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The Couple in Hall 44 A story as discovered by Adam White What follows is taken from a bundle of pages which arrived at the offices of HK Magazine earlier this week. It appears to be scrawled on the back of some kind of academic dissertation. We present it here in the hopes that someone might be able to identify the writer. Part I teach at a university in Hong Kong. I am writing I this because I feel that someone else must witness it. It cannot be me alone. After graduating in London with my doctorate last year, I found it hard to find work in the city. For reasons I would rather not discuss—but in which I am blameless—it was plain that a career in the capital would not be easy to find. I decided therefore to try my hand somewhere overseas, where news might not travel so quickly. On learning of a teaching place at a university in Hong Kong, I put myself forward for the position. The romance of it appealed to me: another westerner heading east into the unknown, to forge a new life. I sent my application to the university, and it was not long until I heard back. The institution was impressed by my accomplishments, and would be happy to offer me a place on very generous terms—including accommodation—as long as I would begin teaching within a week: the middle of term-time. It seemed rushed to me—but perhaps, I mused, this was simply the way of the Far East? At any rate, I had nowhere else to be. Part II One week later, I was in Hong Kong, thrown into the middle of the chaos of an academic term. My first months in Asia were spent almost entirely in Hall 44, the tiny basement room where I lectured my class of 30. I was led to understand that my predecessor had left under something of a cloud, and the otherwise jovial Vice-Chancellor of the university would not be drawn further on the matter. But lectures commenced with no major issues. After all, I was eager to continue teaching after the unpleasantness of the last few months in London. My fellow teachers were aloof, and reluctant to join me in conversation: a quirk I put down to cultural differences. As for my students, they were largely attentive and eager to learn—none of the laziness I was so accustomed to back home! I began to congratulate myself on my great Asian adventure, satisfied that I had made the right choice. We made excellent progress, and soon the whole class was like a well-oiled machine. There was one exception: two students in the class who were inseparable. Joseph Chan and Joanna Chen were always late, but I never saw them sneak in. They would sit at the back of the lecture hall at the edge of my vision, holding hands and gazing “The rest of the class ignored the couple.” at each other. The rest of the class ignored the couple: I had read enough to be aware that public displays of affection are frowned upon in eastern cultures, and was sure that this couple’s overt show of romance made their classmates feel uncomfortable. The pair continued to ignore my lectures, and I was determined to reprimand them. But then I marked their first assignment. His essay was indifferent. But hers—ah, it was superb! Delivered on pink paper, festooned with little hearts, yes— but well researched, flawlessly argued and plainly attentive to my lectures. It felt as if I could have written it myself. With a student like this, one is inclined to cut a little slack. And so I continued with the term’s work, whipping the rest of the class into shape and largely ignoring this curious couple. They would always appear late hand-in-hand, lost in each other’s eyes, and invariably dressed the same: she in a flowing red scarf which fell to the floor; he in a black shirt with an offensive white collar. But questionable style aside, the pink essays came in on time and so in sync with my own work that I came to feel a real affection for this curious couple, especially for the talented girl. I resolved myself to help her in the future. 14 HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014
RMHC DAY OF CHANGE Sponsored Feature Small Change Can Make A Big Difference Drop your small change into the Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) donation boxes at McDonald’s® stores and help families stay close while their child heals. 100% of the proceed will go into supporting the local operation of RMHC, a "home away from home” for families with hospitalized children. Since the first Ronald McDonald House® built in 1974 in Philadelphia, USA, the global efforts in serving children with critical needs have extended to 58 countries and regions and built 338 Ronald McDonald Houses, 187 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, and 49 Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles worldwide serving nearly 9 million families every year. Celebrating 40 Years Of Keeping Families Together Ronald McDonald House in Shatin The RMHC of Hong Kong has upheld our global mission in creating, finding, and supporting programs that improve the health and wellbeing of children directly. The Ronald McDonald House in Hong Kong, established in 1996, is Asia's first Ronald McDonald House and is located just 4 minutes away from the Children Cancer Center at the Prince of Wales Hospital. It provides not only facilities - 23 bedrooms, a kitchen, laundry, library, computer room, dining room, playground, and an organic farm - for families and sick children to continue their lives with the least possible interruption from frequent medical treatments, but also love and comfort from staff, volunteers and families who are going through similar ordeals. Through a range of family-centered programming, RMHC helps children struggling with illness or injury to be with the ones they love so they can heal. To help families meet the demands of caring for a hospitalized child, we start with a family's basic needs: a place to rest, a home-cooked meal - in summary a way to offset the expense of being away from home. But even more than that, RMHC provides an uplifting community, the RMHC family. To the suffering families, RMH is a haven for their children where they get to rest, play, eat and make friends like their typical peers and a loving community for parents where care and support is unconditional and mutual. This year’s Day of Change is particularly special as Ronald McDonald House Charities Global has stepped into its 40 th year of service. On October 15, 2014, children and volunteers at Ronald McDonald House created different gifts to celebrate the special occasion. In the gift competition, we had invited the local singer Mr. Ryan Hui and Commercial Radio DJ, Ms. Chu Fun and their families to be our honorary judges. Children and volunteer were very excited about the rare competition and also the long anticipated outdoor barbecue. Wrapped up the night with delicious dessert, it became another memorable night for our children and families. Join Global Storytelling Movement "RMHC believes when you change a child's life, you change a family's life, which in turn can change a community and, ultimately, the world," says Ms. Grace Fung Oei, the chairperson of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hong Kong. We are inviting individuals to share their RMHC stories and experiences using #forRMHC with our iconic red and white stripes. "Your participation in our global storytelling movement will help the RMHC expand its work of good will, compassion and support for families into more parts of the HK community." The more touching RMHC stories are shared, the more help these families will get. "This is an opportunity to connect people in our community with others from around the world who have this shared experience through RMHC," says Ms. Iris Wong, the Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hong Kong. "We hope the public will understand more about the emotional and physical stress RMHC families go through. What’s better than to hear from families who have experienced it themselves, the volunteers who are there every day to support them and the donors who help ensure we can support as many of those parents and children as possible. This celebration is an incredible opportunity to come together and see the impact RMHC has around the world!" The bi-annual Ronald McDonald House Open Day will be held on December 7, 2014. We welcome the public to enjoy a weekend with games, food and music while learning more about the work of RMHC. Find us on Facebook and join a truly life-changing crusade with RMHC. Website : http://www.rmhc.org.hk Tel : 2947-8778
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