Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Culture Shocks

Out and About- 
  • You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a 7-Eleven. 
  • As a foreigner in the New Territories, I get stared at. This only happens when close to the Mainland border, but getting the Once-Over is always a bit unnerving. 
  • Different language: English is spoken by almost everyone, however, in the New Territories (aka on campus), be prepared to mime your way through a lunch order. 
  • Driving on the left side of the road: The other day I had the epiphany that when I cross the street I should look to my right first. As I stepped onto the street, I was almost hit by a car because - it turns out - the street was a one way the other direction. To be safe, just look both ways before crossing the street.
  • People run to catch elevators, even if it’s an express elevator that only visits two floors. 
  • Young couples walk like they own the entire sidewalk. Holding hands while moving at a glacial pace is a science here. 
  • Spitting in public is perfectly all right. And you can never just *spit*, you have to make the loud spitting noise as well.  
  • People sneeze into their hands. I'm by no means a germaphobe, but it freaks me out every time I see it. 
  • No open container laws. Have you ever just wanted to shop in a street market with beer in hand? You can do that here. 
School-
  • Students are overly devoted to their studies. People spend hours memorizing PowerPoint slides. I can think of better ways to spend my time. 
  • Every student org here has a chant, and they do them all day, err day. They must practice these chants/beats/steps for hours because they’re intricate, they’re loud, and seem to happen every time I’m trying to go to bed early. 
  • Just because not everyone in the group speaks Cantonese, don’t expect the group meetings to be run in English. I do a fair share of doodling during group meetings. 
  • Everyone is soft spoken. I've fallen into the habit of telling people I’m hard of hearing just to get them to speak up, and even that doesn't always work. 

Shopping- 
  • Store clerks will follow you around until you buy something. They hover. 
  • Salespeople are pushy. Men will you offer you a purse or watch on every corner, and women will physically restrain you from leaving their stall. 

Eating- 
  • When the menu says sausage, it means hot dog. Every. Time. 
  • Eating noodle soup with chopsticks is something I have yet to master. 
  • No tipping (which is good, because I can’t afford it)
  • Watch out for the bones in meat. What you do is you pop the meat in your mouth, gnaw on it, suck on the bone, and then spit it out onto the table. My tables manners are falling apart.
  • The entire chicken is served as a dish. Chicken head anyone? 

Facilities-
  • Toilet paper is common, but not guaranteed. Do you really want to take the chance? 
  • Squatty toilets. Do not fall in. 

Saturday, November 3, 2012

"Studying" in HK

What you do when you should be studying? Write a blog about how you should be studying.

Despite popular belief, I’m juggling a full class load while gallivanting around HK. Midterms have started and they are slowing killing me. I‘ll be straight with you: school is harder here. But maybe not for the reason you think. Work in the classroom is not bad; the academics are doable. My marketing professor apologized in class today for not teaching the material effectively as illustrated by our poor performance on the midterm. Her definition of poor performance: no one received a 40/40. So, yes, doing well is definitely a possibility. However, studying abroad adds that new dimension: ABROAD. I’m in another country. I have absolutely no motivation to stay on campus and study when beaches, open air markets and cheap Chinese food are just a train ride away.

I have two more midterms this week. I should be studying, but there are just so many other things to do. Last Friday, a few of us had a “tourist day”.
In Lonely Planet, we trust.

I think we want to go that way...

Yes, definitely that way.

We went to several temples, the HK Correctional Services museum, and the best comedy show in HK. The day was a success and we even managed to catch the last train home. This is something I could not have done while sitting in Iowa City. I want to take advantage of this amazing opportunity, but sometimes it feels like school is getting in the way. I’m currently telling myself that I’m learning a life skill - to balance work and leisure - however I’m having trouble breaking away from the college dilemma of “good grades, social life, adequate sleep: you can only have 2.”

So studying is coming along slowly but surely. I’m studying , I just could be doing slightly better on the quizzes…


Update: I got all my midterm grades back. I didn’t fail!

A Day in the Life


I should probably have made my bed before taking this picture.

The day starts like any other: in my dorm room. The rooms are generally smaller than the rooms on Iowa’s campus, but the essentials are there. We've got two beds, two closets, two desks and two chairs. What more do you need?
I share with 18 other girls, but no real problems.


The bathrooms are nice enough. Not spectacular, but they get the job done. Way better than in mainland China, because HK bathrooms come complete with ever elusive toliet paper.


Breakfast is never that extravagant, but the canteens on campus make sure you’re fed. Culture shock #134: when they say sausage, they really mean hot dog. Pineapple Buns (pictured) are my new favorite thing. 
Only 4 hkd! That's about $0.50 usd.







Practicing characters. I hope some of this actually sticks.

 Study a bit; usually some last minute cramming and off to class (on Tuesdays - Thursdays, that is). My hardest classes are definitely my accounting classes, but learning Mandarin is the most fun.

Scheduling is done in long lectures so I usually sit in a class for three hours at a time. Can't say it's my preferred way to spend my time in HK...

Lunch is had at a local campus canteen. You can have Chinese or Western style food. If I want a quick bite, I’ll grab a sandwich, but sometimes I splurge with the fried rice and vegetables. Iced Milk Tea is one of the best beverages ever. It's tea and condensed milk, which a staple of my HK diet.(pictures of food to follow)





Cross Country Team (this pose is purposely Asian)

Back to class til 5:15 and then I’ve got time to kill before dinner. These couple hours are just as likely to be spent surfing the internet as they are to be doing something productive. On Mondays and Thursdays, I have cross country practice at 6pm.




Formal dinner: Even as a brunette, my curly hair stands out.


Communal dining is required on T-W-R. My entire hostel is required to eat together on these days. Sometimes there are guest speakers, and twice a semester we have a formal dinner (complete with cloaks).




 


After dinner, we pretend to study. In reality, we attempt to watch movies, we play cards, or just sit in chat. We might jump on the train to Tai Po to grab dessert, or make something on our own. In the evening, I say goodnight to my adopted roommate and dream of Dim Sum



 
Teaching the Europeans how to make s'mores.
I saved her from a life of destitution. (aka the trash)