Day or night, rain or shine, you can always see Dani somewhere on campus.

Last year, this lady from Beijing came to the HKIEd entirely on her own, to pursue her studies in the Doctor of Education programme while working as a Research Assistant. Staying at the student hostel, Dani has made HKIEd her home, where she has become a “year-round” member of the teaching staff.

“The air is fresh here. Students are warmer and friendlier. They always say hi when they see me. Mainland students, on the other hand, tend to follow routines in their lives and would not sleep late like many Hong Kong students do,” Dani comments. Dani does her best to get to know as many Hong Kong students as she can, to gain as many opportunities as possible to polish her Cantonese. Contrary to Dani’s intentions, however, it is the Hong Kong students who succeed in grabbing hold of her to practise their Putonghua. Under their influence, Dani has turned into a “night owl” herself.

Dani is living in a foreign land, and yet she seems to have found much joy and pleasure from it.