I guess this is the most frequent question that every international student receives. Having had the chances to study in four countries, I am not a stranger to this question.
KatrinaKing Yan Yau Herting Hongkongese Exchange Student and one of ISUs «Voices of Our Time». This is her exchange student story.
Growing up in Hong Kong, I never thought of my identity because I had no need to. This question came to me when I began my high school exchange programme in the US. It was not the first question that made me think deep; it was the following question: «So, you're Japanese or Chinese?». For some reason, Hong Kong seems to sound more Japanese than Chinese to some people. But, I can rule that possibility out easily.
So it came down to the term «Chinese». Being born and raised in the British education system, I don't remember being taught of my identity as «Chinese». Although my two passports say «Chinese» and «British National Overseas», I did not have any strong feeling towards any of them.
Not only did I get to experience other cultures through the others, I saw my culture through the eyes of oth