For a long time I have had a strong commitment to working for the environment and was absolutely delighted when I was awarded an environmental scholarship. The scholarship, which was jointly funded by the Aberdeen University Hong Kong Association, British Council and Swire Educational Trust, allowed me to study at Aberdeen University, which has a good reputation for its environmental studies. My Aberdonian time enlightened my life. Being there provided me with an opportunity to learn about new environmental management initiatives not yet implemented in Hong Kong. It was a key goal of mine to bring such learning back to Hong Kong, a place I call home.

Aberdeen is known as the Granite City because nearly all of its buildings are made of the pale granite that is quarried nearby. Hong Kong is the Pearl of the Orient. The Hong Kong scholars who have undertaken an MSc in Environmental Science through the Environmental Scholarships are therefore called “Granite Pearls.” At university I witnessed the installation of University Chancellor, Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, a former Governor of Hong Kong. There was a tea party hosted by the Chinese students for him at which I delivered a speech. Ten years later I met him again in Hong Kong at a British Chamber of Commerce event. It was an impromptu alumni reunion!

It was my first time living abroad and receiving an education fully immersed in an English-language situation - with Scottish accents no less! Not surprisingly it took me a while to adjust. I had to get used to the ‘climate change’ including braving the chilling wind from the North Sea. During term-time I stayed at the halls of residence. There was a good mix of students from different countries, cultures and background. In my view, life there was already a form of liberal education. I will forever be thankful to “Aunty Jean and Uncle Sandy” who invited me to their home at weekends and spoiled me with home cooking.  I put on 15lbs in my first year!  Before arriving in Aberdeen, I rarely cooked as I did not know how.  At the halls I spent hours experimenting with cooking. It was the cheapest form of enjoying good food.  Back then, entertaining was about sharing food, wine, good conversation and a laugh or two with friends.  Over the years, I have found that great memories are often made around a dining table and being able to cook is an incredible social, and indeed survival skill when studying overseas.

All too often people believe that they, as individuals, are powerless to do anything that will really count, believing that the threats to the environment are of such magnitude that their efforts will be meaningless. To the contrary:  what each of us decides to do, or not do, can have a tremendous effect on what happens to the world in the future.  Every little, no matter how little, helps. I am committed to doing what I can do for the environment in Hong Kong and support global sustainability initiatives. Aberdeen University was a great learning platform on which to build my goals.