Friday, November 13, 2009
One of my Macanese friends and I were asked the same question more than three times when we went though a U.S. airport.
“How come a Chinese from Macau holds a Portuguese passport?” the officers asked.
“Macau is a part of China and was a Portuguese colony for hundreds of years,” I told them.
Their “uh huh” replies put me at ease because my friend was once accused of holding a fake passport and was taken to a room for further questioning.
I know most people have no idea where Macau is. It’s a tiny island on the western side of Pearl River Delta, right next to Hong Kong. Don’t worry, instead of giving a history and geography lecture here, I will give you a brief tour of my lovely hometown.
Macau was the first and last European colony in China. Before it was handed over entirely to China in 1999, it operated under the Chinese policy of “one country, two systems” and became a special-administrative region with an independent legal system, police force and monetary system.
Because of its small size and relatively low publicity — at least compared to the adjacent cosmopolitan city Hong Kong — some people doubt my strong connection to Macau. For me, it’s all about proximity on the island. It’s so convenient to reach anything and anyone within minutes; people can easily live there without a car.
Don’t think it’s a primitive city, though. Macau is dubbed the “Oriental Las Vegas,” as its economy is largely based on tourism and gambling. Macau preserves many historical properties from the Portuguese colonial period and was officially listed as a World Heritage Site in 2005.
Millions of international tourists and thousands of foreign laborers contribute to Macau’s diverse population. When I returned to Macau during winter break two years ago, I was stunned and happy to see people of all nationalities on the street. Macau is moving into the global limelight. Several foreign tourists told me they enjoyed the small-town atmosphere and the cultural fusion.
Despite the glow of neon lights and the flow of “sinful” money, Macau’s cultural essence is still intact. Compared to other cities in China, Macau is still a peaceful fairyland, just like Lawrence. It’s small, but everything needed is there.
I didn’t realize my attachment to this place until I left for America. I miss not only the people and the food, but also the feeling of being in that cultural environment. Some of my friends told me they don’t want to spend the rest of their life in Macau. If given the chance, they wish to leave because of Macau’s limited space for development.
I disagree. Once you grow tired of the hustle and bustle in big cities, you will definitely miss the peace and quality of life in small towns. That’s why every time I go back home, I leave feeling recharged and refreshed.
Come visit Macau. I’m sure you would love it there.
— Ho is a Macau, China junior in journalism.
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