Hong Kong

Hello again everyone,

A consistent problem for foreigners in Taiwan is the visa.  As an American, I am afforded 30 days on a landing visa, but a maximum of 180 with a fully renewed student visa.  Of course, you can apply for the ARC, or Alien Resident Card, which will allow you to stay in Taiwan for the length of the card.  Unfortunately, my student visa’s validity was only marginally shorter than the six month period of time that I was allowed to stay here… by around 10 days.  Needless to say, I had to get this problem fixed.  An ARC was not out of the question, but rather excessive, as an Alien Resident Card needed for 10 days is practically unheard of.  Instead, I decided to travel out of the country for a single day and return.  The best option available to me was a trip to Hong Kong.

The trip was scheduled by a Rotary contact here in Taipei, Auntie Liz.  I would leave Taiwan at 7 in the morning, and return at 9 in the evening.  Through Aunt Liz, I was introduced to PDG Anthony, a member of one of the Rotary Clubs in Hong Kong.  When I arrived, he quickly made me aware of a Rotary Club that was having a meeting that afternoon.  Despite being horrendously underdressed, I agreed to come by and enjoy the meeting of the North Kowloon Club of Hong Kong.  I was asked to do a short presentation and exchanged flags.  As an extra bonus, I met several members of one of the local Rotaract Clubs.  They had gone on a trip to India to do several service projects.  After our respective presentations, we had several lovely conversations.  Angel, Mini, and Claudia provided terrific company after the end of the meeting.  Mini and Angel assisted me in finding the local history museum (which I did not have sufficient time to explore, sadly).

I made it back in time for the flight and, after a delay in the flight, found my way back to Taipei.  With no following visa problems, I was allowed back into the country and have since finished my classes and am preparing to return home.

Even the short period of time I spent in Hong Kong gave me a lot of insight into another part of Asia.  Hong Kong and Taipei are similarly advanced, but the cultural undertones were very different.  The Western influence in Hong Kong is easily identifiable.  My English was more useful than my Mandarin considering Hong Kong residents speak Cantonese for the most part, which made it an interesting experience getting around.  Regardless, it was terrific and I promised the Rotarians I would make an effort to return sometime shortly.

Well, there is so much to do and so little time, so I must sign off for tonight,

Please do take care,

Alex

Also, I offered to assist the Hong Kong Rotaractors get in touch with the Taipei Rotaractors.  As far as they have involved me in their conversations, I believe that they are at least talking.  Hopefully the local Rotaract clubs would like to get in touch with Taipei and Hong Kong in the future, as the clubs here seem to relish in meeting new people.

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~ by Alex Kuchta on March 1, 2010.