I Know You Are Busy, But Take Some Time to Read These Books What Made HKU Decide to Extend the Opening Hours of Chi Wah and The Oval? Editorial: The Magic We Call Culture Editorial: A Journey to Burma 3 Things to Add to Your Start of 2015 Bucket List
sapientia
ISSUE TWO
JAN 2015
“Chinese Paper Lanterns” by imgkid.com is licensed under CC NC-SA 2.0
a magazine by International Society, HKU
sapientia
SAPIENTIA is an independent English language magazine written and published by students of The University of Hong Kong. Stemming from the university’s Latin motto of “Sapientia et Virtus”, our name translates as ‘wisdom’ and reflects our intention to bring together writers from different backgrounds with broad perspectives on campus-related issues. Sapientia’s number one goal is to act as a platform for students to develop and showcase their professional writing skills and offer food for thought - more simply put, wisdom, to all our readers. Contact us at intlsocpjc@gmail.com Jan 2015
OUR TEAM Editor-in-Chief Chris Wei Managing Director Samuel Chan Creative Director HyunAh Kim Writers Denise Chan Jamie Choy Hillary Leung Melissa Leung Sean Yau
I know “ you are
BUSY, but take some time to READ these BOOKS ” by Jamie Choy
As an HKU student, sometimes it’s difficult to find time to do anything, let alone put aside some quiet time to read a book, but reading can be therapeutic in our hectic student life. The purpose of reading doesn’t always have to be academically related; we can also read to experience other worlds, to empathize with people we’ve never met, to marvel deeply at breathtaking ideas we’ve only momentarily brushed past or even not at all. Here are some recommendations that relate well with our current cultural context at HKU.
“1984 cover” by gray318 is licensed under CC NC-SA 2.0 “Quiet” by NY Times is licensed under CC NC-SA 2.0
1984
by George Orwell In a dystopian setting, oppression, mass surveillance and the complete violation of human rights are the daily forces that Winston, the male protagonist must contend with. It is a world in which those in charge need not justify their actions. Big Brother is allowed to detain and obliterate anyone who does not abide by their ideology. Yet Orwell’s novel is not so much dystopic as it is timeless, reinforcing the saying that the universal motivation behind all human actions is the will to power. This novel presents the extremity of this maxim, shows the abuse of power and its intoxicating effects. How far is Big Brother willing to go in order to maintain authority? In such a claustrophobic world, is it possible to rebel? Are moral principles altogether meaningless in an arena that reeks of power hunger? Orwell debunks political ideologies and takes a look at what human behavior becomes when pushed to the extreme. As long as politics exist, 1984 remains relevant. Given the current Occupy Central movement, this novel may be of particular interest to an HKU student. One word commentary: TI M E L E S S
Quiet
by Susan Cain I was once told that beautiful things do not demand attention, but then again, we live in a day addicted to hyperactive stimulation. This book is for anyone who has ever felt ashamed for wanting to stay in for the night instead of frequenting the bars, for anyone who has ever been mocked for being ‘shy’, adamantly equating insecurity with silence, for anyone who has ever felt somehow abnormal for hating small talk, dull for being a listener, incompetent for speaking few words. The author draws on historical events, psychological experiments and her own experiences to challenge the stereotypical and often negative view of introverts. Is silence really a form of weakness or could there be profound strength in the spaces in between? One word commentary: TH ER A PEU TIC
The Little Prince
by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Is that a fedora or is that an elephant under a blanket? Never mind; you’ll understand once you read this very short book that is dotted with illustrations throughout. Have you ever watched a child draw and think, “Oh, I used to do this”? Childhood suddenly becomes so far away that sometimes it is difficult to know that it even happened at all. You forget how to think like a child and you forget that you were ever creative, that you ever thought outside the box or that you once had different priorities. Like many other childhood stories, its simplicity is used to convey a deeper message. Not altogether lighthearted, “The Little Prince” addresses ideas related to power struggles, material corruption and heartbreak. It suspends reality for a while just to show you what really matters because with all the paper deadlines and stressful exams we tend to lose the bigger picture. Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s short story will make you reconfigure your perspective on life by transposing you to a childlike world. One word commentary: NOS T AL GIC
