What I See in Hong Kong
Stephanie Chartier participated in the 2017 CIEE Summer Global Internship program in Hong Kong. Here’s her story…
Every morning I wake up thirty-one stories overlooking the beautiful Victoria Harbour. From my window I see skyscrapers, mountains, and junk boats. Leaving my residence, I pass men and women from all walks of life.
I see the local Hong Kong-ers hustling to get to work, I see the Brazilian women with her two children who smile at me every morning, I see the Indian lawyer who has told me stories in the elevator about International Human Rights law, and I see my fellow CIEE interns who have never failed to give me a laugh or provide their undying support throughout the trip.
On the train, I am squished between the hundreds of people who use public transportation everyday, as it is such a convenient way to get around Hong Kong. After two transfers, I get off at Shek Kip Mei station and walk to my office. On my way to the office, I see men and women doing Tai Chi. I see birds in cages, being taken on “walks” and hung in the trees. I see the local grocer unloading fruits and vegetable from the trucks. I see hundreds of parents and grandparents holding children’s hands as they are on their way to school.
In my office, I see dozens of Terrariums, flowers, different kinds of mosses and shrubs, and single mothers with their children finding their purpose in the work force again. The company I work for is a non-profit company that is also a social enterprise called MicroForests. The goal of this wonderful company is to hire stigmatized stay-at-home and single mothers who have had to leave their previous jobs to take care of their families.
I see smiling, empowered women. I see children excited to help their mothers work. I see my coworkers, happy to be doing something for the marginalized and impoverished women and children of Hong Kong. I see my own face in my computer screen, and I am happy. I am happy that I have gotten the chance to help such an important company with such a noble cause.
Hong Kong is like no other place on Earth. In Hong Kong, I see Globalization, experience, and opportunity.
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