Lingnan Host Family Scheme: Love and warmth beyond borders
Every year in the early autumn, Lingnan University welcomes hundreds of new students from across the world. Driven by a thirst for knowledge, they travel thousands of miles to study here, and Hong Kong is an increasingly popular destination for global talent as it develops into an international hub for post secondary education and reinforces the “Study in Hong Kong” brand. A key contributor to this vision, Lingnan pursues academic excellence and is deeply committed to fostering a holistic culture of care and comfort.
Starting a new journey is never easy without family support, and Lingnan understands the challenges that non-local students face adapting to another environment. To assist them, the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) launched the Lingnan Host Family Scheme in 2008, inviting staff members to volunteer as non-residential host families, and help non-local students settle smoothly into life and study in Hong Kong, and integrate into the Lingnan community.
Prof Yang Yuyun (right), Peng Yanghan (left) and Chen Houhua (middle) on a Hong Kong bus tour.
The warmth of a home‑cooked meal
For Peng Yanghan, a first-year BBA student from Chongqing, meeting her host, Prof Yang Yuyun, Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Division of Artificial Intelligence, has been one of the happiest experiences in her time at Lingnan.
Affectionately calling Prof Yang “Sister Xiaoyu”, Peng Yanghan explained “Our connection began with a wonderful reunion. In my first semester, Sister Xiaoyu happened to be the instructor for one of my courses. When I found out that she would also be my host, I was surprised and reassured, as if this relationship, transcending the boundaries of teacher and family, was meant to be.”
Prof Yang added “Our gatherings are casual yet friendly. We chat whenever we meet on campus, and send each other messages during exam weeks and over the holidays. We have shared many meals, made body scrub together, and even gone to Sha Tin Racecourse to watch the horse racing.”
Peng Yanghan said “The Lingnan Host Family Scheme organised all sorts of activities for us, from a romantic open‑top Hong Kong bus tour to a beach barbecue in Tuen Mun, where we spent many joyful hours sitting around a charcoal fire and enjoying the sea breeze.”
Prof Yang Yuyun (second right), Peng Yanghan (left) and Chen Houhua (second left) enjoying a meal together at home!
When asked what their most unforgettable moment was, both Prof Yang and Peng Yanghan recalled a home-cooked meal at Prof Yang’s home. Prof Yang said “I invited her over for dinner. The atmosphere was very relaxed, and she opened up and shared her worries and dreams. I was happy to offer advice from my own experience.”
So a seemingly ordinary home‑cooked meal became a source of happiness for Peng Yanghan, who said “Enjoying the dishes cooked by Sister Xiaoyu and playing with her cats and dogs made me feel relaxed and at home. In this home away from home, I found a family to lean on, and my feelings towards Hong Kong changed from curiosity and hesitation to love and a sense of belonging.”
Share a mooncake: Home is right here
Prof Mok Kam-ming, Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Wu Jieh Yee School of Interdisciplinary Studies, has been a host for over eight years, and looked after more than 15 non‑local students. He offers young people far from home a sense of welcome and belonging in an unfamiliar environment, and whether telling stories about Hong Kong’s culture and history or listening patiently when students feel lost, Prof Mok provides a steady source of strength to successive cohorts of non-local students at Lingnan.
Zhansaya Makhambetaliyeva, a first-year Data Science student from Kazakhstan, was one of Prof Mok’s guests. “Joining the Lingnan Host Family Scheme was one of the best things I have done,” she said. “Prof Mok did not just welcome me into his home, but into his stories too. Through his eyes, I discovered Chinese history and Hong Kong’s complex past in a way no textbook could ever teach. He shared his childhood memories and his favourite legends with me, and explained the meaning of the Mid‑Autumn Festival so vividly that I could almost feel the mooncakes and lanterns.”
Prof Mok Kam-ming (right), Zhansaya Makhambetaliyeva (left) and Aisha Menjeyu (middle) making lanterns together to celebrate the Mid‑Autumn Festival.
When asked what her most memorable moment in Hong Kong has been, Zhansaya immediately replied that it was Poon Choi night. “We all sat around a big, steaming pot of layered food and told stories. That really made me understand the meaning of community - it was quite noisy, but wonderful.”
A long-term member of the Lingnan Host Family Scheme, Prof Mok observed “Since 2018, I have been fortunate to serve as a host family, welcoming students from all over the world to Lingnan. Over the years, I have seen the scheme expand, not only helping non‑local students adapt to life in Hong Kong, but also giving us the opportunity to step into each other’s cultures. Every time we meet, our connection becomes stronger.”
Referring to this year’s celebration with Zhansaya, he added with a smile “During the Mid‑Autumn Festival, we went to the Rabbit Lantern Workshop together and made delicate lanterns. Then at Chinese New Year we got together for Poon Choi, and chatting and laughing in the festive atmosphere strengthened our bond. Being a host family has broadened our horizons, and fostered friendships that transcend cultures.”
Zhansaya responded “When I came to Lingnan from Kazakhstan, I felt a little lost, but now I have a second home in Hong Kong, and have learned that family is not always about blood ties. Sometimes family is the person willing to share mooncakes with you.”
Prof Mok Kam-ming (middle), Zhansaya Makhambetaliyeva (fifth right) and Aisha Menjeyu (fourth right) enjoying Poon Choi with friends at Chinese New Year!
Apart from the stories above, there are many more - touching moments between host families and non-local students, too many to tell.
If you are willing…
Every year, more than 500 non‑local undergraduate students come to Lingnan looking for a second home.
Every staff member willing to open their door and share some time and care makes this programme more hospitable and meaningful, because what students need is simply companionship – and that is something we can offer. Please join us and help spread care and kindness across borders.
For more details about the Lingnan Host Family Scheme, please visit the webpage of the Office of Student Affairs: Programme Details | Office of Student Affairs