HK from My Half Chinese Ears

I'm here! HK is amazing. It's a paradoxical, exciting beast with both big and small, exquisite and shabby, designer and dezigner. Today I had my first class but I'll update more on non-academic stuff...the stuff I'm here for!? (yes...? no...? your call).

The multiplisitic nature of HK: two views of the Peak.

So for the past few days I've been settling in, getting the essentials, and exploring HK with the random international students I've met. We're a diverse bunch...of Americans (and a Kiwi). Yeah don't lecture me, I know I know...but they're cool. I'll meet some cool locals too, don't fret. My roomies came in yesterday and one's from HK and the other's from mainland China and they're very friendly and open to teaching me how to be HKanese (aka to barter like a pro and dress all HK fashionable, aren't you excited?)

This past week has been what I would call in a nutshell, exhillirating survival. The locals speak much less English than expected and I often intimidate people with my impeccable English skills. I love it! It's a whole new experience having to truly focus on nonverbal communication, images, and instinct. I've been trying out my bad Cantonese that I learned from a book. Of course no one really understands what I'm saying (in either language, this happens all the time...with friends included. lol). But those few moments when someone understands, "chi saw haih bin dou a?" (where's the potty?) or when I shout "Expensive! Expensive!" in Canto, it makes me smile and think oh yeah!

On Wednesday we went to Sham Shui Po to an outdoor market. OMG, so fun! It was packed and shady. There were stand up bathrooms in the girls' side. No way Jose! (maybe for another day) We also didn't know the language at all; none of us, other than my pocket How to learn Canto book. But of course we still tried to bargain in Canto! So we kept consulting our bible and tried a few times, "No! Gwai, gwai!" (Expensive, expensive!) "Luk sap! Luk sap!" (60! 60!) And we got what we think are a few good deals but what probably are rip offs because those sellers are complete actors, liars, and theives rolled into one.

Getting Screwed @ Sham Shui Po



























Along with having fun in Tsim Sha Tsui, a Taoist Temple, Lan Kwai Fong, Wan Chai, and Ikea (did you catch that?) I also went to the night market in Jordan. I initially was having a little cognitive dissonance with bartering morally and culturally. America is a place where you don't fight for taking miniscule amounts of money, especially from people talking to your face. We don't confront people about them being cheap and lie...much. It's looked down upon as offensively frugal.

I initially felt bad taking money away from sellers and thus their infant children and elderly parents. The extra $10HKD ($1.30USD) wasn't worth fighting for (so I thought at first). I mean they did say it was good, worth that much and insisted that I already was asking for too low a price. But no! I've accepted the fact that no, this is a game...a war. If it's not worth it for them they aren't going to sell it to you. I should not feel bad. They are the ones actually stealing my hard earned Spagger money; they are taking meals from my pocket and I must fight tooth and nail for each dollar! They intentionally raise prices for buyers to bargain them down. It's inevitable to get screwed. And yes, I already have. The bag that I'm holding bellow is my screw bag. I got screwed. I've complained and accepted it. I love it but yeah, I got screwed. It's just so intimidating with them speaking another language (an angry-sounding one at that) along with trying to convert currency quickly while they make you feel bad when they reply in disgust, "Pfft? Chaat sap!? Chaat sap ($70)?! This one is 100! No no no, lady..."

Whatever... I'm going to expedite this post
because I bet no one has read this far anyway. But speaking about expedited, I wanted to explore the realms of expedited friendships. This week has been exciting because I've really gotten to know people so quickly. It seems like it's been weeks, a month even. I've been seeing people for like 15hrs each day? day after day after day (7 of 'um only?). Too much! (Yeah, that's right!) And I find it so amazing how people can get close when they need to survive and interact in horrendous amounts together. It's a nice change. In a sense I wish I was able to spend limitless amounts of time just hanging out with all my friends in a new country, trying food from dirty places and exploring together. But everyone's a busy bee.
















This whole experience feels like the Amazing Race! With language barriers, a lack of direction, limited money, exciting sites, rushed tasks, (and drama soon, I'm sure) my experience in HK has been an Amazing Case so far.

Despite its shyness, HK likes to bling.

...with x-mas decor, even in Janurary...

Tsim Sha Tsui

I kick ass even in Kung Fu nation.
Tsim Sha Tsui Walk of Stars

Yeah, I like HK.