Classes and Rotary friends

I'd like to apologize for the recent lag in blog posts. My school schedule this week has been quite grueling. I'm currently in the middle of the Journalism Technical Skills Bootcamp. Although the bootcamp isn't intellectually demanding, the long hours certainly are. Since Monday I have been in class every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The long lunch break and short coffee breaks are my saving grace.

The week is split between a Web skills session and a video session. Wednesday was my final Web class and I am so thankful to not be staring at a computer full-time anymore. We did cover some interesting things though...like blogging, how to make web pages through Dreamweaver, uploading onto our private FTP server accounts, editing audio through Audacity and photos through Photoshop, etc. I actually learned a lot. Will I remember it? I hope so.

Today was the first video session. I am the only one in my section who is familiar with Final Cut Pro editing software. I'm also apparently the only one with experience turning out news packages on a daily deadline. After talking with my video production professor, Jim Laurie (very accomplished - you should Google him), he suggested that I might be able to get a waiver for the two video-related courses. He said I may also be able to help as a teaching assistant, but without compensation (bummer). I'm still weighing my options. I really love crafting broadcast pieces and I would like to the experience the challenges/differences of doing it here in Hong Kong. At the same time, if I skip the courses that would free me up to take other, more China-focused, classes. I think those would be fascinating, especially the ones which are geared toward China's influence over the media and how journalists deal with it.

So that pretty much catches us up on my school situation. I can also tell you that I've made many new, wonderful friends. The mix of MJ students is very international. There are quite a few from mainland China, some from HK, and the rest are from all over... UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, South Africa, and the US (California), for a total of around 50 students. I think it should be a good year.

In other news...

Sandy, my Rotary roommate, arrived Monday evening and is settling in. We move into our apartment this Saturday and took care of purchasing a wireless Internet plan while in Central this afternoon. It'll be installed and ready to go on Sunday, which is nice. I was also in Central to register for my Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID), a requirement for anyone staying in HK more than six months. I have a temporary one now and will return in two weeks to get my permanent card. (Photo of my temporary HKID below).

I've also been getting to know some of the other Rotary Scholars studying here. Brian Hoffman, (Kentucky) is here pursuing a Master's in International and Public Affairs, and Laura Wong (California) is here working towards a Master's in Public Health. We had dinner Wednesday in Lan Kwai Fong, a notoriously touristy spot. We ate Malaysian and it was delicious, totally worth being assaulted by the many "restaurant flyer boys" on the way up the street. (Below is a photo of us at dinner).

Brian and I have also done a bit of sightseeing together. Below are photos from our visits to Stanley Market, Repulse Bay, and Kowloon to watch the HK Island light show.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!

I could hardly sleep last night because I'm so excited! I can't wait to meet all of my new professors and classmates! Have to run along now to get ready for my day, but you will receive a full report later! :)

Transportation 101

Yesterday was Suk Yee's birthday, but we couldn't celebrate properly because of the poor weather. To make up for that, we went to one of the Laus' favorite places... a buffet restaurant in the Admirality Marriott Hotel. I'll admit it was nice to have a little selection... and by little, I mean enormous! I never eat my money's worth at buffets, but I was quite impressed by Freeman's girlfriend. (Freeman is Suk Yee and CK's eldest son). I watched her eat 4 full plates AND a bowl of soup. My arm is like the size of her thigh too. She's so skinny! I've noticed a lot of Hong Kong girls are super skinny though. Suk Yee says it's because they only eat supplements. I have no idea.

After our gorge fest, Freeman and I spent the rest of the day exploring Hong Kong's hot spots. He literally took me everywhere and we somehow managed to use all possible modes of transportation in the process. It's kind of funny now that I think about it. First we took the MTR (subway) from Admirality to Mong Kok... walked around Mong Kok for a while... took a Kowloon bus from Mong Kok to Tsim Sha Tsui (except traffic was moving at a snail's pace so we got out at St. Andrews Church and walked the rest of the way to Tsim Sha Tsui)... from TST we took a ferry to Central...from Central we took a trolley to Causeway Bay... walked around Causeway Bay for a while... and then took another (different) bus back to Chi Fu Fa Yuen... and from Chi Fu Fa Yuen we walked home to Pokfulam Garden. Phew!

