My first –from the other side
So I know I should have written this one long ago. I’ve been in Hong Kong for 2 whole weeks now and have barely talked to anyone from home let alone give an update. I think my main rationale is because I’ve been surprisingly keeping up with my journal entries. I think these have been the most eventful consecutive two weeks that I have experienced. I didn’t really believe the director of the program when she said that I would have a roller coaster of emotions. I started off in Arizona with the boyfriend where I was really enjoying, my time, the weather and his company. My last two days there, we went snowboarding with some members of his family. I get home at like 2am Monday morning knowing that I have to unpack, repack, get my hair done, handle school and financial business and visit a lot of people before my flight leaves early Wednesday morning. I get through all that, then I am here.
The 16 hour flight wasn’t as long as it seemed, but it was definitely long, especially when I had a window seat and I kept wanting to get up to stretch my legs, but out of courtesy waited until the old couple next to me got up to go to the restroom or wherever. The food wasn’t too bad: chicken teriyaki in noodles, ramen noodles, and some lasagna. I wrote most of my family and friends an email in the airport and finished setting up Skype so I could call them.
I’m going to do a quick run-through of some main highlights then maybe do a blog later that will go back in detail. I’ve been on two tours of some cool places in the city where I met a lot of other exchange students. I’ve gone to see “The Big Buddha” which was really cool because we had to take cable cars to get there over mountains and water. Inside there was a museum on Buddha and some other cultural things. I also went to Ocean Park, which is like their version of Sea World with big roller coasters and panda bears, but no Shamu. There have been many different temples, churches and monasteries to visit especially during New Years. That was also great because we got to see some of the traditions as well as the big parade and fireworks. We’ve also done a lot of shopping and a lot of partying. Surprisingly the clubs play some really great American music like Chris Brown, Neyo, Beyonce, Rihanna, etc. I just got back from Macau last night. We had to take a ferry to get there and they have a strip like Vegas. There, we went to the Ventian Casino where we also saw a Cirque de Soleil show ‘Zaia’.
Everybody seems pretty cool, but for most it seems like they want to meet and please as many people as they can so it seems like they are just easy-going and will go along with the crowd even if they don’t want to. I think I’ve pretty much found my crew that I will hang out with for most of my time here. I have definitely been concentrating more on my studies than I thought I would, but it keeps my mind off other things and missing people too much. We are supposed to be going to the Philippines this weekend!! I will try to do more of a weekly update; until next time.