“The Little Prince” by Penguin books is licensed under CC NC-SA 2.0
“Winesburg, Ohio” by CIUDAD DE LIBROS is licensed under CC NC-SA 2.0 “TheStoneGod” by CIUDAD DE LIBROS is licensed under CC NC-SA 2.0
n derso d An o o w er by Sh
I have heard time and time again that Hong Kong, including HKU can be a deeply alienating place. Despite being such a compact city, the spatial closeness does not get translated into mental intimacy. In a sacred moment, a raindrop touches the ocean and diffuses into one, but human beings are always coalescing before they reach the touch of apprehension. This novel is set in a small suburban area where the characters know of one another, but like our city, everyone is disconnected in their own way. Each character tries desperately, but fails to be understood. The novel deals with shame, loneliness, abandoned dreams, and most of all, a paralyzing fear of other people and their judgment. Having the conflicting desire to be known but also unknown because of shame, Anderson’s characters are heartbreakingly human. Reading this novel makes you realize that even your smartest classmate, your most attractive friend or even the professor you idolize are at core, afraid. One word commentary: MELA N C H OLIC
The Stone Gods by Jeanette Winterson
Winterson’s dytopic novel challenges just about every conventional idea that our society embraces. She undermines our unquestioning acceptance of heterosexuality as well as the persistent belief that masculine policies are always beneficial to society and capitalist ideals. It certainly takes a look at what happens to society when the majority of people prioritize monetary transactions over everything else. The Stone Gods is broken into various sections that feature different worlds, but the protagonist reincarnates and reappears in each, sometimes as a woman, sometimes as a man. Corruption and greed run throughout the novel and none of the worlds are immune to human vices. Frustratingly, you see the characters making the same mistakes again and again. The writer explores whether there is any remedy to such a dismal repetition of history, which is largely done through the rejection of patriarchal ideologies. Indeed, Winterson’s writing is emotive and lyrical when she appeals to love as a possibility for redemption. One word commentary: T RA N S GR E S S IV E 5
What made HKU decide to extend the opening hours of Chi Wah and The Oval? by Denise Chan
HKU’s Information Technology Service (ITS) extended its opening hours for the Chi Wah Learning Commons and The Oval on the 25th August and 1st September respectively in the new academic year of 2014-2015. The opening hours of Chi Wah of level 1 has now extended up to Sundays (8:00-23:00) where before Chi Wah would only open up to Saturdays until 13:00. On the other hand, no extension was made for level 2 of Chi Wah, where it remains as Monday to Friday (8:0020:00). As for The Oval, the opening hours was extended to 24 hours, parallel to that of the Library’s opening hours on the 3rd floor and the Library Corner. So what are the reasons behind the extended opening hours and how does the extended service compare to other universities opening hours? HKU bears the longest standing history than other universities within Hong Kong and along with this, the culture of the university has been shaped throughout the years. With over 100 years of history, there are unique traditions within HKU itself such as the classic high table dinner and the rare green gown worn on special occasions. The studying culture in HKU has also been influenced its predecessors and has been passed on from one generation to the next throughout
the years. One notable aspect I myself have found in HKU’s studying culture is that many students aim for “A” grades. Many students use the Cantonese slang terms “bok jun” (used to describe pushing through all the time you have for a high GPA) and “chur” (used to describe a difficult assignment/activity or doing many activities that you don’t have much time at all for studies). These university slangs just goes to show how much endeavour students have in going all out for those “A” grades. Students even try to get enrolled in the so called “A” grade common cores that students have been recommended by seniors and friends. Common cores are general education courses which are required in the curriculum of undergraduates. A lot of students desire a low workload and relatively easy common whilst believing they can achieve an “A” grade. This depicts even more of the importance that students view in gaining “A” grades. With the combination of university slangs and “A” grade common cores, this only goes to show how much students are willing to study for the best grades possible. Thus, this may be the reason why HKU has decided to extend the opening hours of Chi Wah and The Oval, in an effort to encourage students to continue to strive for “A” grades.
