Pre-exchange: Hong Kong

Eureka! I can post! 

This is so exciting - I've been unable to get onto the blog for the longest time so I thought the communist gov. blocked it (like wikipedia)! 

Pre-Exchange update

So my adventures started a few days ago (6 to be exact) when I boarded a plane at Pearson airport - destination Seoul, then HK. Little did I know that it would be extended by 7 hours because we had to stop over in Anchorage Alaska for an emergency landing (someone was sick on board). So a little under 30 hours later, and an attempt at having a Korean conversation with the cleaning lady at Incheon airport, I stepped foot on HK soil.

I have to profess my love to plane letters - one of the greatest inventions of all time - comparable to the automobile or the light bulb. They kept me alive on the plane and reminded me of the great friends that I was leaving back home. I think I will keep them in my new bible and read them every so often when I get homesick.

Hong Kong

In HK, I've been able to meet up with the Schulichers at HKUST. Alison and Wesley met me at the school and showed me the residence and at night we met up with Jocelyn and Karen and went to Mong Kok for the first night out. 

From there on, I've been able to meet a lot more exchange students (who are ever so cool) and experience what my exchange would feel like. There is just so much diversity! It is like east meets west, black meets white meets yellow meets purple and blue. I've been shopping (bought a rubbery egg at the night market), ate local food, had local yummy mango drinks that taste a little bit like heaven, and meet local students (well from mainland). 

A few days ago, two hkust students took me and two other exchange students on an outing to a village a few hours away from school. We took cable cars up to see the big buddha on an island and saw the Chinese New Year Fireworks. 

I experienced LKF, which is the club.bar district in hong kong where all the foreigners go as soon as the sun sets. People buy drinks from 7-11 and chill until the early morning. It is fun, rowdy, crowded and filled with loud music and lots of second hand smoke (it is actually more fun than I made it out to be). There are stories of exchange students spending 7/8 days consecutively at LKF. 

Shenzhen

Now I'm in shenzhen. I've been here for about 3 days now. I got here by subway from hk and I got my visa done at the border. The weather is similar to hk, but since there is no heating here, I am freezing to death in my two hoodies and jacket. The food here is good, and the shopping is a lot cheaper than hk, although, I'm not sure I'm that kosher on the styles.

I have lots of pictures on facebook that I will continue to update.If you've gotten to here, congrats on finishing my novel of a blog entry! : )

Happy Chinese New Years!