On My Mind

Random things I want to mention, but never took the time to write.  I wish I wrote this when I got here since some of my impressions may have changed and other things I wanted to say I've forgotten....

"At MOST you look 18"--said to me by a hair stylist last week.  Just today, a full-time int'l student and another exchange student asked if I was 18 too.  I don't feel necessarily that this is a bad thing, just shock? or like, really??  I guess I can see it though.  Oh gosh, I'm 22.

Most of the American exchange students are 3rd/4th years, though I do meet more Australians/Europeans/other nationality students who are 22+.  I remember when I first got here, I met a few American exchange students who would bulge their eyes and be in shock when I told them I was a 5th year (yay avoiding real world!)

Haircuts in Mong Kok are $98HKD=$12.60USD.  AWESOMENESS because I love haircuts.  Only got a trim though and may be getting a straight perm this Friday so I can save 10 minutes of my life.  I've been thinking of dyeing my hair, but what color?

Food.  I love food and good food here can be $3USD for a good meal.  Yes, it's amazing.  Why America can you not do the same?  Even McDonald's is cheaper--a meal is around $4 USD.  Ate all you can eat sushi for $6 USD too.  Mexican food however is "expensive" and something I still have to try.  Reminds me of when I had to explain what a burrito was to some local students...

Majority of people here are small--guys and girls, so I feel relatively tall.  The girls are super skinny and the guys can be too. 

Slimming ads are everywhere.  Korea seemed to be face conscious (hence all the plastic surgery ads) while HK seems to be body conscious.  Though they can be toooo skinny.

When I first arrived, it was HOT.  So humid you step outside and feel like you're sweating without doing anything and you wish you could just rip your clothes off and run through some cold sprinklers.  Now my blog title no longer fits the weather.  Just last week it got cold and windy around 55 degrees, but now it's back to a nice 75 (without humidty, thank god).

I remember thinking HK was pretty stylish from my last visit, but when I got here I realized HK is very casual.  Lots of tshirts, shorts, etc.  but then I figured out why I had that impression from my last visit.  Why?  Since it got cold last week, everyone dressed better..layers, peacoats, scarves, oh my!

My ethnicity/nationality is in question.  A few weeks ago, a hair dude thought I was Korean (which I get back in the States sometimes too); a local student, my cousin's friend, and dragon boat steersman thought I was Japanese; a few local students asked if I was "mixed" though they couldn't say with what; and after hearing my broken Cantonese, people have asked if I was from Singapore, Vietnam, or Thailand--these I think because I'm tan.

Whitening creams, lotions, body washes, anything you name it everywhere.  I already knew this obsession before I came here, but it feels more apparent now that I'm here.  A grand contrast to tanning products and salons everywhere back home.

The taxi and bus drivers here are crazy.  They tailgate like mad.  However, in a way, they are really good drivers because I rarely see accidents and they know how to brake really really well. 

In my opinion, my Cantonese has improved considering I never/barely spoke it back home.  My mom and grandma would speak to me in it, but I'd respond in English and for my gma, I'd have trouble responding or would say something simple.  My mom however, thinks it has not after our skype sessions haha.

I've joined the Dragon Boat team and Photographic Society!  More on those later.  (Super fun!)

Poke Her Face

Keepin' it classy with buzzed myspace-esque photo taking in the bathroom.

Halloween 2009 @ Club Billion, Lan Kwai Fong in Central, HK

Blonds do have more fun.

June?

As expected, I let my blog die for a bit. There's so much to write about, but not enough energy (as this requires thinking) to do so at the moment. At the end of October I decided to extend my HKU program for another unnecessary semester. Unnecessary since I didn't have to do a 5th year at all, but I wanted to come to Hong Kong and I'm glad I did. I am soo not into studying especially in HK, thus this year may (sadly) drop my GPA. Classes end in less than 2 weeks and then finals and then (mostly) everyone goes home. 1 semester is way too short and I feel like there's so much more to do. I hope I'll satisfy this craving with the addition of another semester. Hopefully they'll let me move into a real hall next semester so I can see how that goes.

I haven't changed my plane ticket yet, but I expect to come home in June. June seems pretty far away. I definitely didn't prepare myself for a year away before leaving. The thought of it is almost scary in a way. I wish I could go back to Cali for at least a week. I thought I didn't get home sick and I don't, but here, I'm friendsick. When I studied abroad in Italy, I didn't really get this feeling. Sure I wish my friends were with me, but I suppose Italy = summer, fun, weekend trips to different cities, adventures, a new culture to experience, and my first time studying abroad. To any friends reading this, I MISS YOU!!!

I end with Khalil Fong. A friend's friend told me to check him out before I came to HK since he's from HK (but sings in Mandarin)and is super popular here. I don't know any Cantopop though since I don't listen to the radio nor have I listened to local students' ipods. Though I do know that most of Cantopop consists of love ballads (which imo, can get boring). Though this love song is not: