god my last post was Dec 8th. that seems like much more than a month ago.
Well i'm out of school I took all of the exams and they weren't quite as bad as i expected. English of course was boring, and Physics and Chemistry i'm fairly confident about. Math however i don't think i did so well. i think i'll pass but i doubt i'll get a good mark. this wasn't due so much to the difficulty of the test but to the lack of studying on my part.
the math test was on Thursday the 18th and i had the two days before it off during which i planed to study all of the strange theorems involved in finding the limits of sequences. however on the morning of the 16th of December my life was interrupted by an Email for Reed College where i applied Early Decision, i didn't get in. With this on my mind studying took a back seat to my more philosophical musings. needless to say 2 days slipped by without me giving more than a cursory glance at my text books. This is my excuse for my poor marks... anywho....
After said test my classmates where quite excited to be out of school for break! We all went out to Karaoke, i was surprised because it was the first social thing i'd seen them do since i got to the school. i had fun never the less. there was a decent selection of pop songs (not my favorite but good enough to make a fool of your self!) and they sang mostly in Chinese but there are random words or sentences in English in all of the Canton pop songs so i got to sing along for that.
19th we had Christmas service and class photos. that all went smoothly and then it was Holiday time!
I've been really enjoying my holidays. I arrived in Hong Kong 1 week before classes started so i barely had time to get my bearings. This time has been really good for exploring and things. Also without my classmates eager to talk to me in English. Over this break I've learned a lot of cantonese (nogh haw gong ho daw gongdongwa)
I've been wandering around with different friends. and spending alot of time with my Host family. I went and saw the Twilight movie which wasn't nearly as bad as i though it would be. I also visited the "hong kong brands and products expo" yes an expo for brands and products, god how much more vague could you get... but it was fun there was all sorts of crazy stuff there. from every type of Chinese food imaginable to vacuum cleaners to rice cookers.
I also went to the hong kong Book Fair. where i picked up a bunch of books for really cheap! Thank you all by the way for sending litterateur along. however Space is limited in Hong Kong and with the approximately 20 books i've received i'll be set with reading for a while. but if i need more book's i'll let you guys know.
Christmas was surprisingly uneventful. My family though Christian didn't have any big plans for the day of. We went to yum Cha (dim sum) which was really good but spent most of the day at home. I lit the Chuannuka candles with them and handed they all presents which they all seemed to like!
The lack of Christmas plans can be partially explained by what we did immediately following Christmas. on the morning of the 26th we woke up at 5:something AM to start our trip to mainland china!
We woke up early and caught a bus from Wan Chai to the Chinese boarder. We got there by 7:00 by 7:45 we all loaded onto a tourist bus. I joined the crowd for my first Asian bus tour! we drove 2 hours into china to a honey farm. There they proceeded to try and sell us honey. after the sales pitch we went off to lunch. My first chinese food in CHINA was good but not what you'd call amazing. it's quite different than the food in Hong Kong you wouldn't think that less than 100 miles could cause such a change in cusine but it did.
After lunch we got to the main purpose of the trip a Massive Zoo! We saw many many many many different animals. and i took 200 something pictures that day of every type of wild life you can name. I've posted the pictures to Myspace so go check them out!
After our jaunt around the zoo which included Hoho (littlest brother) and Adrien (other brother) taking pictures with a baby white lion. we went to the Circus! The circus was part of the same complex that the zoo belonged too. It was more Ringling brothers than Cirque du Soile but still very good. That being said they weren't a normal circus. There where many acts that included the animals of the zoo. (dozens of bears on bicycles) After all the Excitement and dinner it was getting close to 10 o'clock we drove another hour to the Hotel, by this time Hoho was asleep and everyone else was very tired.
The hotel was very nice. The best part by far though was the beds. They had real soft mattresses. I'm not saying my bed here in hong kong is bad i find it perfectly adequate, but it's not what you'd call soft. think something like a pile of bamboo mats and you'll get the idea. It has some give to it but not and nice as those beds.
needless to say after the long day i slept well.
the next day wasn't nearly as exciting though we went to a beautiful garden in Shenzen. the trip ended in the early afternoon and we were home by 6 o'clock.
there was an AFS BBQ yesterday with the other students which was a lot of fun. though some where missing with their families off to mainland or Macau.
That brings us about up to date. I'm sure i've missed somethings, like the fact that i got a computer! but that's all i got for now.
Now that i have said computer i'll be updating more frequently.
Hope you're all doing well over the holidays. Have a happy new years.
Pat
Monday, December 29, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Hello everyone!
So it's coming up on exams...
I was off monday and i have today and wensday off too. I didn't do any studying yesterday so i really should get on that. anywho.
Life here plod's along nicely. After exams comes the christmas vacation. We are having a chirstmas party for the exchange students at my appartment, i will post pictures of that.
