Hong Kong I

Hey, 

It's taken me a while to put out this post. I've now been in Hong Kong for nearly three weeks. Hong Kong is crazy. It gives new definition the the phrase "a city that never sleeps." I've got many things to tell, so here goes: 

When I first arrived, everything went as smoothly as could be hoped for. I met my assigned buddy at Hong Kong Station, as we arranged. She was very nice, and brought along her high school-aged boyfriend to say hello. Unfortunately, she was not feeling that well, and so she headed home after we got into a taxi for the dormitories, and that was the last time I saw her. Its okay, I've gotten along fine without her.

First a little about my living and academic situation:

I live in RC Lee hall, which is located in a beautiful part of western Hong Kong Island, about a seven minute bus from the main campus, with a great view of the Harbor and Victoria Peak. About 375 students live in the dorm, split up into 16 floors. My room is on the ninth floor, with an ocean-side view that I can definitely get used to. The room is pretty small and the mattress is thinner than any I've seen, but the room is functional, with a fan and air-conditioning (which I pay for by the minute), and an internet access point -- all I really need. Unfortunately, I couldn't access the internet until I registered my computer with the University, which I couldn't do since I didn't yet have my student visa. The visa took about a week--and many hours in the HK Immigration Office--to get, during which time I could not register for any classes or get internet access. This cost me, as I ended up getting locked out of one class I really wanted to take. 

In the end, I have a pretty good schedule. I have one class on Monday and Thursday, and none on Friday, which is great for travel purposes. I am taking Mandarin and written Chinese, as well as History of Chinese Dynasties, Chinese Philosophy: Ethics (which for some reason keeps getting snickers when I mentioned it), Movieland: American Culture Through Film, Elementary Logic and Special Topics in Psychology: Numerical Cogntion. All told, I have a very liberal arts-esque schedule. 

We had two weeks of classes during which I couldn't really go to class, as I didn't yet know what I was taking. Now that my schedule is finalized, we are on break for one week for Chinese New Year. I'm using that break to visit Phuket, Thailand, supposedly one of the nicest beaches in the world. There I'll be taking a PADI Advanced Open Water Diving course. I'll be sure to update with pictures. I hear its about 80˚ on a cold day, and some of the best scuba diving in the world, so I'm pretty excited.

Now a few little stories from Hong Kong:

On my first night I met an exchange student named Stephen living next door to me who was born in Hong Kong but now lives in the states. He warned me that local students will be very shy, and that I will have some trouble getting to know them. He was right. Students here are not as welcoming to new comers as we are Brandeis. Its not that they are unfriendly or simply quiet people (au contraire, the most popular floor game is "let's kick the ball as hard and far as possible down the hall at 4 AM"). I believe they are just uncomfortable using English out of class, and aren't sure how to approach me because of it. Also, students on the same floor tend to become a very tight-knit group, as they will be together for all three years of their undergraduate careers. 

In attempt to ease me in to the group Stephen invited me out to hike the peak with a few other students. Of course I agreed. How many other exchange students would be able to say they hiked to Victoria Peak their first night in Hong Kong. What I didn't realize is that the group wasn't intending on leaving until about One in the morning. We reached the peak by 2:30, and then hiked back down. I was in bed by 4:30 AM, what would become a reoccurring theme over the next few weeks.

Last week we had our hall's High Table Dinner, the culmination of the weak long RCfest that has been going on in my dorm. During RCfest, halls compete in dance and karaoke contests as well as sports competitions. There is also a hall-wide vote on who is the best couple in the hall, or officially, the RC Grass and Flower. The High Table Dinner was actually very nice, if not somewhat reminiscent of what communist party dinners must have been like. We all dressed up in suits and headed to a nice hotel by coach. We began the event with a hall cheer and hall song, which sounds like a national anthem and is very well worded. My favorite stanza is:

 

"To be RC Lee's guys, we are so High. 

Cause to be RC Lee's guys, We never feel Tired...

To be RC Lee's guys, we are free to fly, 

Cause to be RC Lee's guys we have our goals in mind."

We then listed to a number of lengthy speeches about the benefits of hall culture and being committed members of the hall. The event took about four hours all told, and after we finished, all the exchange students gathered, and we headed off to hear Obama's Inaugural Address. 

The HKU exchange students hang out a lot, exploring Hong Kong at all hours of the night. Overall they are a pretty cool group, and I've made some good friends. Still, I've definitely had a few interesting experiences out here. One Dutch boy, upon hearing the Yoni was a jewish name, enthusiastically informed me that his father was a Nazi. He later tried to apologize, in case I was insulted, clarifying that he doesn't feel the same way, and he likes of "all of you." I actually don't think he meant it maliciously, but was just excited that he has some connection with another exchange student. All I could think to say back was, "Well...we're still here," and laugh it off. As the Chabad Rabbi remarked when I told him the story, "Why should you be insulted? It's more an insult to his family than it is to you."

I had another interesting meeting following the Obama Inauguration. Since Hong Kong is 13 hours ahead of the East Coast, the Democrats Abroad put on a party for anyone interested in hearing the speech. The room was filled with hundreds of people from all over the world, and it was amazing to hear what everyone had to say about our elections. Honestly, foreigners followed it as much as we did, and many seem more excited than the Americans that Obama was elected. There were definitely tears in the audience. Anyway, as I was leaving I met a Saudi Arabian named Fahhad. When he asked me where I was from, I couldn't help myself, and replied, "Israel." After a few seconds where it was clear he didn't quite know how to react, he goes, "I guess we can be friends here, right?"  

On this topic (i.e. Israel), The HKU Student Union hosted a protest of the War in Gaza. I received an email that reminded me that I'm in new territory here. The email was officially approved by the Student Union, and gave such a one sided version of the story that I couldn't believe it. To quote, " We have seen it on television and online. The Israeli Zionist government is hell-bent in annihilating Gaza." And that's not even the worst of it. I'm still not sure if how to respond, or if its even worth it. 

I've been going to Chabad for the last few Shabbatot, and this past week I visited Ohel Leah, the historic shul connected to the JCC. The building is over one hundred years old, and as a national landmark its been preserved very well. I think its the first one story building I've seen in Hong Kong. The walk to either is about an hour from my dorm, but everyone has been very welcoming, and I now have a list of people who have offered to host me, so I won't have to walk so far, not to mention  I can have a home cooked meal for Shabbat. 

On my first morning at Chabad I was speaking with a man after shul. Shalom mentioned that his wife gave birth to a baby boy earlier in the morning, and he just returned from the hospital. He lives next door, and is about to head home to see his five year son. He offered Danielle and I to join him for lunch, as his wife prepared a lot of food, but wasn't there to enjoy it. We took him up on the offer, and enjoyed an incredible lunch that would serve as a great introduction to the community. The following Shabbat we were able to thank his wife for the lunch as we joined the family at the Brit Milah of their newborn. 

Overall, Hong Kong is great. My Chinese hasn't really been improving, because everyone speaks English here, but hopefully that will change once classes get serious. I'm still getting a feel for the city and its culture, and will comment more on that once I can say more about it. I've hiked the peak a few times now, and really enjoy it. Also, I joined the Rugby team, and played for just about the entire time in my first tournament last Sunday. I'm off to Thailand now, and will hopefully have time to write from there.