Three Weeks Later...

No pictures this time (I’m really sorry about that), but I promise the next one will be choc-ful.

So it’s now been three weeks since I arrived in Hong Kong, and I want to take time to write down some of the things I feel I’ve done well, and other things I still want to achieve.  I hope that I can do this while being a little colorful as well, we shall see.

First off, great choice of taking Accounting while I’m here.  It sucks.  Really badly. This guy has slides that are straight from the publisher, and seems to have a lot of trouble explaining concepts.  I’ll ask him why something goes in Accounts Payable, and usually he replies something with  like “because it’s accounts Payable”.  Oh, of course.  And I don’t think it’s his English, which is pretty solid.  He just doesn’t seem used to people asking questions, which would require something greater than the knowledge of the textbook. So, bottom line, it’s a good thing I take the boring course when I only have to pass it.  End of thought.

I’ve been doing a little friend searching lately.  Not that I haven’t met anyone, I’m no hermit.  I just tend to do too much dabbling in too many groups of people.  I think this is just my way of putting out a bunch of fishing rods, and eventually a couple will pull.  Now it’s about time I start reeling them in, i.e. spending more time with fewer people.  I definitely think I’ve found a good group of Americans who I’m planning my Chinese New Year traveling with, and hopefully the same will be said for my Thailand crew.  But I want to maintain a solid circle of international friends, because, well, I have all the time in the world to make American friends, but only this semester to develop some quality relationships with other students.

One thing I’ve noticed is the whole transition process for me was easy, almost too easy.  I think this is a lot to do with the lack of a high language barrier.  Cantonese is far too different from Mandarin for me to be able to practice and use it here.  It would be much easier for someone to understand my demonstrative English than broken Mandarin, which I haven’t practiced in 8+ months.  But there are definitely places that I go where they don’t speak English, and I have a friend who speaks canto do the ordering of food.  I think it’s about time that I jump into some learning of Cantonese, just so I can at least say “I’ll order #21” to the cashier at the canteen, instead of walking over to the menu board and pointing.  I think I’ll feel better about myself when that happens.

I’d say I’m pretty happy with the amount of activities and experiences I’m having here.  The past couple of weeks were definitely big in that department, and I think I’m going to really start seizing more opportunities, and stop being such an apathetic person here.  I’m involved at home, why not here?  Example: about 2 weeks ago, the IASP sent out an email looking for a native English-speaker to be the MC at an event.  Basically, the person had to introduce the speaker at the event, who is none other than the US Ambassador to China.  First, I got excited, but then was like, well, it’s on a Friday evening, and I don’t really want to speak in front of all those people. SUCK IT UP JAKE! Stop being such a puss.  I should’ve done it, but at least I’ve registered for the event now.  And I plan on taking advantage of the other activities that the IASP puts on like architecture walks through various parts of HK etc.

Another aspect of my time here that I think I want to expand is my interaction with local people, be it through community service, making friends, or just walking around on my own and talking to some people.  I’ve been reading the blogs of my friends, i.e. Sarah, Howie, and I feel like I’m missing something here.  It feels like there’s not as much culture, and I miss the “whole new world feel” that I think other people are getting.  But, I may just not be looking in the right direction.  I hope to change this.

On that note, I have taken up a great opportunity just today.  Yesterday, I got an email from my SE Asian Culture professor asking if I would be willing to help out one of her grad students in improving her English.  I immediately said yes, and after meeting Anh (read: on) today, who is from Vietnam, I’ll be starting next week working with her on her vocabulary and pronunciation about 6 hours per week. I feel different about this kind of tutoring, because her oral skills really do need work, and I actually feel like I’d be making a huge difference in her life, helping her to express herself, as opposed to teaching kids social studies or earth science.  Oh, and yeah, I’ll be getting 50HK per hour, which for the 4 days a week I’ll tutor, should be able to cover my food expenses.  Hello, greater financial independence.  This makes me feel a lot better about turning down some similar teaching opportunities at local middle/high schools, which conflicted with my classes.

One funny thing that Michael Chen mentioned in his recent post, that I’m still having trouble with, is crossing the street.  Even though they have printed on the actual road in both English and Chinese “Look Left” or “Look Right”, I still can’t get it right.  This leads to about 2-3 encounters each day, when someone holds me back, or a car narrowly misses me.  Something’s gotta give.

I’ve been pretty satisfied, but not content, with my amount of traveling so far.  That is, I feel comfortable in a few of the areas of Hong Kong, and have planned two trips.  I leave for Thailand tomorrow and hope to have an amazing experience.  I think I’m going with a good group of kids who will have the desire to balance cultural experience, i.e. touring temples, walking the streets, with fun (read: Full Moon Party and 85 degree sunny beaches).  The second trip is for the week we get off for Chinese New Year.  The plan now is for the Philippines – one day in Manila, 2-3 days in Boracay, and 2 days in Cebu.  Google these places, as I’m not too sure yet about what they have to offer, just going on recommendations.

One thing I do want to change about my attitude is to be more willing to take the extra day or two in traveling, and not worry about classes so much.  Most of my group is actually staying until Wednesday (i.e. a full week), but I decided to fly back for on Monday afternon.  While that sounds terrible mom and dad, I mean that in the most thoughtful of ways.  I don’t want to limit myself in the traveling arena because I want to get back in time to go to Accounting.  That is weighing my priorities wrong.  I don’t think I’ll make that mistake again.

I’ll be holding onto my wallet and camera for dear life for the next 5 days, as I take my first dive into traveling independently and for cheap, and I hope I come back with some great stories and pictures to prove it.

One last funny thing.  I found out from some locals when I was making a stereotypical “peace sign Asian pose”, that it is not in fact a peace sign they claim to make.  In fact it is a “V” for victory.  Looks like our Eastern counterparts have outdone us again, preceding the “for the win” or “what a win” phrase with “victory” every time they take a picture in front of something cool.  Now I feel foolish.