Publisher's Synopsis
Sometime between 2005 and 2012, coinciding with the period when I was in graduate school, a particular initiative of mine unknowingly gave me the chance to see the world while standing in Hong Kong. Over the span of more than seven years, starting and ending in Hong Kong, I had effectively traveled across six continents. This was a global journey without ever leaving Hong Kong-a cultural exploration of the world without carrying a passport, without taking a flight. Experiencing the world while standing in Hong Kong may perhaps offer deeper insights into this world compared to conventional travel.
Of course, this would not have been possible without Hong Kong's unique advantages, serving as a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures. Over the years, Hong Kong has attracted people from different countries and cultures to come and go freely, allowing me the opportunity to see the world while staying in Hong Kong. If I weren't in Hong Kong, even with great initiative on my part, this opportunity might not have existed.
Nevertheless, everything I share in this book is entirely based on my personal experiences and feelings, without any scientific basis. The way I present other cultures may not necessarily be accurate. Therefore, how you interpret my thoughts is entirely up to you.
Furthermore, I am not suggesting that people shouldn't travel. I personally love traveling. As the saying goes, "Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles." To truly experience foreign cultures, traveling remains the best method. I have simply been fortunate to observe things that travel might not reveal-such as intangible elements and cultural aspects-without traveling extensively myself.
Interestingly, during my time in graduate school, I managed to "travel around Hong Kong and the world." In 2007, I explored over 90% of Hong Kong by visiting 801 7-Eleven stores across the city. At the same time, I came to understand cultures from around the globe by befriending classmates from over a hundred countries and regions. For more about my 7-Eleven journey in Hong Kong, you are welcome to check out my other e-book: "Around Hong Kong 7-Eleven Way".
So, how exactly did I experience the world while in graduate school in Hong Kong? It was because, upon re-entering university life, I discovered that by that time, Hong Kong universities had become widely accessible to international exchange students. Being someone who has always enjoyed connecting with people from different cultures and serving as a cultural ambassador, I helped them understand and fall in love with Hong Kong. I quickly applied to become a student ambassador for exchange programs at the university, and it later evolved into a professional role.
Over seven years, I interacted with exchange students from over 100 different places, totaling nearly 3,000 students. (This figure of 3,000 is not an estimate but based on the Facebook group I established for my university's international alumni, which had 3,000 members at its peak.) Among them, hundreds became my close friends during our time in school. Beyond sharing life in Hong Kong, I traveled with some, and even years after we all left campus, we still occasionally meet, either in Hong Kong or in their home countries.
It is a little ironic-many of my international classmates used to tell me how much they didn't want to leave Hong Kong because it gave them so many beautiful memories. Some even decided to stay and live or work here. Maybe I made them feel too much at home (laughs). On the other hand, many Hongkongers wish to leave...
Well, let's steer away from such heavy topics. Now, "Please fasten your seat belts. The flight for our 'Traveling the World' journey is about to take off. I hope everyone enjoys a comfortable and pleasant trip, and afterward, returns to our home-including those exchange students-Welcome to our home, Hong Kong".
