N.Z. Impressions

Press, 21 October 1980, Page 18

N.Z. Impressions

The five-year-old girl in the picture seems to think the inquisitive water birds are too friendly. The little girl is Yvonne Sham, a visitor from Hong Kong. With her parents she spent several weeks in Christchurch during last Christmas holidays.

You may like to read Yvonne’s impressions _ of New Zealand, and a little about her way of life in Hong Kong.

As you can see in the picture Yvonne is not used to water birds ;at such close range, nor: is she use.d to the open-air quiet of our city river bank on a public holiday.

Yvonne is one of several million people who live in high-rise apartments in Hong Kong and surrounding terrritpries. The city is said to be one of the most densely-popu-lated areas in the world, and a place that never sleeps, except perhaps at Chinese New Year when most of the shops are closed, and families stay at home to celebrate this gayest of alt Chinese festivals. ’ " ... ■-

When she was in Christchurch Yvonne did not understand English very well, but she began

to learn quite quickly, and has made rapid strides since she went back to Hong Kong because she is attending an Englishspeaking school.

In New Zealand Yvonne travelled to Nelson, Blenheim and Picton. by car. She was not used to what, for her, was long-distance travel, and she did not really enjoy it. What she liked best, wherever she went, was the parks, and that was where she spent most of her time. She liked the beaches too but not for swimming. The water was too cold.

It is not surprising that this little girl enjoyed our playgrounds and beaches, because she does not have many opportunities for vigorous play, or seashore rambles when she is at home.

On week-days a special bus takes Yvonne to school, and takes her home again. The school has a tiny playground, not suitable for games of chasing and hiding-go-seek, or ball games. Back in the apartment after school, Yvonne watches television or plays with interesting toys which are cheap and plentiful in Hong Kong.

Many of vou will have received dolls and exciting mechanical toys front Hong Kong, and . you will know what I mean.

To Chinese people the family is tremendously important, and Yvonne is a member of a large one, although she is an only child herself. As well as having devoted parents she has a doting grandmother, 14 aunts and uncles and many cousins. Some of the aunts and uncles live in the same apartment block. Most of the rest are not far away. A Chinese family grows larger as the children marry. Yvonne enjoyed her holiday in New Zealand — the parks "andbeaches, and: the 7 - food. She; is a great girl for her food. But when the .time came for her to board the plane she was glad to be’returning to her family. arid<the exciting prospect of her sixth birthday, closely followed by the Chinese New Year, With Lily, >the fluffy kiwi Father Christmas had brought, and various other souvenirs such as photographs - and sea-shells.’ packed safely , in h; suit-' case., she was heading towards home- There is no place like it, is there?