MURIEL
Form: VI
From: Singapore (lived in Shanghai for most of her life)
Location: French Classroom, Schoolhouse
Opinion:
What do you think about the HK-China and mainland conflict?
It's tough to generalize the people of both Hong Kong and the Mainland as levels of education, urbanization, and exposure to the outside world differ across both areas. Personally, I think that the conflicts, which are mostly nonviolent but full of prejudice, stem from extreme misunderstanding, nationalism, and too much messy history for citizens to truly comprehend.
Do you have a particular stance on the issue?
I have been lucky enough to be able to camouflage myself in the Mainland and in Hong Kong, as I will speak like a Mainland Chinese person in China, and speak English in Hong Kong. As a result, I've never been discriminated against, probably because speaking English is a sign of educational superiority in a place like Hong Kong.
In what ways has it influenced your life?
It depends on who you ask as most Chinese students and Cantonese students tend to act more American at SPS. As a result, these national boundaries are blurred in American society. When returning home though, I'm sure both PRC and Hong Kong students feel a clear divide.
Do you feel like more awareness of the issue is needed at St. Paul’s?
Yes, as with every issue. I have no doubt that all my responses are filtered through extremely Western, pro-Hong Kong lenses.
