Blog from Abroad: Denise Kaw from Hong Kong
Denise Kaw is a third-year BA/MT student in the Curry School of Education’s five-year program where she is studying to earn a bachelors degree in studio art and a masters in special education. This semester she is studying abroad at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She is the first student to participate in the University of Virginia’s new studio art exchange program with CUKH. Click here, here, here, here and here for her previous posts.
Feb. 8, 2009: We’re almost at the halfway point of the semester! I can’t believe it. This week flew by pretty quickly.
We’ve finally moved on from trees in Xie yi to rocks. So that is what I will be practicing for the next week or so; and in Gongbi we will soon be painting on silk instead of paper!
Yesterday, a field trip was arranged by the Office of Academic Links (the office that is responsible for everything that pertains to the exchange students - accepting students, organizing orientation, helping students get into the classes they need, etc.). They brought us to the Ping Shan Tang Clan Gallery and Heritage Trail.
The great thing about the trip was that I got to see more of the New Territories, which I haven’t really been doing, and I got to meet new people. The place had a great view of the mountains and city; unfortunately, it wasn’t the clearest of days. We were able to see some cultural items on display in the gallery and some ancestral homes which were really beautifully decorated. We had a traditional hot pot lunch which was rather interesting. It was pretty much a bowl filled with a mountain of stuff from shrimps, to pork, to tofu, to radish. We got back to school around 4:30, everyone was quite exhausted. There was a lot of walking and the sun can be really draining.
In the evening, one of the exchange students in my hostel organized an event to visit the lantern festival that was taking place on the western side of the New Territories. About 10 of us met up at the MTR (train) station and went to see the festival. The festival was rather small but it was really nice to see the lanterns. There was a performance going on when we got there. The dance was choreographed to the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song and was filled with ballet and break dancing moves. Then after the dance there was some Chinese opera singers who performed a couple songs.
It was a very eventful day! I love that I am meeting new people everyday, both local, mainland, and exchange.
Some photos:
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Mostafa Allam | February 14, 2009 @ 9:05 pm
Denise! I was so surprised to see your blog on the UVA website! Its great hearing of all your HK adventures; a real remedy when I get nostalgic about my days in HK and China. I’m glad to see you’re doing well. Haha… I never knew that behind Denise was an amazing blogger! Anyways, have fun and keep in touch!
Best,
Mostafa
Jeanette Lancaster | February 15, 2009 @ 9:40 pm
Hi Denise: I am the former dean of the UVa School of Nursing. This year I am a visiting professor at the University of Hong Kong. Maybe we can get together before you return to VA.