You would think that the walking portions of our journey would be relatively easy, but they were actually the hardest part! I've NEVER seen crowds this big before. Every other second I was stepping over or bumping into someone. The worst part is that there was no escaping the throngs of people either. The malls AND the streets were packed shoulder to shoulder. (Refer to photo).



Despite my constant fear of being trampled, I had a really great day!! Freeman was a fabulous tour guide and so generous to share his time with me! (Random side note: He also introduced me to a tofu drink... strangely good.)

By popular demand...

I've received requests to post photos of my new apartment (mine starting August 30th). Seeing as I'm stuck indoors all day/night due to the typhoon, I figured this would be the perfect opportunity. Enjoy.

KITCHEN


BATHROOM


BEDROOM #1


BED IN BEDROOM #1


BEDROOM #2


LIVING ROOM


(There is a kitchen table too, but you can't see it because it's between the living room and the kitchen).

Also, if you feel so inclined to send me a "missing you" or "thinking of you" note (possibly even money), my address is:

Flat H, 1/F, Block 14
Chi Fu Fa Yuen
Pokfulam Road
Hong Kong

Typhoon Time!!

Yesterday (Thursday) Suk Yee told me that Typhoon Nuri was heading for Hong Kong (currently we are right in the middle of it). I thought, WOW, a TYPHOON… that’s pretty exciting! Naturally, I had lots of questions. Turns out typhoons range from a level 1 (mild rain) to a level 10 (storm is directly above, characterized by gale force winds and torrential downpours). When there is a level 8 all offices and schools close. The only places that stay open are restaurants and supermarkets. I even received an e-mail from the Journalism and Media Studies Center (JMSC) listserve stating that our first class, previously scheduled for this Saturday, would be cancelled due to the typhoon. I can’t believe my first week in HK includes a category-9 typhoon (the current classification) and NO CLASS!

I visited my friend, Brad, yesterday at his home on Discovery Bay and he told me that typhoons are great because all the bars/clubs run drink specials. I believe he said that the higher the typhoon level, the cheaper the drinks are. I think that’s crazy! It takes a very special person to willingly put himself/herself in danger and get drenched just for a cheap cocktail. I think Brad will readily admit that he is one such special person. ;)

Something else I found interesting is HK’s typhoon alert system. I’m assuming the majority of people own a television; otherwise I have no idea how they find out (other than looking out the window or possibly listening to the radio). Anyway, a small symbol appears at the top left-hand corner of the TV with a number next to it depicting the current level of the storm. It is continually updated depending on the typhoon’s progress and appears on every single channel, so you’re always updated no matter what you’re watching. It’s really cool. There are some photos below tracking the typhoon from a 3 to a 9. (I took them while we were watching the Olympics). Originally the meteorologists were calling for a 10, but the typhoon has changed course slightly and won’t hit HK directly.

The next three photos portray the progression of the storm as seen through my bedroom window. Notice how the last one is almost completely whited out from the rain. Zero visibility.

I also recorded a short video of the Typhoon Nuri news coverage if anyone is interested.

Assimilating

Wednesday was EXTREMELY busy. I rode the bus all by myself to school, which was extremely monumental! I’m starting to understand there are not many rules when it comes to the green minibuses. The scheduled stops are more like guidelines and passengers have to be pretty aggressive if they want to get on or off the bus. Even if you’re at a designated bus stop you still have to hail the bus like a taxi or it won’t stop (it drove right passed me one day because I didn’t know to put my hand up and I had to wait another 10-15 minutes for the next one). What’s convenient is that you can hail it from anywhere on the bus route and the driver will stop in the middle of traffic to pick you up. The scary part for me is that you have to yell to get off and if you’re unfamiliar with the area it makes it very difficult to know when to shout. Luckily I’ve become familiar with landmarks around the university and found the nerve to shout, “next stop,” in Cantonese (sounds like “Bah see sum”). I felt very accomplished.

