African diagnostic radiographer has fun exploring Kowloon West

You might be surprised to see a black diagnostic radiographer who speaks a little Cantonese working in the Department of Radiology in Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH). He is Boatametse Setobele, and he was born in the southern African country of Botswana, next door to Zimbabwe. He went to university in the UK after completing high school studies in his hometown, and he arrived in Asia and began working in Hong Kong last October.

Because he believed that Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan city, and that it keeps pace with the latest medical developments in advanced countries, Boatametse decided to apply for a job in the Hospital Authority (HA) when our colleagues conducted a recruitment exercise at his university.

He has found language one of his biggest obstacles when it comes to integrating into life in Hong Kong. "I think intonations are the most difficult aspect of Cantonese. Even the same word can have very different meanings if you pronounce it differently." Does wrong pronunciation make him identify patients incorrectly? "No, because I also check their ID number and ask them where they feel pain, to see whether this matches clinical information given."

Boatametse loves to familiarise himself with the local environment and culture by visiting museums. First, he went to the Tung Wah Museum, which is located in his workplace. In fact, he has been there for three or four times. "The museum has helped me to understand the development of medical services in Hong Kong. The most special thing was to see some of the old medical equipment and exhibits dating back hundreds of years. It has really broadened my horizons."

Besides the museum, King's Park near KWH is another favourite place. "When I first came to Hong Kong, I asked myself –is this all that Hong Kong has to offer, busy, noisy and crowded places? I was so excited when I found this place and saw elderly people practicing tai chi. It was a new experience for me. The park's relaxing atmosphere made me feel homesick!"

As a vegetarian, Boatametse does not like the sauces that accompany various dishes, so he usually cooks for himself. But, of course, 
he also goes to restaurants with his friends and colleagues, to learn how to behave like a local!

He is interested in old medical equipment.	Although language is a barrier, his colleagues help him a lot.

Local markets serve as informal language schools for Dr Deepa Natarajan

Stallholders in Kowloon's Yau Ma Tei market are often surprised when a traditionally clothed young Indian woman buying fruit and vegetables addresses them in fluent Cantonese. But this is just one of Dr Deepa Natarajan's skills – she is also a resident in the Department of Medicine at Prince of Wales Hospital.

Deepa was born in Mumbai in India, but came to Hong Kong with her parents when she was just one year old. After graduating from a local high school, she went to Australia to study medicine before taking up an internship in Singapore and then returning to Hong Kong to start her career with the Hospital Authority (HA) in 2010.

"The first instinct of many local patients in that they may need to communicate with me in English," says Deepa. "They are often relieved when I explain that I can speak Cantonese." She believes that the key to her success in learning the language was her occasional trips to the wet markets with her mother as a young child. "I had the chance to hear Cantonese being spoken and learn a lot about the local culture."

During the festivals, Deepa has also had the opportunity to share some Indian traditional dishes and snacks such as samosas or rice cakes with her colleagues during their gatherings. "Sharing Indian food with my colleagues is a good way to learn more about our different cultures," she says. "After all, most people enjoy discussing food!"

Although she has spent time studying and working overseas, she has never considered permanently leaving Hong Kong, which she very much regards as home. "In terms of returning to live in India, I think I would find it difficult to adjust. Life is very different there and I enjoy the security and safety of Hong Kong."

Deepa's journey to becoming a doctor was slightly longer than average, but she persisted in working towards her goal, motivated in large part by her memories of her father. "I am the youngest girl in our family and was very close to my father as a small child. When I was 12 years old, my father suffered a fatal cerebral hemorrhage. That terrible event set me on the path to becoming a doctor." With a particular interest in hospice care, she chose to join HA. "I knew a career with HA would expose me to a wide variety of medical specialisms and cases, and that HA is willing to allocate resources to develop hospice services in Hong Kong."

Although Deepa looks very skinny, she is good at running and dancing.
Deepa and her mother will sometimes cook Indian food to share with Deepa's colleagues. We were lucky enough to have the chance to sample some food during the interview. Our culinary conclusion? Delicious and very hard to resist!
Deepa's optimistic nature helps her build positive relationships with patients.	Deepa has returned to India since she left, but only to visit relatives – she regards Hong Kong as her home.

