A Country Hidden Behind Masks

For starters this blog entry is a mix between travel, the first day and posted the morning of my second day!

Flying thousands of miles, multiple airports and a day in Hong Kong is best ended by a hot shower and rejuvenating rest. I have absolutely no idea where to start talking or even processing my journey to a nation hidden behind masks. For starters, meeting in LAX was an adventure in itself. Trying to group together 12 students in a central location can always be an exciting time. Even better is handing them passports and leaving them to sit for a four hour waiting for our flight out to Hong Kong. It was an incredible time to get to know each other and at least have a preview of what to expect in weeks to come.
The flight was as always a typical 14 hour waiting game in a surprising spacious seat. At least I was able to trader and sit new to Lucas who is one of the CSP students from Boston going to school in Santa Barbara, Cali. It was an enjoyable flight and a nice landing in Hong Kong.
Some Lessons so far…..Well, it is clear that Hong Kong is very much its own entity in relation to China. It is a more advanced, wealthy and free nation where China is suppressed by regulation and an overlooking eye. It is also known as one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Do to the lack of space, people find ways to show wealth in smaller sizes. Cars, watches and luxuries take place of McMansions and huge estates.

Some adventures:
-Nearly getting hit by a car but thanks to a gracious Chinese Conrad who put out his hand and yelled "Ho" my life was saved
-Walking into a ally to find a restaurants to eat at that consisted of pointing at rather interesting Chinese characters hoping for a delightful meal
-Oh and did you know that sweet and sour chicken here has bones in it? Or that everything has bones in it for that matter. I guess we are truly blessed to have boneless chicken in our country.
-Breaking an escalator
-Having a Monk try to convert us to Buddhism
-Having the afternoon to ourselves to roam Hong Kong and try to get ourselves back to camp
-All time favorite.....Myself making up skits of bathing and drying off in hopes of finding a towel to buy with friends...I think the best part is when a women pointed, said Japan, and handed me a notes which I later learned said wash cloth instead of a store name.

All in all, my time in China or at least Hong Kong has been incredible. I now sit in a Library courtyard listening to the ring of calming Chinese music watching crowds perform Tai Chi as a morning relaxation...
Weather is hot and sticky. Almost 90, and the skyline is always covered by I light smog. At first I was disappointed with pictures, but I guess it is exactly what I see with my eyes.

Life amongst the smog.....is still a good life.