The day we left for our week-long excursion to Hong Kong,
June 7, our small group of only nine students reduced to one less after we made
the departure from Shanghai airport to Hong Kong. One of our group members,
Will, became ill on the plane trip over – eventually passing out at the end and
taking an ambulance to the Shenzen hospital. It’s not clear as to the exact
reason he became ill, but we hear that he is doing alright now and left Shenzen
to return to the States.
On that note – here we are in Hong Kong!! One thing that has
really amazed me about China is the fact that there isn’t just a few big
cities. There are many huge cities –
like some of the biggest in the world.
So, speaking of amazement, what do I think of traveling to
Hong Kong?
It’s truly remarkable how Hong Kong is basically a
completely separate entity from China. Our group even had to go through customs
and immigration again when we passed through the border separating them. Ever
since it was a British colony from the first Opium War, Hong Kong carries a ton
of British undertones. In China, the people drive on the right side of the
road, as opposed to HK where people drive on the left. Even the money is a
different currency! Similarly, when our group visited Macao, the area was previously
owned by the Portuguese so many of the road signs and buildings were in both
Cantonese and Portuguese.
So in just a week of traveling, we experienced Mandarin, Hong
Kong, British, Canton and Portuguese flavors of the China area. Cultural overload!!!!
It may seem like a lot but I think once you’re on the road
you’re a lot more adaptable to differences. It’s similar to how almost our
entire group is already international. Even Kati, who is American by statute,
is Chinese ethnically. Without Will here, I am the only born and raised
American. These students come from a culturally diverse university; over 25% of
Lynn is international. You can tell they’re used to not being around their own
culture – and it’s a tool many of the students have found to be inextensible
when it comes to adapting. Me on the other hand… this is my first real
culture-shock and even after three weeks of having time to adapt, I’m still
feeling like a fish out of water, even in western-like Hong Kong.
There are so many incredible things to learn while we’re
here! My interest has already been peaked about Macao, being that it is basically
the Las Vegas of China. I’ve only been to Vegas once for a volleyball
tournament but nonetheless I’m extremely excited to see what the casino life is
like. Our tour guide was telling us earlier that a lot of the locals will
travel over with the ferry boat to Macao for the night, then the casino’s have
set up a system where they will boat everyone back in the morning with their
respective wins/losses. It’s like people can just leave to the island, gamble
and drink, then come back to the mainland to either drink more to their losses,
or bask in their winnings.
Anyways, as I wrap this history lesson up I’m reminded of
where I am right now. Is this really happening? Am I seriously in Hong Kong
right now? Three months ago, if you had told me I’d be sitting in a hostel in
Hong Kong in June, I would have laughed. Today, I prepare to travel through
Southern China and learn more about what makes this nation and its people so
fantastic.
More updates to come -
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