For example, the character for guang (the word that roughly translates into "vast space") in the name Guangdong (the province of mainland China next to Hong Kong) can be written as 廣 in traditional Chinese or 广 in simplified Chinese. Under the newer simplified system, whole words can leave out five or more strokes.
During my time in Hong Kong, I have learned that the writing system here can prove quite challenging. For instance, the other night I went out to eat with my Singaporean friend. Singapore, a nation in Southeast Asia, has a large Chinese population. Schools in the country teach both English and the “mother-tongue” of that individual student. My Singaporean friend, being ethnically Chinese, learned how to read and write in Mandarin and simplified Chinese. Unfortunately for us, the menu was written out in traditional Chinese and we had to use an English menu to order!
Though learning Chinese can be difficult, I have tried to use my time in Hong Kong to memorize certain characters. It will take time, but unlocking the mysteries of a new language can be very rewarding, too!
