Today I was sitting in a fast food restaurant (yes I know, calories and empty carbs). A girl of around 10 years of age was crying in her mother's arms. She had gotten (only) 93 marks on her English Listening Exam. Her mother was nothing but supportive, and apologetically smiled at me, so I knew it wasn't her doing.... If my broken Cantonese served me right, I came to understand it was her father who instigated it. I simply don't understand why parents would put this kind of pressure on their children. Do they not see they're ruining their sprouts for life? That it will probably take therapy and a few break-downs before these pressured-for-life, anxiety-facing kids can grow up entirely. Befor
Hong Kong is not known for its tolerance. There is not much tolerance for people with a handicap -to which all the steps in the city attest-, special needs children, foreigners, and people in general. Unfortunately, this also shines through when it come to education. It is preached in schools to be outstanding, but frowned upon when one stands out. The level of competitiveness has only risen in past years, and this puts a fair amount of pressure on students. It does the same to their parents, but that's self-induced, isn't it? As a private tutor, I have to give into the competitiveness up until a certain level. I have to show tolerance. I've had to learn to deal with this. In the beginning I
