REFLECTION OF CROSS CULTURAL EXCHANGE--- PHILIPPINE
Mak Po Chi, Alex BSW Year 1
This was my first time to leave Hong Kong. This was my first time to take an airplane.
This was my first time to live in a foreign country. It is not a comfortable trip but it is a
priceless trip. Staying 21 days in the Philippines which were unprecedented experience in
my first 20 years, we faced many strange and momentous situations but at last we all can
handle it very well. During 21 days, we stayed in Manila, Iloilo, and Cebu. Each place
has their unique culture. Therefore, we were exposed to different unique situations and at
last we gathered different impressive experience.
Impressive experience
Though I am a social work student, I had not visited any center for the disable before the
trip. This is my first time to visit various kinds disability center. KAMPI, our host
organization, gave us plenty of opportunity to visit their center and let us familiar their
progressing project, which is Breaking Barrier for Children (BBC). In BBC, they have
established 5 Stimulation and Therapeutic Activity Center (STAC) and a number of Family
Support Units (FSU). I found that their government does not put too much resource on their
organization, for instance, they only have simple tools and facilities without any high
technology support, but they can do it very well. Compared with Hong Kong, in fact, Hong
Kong government is putting more resources than the Philippines on helping the disable, but
in terms of optimizing resources, the Philippines government is better. Therefore, if Hong
Kong can learn from KAMPI that efficiently and effectively use resources, I do believe that
the services for the disable will be more comprehensive and all rounded.
Other than visits, this was our first time to learn sign language. In Philippines, most
social workers know sign language. They think that it is a must for them to know. But in
Hong Kong, it is not the case. Only some social workers know sign language. That means
Hong Kong social workers are not comprehensive enough to cater for the clients’ need.
Moreover, sign language let me realize that language is not the major barrier in
communication. When we faced deaf children, we can still have interaction with them, for
example, we smiled, then they smiled and we clapped our hand, they followed us to clap their
hand. At last, we ask for KAMPI’s staff to teach us some sign language for example ‘nice
to meet you’, ‘good morning’ and the like. Also, we know the sign language of a song
which is Power of Love. It is really a priceless experience.
Now, I would like to share how to be a leader. Frankly speaking, I am not a good
leader. It may be due to my talent. However, before the trip, I told myself that I should try
my best to be a good leader because I thought that every minute is learning minute. Then I
turned out some conclusion.
Leader is a collector. Our team has 11 members which have 11 ideas in one decision.
Sometimes, members were very troublesome that they have extreme ideas. Arguments were
easily to turn out. Therefore, the role of leader is to collect different ideas and thoughts and
list out pros and cons of every choice. At last, the leader made a final decision. Though it
may not be the best but it is most democratic one.
Leader is a pioneer. Sometimes, we were asked some questions about Hong Kong, our
university, and our subjects. And Filipinos were expected us to ask questions about them.
But the fact that our teammates were quite quiet and passive made the conversation with the
locals get boring. Therefore, the role of leader is to be a pioneer that asked questions first
and then brought the members into conversation.
Leader is an interpreter. It is fact that it is too difficult to tell all the members at one time
since the members may not fully understand what the speakers said. Very often, the staff of
host organization would pass the information to the leader and the leader had to report it to
the members. Therefore the role of leader is to interpret the information and report to the
members, which made communication more efficiently and effectively.
After this trip, I realize learning is not only on books and lectures, but also in genuine
exposure to strange environment. And the most important thing is whether you have
confident to welcome strange and get over the adversities. At last, I realize that learning
needs brave.