I made it to the Health Orientation a little early again and make sure to verify that it was definitely in English. It was not only in English, but quite interesting and informative. Of course, like a giant nerd, I took notes. Here are a few things I learned:

-The University Health Center provides care for more than 32,000 people (students, faculty, staff, and their dependents).

-Most Hong Kong people go to the doctor for EVERYTHING… even symptoms of a cold. (The nurse said Americans don’t do that, opting to self-medicate instead for minor illnesses. I thought that was pretty accurate).

-8% of the Hong Kong population is a Hepatitis B carrier.

-Hepatitis A is a high risk in China and Hong Kong, especially from shell seafood. Also, if you get HepA it takes 6 months to recover.

-According to the nurse, the biggest health concern now for Hong Kong is Avian Flu. To protect yourself it’s important to cook all meat and wash your hands frequently. If you do feel flu symptoms, she suggested wearing a mask.

*Side note: It could be that I’m more aware of it now, but I’ve seen a lot of people wearing masks since this talk and it makes me really nervous. Some people choose to wear them because the air quality is poor, but it still puts me on alert every time I see someone with a mask on these days.

After the Health Orientation everyone was ushered through a line to receive a free diphtheria and tetanus booster. It was a combo shot and my last tetanus was in 1999, so I figured it was about time for another. That was two days ago and my arm is still VERY sore (like so sore that I can’t sleep on my left side at night). The University Health Center also provided free dental screenings. I didn’t take advantage of that because I’d just visited the dentist a couple weeks ago, but I still thought it was pretty interesting.

Later, I met a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar from the 2007-2008 academic year, Lily Wu, who was also pursuing a Master of Journalism degree at HKU. Our similar experience and interests led us to talk for 2 ½ hours and I felt like we hit it off immediately! Talking to her was probably the highlight of my day. She gave me great advice on giving Rotary presentations, succeeding in the Journalism and Media Studies Center (she said I’ll be light-years ahead because of my Final Cut Pro experience), and advice on where to pursue internships. She interned with CNN here, but said it is not a good place for gaining practical experience because they do not give the interns much responsibility. Instead, she suggested I intern with TVB (Pearl) because there is a chance I could even make it on air. Something interesting she shared is that white skin is highly revered and thought to be very beautiful. (Many women carry umbrellas to block themselves from the sun and they also put on a special cream to keep their skin looking whiter. I think it’s funny because a lot of American women use self-tanner to make themselves look darker). She said being Caucasian would work to my advantage. I like Lily a lot.

That evening I met Agnes in Wan Chai for happy hour drinks and dinner. (Note: Happy Hour in HK last 4 hours, from 5-9 p.m… so much better than the States). We were originally meeting to help me find housing, but since I signed for an apartment the night before we used our time to get to know each other better and explore cultural differences. Our topics included places we’ve traveled (Agnes has been almost everywhere), hobbies (Agnes enjoys dancing, music, and art), and family. Somehow we got on the topic of divorce payments. Agnes said in HK, if a man makes the most money and divorces his wife, he is required to pay for her until she remarries. If she never remarries then he pays for her for the rest of her life (or until he is no longer able to support her financially along with his new family).

For dinner Agnes brought me to one of her favorite places in Causeway Bay. The name of the restaurant literally translates to Snake King II. One of their specialties is snake soup. It’s popular in the wintertime because it is served very hot, but Agnes was adamant that I give it a try. The soup comes with five different kinds of snake and actually tasted pretty good. (My stomach felt a little queasy on the bus ride home though). She also pointed out that men are served their meals on plates, while women are served in bowls. Apparently this is universal in all authentic Chinese restaurants. I have trouble finishing the bowl portions, so there is no way I could possibly finish a plate portion. (Photos below are of me in front of the restaurant, snake soup, me after I tried the snake soup, and Agnes).

