Ni Hao from Hong Kong!

Wei Ni Hao!

I realize this post is long overdue and I apologize! Does having too much fun count for an excuse?  I’ve now been in Hong Kong for a little over a month and there’s so much to catch you up on. For starters, I need to introduce my (Chinese) self. I am now Ai Ni Qi, thanks to my roommate who gave me the name. Now this isn’t just a nickname, it’s my legitimate Chinese name. The way it works is once someone of Chinese origin gives you a name (which is usually based on the tones of your English name, and also carries a special meaning), it pretty much sticks. Ai Ni Qi is based on the Chinese pronunciation of the beginning of my last name (used first in Chinese culture) and the beginning of my first name. In addition, its meaning resembles the Chinese characters ‘love’ and ‘beauty’ so I absolutely love it! Step one of immersing myself in the local culture- check

Although I’ve made quite a few local (by that I mean Hong Kongese and Chinese) friends, it’s hard to do so initially since the local students are  far more reserved than what I’m used to. So in the beginning, it was only the exchange students sticking together and we ended up missing out on a lot of the local experience. With time (and persistence!) though, that’s definitely changing. I don’t see myself as a tourist here anymore, and considering this is my home for an entire semester , I’m making sure I live like a local. That means cheap (but delicious) street food, using public transport (which is the most convenient thing here) and avoiding MALLS! The last part is exceptionally hard. Hong Kong, much like Singapore and other growing Asian cities is stuck in an Eastern vs. Western culture continuum. So it’s big fancy shopping malls feeding the growing mass consumerism juxtaposed against quaint street markets that usually consist of family-run businesses. In an attempt to avoid these malls, I’ve found myself venturing into some of these local markets that exude vibrancy and are focal points of traditional Chinese culture. Just walking down these market streets is an amazing experience in itself.

Local market in Wan Chai- lots of color and culture!

Some things about Hong Kong that will hit you in the face- Neon lights and the lack of spoken English, both of which are difficult to get used to. And if you care about the environment and cannot speak any Cantonese, you might not get used to it at all. But I guess that’s part of the whole foreign experience! In terms of the language problem, for now I get by with wild gesturing, but I’m trying to pick up a few essential Cantonese phrases. In terms of the environment problem, well, it’s a huge problem. Hong Kong is extremely unsustainable, with a massive ecological footprint. This isn’t too surprising given Hong Kong’s growing consumerism, energy demand, and poor waste management. I’m actually researching the e-waste sector in HK/China with a professor here, which involves a field study as well. Should be interesting!

Speaking of interesting, I don’t know how else best to describe Hong Kong’s topography and landscape. My university is basically perched on a hill, so I have to hike it up to class everyday. It’s a great workout, honestly. And its absolutely beautiful. I’m surrounded by hills and the sea on all four sides. When it rains, you can even see waterfalls up in the nearby hills! Very therapeutic. (I’ll post some pictures of the campus soon)

Hong Kong is divided into 3 regions- New Territories (where I live), Kowloon, Hong Kong Island (where the Central Business District and most of the tourist attractions are located) and outlying islands like Lamma and Lantau. The most fun way to get from NT/Kowloon to the Island is to take a ferry and watch the gorgeous skyline pass you by.

HK skyline as seen from Victoria Harbor

Until I got to Hong Kong, I thought I was a fairly adventurous eater, albeit vegetarian. Little did I know what adventure meant. Now although my vegetarianism is pretty much out the window (I honestly tried to maintain it but it is ridiculously difficult), I can’t bring myself to try the various “delicacies” here- ranging from chicken feet to shark fin. Definitely not for the weak-hearted. But I have made it a point to try every other local dish (that doesn’t involve the above meat) since the best way to learn about a culture is by eating the  food!

Seafood spread at a street market in Yau Ma Tei

Last weekend was Mid-Autumn festival, following Chinese Independence Day. I celebrated the festival with local students and as per tradition, we lit lanterns and ate tons of mooncake. It was an amazing cultural experience  With all the fun I’m having here, it’s hard to remember that this is supposed to be a STUDY Abroad Program. And the local students can be seriously intimidating when it comes to studying. For the first time in my life, I had to wait in queue to get into a library!

I should take that as a sign/warning…

But I’ll post more later (I promise to be somewhat regular from now on )

Zai Jian!

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