Wan Cheuk Tung Macy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine

Programme: Southwest Rural Education and Revitalization Experience for Hong Kong and Macau Youth

Partner Institution: Nanjing University

Period: July 21 - 27, 2024

I feel really honored to be part of the Southwest Rural Education and Revitalization Experience for Hong Kong and Macau Youth from July 21-28, 2024. As a first-time visitor to mainland China, this is a brand-new experience for me - it's not just the usual trip home for Lunar New Year to see family. At 18 years old, I'm so glad to have the chance to check out Yunnan province.

One of the highlights was visiting Meixiangcun, a rural village. This sweet old lady welcomed us into her home and gave us some of the apples she grew. They may not have been the sweetest apples I've ever tasted, but they were definitely the most memorable - her kindness made them extra special.

Another awesome experience was getting to teach the local students about Hong Kong and Macau culture. At first, I was nervous, since my Mandarin wasn't the best and I wasn't sure if the kids would pay attention. Although for many of them, it was their first time to hear about Hong Kong and Macau, they were highly engaged and eager to learn. After the lesson ended and bells rang, they asked for our signature and even gave us their own snacks and showed us so much respect - way more than my experience in HK elementary school.

Seeing how happy and appreciative those students were made me rethink. Nowadays, it feels like all anyone cares about is material stuff and always complaining that life is tough. But this trip reminded me that we should be more grateful for what we have and cherish the simple things like good relationships. The pure joy on those kids' faces was a good lesson for me.

Lastly, I am truly grateful to Nanjing University, HKU China Vision, and all the teachers who made this incredible experience possible. Meeting awesome tripmates and know more different students in a variety of universities and high schools really enlarged my social circle and enhanced my communication strategies.  It has given me the chance to learn and grow in ways I never could have imagined. Stepping out of my comfort zone and becoming more independent has been a pivotal lesson in my personal growth.