I bought this keyring in HongKong Ocean Park during this unforgettable summer vacation. I went to HongKong to find my cousin who worked and lived there. This trip means a lot to me since I experienced lots of things on my own for the first time, for example, taking an airplane by myself, going to an amusement park alone and dealing with ID issues…
Ocean Park in HongKong is a famous tourist destination but I have never been there before even I have been to HongKong for a couple of times. I went to the Ocean Park without the accompany of my sister since her work is very busy and heavy. I was really nervous when I walked in the subway station. I have never took subway in an unfamiliar city before and people around me are all speaking Cantonese, which makes no sense to me.
After arriving the Ocean Park, everything was so fascinating and attractive to me and I cannot stop watching. But after a little while, I felt a little upset. Everyone were coming to this park with their family or friends, I was the only one who came alone. Unexpectedly, my loneliness triggered my desire to shop. I thought only bringing a souvenir back home could prove that I had really been there. After watching the chubby pandas within the distance of 20 inch, that was really worth to show off, I saw a shiny, finely designed geometrical panda keyring at the exit of the panda house. I cannot control my mood and bought it without any hesitation because I love pandas so much since I was very young, and it was a representation of my country. I feel much better as I got this panda. Later, I went for another ride. At the entrance of that ride, some staffs were taking photos for tourists for free. I was a little bit shy and I wanted to skip this since everybody were taking group photos except me. A staff noticed my embarrassment and encouraged me: “Solo is good!” I still remember that he was not fluent in English but his words were so inspiring to me. As I grow up, I found that I cannot do everything with someone else.
On the first day of check-in, I received my Student ID card and I tied it with my keyring. My keyring was connected with my new life at Parsons. As I used my card to open the door of my dorm, a totally different world was just in front of my eyes. The whole room was just as small as the bathroom back in China. Dusts were coming into the room all time and the air was so humid. What I can see from the window is a couple of hopeless, old buildings. I used to live in the suburban area in Shanghai where air is fresh and environment was natural. My house was surrounded by trees and I woke up in the sound of birds and insects every morning. I could get to the nearest mall within 10 minute’s walk and there were hundreds of restaurants there, every single one was fantastic. Everyday on walk back home, people who live on the little valley I live greeted me hospitably in Shanghainese, my native language. And I met people I like everyday. However, in NYC, things changed drastically, I do not know any person here. Even my best friend was studying at Columbia University, which was 100 streets away from where I live. I do not like the high-energy food there. And the school work is not relaxing at all. I used to take IB courses at high school, it was considered the most difficult courses for high school students but I did it well without making many efforts. But the life in Parsons is too tense and I have tons of homework that I think I am never going to finish. I miss my hometown so much, especially when I see this keyring. But the most important thing is, being alone might not be a bad thing for me. With the accompany of the key ring, I can take it easy, enjoy loneliness, and become a better person.