Other observations and fascinating things I’ve learned so far:

-Napkins do not exist. Women carry small packs of tissues around with them to be used for dabbing sweat and also to be used in the place of napkins at restaurants. When I ate out with Suk Yee and Agnes, I noticed they both took the tissues out of their purses to set on the dinner table. Western-style restaurants sometimes have cloth napkins, but they’re more for decoration than anything else. Tissues are still used to wipe one’s fingers.

-Chinese eat many courses. Suk Yee is ALWAYS refilling my bowl at meals and I can never keep up. It’s not for lack of deliciousness; it’s just that I get full too fast. I don’t want her to take offense so I blame it on my small stomach. I think she’s starting to understand… although maybe not. The only dish I’ve been able to finish so far is Chinese noodles because they’re not very filling, and now that I think about it, we’ve had Chinese noodles for the past three days since. :)

-You have to work for your chicken. Instead of taking out the bones and removing the skin like in the US, in HK it looks like they just throw an entire chicken in a wood chipper and put it on a plate (after cooking of course). You have to be very careful not to eat the bones, which is why chicken meals are usually provided with small bowls that you use to spit out the non-edible parts. I’ll be honest, it’s a lot of work to find some white meat… and when you’re doing it with chopsticks it’s virtually impossible.

-There are no bus maps. I’ve asked several people where I can find one and they all look at me like I’m crazy. Are HK people just born knowing which bus numbers correspond with all 100+ bus routes?! This is a challenge I am still trying to work out.

-Majority of HK’s population is either Catholic or Buddhist. Being Catholic is a kind of status symbol and commonly associated with the upper class.

-Construction workers use BAMBOO scaffolding. That seems incredibly dangerous to me, but the structures appear to be supportive. My better judgment still prevents me from walking under them though.

-Filipino women are employed as maids and nannies. Apparently they assume all “housewife and mother duties” for HK women that are working professionals. Their skin is often a little darker than Chinese women and they speak English.

BIG BIG DAY!

I started my day by heading to the university for my Health Orientation Seminar. I arrived a little early trying to be a diligent student and stood around as more students started to gather. After waiting (and sweating profusely... we had to wait outside), a nice young man came over to me and asked if I spoke Putonghua. Considering I've never even heard of it, I assumed I didn't and told him so politely. Turns out this particular health session was entirely in Putonghua (I googled this for a long time to get the correct spelling...it's a Mandarin dialect originating around Beijing). Oops. The English session isn't until tomorrow. I'll be sure to keep you posted.

I called Suk Yee to let her know and she came to get me so we could spend the afternoon wandering around Central. Hong Kong is definitely a wealthy place (at least most parts). Walking around the mall was intimidating. They had EVERY designer name you could ever think of: Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Manolo Blahnik, Juicy Couture, Louis Vuitton, Roberto Cavalli, and many MANY more! After wishing I had more money (or any at all actually), we headed to the International Finance Center (IFC) building It's the tallest in HK at somewhere around 80 stories. If you're wondering, it too has many designer shops out of my budget. I was most impressed by the views of the harbor though. I think Suk Yee picked up on this because she suggested we take the tram to Victoria Peak. It's the tallest accessible point in HK and very popular for its exquisite views of the island and Kowloon. It truly was breathtaking. We were lucky to have such a clear day today, too, because some days can be really foggy with limited visibility of the city below. Check out the photos and video.