“The Oval” by HKU ITS is licensed under CC NC-SA 2.0
So now you may ask, does the extension of Chi Wah and The Oval really help encourage student to spend more time on their studies and strive more for “A” grades?
The academic culture in HKU may be one of the reasons behind the extension of services in Chi Wah and The Oval. The university has long been noted for its academic reputation with the university continuing to stand out as the top university in the city according to rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and Times Higher Education over the years. The history of HKU’s academic credibility may be a factor contributing to the continuing strive for academic excellence within the university itself. By extending the hours of Chi Wah and The Oval, this enables students to have more
Personally, I would say no.
accessibility to I.T facilities and study areas. In turn, this can help HKU to continue to be recognized as a reputable university around the world and in Hong Kong. This helps to encourage students to strive for excellence in academic studies and at the same time, this also encourage students to spend more time on their studies. Students can now continue to study for longer hours than before in study areas on campus in a “study-friendly” environment.
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“Aarhus Festuge� by Carlsberg is licensed under CC NC-SA 2.0
Aarhus Festuge is a 10-day long festival of arts and culture in Aarhus, Denmark. It takes place every year in late August to early September, in week 35-36.
“Day 256” by a-poster-a-day.tumblr.com is licensed under CC NC-SA 2.0
The Magic we call Culture by Melissa On Ki Leung
I thought I got off the wrong station, when the bus pulled up in front of a giant white canopy housing a music stage complete with bright stage lights. Just yesterday, this particular area was empty, save from sparse alfresco seatings of the nearby café and friendly pigeons trespassing on the cobblestone ground. The colourful bunters, smell of fries and hotdogs wafting in the air, and of course the unmistakable buzzing of the crowd, all add up to the setting of a festival. In a matter of one night, the city of Aarhus, Denmark is sprinkled with a layer of carnival-esque enchantment. “Aarhus Festuge” (Aarhus Festival) took place on the 28, August to the 7th September. It is a much-celebrated annual festival displaying the culture and arts of Aarhus, the cultural capital of Europe in 2017. The festival is only one small part of the cultural scene of Aarhus. In fact, a whole line of plans has been made to achieve the goal of becoming a cultural capital. The extensive plans and high involvement of the youth population during the process prompt reflections on whether Hong Kong is “doing” culture the effective way. Hong Kong, with its distinct history of being a former British colony, has a rich culture of
“east meets west”. From architecture to traditional practices to culinary influences, Hong Kong has many stories to tell and even more cultures to exhibit. Unfortunately and shockingly, this mixing pot we live in is deemed as a “cultural desert”. There have been many unsuccessful attempts by the government to promote the cultural activities in Hong Kong, from naming cultural activities as one of the six pillars of economy in 2009, to the claim of setting up a Cultural Bureau in 2012 and of course, to the costly West Kowloon Art Project. These attempts received lukewarm response from the public, and they did little to improve the cultural atmosphere in Hong Kong. Why is this the case? Billions have thrown into this seemingly bottomless pit we call “Creative Industries” or “Cultural Development”, but little was harvested. Stepping back and looking at this issue in a global scale, perhaps, youth engagement is one of the keys to success. Borrowing from the case of Aarhus, Denmark, much attention has been placed on the role of “Aarhus Festuge Balloons” by politiken.dk students in ReThink Aarhus - the project of is licensed under CC NC-SA 2.0 building Aarhus as the cultural capital. Students are involved in the planning, execution and evaluation of ReThink Aarhus projects. 9
“Aarhus Festuge Balloons” by politiken.dk is licensed under CC NC-SA 2.0
“Both at the university and in the city, we need to remember that being a student also means being a citizen of Aarhus…so when planning Aarhus 2017 the students naturally a part of this.” said Louise Ejgod Hansen, the assistant professor of the Department of Aesthetics and Communication in Aarhus University. Students or youth are treated as an important and respectful stakeholder in the masterplan, instead of simply an add-on to make the project sound more citizen-oriented. “When you look at the rethink grants that were given to young people (18-30 years old) this year you will find that many of these projects were run by students” Hansen commented. The architect of the university elective course Capital of Culture curriculum Ansa Lenstrup has high hopes for the younger generation, “by asking project participants about their projects, by making projects of their own in practice, and later maybe (prompt them to) work as professionals inside the framework of Aarhus2017.”
