My name is Victoria Chan and I am sophomore from East Carolina University double majoring in Public Health and Psychology. My aspiration is to serve underrepresented populations as a physician and health educator.
From January to mid-May 2019, I am studying abroad at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). I am immeasurably grateful for ECU’s investment in shaping and preparing me for my future. This trip has been made possible by the generous donations to advance ECU’s students. As always, I am very humbled to be an EC Scholar.
So, why Hong Kong? It may be obvious and even a bit trite. But despite having never set foot in the continent, I have always felt a calling to connect and see the “motherland.” Although my parents emigrated when they were children, I was “Made in USA” and have spent most of my life in North Carolina. Although I have always considered myself an American, I have also always been a minority. Here, in Hong Kong, I look the part but my worldview is definitely different. The juxtaposition is a bit surreal at times, especially when I am surrounded my people who look more like me and meeting distant relatives for the first time. (I can hear the crescendo of the collective unconscious calling me.) While I can relate to pieces of the culture here and there, the culture shock is still very present along with my very broken Cantonese. Thus, I am an ABC in HK.
In this blog, I document my experiences, reflections, and personal growth during my five months in CUHK and Hong Kong. I invite you to follow along each week and check out the map below for all the places I have visited!
ABC in HK 