When I first got here to Hong Kong, I have to admit I was all turned around. I didn't know where to go, or what to do. There was so much to see, where was I supposed to start? School had not gotten into full swing yet and, to be honest, as an exchange student I was not expecting it to be too much anyways. I was here to learn, but I felt like I could learn from the city as much as (if not more than) I could learn from school. All I had to do was drop my particular obsession with planning every second of every day, and allow myself to truly "get lost".
So here I was, in a city that never sleeps on the other side of the world. I had many first impressions- both good and bad. Here are some of them:
1. Hong Kong has a consistent layer of smog.
So here I was, in a city that never sleeps on the other side of the world. I had many first impressions- both good and bad. Here are some of them:
1. Hong Kong has a consistent layer of smog.
2. The streets were incredibly narrow, and I found myself constantly having to squeeze by crowds of people who really did not care if they pushed or nudged me on their way. And forget about "southern charm", nobody apologizes. Also, I quickly came to realize that smiling to strangers and wishing them "good morning" is not considered polite and friendly, but rather suspicious and deceptive. So I've tried to not do that so much, even though being born and raised in the South means it has always been second nature.
3. People are awake at all hours of the day, which can be both comforting and overwhelming. It makes me feel incredibly safe, but also I feel like "alone time" has become harder to find. However, among the hustle and bustle of one of the busiest and most crowded cities in the world, I am glad to be living the city life. There is always something going on, and you are most definitely never bored.
4. The cars drive on the opposite side of the street, which if you have ever been to the United Kingdom, India, or Australia you know can take some getting used to. On that note, I do not think I will ever be daring enough to try to drive a motor vehicle in Hong Kong. Traffic here definitely beats anywhere I've ever been, including Los Angeles during rush hour.
5. Most people speak English, which I cannot stress enough how much this matters. Cantonese is hard to learn- trust me, I have been trying. This has made me realize how behind we are in learning second languages in the United States. Most Hong Kongers can speak at least three languages by the time they graduate high school.
6. I am tall, bordering on giant. At 5' 8'', I did not realize how much I would stand out. I am considered average height for a girl, right? Not here. On the MTR, I can actually see over everyone's heads for the most part which can be convenient when reading the map. However, this is not so convenient when it rains and everyone's umbrellas poke me in the eye. Stylish, protective eyewear- possible future invention?
7. The food in Hong Kong is guaranteed to be fresh, given the abundance of local produce available at all hours of the day in the street markets. This street food is especially delicious, and cheap. But beware, this is not for the faint of heart. I usually skip the meat district and go straight to the pastries and sweets. My favorite are the famous Hong Kong-style egg waffles, or "eggettes", which are warm, soft, and made right in front of your eyes.
8. And, lastly, in terms of trends that I have noticed especially prevalent around my campus include: Herschel backpacks, Dr. Martens combat boots, and Longchamp purses. So, everyone thinking they are "hipster" back home for wearing any of these might want to rethink that.
One more thing: Hong Kong is filled with charisma, diversity, and character. And I know that my impression will change, as they already have in the two months I have been here. All I can say is, I hope that it stops raining.
One more thing: Hong Kong is filled with charisma, diversity, and character. And I know that my impression will change, as they already have in the two months I have been here. All I can say is, I hope that it stops raining.