The Peak was certainly fun, but what makes this day so AWESOME is that I finally found an APARTMENT!!!! Yay!! I feel like I can relax a little now. It's located in a building right next to CK and Suk Yee in a very nice, safe neighborhood. There is a 24-hour security guard in the lobby of my new building and the apartment is a decent size compared to some of the other options I explored. It's around 500 sq. ft and $10,000 HKD per month. The kitchen and bathroom are newly renovated and there is a television in every room (that means 3). Oh yeah... I completely forgot to mention that it is FULLY furnished. There are 2 bedrooms (although one is pretty small, more like an office) and there's even a washing machine! That's pretty luxurious for HK. I met the landlord as well, Mrs. Alice Chan, and she seems like a lot of fun (very spunky). We spent about an hour going over paperwork and making things official in the real estate agent's office. They spoke Chinese half the time so I couldn't understand everything, which was a little annoying, but it all worked out after lots of questioning on my part. I was happy CK and Suk Yee came with me so they could help mediate. I can't believe this is the first time I've ever rented an apartment on my own and it's in HONG KONG! My first rental agreement is partially in Chinese! Whoa! This is so weird, but cool at the same time.

Anyway, things are starting to come together nicely. Thanks to everyone for your support and prayers. And a MAJOR thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Lau, who I now refer to as my Chinese aunt and uncle. Also, I could use a little money, Dad. :)

Tsim Sha Tsui Rotary Club- 1st Meeting

Unlike the Rotary clubs I've visited in the US, Hong Kong clubs are very small. There are only 21 members of the Tsim Sha Tsui Rotary Club (my host club). Agnes Lau is my host Rotarian counselor and we hit it off immediately. (She appears to be in her early thirties and is a successful corporate lawyer in Central). In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed every Rotarian that I met. There were even Rotarians visiting from Switzerland and the Causeway Bay Rotary Club. (I got the latter's business card so I can arrange to speak at one of his upcoming meetings). The luncheon speaker was Dr. Wong, a medical professional specializing in stem cell research. He was trying to sell the benefits by persuading everyone it can take years off their appearance. A lot of the older gentlemen got very excited about that.

Anges and I are having lunch tomorrow night and I look forward to getting to know her better. I think we could be pretty good friend. We've already touched on the boyfriend subject. She said that she doesn't have one because the dating scene is very difficult in HK. The women out-number the men exponentially, and the good men ("husband material") are typically taken off the market pretty early. She said that only leaves a pool of men that are lazy or intimidated by successful, independent women. I recommended New York. I said she and her boyfriend can both be successful and independent. The city atmosphere of NYC is also very similar to HK. She just laughed.

Below is a video snippit of Dr. Wong's presentation and another clip of Tsim Sha Tsui's club president presenting (or trying to) a Rotary flag as a gift to Dr. Wong.

First full day in HK- Monday, August 18

I woke up really early (despite extreme jet lag) to get a head start on my "to do" list. Suk Yee showed me how to take the #22 bus to HKU's campus and taught me how to say "stop", "next stop" and "thank you" in Cantonese. (Sounds like Bah-cee sum yow lok, m goy... I'd love to hear you try it). Before heading to the university we hiked a short distance to the nearest HSBC branch (Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) to set up a local account. Rotary asked me to set up the account so they can wire me my scholarship money, and I thought it was a pretty good idea in general. Everything went smoothly and I walked out of the bank 30 minutes later with a checking and savings account. I'm really thankful that Suk Yee was with me because the bank representative's English was difficult to understand at times and they were able to speak in Cantonese before relaying the information to me. It actually makes me wonder how I could have possible done this on my own.

Our next stop was HKU so I could turn in my registration paperwork. OH...MY...GOODNESS! The university buildings are spread out along the side of a mountain! To make matters worse we got completely lost and must have asked at least 20 strangers for directions before FINALLY finding the office I needed, which conveniently was at the VERY TOP of the mountain. It was like hiking Everest (never done it, only assuming) in 90 degrees with 100% humidity. I was not only drenched upon arriving at the top, but I've also never been more aware of how out of shape I am. I have a feeling that won't last long though. We must have climbed at least 300+ stairs, not including the upward sloping walkways. The journalism school is right next door so I get to enjoy this trek on a daily basis starting next week. Phew... it makes me tired just thinking about it.

