From Hong Kong

Things I did in Hong Kong

• Walk along Temple Street Night Market
• Visit the Chi Lin Nunnery, Wong Tai Sin Temple
• Yuen Po Bird Garden
• Go to Hong Kong Wetland Park, and not see the wetlands..
• Eat at a Dai Pai Dong
• Bargain at Ladies Market, Mongkok
• 3am dimsum
• LKF
• Train to Shenzhen
• Eat Indian food at Chungking Mansions
• Take the Tram up to the Peak
• Ocean Park
• Watch the Symphony of Lights from TST
• Joined a dragonboat team and participated in a race
• Take a junk boat from Ap Lei Chau
• Paddle around the Floating Jumbo Restaurant
• Stanley Market
• Got locked out of my room, forgot wallet, asked for change to get to campus..
• Get street food (duh)
• Participated in a 90% cantonese speaking tutorial class
• Take the Mid-Levels Escalators 
• Go to Lamma Island for Tofu Grandma’s 豆腐花
• Take a ferry from Central
• Eat xiaolongbao at Din Tai Fung
• Swim/Lift
• Got on a green minibus not knowing exactly where it’ll take me
• Buy fobby clothing (but from forever 21)
• Taught a friend to count to 10 in canto
• Ate a McD Mighty Ranger burger (hashbrown, bacon, cheese quarter pounder)
• Buy many different types of mosquito repellent
• Get to know HKG very well (flew out 5 times)
• Ferry to Macau
• Shopping!
• Have a drink at “the highest bar in the world” @ Ozone

I spent the day looking out while I was on long bus rides and train commutes trying to observe hong kong before I have to leave in a few days. It’s kinda scary =/ I don’t think I have/ever will fully understand that I lived here for a few months. Maybe I didn’t really.. Because I was traveling a lot but when it comes down to it, Hong kong was my home this semester. And with or without people I’ve known forever, there are those who I would never forget as being a part of my memories of the experience here.

I actually don’t think it will be that bad when I am at hkg for the last time this Sunday. I’m sure I will return to hong kong in the next decade. I mean I’ve been here many times before.. It’s just that this time is unique in that I was a real resident going to school and having responsibilities (sorta haha ) whereas all the other times have been simply for travel and visiting relatives.

Would I live here permanently? Depends on the situation really. In the beginning of the semester I remember telling myself I had already answered the question just one month into studying abroad: no. But in all honesty, given the right amount of comfort and job opportunity I can do it without complaints, although maybe not when it’s scorching hot and mosquitoes are biting. I really liked living on hk island. I survived in hong kong =]

I’m happiest about being able to travel from hong kong this semester. Asian countries have a lot to offer and the sometimes shitty climate actually makes for gorgeous jungles and beautiful beaches. Also this competition of building the tallest buildings ever is kinda entertaining. I don’t particularly enjoy being attaked by mosquitoes but i guess the scars will remind me of these memories for about a year or two =p

I didn’t expect too much from studying abroad but I got everything I wanted and more. Am I ready to go home? Yeah.. Back to my house, bed, family, boyfriend, friends, car, and weather that I can handle. Am I ready to leave hong kong? I’m not sure I want to consider this leaving quite yet.. I’ll be back. =]

In ten days..

I will be done packing up the stuff I’ve accumulated in Hong Kong and be on my way back to California! The past few days, I have been dying to go home.. 1) finals 2) it’s hot and 3) I got sick =[ But now that I have one week until my last final and I have a list of stuff to do before leaving, I will try to cherish these next ten days!