So called “horizon widened”

Rewinding back to July, 2012, I was thinking whether it is a good decision to come to Hawaii. Fast forward now, I am thinking whether it is a good decision to go back to Hong Kong. I could still remember the last time I stayed an equal 4.5 months in Ottawa, but I never had such a strong sentiment to the domain and strong unwillingness to go back home. Well, anyway, at that time, I didn’t expect anything in Ottawa, so it is hard for me to evaluate my stay there.

But the situation in Hawaii is so much different. Before coming to Hawaii, I was in a serious struggle of not finding a job for myself. I have realized the truth that coming to APLP doesn’t guarantee me a job or a higher education degree at the very beginning ----not bad for a guy who has absolutely no idea of what East West Center is. Both others and I have evaluated the possible gain in coming to Hawaii. I still remember clearly one thing we agreed strongly is that my horizon will be widened. Other than that we could hardly find any “tangible” outcomes. Combining the opportunity cost I paid seeing my colleagues’ moving along the career ladder with solid progress, these elements created my doubt of coming here.

The term “horizon widened” is meaningless without the real thing having experienced. After coming here, the secret of “horizon widened” finally unraveled with my APLP experience. It turned out that my classmates are way better than I have expected. They are not only coming from different countries, (in which makes no difference to an exchange program), but people from very diverse professions and diverse ranks. (and diverse ages) The experiences from these people are so immense, wise and deep such that I am totally overwhelmed in the initial stage. When I started to pick up my pace to keep up with them, I found that some of their best elements have already been injected to my behavior. Now I am more humble, more open-minded, hungrier for knowledge and more willing to accept challenges. (Probably more cunning in bargaining too thanks to some Indian negotiation classes)

But”horizon widened” is far from this stretch. Thanks to some of my new friends in Hawaii, I also got the chance to explore every bit of Oahu. I have been able to recognize the island terrain as a whole (which is 1/3 bigger than HK). Not much people know the amazing terrain and natural environment in Hawaii: other than sun and beaches, Hawaii is also famous for rainfall, volcano, forests or even frost mounts. Oh and let’s not forget about the Polynesian stories which I have never heard of, and never interested at. Polynesian Culture is indeed much deeper than anyone of us could have possibly imagined, deep enough to make some “strong countries” in this planet embarrassed. The spiritual life and connection to environment in Polynesian countries is so strong and important that a lot of Asian countries are not even close to realize.

And that is not the end of my “widened horizon”. I did have a close chance to observe American society as a whole. Ranging from futile daily events like shopping Sam’s Club or eating in McDonald’s to historical events like 2012 US presidential election to Disaster Management on Miss Sandy, I can feel the power of this nation. Expressive, Innovative, boldness…. Correct the nation is going downhill in terms of economic power (a really strong decline if you take 1960’s into account), but they are unconsciously making solid progress to remain themselves as the superpower in terms of soft power. And arguably, American is like to remain as a soft power giant since other countries are not paying much attention on this. My country’s soft power is even declining. To cut it short, American dream is not over.

My horizon is also widened not only from American perspective, but from a Chinese immigrant perspective. The image of Hong Kong suddenly got so multi-dimensional because of my experience connecting with Hong Kong migrants in America. I have seen people who are desperately finding ways to get back to Hong Kong. I have seen people who are born in America and desperately finding ways to cut ties with Hong Kong. I have seen people who came here for a long time, engaging Chinese-migrant society only but being so reluctant to go back to their motherland. These encounters have only made my understanding to Hong Kong deeper.

And I still haven’t mentioned those activities that I thought I would never do in my lifetime: skydiving, raveling, thanksgiving, helicopter ride, dying my hair thrice, going to my first chemi-toi, having Hong Kong examination abroad and having buffet alone…….

And with my horizon expanded, staying in Hong Kong and resuming what I have been pursuing before APLP suddenly sounds very unwise. Worse still, Human are myopic, and I am only even worse. Without real changes in lifestyle, staying in Hong Kong implies one day all these “assets” would degrade into “memories”, and finally “history” and there will be a high chance for me to become the old me. If Hawaii has no more significance to me, so would be the assets I am cherishing at this moment. Therefore, leaving Hawaii is like letting go the seed of change from my body. Will I never be the same guy again? Or will I compromise to the current stifling, suffocating environment in Hong Kong?

It won’t take long for me to work this out.

original link:

http://cychansam.blogspot.hk/2013/01/so-called-widened-horizon.html