Indian male nurse is also a good trilingual interpreter

Singh Karamjit (Jack) has a similar background to Deepa, having also grown up in Hong Kong. He joined the Hospital Authority (HA) in 1995 and, after working as a nurse in the department of surgery, the detention ward and department of medicine, he now works in the adult intensive care unit at Queen Mary Hospital. He originally decided to study for a nursing certificate with a view to applying for a post as an officer in the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department (CSD). But, fortunately, he discovered that nursing itself is a meaningful profession, so he dropped his original plan.

Jack came from a working-class family, and he lived in a very small room together with four of his relatives. He therefore sought a stable job after he graduated from high school.

"At the outset, I thought I would first get the nursing certificate and then apply CSD's officer post, which would help to put me on a better career path. However, I found that being a nurse is a very meaningful role. In particular, I can help my Indian friends, which gives me great satisfaction. Of course, working in the HA also allows me to take care of the livelihood of my family as well as myself. That has motivated me too."

Jack obviously regards Hong Kong as his home because he was born and brought up here. He is deeply impressed by the excellence of Hong Kong's public healthcare system, which is cheap for its users, and its quality compared favourably with private hospitals.

Besides working as a nurse, Jack sometimes helps as a 'volunteer interpreter', because he speaks Hindi and English, as well as very fluent Cantonese. "My parents do not speak Cantonese, so I used to act as their spokesperson for all their external communication when I was young; such as buying food in the market or asking the school for leave of absence."

Jack's practical training over the years has made him fully proficient in all three languages, which has made him a great asset to the hospital. "My most-interestingexperience has been translating for an ethnic-Chinese doctor who cannot speak fluent Cantonese and a local Cantonese-speaking family." Although they are all Chinese, they need an Indian to help them communicate with each other!

Douglas West finds love in an HA tea cup

When Englishman Douglas West decided to come to Hong Kong as part of higher specialist training in public health four years ago, he never imagined it would lead to a job opportunity and married life!

Following his arrival in 2009, Douglas – who has a PhD in genetics / vaccine development – was subsequently offered a three-month internship with the Hospital Authority (HA). He had originally intended to return home after finishing the placement, but the fulfilling nature of his work and an unexpected romance intervened and he is now a Manager (Strategy and Service Planning) in the Strategy and Planning Division at HA Head Office.

He says that HA has provided him with plenty of opportunities to develop his career. "I am blessed to have been given the chance to work with many different colleagues from across HA and its hospitals and to help shape future service developments – I really enjoy tackling new challenges. In England, the size and characteristics of hospitals vary significantly – gaining exposure to this diversity can require moving to another part of the country every few years. In working for HA in Hong Kong, I have the privilege of enjoying this diversity in experience far more easily."

Given the challenging nature of his job, Douglas has adopted the habit of having an early morning cup of Hong Kong-style hot milk tea in the HA canteen. "I love the hot milk tea here – it tastes sweeter and thicker than the milk tea in England. After my daily cup I'm raring to start the new day," he says.

Although Douglas clearly enjoys his work, perhaps his biggest reason for loving Hong Kong is that it is where he met the local girl who would eventually become his wife. "We met at a friend's gathering in December 2009," he explains. "Our different nationalities were never a consideration. We immediately clicked and seemed to understand one another. I quickly began to feel we were a perfect match."

Having found the woman with whom he wanted to share his life, Douglas decided to propose last Easter on a special trip to Thailand that involved a few months of advance planning. On the day of his proposal, Douglas took his girlfriend on a sunset boat cruise around their resort area, during which the onboard chef prepared a traditional Thai meal that was served with soft traditional music playing in the background to help set the mood. In such a romantic setting, a positive response to the big question was guaranteed!

The couple chose an equally beautiful location for their wedding ceremony – tying the marriage knot at a castle in the UK in January this year.

With a fulfilling HA career and happy marriage, Douglas is delighted that he decided to take a short study trip to Hong Kong four years ago!

While Hong Kong is their home, Douglas and his wife paid tribute to his British heritage by getting married in a castle in the UK earlier this year.	Although Douglas can often be found with a Cantonese textbook, the most effective way to learn the language is from his own 'personal tutor'!