5. personal discovery
I am interested to find out more about myself. I want to discover if I have any language/ cultural barriers with the Australian/ Australian culture. Moreover, as we all know that Hong Kong is a fast paced city and Australia is a slower one, so I want to discover the difference of my living style and theirs.
Few language barriers
I found that the Australians could always understand what I say, however, there was a few times I could not understand them, particularly when I was ordering food and they asked if I want a certain sauce or add an extra topping. I could not understand because I do not know the names of those food, but it was okay, I could still ask them to describe what they are or tell them to show me the food. I was able to learn that I do not have enough Australian food vocabulary.
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Not used to walk a lot
Because our group likes to experience Australian culture more, so we always walk instead of taking transportation and after two days of walking back and forth of the George Street in Sydney, my back was so soared and I felt like it was going to broke. I realized I am the so called "city people". Because Hong Kong's transportation system is so convenient and thus we rarely have to walk or choose to walk by foot. In the Taronga Zoo, we walked for a few hours in the zoo, and I saw the Australian family that I saw when we entered the zoo together and they do not appeared to be tired at all. So, I was able to find out I am not as healthy as the Australians and I not used to walk that much.
All we did in one day
China town-> Golden Tree-> Baptist Church-> Woolworths-> St. Mary's Church-> The Rocks-> Contemporary Arts of Museum-> The Stars Casino-> Darling Harbour |
Highly displined
I was really surprised to see the kangaroos in the zoo were not caged. In Hong Kong, all animals in the zoos are like exhibition objects, they are locked and are distanced away as to protect them from people attacking them or the animals attacking the humans. The way they keep the kangaroos free and no zoo keeper was watching in that area reflects the Australians' have a good behavior and also expect visitors to behave in that way too. Moreover, I can see large chess boards lying in the parks, open for the public to play. I think this could never happen in Hong Kong, as Hong Kongers must steal the chess away and sell it for profit or just for fun. Also, when queuing in the line of the train or waiting to be served, no one cuts into the line. This would never happen in Hong Kong if there is a line more than ten people or a small group of people in the street. I can feel the trust that Australians share among themselves and also it shows that they have a positive discipline. I find myself enjoying their discipline as I think people should respect each other/ animals/ the resources shared as to have a harmony society.
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High living cost
I discovered the cost of living there is high when comparing to Hong Kong. Most of the food are doubled the price of Hong Kong's. Only some vegetables like strawberries and oysters are cheaper than Hong Kong's. So, I did have a difficulty in selecting what to eat as the price of the meals are so high.
Can click to enlarge |
High minimum wage
On the other hand, through chatting with Yan, I discovered Australia's minimum wage is $15.96 per hour and for junior employees, the minimum rates for junior workers are paid according the their age, $5.87 (under 16 years of age), $7.55 (16)... $15.59 (20) where I only get paid $8 as my part time job in Hong Kong, which equals to 16 years of age of their national minimum wage when I am actually 23.
How pathetic. According to this wage, I got known the salary I receive is relatively low. |
Outgoing Australians
There are three times that the Australians jumped into me when my friends were taking a photo with me/ for me. They are really outgoing and like to be gregarious. This never happened to me when I was in Hong Kong for so many years. I understood the different living style we are surrounded with. In Hong Kong, there are many commercials and shows warning us not to believe in strangers, or borrow things to strangers or not to talk to them or else we might fall in some kind of trap. After these experiences, I realized the society that I am living in is too tight, everyone is always highly alerted and being aware of the surroundings.
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Popular sunbathe
When we walked around the parks or just on the streets, I could see people lying down for sunbathe. I looked at how relaxed they are and how delighted they feel to be under the big shinning sun. I looked around and see my group mates kept putting sun blocks and held an umbrella or wrapped a scarf/ jacket over their head, I observed how Hong Konger's, including me, are so reluctant to the sun. I realized we are brainwashed by the commercials of the brightest your skin is, the prettier you are, so Hong Kongers are feared of getting dark skin. I recognized how our mind are shaped by the media around us, while we could observed from the advertisements from the train stations in both cities, they both emphasis of the beauty of nature.
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I was really successful in meeting the aims I have set before the tour, I am able to discover that I only have a little language barrier with the food names but it is solvable. I knew that I have cultural barriers in walking a lot, high cost of products, being outgoing, being in a highly disciplined place. Moreover, I am able to learn that our living style is too serious and too modern, we have forgotten the beauty of nature.