By Winky Tsang
“In March, I could feel the steps of spring. I walked along the Samuel Beckett Bridge, which is in Dublin, a literary capital of Ireland. I slowed down my steps and thought of the question, ‘How long have you been away from home?’ This is an opportunity to tell the story of my life in the past years. Alright, I walked slowly toward the end of the bridge. All of these must have a beginning…”
Leon Lo, who was born and raised in Macao, then graduated from Queensland University of Technology in Australia with a Master Degree, has been away from Macao for three years since 2011. Unlike what many other graduates are doing nowadays, he renounced his three- year job as a software engineer; he gave up all his high salaries, and even left his family.
Lo asserted that successful career builders take a long view and don’t position themselves in jobs that are mediocre. He mentioned that his previous job had a seemingly enviable title, but, in fact, it was just a job that was enough only to support his life in Macao, but not to earn a large saving. He knows this is not what he wants to be.
“Expect a change, a chance to make life different.”
The Taiwanese movie called ‘Taipei Exchanges” inspired Lo to make such decision and embrace the big change in his life. It describes the value and price of the exchange, a game that you keep on exchanging for what you really want without foreseeing what you will become. In the end of the movie, the actress eventually exchanges her café for 36 travel tickets to all over the world. He said, with motivation and excitement, “The movie inspired me a lot, I was determined to give up all of my own seniority and work, and began my journey, I cast my eyes on the European continent, a new environment I had never been to.”
“To make my own dream comes true, I must have guts to give it all up.”
According to Lo, perhaps because of the eight years he spent in Australia, he could not bear the fact that education in Macao is so narrow, which restricts students’ future career. No matter how ambitious he is, he could only be an “IT guy”, not to mention that the IT industry in Macao is limited compared to the booming industries of gaming and hotels. Under this environment, Lo can’t help but feel insignificant.
Lo applied for a one-year working holiday visa in Ireland, in order to have enough time staying in Europe. When he told his family, they were very worried about him. Ireland is too far away and unknown to them. They considered it was too risky for him to give up his job, and the competition would be even fiercer a year later. “I was not surprised with my father’s answer. He didn’t know about the bottleneck at my work. The resignation of work was always under my consideration, but finally, ‘Taipei Ex- changes’ gave me a push. One would gain after giving it up.”
When Lo meets difficulties, he always laughs it off and says, “You can say that I’m childish, or accuse me of choosing to evade. I have always been reluctant to explain to those who misunderstand or are against me, for those who know me well would respect, support and understand every one of my decisions.”
“I don’t know how long I can remain as this ‘childish’ person, but I am sure my life is just far in front of me.”
The flight ticket to Ireland was ready. There was 14 hours left before departure. Although that was not the first time Lo went abroad, he felt so different. Either the fear of the unknown future, or the family quarrel before his departure that made his mind so troubled. But both his mind and body were ready to embark on this long journey.
“The Flora – Paris was the first station of the journey; the life’s journey was just like crumbs falling down, which guided me to be here. The city I had never been to before deeply touched me, and that was the start of my journey…”