Currently listening to - No Doubt - Excuse Me Mr.So Angie, of Cunga In Your Brain, inspired me to start blogging again, even though I've always felt that I had very little to say about anything, really. It's kind of sad that we've gotten to the point in our lives where writing or reading about our day-to-day activities is no longer interesting or significant. Remember the old Xanga days? How we would ALL post at least once a week, if not just to regurgitate the inane things that happened at school?
Yes, I am blogging. No, it's not the same blog I had before. I have a problem settling on a singular thing--I'm indecisive. Which brings me to my next observation: Once I settle down and adapt to a new place or new situation, I feel this itch, an urge to go somewhere else, try something new, talk to new people. Hence, "nomad." I think this is what's happening to me in Hong Kong, as it does in ALL places, whether San Jose, Taiwan, or Irvine. It's probably just a funk I'm going through, though. A break from the stressful, fact-paced Hong Kong life will hopefully make me realize how great this opportunity is. How only a small fraction of university students get the chance to go abroad, how plenty of students wish they could spend a year in a different country, studying at a prestigious, world-renowned university. How my parents sacrificed so much just to let me fulfill this dream that I've had ever since I stepped onto the UCI campus. Am I ungrateful? Most definitely. I think I'm stuck in this rut where I haven't been growing up and learning from my mistakes.
But wow, enough with this self-loathing. Here's an update based off of my first post from August 31. I thought it'd be interesting to see how my perceptions of Hong Kong have changed since September.
1. cigarettes — Yup, everyone definitely smokes. but I don't think it fazes me anymore, thanks to all of the pollution I breathe in from walking to/from school.
2. speedwalking — It turns out I walk faster than the locals. hahaha I still walk like a madman :(
3. stairs @ hku — One sign that I've adapted to life here at HKU is that I've found less energy-wasting ways of getting around. Just navigating the various elevators and escalators has satisfied the lazy bum in me.
4. cantonese — Well, I've been doing pretty well in my Cantonese For Foreign Learners class, but I still can't manage to order food or explain.... anything, really. I think my listening skills are pretty damn good though! +1 for me.
5. dorm life — Not so bad now that I know my unit a little better. It also helps to have THE best roommate EVER. I think I love her more and more each day; cheesy but seriously true. I already foresee myself bawling my eyes out in May 2009, when I leave. But that's a topic for another post.
6. loveboat-sickness — Actually still very Loveboat-sick. I still find myself comparing EVERYTHING in Hong Kong to Taiwan. And I still think everything in Taiwan is better. Ah well. It was my problem not figuring out a way to study at NTU.
7. the curve —
I think when EAP returnees were explaining the curve, they simplified it quite a bit. There are a few more dips and peaks between "arrival" and "departure." There should also be some plateaus in there; that's where I am right now.
8. LKF (蘭桂坊) — I don't like LKF anymore, I'm so over it. It's always the same old thing, with the same people and overpriced everything. Halloween in LKF was cool just because we got to see locals acting crazy in their insane costumes. But now I just want to hang out at LOCAL bars. TST or Causeway, anyone?!
It's 4AM now. Will blog again soon. Until then, must catch up on sleep. CHEERS TO THE END OF THIS INTENSE SEMESTER.