The Hong Kong government has regarded cultural policies narrowly as the preservation and maintenance of existing art and traditions, less as a celebration of local atmosphere. Many policies are executed through a top-down manner, dampening its success. Hong Kong seems to lack the mindset that a “new and young generation of cultural organisors of many kinds will kickstart their professional development by engaging (in the planning of cultural policies)”, as quoted from Hansen. Despite the lack of youth participation in the overall masterplan of cultural developmet, the motivation of aspiring artists in Hong Kong has not been stifled. Alissa Berkhan, a 21-year-old year two Illustration student at the Scandanavian College of Art and Design (SCAD), has an optimistic view of her future as a professional artist. “In my field you never know, but Hong Kong is a good place to consider (starting an art career)” She has learnt not to rely on the government for much help, but admits that more support from the government would definitely smooth out a few stones along the bumpy career path
FREESPACE FEST AT WEST KOWLOON ART DISTRICT IN 2012
The authorities are not only painting rainbows, the youth also felt the efforts made to enrich the cultural scene. “I think the cultural atmosphere in Aarhus is really good. For example there are a lot of different festivals with a large variety – both professional artworks and budding artists. I love the cultural diversity of the city.” Said Marie Stensgaard, a masters degree student in Aarhus who wrote a thesis on Aarhus2017.
“Freespace Fest in Pictures” by mymovements.wordpress.com is licensed under CC NC-SA 2.0
“Aarhus Festuge” by snapthepix.com is licensed under CC NC-SA 2.0
CONCERT IN AARHUS FESTUGE
of an artist. “Saying that they should invest money might be (a solution), but knowing that there are so many people living in “cage” homes, I would say they have to (focus on improving society first). (The government can) maybe organize more events, so possible investors are going to be more interested in actually investing.” While it is encouraging to see local artists still hopeful about the cultural development of Hong Kong; it is, on the other hand, saddening to realize that they have no intention to actively engage in the cultural policy planning process. Artists perceive themselves not as co-creators, but as end users of cultural policies. Perhaps the government has given so little attention to them, that the idea of co-creating at a higher level has never occurred to them as possible. As students in an institute of tertiary education, we should reflect on how we can do more to engage in cultural policy planning. Indeed, Hong Kong has bigger problems on her plate – political conflicts, social issues, just to name a few. However, culture lays the foundation for our identity and social cohesion, hence should not be neglected.
trying out organic local ham in a food festival, students taking pictures of art installations around town. The festival gives people a reason to bond and have fun: culture brings differences together and unites. Culture celebrates humanity as “same but different”. Culture is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Start genuinely living by paying attention to the things we take forgranted around us – the tram you take from Sheung Wan to Central, the graffiti on the cement wall next to your bus stop, the milk tea you order at a cha chaan teng for an afternoon pick-me-up. Before youth can shape cultural policies, we have to start by experiencing and acknowledging THE culture. “I believe art (and culture) can do magical things for people.” Berkhan said confidently. Looking at the current state of Hong Kong, perhaps we do need a little magic.
