Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 1998

Their CUHK Experience HOME AWAY FROM HOME Foreign Students Experiencing Local Life with Their Host Families Foreign Students on CU Campus L aunched i n 1983-84, the Host Family Programme of the Office of International Studies Programme s (OISP) has been f i n d i n g a ' Ho n g Ko n g home', as one of the participants p ut it, for overseas students studying at the University. Its purpose is to match foreign students w i t h the families of Un i v e r s i t y staff l i v i n g i n H o n g Ko ng for occasional get-togethers, so that they may enjoy all the goodness of home away f r om home. The overseas students are e n r o l l ed i n the I n t e r n a t i o n a l A s i a n Studies P r o g r amme (IASP ) i n t r o d u c e d i n 1977 w i t h the s u p p o r t of the Y a l e - Ch i n a Association. Coordinate d by the OISP, the p r o g r amme offers elective courses i n Asian and Chinese studies w h i c h are taught i n English an d is open to overseas undergraduate and graduat e students, scholars, and academic staff w h o w i s h to take advantage of the University's resources i n Chines e and Asian studies. Kaori Jishage (right) w i t h Jocelyn, Mr. Chen's d a u g h t e r at the latter's graduation Kaori (right 2), Mr. Chen (right 1), a n d others o n Lantau island. Misao Kitazawa a nd her ' H o n g Kong dad' Director of the Campu s Development Office Mr. Vincen t Chen and his f am i l y have been staunc h supporters of the Ho s t F am i ly Programme over the years. Kaori Jishage f r om Japan was their guest student i n 1995-96. She said the Chen family treated her as a member of their family. 'I was m y host sister's Japanese sister and m y host parents' daughter,' she said. T h e y introduced me to different aspects of H o n g Ko ng culture. ... I am very gratefu l for this experience w h i ch was very different f r om that of the student hostels.' Her experience was attested b y Misao Kitazawa, also f r om Japan, w h o got to k n o w the Chen family i n 1996-97: 'I felt like I had family i n H o n g K o n g too, and even n o w I consider t h e m as m y H o n g K o ng family. They treat m e like their rea l daughter. ... Even now, I feel close to them. Once i n a wh i l e, m y H o n g K o n g father sends me e-mails, cards, and even a w o n d e r f ul gift on m y birthday. Wh en I w r i te back to him, I alway s call h i m " H o n g K o ng dad', never just " M r . Chen".' Chinese University Bulletin Autumn • Winter 1998 58