Mm goi?

One of my courses is taught entirely in Cantonese.
Maybe I should switch out.
Maybe not.

PS

I should mention that I saw Jean Claude Van Dame in Lan Kwai Fong the other day... I'm sure that will impress some more than others. I didn't even know who he was, but apparently people here think that's a big deal. Celebrity status and whatnot. Psh.

Santa on a helicopter tossing croissants

Setting: Chinese New Year's Parade.

friend: Oh look! It's Santa clause riding a helicopter!
Guy: that's the god of good fortune.
friend: Oh...is he tossing croissants?
Guy: I think that's gold.
friend: Oh wow, what's that symbolic of?
Guy: Nothing. It's just gold...

Yeah, I'm badass

I snuck on a boat tour today. Yeah that's right, I'm badass. While the guys reading off names, I casually climb on the bus after a friend, make myself comfortable and wait for someone to notice. For a bit it looks like I'm in the clear...then I look out the window. I count the number of people, I count the number of seats. There are definitely more people than seats. I think of the horror of shamefully getting kicked off the bus for not being on...THE LIST. I keep my cool. There's confusion in the front. Not enough seats. Will they check THE LIST? Ha. No. The suckers have to squeeze together up front. I feel a tinge of guilt...and debate turning myself in. My unquenchable thirst for living on the edge hampered my need to do good.

Result: fresh seafood dinner and a boatride to witness the New Year's fireworks while surrounded my Hong Kong's skyline.

I'm like Dicelaws, only crazier, and without the molestache.

Along for the ride

After arriving to Hong Kong and experiencing confusion, frustration, and an overwhelmingly heavy dose of culture shock, the best thing to do was escape to Boracay Island in the Philippines for my first pseudo-exotic adventures. I say pseudo because Boracay is an island for the tourist, designed for their comfort and catering to their needs...exactly what I needed for my first trip out of HK, as pampered as that may sound.

To be honest, the first two days were brutal. My anxiety ran rampant after a small health concern escalated to a situation of panic. Knowing something is alarmingly off with your health and being isolated from medical care is just scary...I guess I was a bit lucky, because my body decided it wasn't really into the whole being sick thing. Good thing... And I was begining to think I'd miss out some crucial beach time.

And the beach: It goes without saying that a 5 day trip of too much time, sun, and food on a strip of beautiful white sand and clear blue waters forces a person to destress. If a person is resiliant, just throw in the hour long full body massage, which costs a whopping seven us dollars.... Although, that hour involved some awkard instances, such as ass punching. Yes, ass punching. I've never gotten a massage before, so perhaps I'm not an expert, but, I was NOT expecting that.

Here's the point: The extent of culture shock I experienced initially was highly unexpected. But, I am finally relaxed and ready to be here. I've met some cool people, taken some time to adjust, pampered myself a bit, and am back in Hong Kong ready to learn and flow with the culture.

Everyone needs a good punch in the ass every once in a while.
Keeps you on your toes.

Sunburnt and Soaking

Im in Boracay in the Philippines, I'm at an internet cafe, and I'm dripping wet. After a kilometer sprint through mud puddles and street vendors, I've reached the glorious halfway mark to my hostel...the internet cafe. Now I must take off, only 80 pesos left to get myself off this island. More details to come.

Out of my element

The language barrier is rough. The cultural barrier, rougher. It hit me last night that this is the first time I've been so completely removed from familiarity. I have nothing from my own personal experiences to relate Hong Kong culture to. Attempting to break down the language or pick up the main jist would be completely impossible at this point. And deciphering culture...I feel ignorant, loud, and American. I can't gauge the tone of someone's voice, their mannerisms or actions...I'd be using a completely skewed perspective. I have to throw it all out and start from scratch. I left behind any sense of knowledge and comfort... I know this will be hard, I know I'll be frustrated and pushed to my limits. I'll probably offend some people, create numerous awkward situations, get my directionally impaired ass lost countless times.

It's 2:30 AM, I'm in the lobby, sleepless , confused, overwhelmed, and jetlagging...a security guard just walked over.

"lady, good drink for you!"

And he buys me a refreshing soy milk. I try to remember how to say thank you in cantonese.

I fail. He laughs.

And life is good.

And 16 hours later...

I'm finally in Hong Kong.
I've been here all of 3 hours and Already I have:

1) Surrendered to the fact that no one knows what Wisconsin is, so I'm now from outside Chicago
2) attempted to take in a quick lesson in Cantonese from my taxi driver
3) Met @ers, and of course, experienced an awkard moment while saying goodbyes (I guess hugging is a no?)

If sources are correct...come daytime I should be able to see the ocean outside my dormroom window.
Perfect.