During the Aarhus Festival, I saw old couples dancing to folk music concerts, young couples 11
You’re happy with your life. They are not.
by Sean Shun Ming Yau
“I’m supposed to go to the monastery after some years. But I don’t want to. I want to be a businessman.” This 13-year-old kid told me how passionate he was to change his life for the better, during my first trip to when I was backpacking solo in Burma in 2014. After I came back from my Southeast Asia trip for more than a month, school resumed and I found Connecting Myanmar, a HKU-based NGO initiated by our students volunteering for the Burmese people. I had never been to a volunteer trip at the time, because I have always been travelling by myself. I thought this might be a brand new opportunity for me to use what I have learnt to help out the people. They are not like us living in Hong Kong with everything at hand. Sometimes they don’t even know they can have it, living in a human rights deprived region. Therefore, I took up the volunteer work of teaching Human Rights Law in Yangon, the second capital of Burma this summer. Basically what we did was to prepare teaching materials every day, took a cramped local bus for more than an hour to reach a nearby city,
and have our class settled with around 15 people every weekday. The class was diverse. They were university students, workers, English teachers, housewives, and even practice lawyers. They came to us for one common purpose – they felt the need to know more. At times I was struggling, recalling this professor’s words that once struck me in my head, “do you think volunteering is really good for those people who have been living in the deprived environment for so many years that it has almost been what they live with? They are used to living with poverty, farming, and being in that traditional framework of life.” Is it good to break into their comfortable framework and inject a huge dose of what we consider “a better living style” in them? Can they afford that? But after some time I realized that it wasn’t about changing their life completely or not; it was more about telling them what is actually happening and letting them know about the situation they’re in. The rest depends on them. Throughout the lessons they would always ask me questions because they are not familiar with how how the legal system works in their country. For me, they have that untouched quality to be inspired. However, volunteering against a military-controlled system isn’t always easy. Mental control is more horrifying than physical detainment. Years of
stereotypes in them are formulated from religion and traditions. For example, homosexuality is illegal in Burma. I asked a 18-year-old girl, “how would you feel if you found out your best friend to be gay, and was put in jail for 10 years for that?” She answered me without hesitation that she’d rather see her best friend in jail. At that very moment, I felt myself so powerless. Under whatever reason they’re influenced by the old conception, they shouldn’t be like a rock waiting to be hammered to shatter. Instead, they should be nurtured to think. Volunteering is not about forcing them to think what we think is right or better. There’s no right or wrong. It is all about perspectives. Volunteering is more about giving them extra space to think. At the end of the day, the
All photos by Sean Yau is licensed under CC NC-SA 2.0
decision is theirs. What we could do at most is to empower them with the basic knowledge and ability so that they can start from there by themselves. While we’re living in this city constructed with information highways even though they’re from time to time occupied by complaints for the better, there are people out there not even knowing they can have the freedom, have the rights, and have the chance to achieve something different with their life. Delving into the talks about satisfaction discrepancy or any blame on materialism from volunteering for the poor would be corny and repetitive. Opening an ocean of information for their free flowing thoughts is priceless to the world.
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Things to Add to your Start of 2015 Bucket List by Hillary Hiu Yung Leung
Catch a movie at the emptiest cinema (closest to HKU too!)
