part regarding ethnic minority in Ireland, and all the comments from some Chinese residing in Ireland. Immigration, racism, dealing with holding down several jobs to get by in College, or being expected to work twice as hard than any other foreign immigrants. All different insights and experiences.
Have a listen, and see what you think - Link to podcast
Pork bun suppliers are making them out of cardboard, which is initially soaked in caustic soda, then mixed with fatty meat and steamed. And this is in Beijing, where the Olympics is going to be held. Definately not good publicity. Why do certain people have to con other people, and isn't there a heath risk at all?
Read this article from DimSum BBC or ABC - it’s all about identity.
She is like me, a 2nd generation overseas born Chinese, England in her instance. Her parents worked hard in the family restaurant to put herself and her siblings through school and higher education.
And the guilty angst of wanting to do your own thing, and yet wanting to please your parents' wishes. My parents did not explicitly say it to me, but there were always hints for me to take over the family business. But for me, they brought me up on a one track mind to take up another profession other than catering. Although I sometimes feel that they do not take my software engineering job seriously, but it pays well, and I would bore of it at some stage. Which is definately not the case. I like tech so much, I'm heading back to college to do my MSc. in Multimedia for a year.
Back to the article, she's married to a HK Chinese man, and her children were born in US. She's finding it tought to try and have her kids speak Chinese. I have not sprouted any kids yet, but that is one of my goals as well, to teach my kids Chinese. At least so they can communicate with my mom and aunt back home down in Limerick. Granted I can only understand Hakka and not speak it, but I'm fluent in Cantonese. And that's what we speak down home anyway.
There is one thing that really strikes a chord:
"I realized my cultural values were already infused into my being, resulting in my uniqueness -- not my parents’ vision, not the rebel, but someone who is proud of her roots and has a diverse outlook gained through her hard-won experiences"
Now that I'm reaching 30 this year, I still am proud of my roots. I am different to my parents' vision. Well, given I married the cutest Irish fella in Ireland, and he was not Chinese was sort of different to my mom's vision anyway. But we managed to change her mind, and given that my hubby (then boyfriend) tried to speak Cantonese, shows he is willing to try things (he still knows the few basic sayings to get him by 
).
Now the author of the article found herself quizzing about how her family reached England and about her family history. I think that it's important for all of us to find out more about our family history. There is so much to learn and appreciate. But unfortunately for me, my father is not around to pass on any more of his stories and family history. Although my brother has some of his stories jotted down.
So our identity as IBC is topic that is barely talked about. And of course, Nichola Boland posted on the IBC Forum for help on her thesis about 2nd generation identity.
Please discuss more at the forum.
For those in HK now, you can check out the International Arts Festival. Main site to check out details: http://www.hkiac.gov.hk/
And the bird market in Mongkok is now open following a bird flu scare.
From my last posting about HK, I mentioned that HK is still wealthy. And Beeb has an article saying that...
Some feared Beijing would crush the city's spirit. But believe it or not, Hong Kong is 40% richer than it was 10 years ago.
Ever resourceful, its locals have bounced back from the Asian financial crisis and SARS. The economy is growing at its fastest since the 1980s. And it is still a great place to do business.
It's amazing that HK has grown stronger and stronger. People want democracy, but you cannot rush things like that. It takes time. HK people wants to make profits, they get that, and the government fully supports that. Unlike other countries with heavy taxes on anything profitable that you make. It's great that China is using HK as an example, but that could also be HK's downfall. Cities in Mainland China has progressed so fast and it's already outgrown HK. It's shopping plazas are shinier, roads bigger, just about anything materialistic has gone more and more upmarket. So now we have Hong Kongers kowtowing to Mainlanders who are oozing with wealth, and are not afraid to show it. Hey, it's in Chinese nature.
Unfortunately, the poor are getting poorer. Even in HK they do exist. All you have to do is look around in HK, you will see the homeless under the bridges, in parks. The elderly men and women who have to fend for themselves wheeling their carts of cardboards and tin cans in the awful summer heat.
The lights are shining bright everywhere, but the forgotten does not seem to find solace in HK (or China)'s prosperity.
It has been 10 years since the handover of Hong Kong to China. I have found all the scare stories back in '97 just as they are, scare stories. Hong Kong is still prosperous, they do get to partake in elections. They were forbidden under British rule. BBC has an interesting audio slideshow of views from 3 different generations of Hong Kongers: Hong Kong memories
Ireland is really changing. And I have just come across this news article that covered a story about a Nigerian asylum seeker who came to Ireland 7 years ago, who worked really hard with multi-cultural integration in the community of Portlaoise, is now the first Irish black mayor there.
Rotimi Adebari, who was elected Mayor of Portlaoise Town Council, received a standing ovation amid scenes of celebration. He declared: "This is not just a country of a thousand welcomes, but a country of a thousand equal opportunities."
It's really great to hear minorities taking so much interests in showing awareness, and the Irish acceptance of ethnic communities.