While at the school I also stopped by CEDARS, which is the office that deals primarily with international students. I was told they could help with housing, but when I showed up the woman at the front desk said they don't help graduate students because we're supposed to know how to do this stuff on our own by now. Hmm...even if this is only our FIRST DAY in the country!? It doesn't seem right, but she did direct us to a list of apartment options hanging on the wall at the entrance. Suk Yee and I jotted a few potentials down and then set out to take a look. The two located closest to the university in the Western District did not look very appealing to me. They were extremely old and slightly dilapidated, and the neighborhood also looked pretty rough. Finding a place to live in a foreign country is stressful!

We accomplished all of this before 12 o'clock. By 12:15 p.m. Suk Yee and I were in a taxi headed for Central (the main business and commercial district of HK). I had to be at my first Rotary function at 12:50 p.m. on the Kowloon side of HK. Sue Yee showed me how to take the MTR (subway) from the Central station to Tsim Sha Tsui where my Rotary luncheon was being held in the Hotel Miramar. It was my first time riding the MTR, but I found it very easy to navigate.

By 4 p.m. I crashed. Suk Yee woke me up for dinner at 8 p.m. and we had leftovers from the night before... still "ho may."

My journey from the US to HK and first impressions

First, I would like to thank my bestest friend, Beth, for hosting me and my Dad in Fairfax Friday night so that our journey to Dulles airport in the morning was only 20 minutes, as opposed to 2 hours. We also got a delicious meal from Uncle Julio's out of it. (That would be a Mexican restaurant, not Beth's uncle).

Contrary to what I expected, things at the airport seemed to move pretty quickly, or at least it felt that way to me. I was in autopilot and mentally preparing myself for the year ahead. Dad, I presume a little hesitant to let me go, stayed with me all the way until the security checkpoint. After that he still lingered so he could wave to me as I passed through security, repacked my carry-on, and started heading for my gate. Oh, Dad. I was impressed he didn't cry though. :)

My flight to Los Angeles also seemed to pass quickly. I sat next to a nice elderly woman from Ottawa who had recently moved to San Diego and was returning home. She still had a thick Canadian accent, which I loved! Around 34,000 ft. she busted open her quart-sized, TSA-approved, plastic baggy filled with vodka mini-bottles. We had "Bloody Cesar's" (as she called it) together and it was fabulous! I slept for the rest of the 5.5-hour flight.

At LAX I made a few more "goodbye" and "until next year" phone calls during my layover. It still hadn't hit me fully that I was about to move to Hong Kong. Surprisingly, the 13.5-hour flight from LA to HK also passed quickly. Before I knew it, I had my bags (thank goodness they made it) and was heading through the HK airport to meet Mr. and Mrs. Lau. We spotted each other almost immediately. It helped that they were waving a sign with my name on it and that I had called Mina in LA to let her know what I was wearing. Just as I suspected, they immediately started doting on me. They took my bags so I didn't have to carry them (despite my polite objections) and even pulled the car around so I didn't have to walk through the airport parking lot. On the drive home, the Laus let me use their cell phones to call Mom AND Dad and reassure them I arrived safely. The Laus made me feel welcome and secure, which is just what I needed. The drive home from the airport was BEAUTIFUL! The sun set around 7 p.m. so all the city lights were on and the hundreds of skyscrapers glimmered against the water. There was also an enormous full moon, which was pretty cool.

Once at home, the hospitality didn't stop. Mrs. Lau (or Suk Yee - pronounced "Sue Eee") had house slippers waiting for me (although a size too small, but it didn't matter). They showed me my room and even let me take a shower before heading out to dinner. Mr. Lau (or CK, as he prefers to be called) kept telling me to just take it easy. He said there was no rush to move out and I should make myself at home. I must have looked stressed. Admittedly, I was concerned about finding a reasonably priced, fully-furnished apartment near campus.



