La dolce vita

In six hours, I'll be on a plane going to the island of Cebu in the Philippines!  With all the tsunami alerts and terrorist attacks in the south, I hope all of that won't be a factor in our vacation for reading week (a week off when we're supposed to "study" for midterms).  It's my cheapest round trip flight so far at $163USD.  I never even thought of going to the Philippines, but after googling pictures of Cebu (and the persistence of Kevin & Kenny), I was sold.  From what I saw, it's like a postcard perfect, paradise, island kind of place I'd vacation in when I retire.  Will it really be like that?  I guess I'll find out!

I'll be going with one of my roommates--Laura from Chicago, Kevin from Florida, and Kenny & David are from Britain...a semi-international group going on.  Surprisingly, I'm the only Californian (we seem to dominate the HKU exchange program).  We plan on scuba diving (apparently Cebu or specifically Moalboal is one of the best places in the world for it), snorkeling, and doing any water-related sports besides being lazy and chillin' on the beach.

Within the past six months, I've been lucky enough to travel to Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan and now the Philippines.  Oddly enough, I've yet to go to mainland China (I will when I get my visa stuff sorted).  I've always had a longing to tour Europe and since I accomplished that, I'm now exploring this side of the world--something I honestly never put much though to before.  How is it so far?  Amazing.

I mentioned to one of my roomies' boyfriend that I studied abroad in Tuscany, Italy before, to which he responded, "Wow! You've had a great life!"  It made me think about it and yeah, I kind of do ; )

No Fondue

Tonight Kiran rounded Paris, Laura, Kevin and I to go to The Melting Pot in SoHo on Elgin St. & Hollywood Road.  I googled it beforehand and expected to arrive at a jazz bar, but to my surprise, it was salsa night!  It was a diverse crowd, mainly middle aged folks who went to have a good time and get their salsa on.  I think we were probably the youngest kids around.  People were shaking their hips and showing off their fancy footwork everywhere.  There was this "man in orange," who could move it like no other.  The scene was definitely something we didn't expect to find in Hong Kong.   I think expats hang around SoHo a lot because it's like they never even left home considering everything is "western" there.  At the same time, I wonder if they ever experience "very local" areas of HK?  To our amusement, the spot was also great for people watching (awkward looking couples or this girl who who just had a "save me!" look on her face when this old white guy dragged her out to dance haha).  The highlight was the live salsa band--the trumpeter definitely made me want to get back, re-learn, and make use of those 5 years I spent learning how to play.

On another note, I have two left feet.  Coordinated dancing is definitely not my forte. 

I already know how much I'm going to miss this place. My departure is months away, but I know it'll be hard to leave.

Relax

I honestly never know what Radiohead songs mean, but I just love their music...

Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

The past two/three weeks of the second semester at HKU have been pretty crazy.  There has been much more partying and crazy super random nights out this time around.  Not that there weren't last semester, but it's been heightened x 10 with the new kids, thus new atmosphere.  For about a week I slept at 6am every day.  It's all been super fun, but it's also come with consequences...being that I fainted today during dragon boat practice while we were running.  I was about to slow down and take off my sweater and the next thing you know, I'm on the floor looking up at my teammates extremely embarassed that I fainted for the second time.  It's never happened back home.  It was a reality check once again that I just need to take care of myself here.  I also don't want my own doings to affect my teammates...I don't want them to have to worry about me fainting every second.  This was the second time during practice that happened...sometimes I just overexhaust/exert myself here, which is no bueno.  I suppose I've been making choices for instant gratification without thinking of the long-run, which I think especially happens in this study abroad world.  It's a dream world of fun and now I just need to chill. out.

Because I also like this song.

Ting Bu Dong

My sister, Liz, me and my cousin, Mary in Ximen, Taipei

I started the new year off with a weekend trip to Taiwan with my sister and cousin from the first to the third--short, but eventful in that we left with full and happy stomachs and new clothes (can't have enough!).  Taipei essentially equals a shopping and eating trip, which is what we succeeded at.  My cousin had been there about five times before and speaks some Mandarin, so she led the way for a chill trip.  What surprised me was how much Taipei reminded me of Seoul.  They're both more spread out in comparison to Hong Kong (which I've realized is extremely dense compared to every other city) and Ximen, as pictured above, looked a hell of a lot like Myeongdong--another shopping district in Seoul.  Kpop was even playing in stores! (my not-so-guilty almost year long obsession)  I was also really happy to see friends from home especially Miss Stacey Shiau.  We went through Literary Journalism together at UCI and now we're both in the same boat--abroad  in our motherlands and still sort of lost in what to do in our lives.  

With Stacey @ Shilin Night Market (tons of people and an overwhelming amount of clothes!)

Reunion @ Primo

Somehow being in Taiwan inspired me to have a yearning to learn Mandarin and to read/write Chinese.  I can understand a few phrases that sound similar to Canto, but it's extremely limited.  Maybe I'll take it this semester?  Having another semester here is kind of fresh and exciting again.  I can't believe I've already been away for four months.  New roommates, new hallmates, new classes...new year!

Under a Rock

I've been deprived of a car for the past 3-4 months and when that happens, I don't listen to the radio or hear new top 40 songs.  So I decided to see what's popular back home through the billboard charts and found the addictiveness of "Meet Me Halfway" by the Black Eyed Peas.  I'm sure everyone at home is already sick of it as it has probably saturated all pop radio stations, but alas, I am addicted!