Studying in Hong Kong Series: HKBU President Alexander Wai Recalls Culture Shock of Going to the US and Reflects on Own-Centric Thinking After Debating Chopsticks Versus Knives and Forks With Foreigners
HKBU President Alexander Wai recalls that after graduating from HKU in 1981, he went abroad to the US for further studies for the first time. In the first year, he argued with foreigners that chopsticks were superior to knives and forks. He says that when classmates were choosing representatives for mainland and Hong Kong students, he was not among them, which made him reflect. The culture shock made him rediscover what kind of person he was, and realise that different peoples each have their own cultural heritage, so one should think humbly rather than only from one's own standpoint.