Dinner was amazing. It was my first time eating authentic Chinese food. At the time it felt like we were eating enough to feed a small army, but I soon realized there is always food leftover. We ate a shrimp and egg casserole, lobster (so good!), barbecued pork, some kind of chicken dish, Chinese tea, white rice, soup with shrimp and scallops, veggies with scallops, and for dessert we enjoyed three different bowls of seaweed with white beans, red beans, and sesame goop. It was all very delicious. ("Delicious" in Cantonese sounds like "ho may"... I always think of "homemade" since it's referring to food). Something interesting I noticed was that women sit at their seats with their purses pressed between their backs and the chair back while dining. Suk Yee said it's because it's harder for people to snatch it that way. Reassuring. All in all it was a very nice experience and I left the restaurant extremely stuffed.

Later that evening I spoke with Mina on the phone and she told me not to eat a lot of food the first week because it'll give me diarrhea... nice to know after the fact. Thankfully, so far so good. :)

I ARRIVED SAFELY!

Long blog to follow soon.

With George Lau (left) and Mina Lau (right)

Countdown: 2 Days!!

Packing update: starting soon.

Yesterday morning my Dad and I made another trip to Yum Yum to meet with George Lau, the son of the couple I'll be staying with in Hong Kong. (He is studying finance and accounting at James Madison University and was in Richmond for summer break). George generously sat with us for an hour and a half to prepare me for my immersion into HK society. I learned about certain customs like accepting a business card with two hands and taking my shoes off at the door when entering a home. Coincidentally, I was also informed that there are no fortune cookies in HK. NO FORTUNE COOKIES IN HK!?! Goodness gracious. The title of this blog clearly demonstrates my naivety. George followed that up by assuring me they do not eat cat or dog in HK either. How did he know that was my next question? Regardless, I have to admit I'm relieved.

I cannot believe I'll be on a plane in only 36 hours! I've been planning this trip for a year now and somehow I feel completely unprepared. I'm sure it's just moving-halfway-around-the-world jitters, but it's still overwhelming. This is my last night in Richmond and I am definitely feeling the pressure of this huge, life-changing move. I am a horrible packing procrastinator too, which of course only adds to my stress level. I am sure things will come together though. Miraculously, they always do. In the meantime, I'm going to do the best I can and keep trusting in God to take care of me.

Countdown: 5 days!!

So after finding out I received a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship last August and waiting for what seemed like an eternity (or a year), I am finally just days away from my Hong Kong adventure... journey... extravaganza?! I have a hard time defining it because I'm still not sure what to expect. From what I've heard though, it sounds like I'm in for a whole lot of fun!

Currently, I'm still trying to tie up loose ends at home and settle various pre-departure details. Additionally, I have to somehow find a way to pack a year's worth of stuff into two 50lb. suitcases. Please tell me how this is even possible?! One of the unsettled pre-departure details previously mentioned is that of housing... in Hong Kong. I still have no idea where I'll be living for the next year. The good news is that I do have a confirmed and pretty legitimate (as far as I know) place to stay for my first week. See if you can follow this... I'll be staying with a girl on my sister's soccer team's family's neighbor's sister's husband's brother and his wife, who conveniently reside in HK just down the street from the university I'll be attending. The family is very nice and I feel as if they've adopted me. Mina and Ringo Lau (the neighbors of the girl on my sister's soccer team) are both from HK originally and now own a restaurant in Richmond, VA called "Yum Yum Good Chinese." I highly recommend it, not only for the excellent cuisine, but for the wonderful service as well! They really are great people and Mina has been such a dear to set up everything for me. Lee Suk Yee and Lau Chi Kwok are the lovely couple hosting me upon my arrival. I've spoken with Suk Yee on the phone and she sounds very sweet. They're going to pick me up from the airport, help me find an apartment, take me shopping for whatever I need, and as if that wasn't enough they've already bought me a prepaid travel card and cell phone. The generosity of these strangers speaks volumes for their culture. I am so blessed.