Step Out | 濶步人生，一路向前

Although I am from Hong Kong, I feel that I am actually based in the UK now. This is just like home. And I love the excitement of airports life - flying back and forth between London and Hong Kong - as well!

My parents made me to a school in York in the UK last year. I did not speak much English and I could not understand why I had to come to this horrible place to study.

My parents and my 86-year-old grandma stayed in Hong Kong and I missed them desperately. But my parents said that studying in the UK would be good for me and broaden my horizons. At least that's what they said.

To be honest I used to hate it when I got here - all schoolmates spoke really fast and I was miserable. Back in Hong Kong I'd always been the centre of attention. But now here I was, in this horrible place: the weird new kid nobody would talk to.

After quite a while, I got on really well with a local schoolmate and my roommates who speak comparatively slowly. My English got better by talking to them and I gradually felt more at home. So I just stuck it out - and I soon learnt that making friends is all about knowing how to talk to people. It's understanding people that makes them feel special.

From time to time there were term breaks and I went back to Hong Kong.

I met my grandma at the airport. Every time I saw her there were differences. This time she had got a back pain and the next time she was suffering from cataract.

I really cherish my family. May be it's because of my feelings for my grandma.

I've learnt a bit about British people too. In our hearts we all share the same humanity. When we face hardships, a cup of tea solves everything.

Though I'm not sure if I will stay here for College, I'm doing my best here. It's either perfect or it doesn't pass. People can tell if you're not sincere. So I'm still learning - and still making mistakes!

For all people in my Year, people who helped me, and of course my neighbours in Fox - thank you for making my first year of studying abroad enjoyable! I can say, hand on heart, that I've enjoyed every minute staying with you all.

(Chinese translation)
我在香港出生，但感覺上英國是我的家。我同時喜歡穿梭於倫敦和香港機場多姿多彩的生活！

去年起，父母送我到英國約克的一間學校讀書，當時我覺得自己可憐極了。我英語不好，也不明白為何要來這個糟透的地方唸書。

這段時間，父母和86歲的外祖母都遠在香港，我真的很想念他們。不過父母堅持，到英國上學會對我有正面的影響，一切只是為了我着想。

說實在的，當初我好討厭這裏，全部同學說話的速度都很快，令我十分沮喪。在香港，我永遠是最受重視的一個，但一夜之間我變成一個沒有人願意和我說話的異鄉人，孤身一人在這陌生的城市。

過了好一會兒，我跟一個說話稍慢的本地同學和室友們混熟了一點。漸漸地，我的英語開始進步，也開始在這裏培養出家的感覺。

日子一天一天的過，然後中途有一兩個長假期，往香港出發。

我在香港機場跟外祖母見面－－每次見到的她都有些許的變化。這次的她有背痛，下次的她又受白內障所困擾。

我很珍惜及重視家人。或許是由於我和外祖母也是相隔兩地吧。

雖然只是身在英國不足一年，但我也留意到英國人的性格。在我們心裏，擁有着共同的同情心。又例如面對困難時，只要來一杯熱茶，任何問題也能迎刃而解。

雖然我尚不太肯定會否在這裏完成高考課程，但我仍然盡力完成我的工作。在我眼中，往往只有完美或不獲通過。一個人真誠與否，別人總能感受到。因此我仍在學習中，和犯錯中。

所有同級師兄師姐、曾幫助我的扇貝、當然，還有 Fox House 的左鄰右里：感謝你們為我在海外留學的首年度創造美好的回憶。我敢說我非常享受和你們在這裏一起的每一分鐘。

The 100 Days | 最美麗的一百天

The 100th day.
Thanks for bringing me to the traceless places; over hilltops, over border areas. I can still tell what Chung Ying Street looks like.
Thanks for teaching me professional terms like 'tramping', '捆邊' (means walking absolutely around an island). Although it can be memories only for now, I will still try to do 'tramping' at York - just as you did.
In the future, I will carry your concept afar to new places, because, we believe, 'we don't need Galileo to tell us that Earth is a sphere, as we will prove it to the world by walking by ourselves'.

第100日。
感謝您之前帶我去到一些人跡罕至的地方；穿過山區、走進禁區。我至今仍然未能忘記中英街的面貌。
感謝您教我「tramping」、「捆邊」等專業詞彙。雖然已經沒有可能再同您一齊去這些事，但我倒是會找機會嘗試下這邊的 tramping。
在往後的日子，我會秉承您的理念，去到更廣更遠、發掘更多地點，因為，我們都相信，「不需要伽利略告訴我們地球是圓的，因為我們會行出嚟來證實俾人睇」。

2011年度摘要報告 - 人去茶涼 Summary Report 2011 - Building Connections, Expanding Horizons

致各有關人士：


2011年是黑暗的一年。也許是我太善良，也許是我太軟弱。這年發生過大大小小的事，能引以為傲的着實乏善足陳，不堪回首的卻倒俯拾皆是。

在2011年1月，我很高興能參與舊校 Green and White Day 中 3A 攤位的管理及運營服務，並貫徹「服務訪客　從心出發」的待客理念。

在2011年2月，有幸能在 FY3401 退役前享受它在 74A 綫的服務。

在2011年3月，擠上了最後一班灣仔往紅磡的天星小輪，並見證最後一班紅磡航綫的天星小輪到達紅磡。

在2011年5月起，開始籌劃「心繫社區行動 - 愛心之旅2011」，最後於7月完成。

2011年8月7日，正式離任香港聖約翰救傷隊。

2011年9月1日，正式脫離聖若瑟書院。同日起加入 Bootham School。

2011年9月至2011年12月是一個黑洞。沒有照片回憶，沒有文字記錄。反正也沒有甚麼好記錄的。然而經過此役後，我領略到在賭博中，莊家乃是必勝的。沒有本錢但硬要參戰者，必要輸得慘烈。


最後我實在告訴你們：我平時忍耐你們不代表我有無限的耐性，我平時不發脾氣不代表我沒有脾氣。請勿嘗試測試我的底綫，否則你們會發現，我並不是善良的。


何滔滔

香港，2011年12月31日


To whom it may concern,


It was a gloomy year in 2011. Perhaps I was too kind. Perhaps I was too weak and feeble. It seemed that everything bad happened this year.

In January, 2011, I was glad to participate in the management and operation in the booth of 3A in the Green and White Day in my old school. We stuck to the guidelines of "Service from the Heart" scheme in the visitor service aspect.

In February, 2011, I was so lucky to on board FY3401 before it left route 74A and retired.

In March, 2011, I on boarded the last departure of Star Ferry from Wan Chai to Hung Hom. I did not leave the pier until the last arrival of the Star Ferry Hung Hom Lines.

In May, 2011, we kicked off the "Community Care Action" scheme, and finished in July.

On 7 August 2011, I resigned officially from Hong Kong St. John Ambulance.

On 1 September 2011, I left officially from St. Joseph's College and have joined Bootham School on the same day.

A black hole formed from September, 2011 till the year end. No photos for memory, no words for record. There was nothing worthwile to record indeed. However after this incident, I have learnt a new law. In gambling, the banker is always "sure-win". If you are not a really wealthy man but you insist to play in the game, you will lose, total lost.


Before this comes to the end, I tell you the truth, I endure you in most of the time but this does not represent that I have unlimited patience. I do not lose temper in most of the time but it is not a must to keep my temper. Please do not try to test my baseline or else you will find out that I am not as kind as you think.


Tobias Ho

Hong Kong, 31 December 2011