“Cyberport Arcade” by Cyberportcinema is licensed under CC NC-SA 2.0
you’ve ever been in Eager to watch a movie, but can’t find a cinema where the only available seats left aren’t the dreaded Rows A, B and C, where you’re almost guaranteed to walk away with a post-movie neck cramp? The Broadway Circuit cinema at Cyberport is your best friend. Being tucked away in a high-end residential complex all the way at the southern end of Hong Kong has its advantages – the cinema is never, ever booked out, and it’s in fact quite likely that the house you’re in will be well empty. To get to Cyberport from HKU, simply hop on either the 30X or the 970 from the West Gate bus stops. The 30X, being an express bus, is much faster as it omits many stops in between and takes you straight to Cyberport, though
the headway for the 30X isn’t as great as the 970. Enjoy the fifteen to twenty minute bus ride, or ten, if you’re on the 30X, and alight at the very last stop. The 970 on the return route normally takes almost half an hour to get back to West Gate because of the number of people who get on in between, unfortunately. And as with any other cinema, be sure to have your university student card with you so that you can get your student discounts. Cinemas have been stricter on this rule lately – a few years ago, you only had to show your student ID upon ticket purchase (in which case one person who had a student ID could just buy the tickets first), but now you’re almost always asked to present your ID before entering the cinema houses. 15
By now, you’ve probably heard of those Japanese-inspired escape the room games where the objective is, well, to leave the room. But what exactly are they? To put it simply, these escape the room establishments all have a couple of rooms, each with a different theme or storyline – a murder that has happened, a mysterious disappearance, you get the idea. You usually come with a group of four to six friends, and together you have to work together to unlock the clues that have been carefully laid out for you.
LAser maze
it out at Mr.X
Mr. X is one of the best escape games in HK due to the sheer size of the rooms. Spanning an area of 22,000 square feet, each escape game (seven themes in total) is huge – each puzzle unlocks a secret passage, which leads you to a new room, which connects to another secret passage… and so on. I can’t reveal too much or I’ll spoil it, but you can expect lots of cool technology and gadgets involved in the puzzles that make this experience one of a kind. Imagine doors opening on command when you key in the correct code, activating the UV light switch and seeing a world of new clues spelled out for you, and distorting yourself as you go through - yes - a laser maze. Because the rooms are so big, there are naturally a lot more clues and puzzles involved so the games are slightly longer than an hour, compared to the other shoebox-sized escape rooms from other places that are only forty-five minutes long. Don’t underestimate the challenges at Mr. X, because they’re definitely not easy. They require you to be thinking out of the box and considering every possibility that’s out there, and the sense of accomplishment after tackling all the puzzles and escaping the room is equivalent to, or even stronger than getting a good grade on that midterm you studied oh-so-hard for. The team at Mr. X are friendly and if you’re stuck, you can call for help and they’ll give you a hint that’s just enough to point you in the right direction. The games at Mr X are $138 per person, but they often have student discounts and other promotions for limited periods which are announced on their Facebook page. “Matrix Background” by imgkid.com is licensed under CC NC-SA 2.0
Spend a night at the R ACES You don’t need to be a gambling whiz to have a good night at the horse races - all you need is a bit of money to spare, some nice, cold beer, and of course, luck on your side. The horse races are run twice a week by the Jockey Club at the Happy Valley racecourse on Wednesdays and the Sha Tin racecourses on Sunday. For convenience, and more so for an atmosphere that’s livelier and not as intense on the gambling, the races at Happy Valley are a better pick. The easiest way to get from HKU to Happy Wednesday, as they are known, is to take bus 23 to Causeway Bay, where you can walk to the racecourse in under fifteen minutes. Alternatively, you can go down to Central and take bus 10, or if you’re not in a hurry, you can also just take the tram all the way to Happy Valley. The first race starts at around 7:30 and the last ends at around 11, but you don’t have to get there exactly on time because you’re not likely to bet on every single race anyway.
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Betting is confusing at first because there are lots of terms you may not be familiar with, and the little forms have virtually no instruction. It will definitely help if you read up online on the different ways you can place bets before going, and you can also pick up one of the racing guides with statistics of all the horses’ victories to help you decide which to bet on when there. One of the most popular ways of betting is the quinella place mode, where you’ll win if two of the horses you pick come within the first three places. The minimum bet you can place is just $10, so it’s not a huge loss if luck doesn’t come your way! Besides, you can drown your sorrows in the selection of beers available at the in-house ‘beer garden’ – at a moderate pace, of course. “Happy Valley Racecourse” by Justin Jin is licensed under CC NC-SA 2.0
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