Letters | San Francisco is where I live, but protesting Hong Kong is still my home
- After an upbringing that was a rejection of Hong Kong, the extradition protests have strengthened one overseas student’s sense of belonging to the city
I was two years old during the city’s handover to China. Uncertain of the truth behind “one country, two systems”, my parents enrolled me in an international school. Like many upper-middle-class parents, they hoped my exposure to Western culture meant I could comfortably start a new life anywhere, if necessary.
Hong Kong’s bleak future was a staple dinnertime topic throughout my childhood, the conversation becoming increasingly agitated over the years. Throughout my formative years, the resentment was widespread across the city, albeit inconspicuous. Family members would declare they were not into politics and local elections were meaningless.
My ticket away was desperate, hard-earned. Holding my acceptance package to a top US university, it wasn’t giddy triumph I felt, but relief.
The occupation sites were cleared a few weeks before I flew back for my winter break; the sparse wreckage of the battle fought overshadowed by Christmas decor. Yet, the city had changed, infused with the unspoken sense of unity. Drowning in the comforting soundscape of trams, chatter, and the bustle of everyday life, I saw a city that was trying its best.