It is rather strange me putting on a chirstmas party but whatever. I suppose i should set up a little thing for Haunaka and explain what it is to people. (one more thing to do!)
I've been Reading like CRAZY! one of the good thing's about being here is i really have gotten a chance to make a serious dent in my reading list!
Since here i've finished Atlas Shrugged, War for the Oaks, Siddhartha, Cathcher in the Rye, 1984, Watchmen, and Drums of Autumn. Those of you who were around durring the packing phase of this journy remember the Stack of books i wanted to bring and the ones that made the finial cut. But after 3 months of reading. i've made it through 90% of my books (the rest are loaned out to other exchange students).
On saturday i bought 2 books from Page One (one of the few decent english book stores here) "the unbearable lighness of being" by Milan Kuendra and "The Road" By Cormac McArthy. In the two days since saturday I've already read 2/3rds of "the unbearable lightness of being" needless to say i will soon run out of books again. I was hoping some of you might happen to send me some books that you enjoy.
I would be most greatful!
and i would then have your address and the ability to pester you with leters!
I hope all goes well back in the states.
patrick
I was off monday and i have today and wensday off too. I didn't do any studying yesterday so i really should get on that. anywho.
Life here plod's along nicely. After exams comes the christmas vacation. We are having a chirstmas party for the exchange students at my appartment, i will post pictures of that.
It is rather strange me putting on a chirstmas party but whatever. I suppose i should set up a little thing for Haunaka and explain what it is to people. (one more thing to do!)
I've been Reading like CRAZY! one of the good thing's about being here is i really have gotten a chance to make a serious dent in my reading list!
Since here i've finished Atlas Shrugged, War for the Oaks, Siddhartha, Cathcher in the Rye, 1984, Watchmen, and Drums of Autumn. Those of you who were around durring the packing phase of this journy remember the Stack of books i wanted to bring and the ones that made the finial cut. But after 3 months of reading. i've made it through 90% of my books (the rest are loaned out to other exchange students).
On saturday i bought 2 books from Page One (one of the few decent english book stores here) "the unbearable lighness of being" by Milan Kuendra and "The Road" By Cormac McArthy. In the two days since saturday I've already read 2/3rds of "the unbearable lightness of being" needless to say i will soon run out of books again. I was hoping some of you might happen to send me some books that you enjoy.
I would be most greatful!
and i would then have your address and the ability to pester you with leters!
I hope all goes well back in the states.
patrick
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thanksgiving in China
So as you are all aware Thanksgiving was last thursday. As you might expect, here in hong kong they didn't bat an eyelash. Other than a brief segment on tv about George Bush Pardoning a turkey there was nothing.
Except at my house. I decided that i was going to have thanksgiving this year anyways to share some of american culture with my family. This is after i was walking through taste (a grocery store that imports alot of western food) and saw forzen turkeys. So I set to work. I collected recipes from my father, and last tuesday i went to taste and bought all the fixings.
Seeing as how i don't have 3 days off for thanksgiving, i decided to hold mine on Saturday as opposed to the traditional last Thrusday in November. I started cooking on friday night. I made the cranberry sauce(easy), Pumkin Pie, and the crutons and most of the mix for the stuffing. That took a long while seeing as how my 4 year old brother wanted to see how EVERYTHING was done. Luckly he had to go to bed so i finished before midnight.
With all the preperations done Saturday was here.
I woke up, walked down to the one bread shop near buy that sells baguettes and bought 4 for our feast (i wasn't about to let it be served with rice). I cooked the stuffing in a casarole, and then turned my attentions to turkey. Origionally frozen it had been thawing for 4 days in my host families refrigerator. even so i decided to err on the side of caution and i soaked it in cold water for 1/2 an hour. My host brothers where facinated at this gigantic chicken. However eventually i was able to get it away from them and into the oven.
While the turkey cooked i made Salade, and Mashed potatos. Everything was coming together beautifully. My exchange student friends from Europe and South America all were interested in what this thanksgiving thing was all about so i invited them over. Dinner was to be served at 6:00. The turkey came out (perfectly done) at 5:30 I made gravey and EVERYTHING was ready and on the table at 6:00 sharp. Everything was there, except for my friends who showed up 30 minutes later. They did call me ahead of time but for those thirty minutes i was quite annoyed. But it all worked out. with 7 guests and 7 of us we finished everything except for some turkey and a slice or two of pumkin pie.
The night was a sucess! 2 days of cooking but it was all worth it!
here are some pictures of the food i made.
My host brother looking at the turkey in the sink
Except at my house. I decided that i was going to have thanksgiving this year anyways to share some of american culture with my family. This is after i was walking through taste (a grocery store that imports alot of western food) and saw forzen turkeys. So I set to work. I collected recipes from my father, and last tuesday i went to taste and bought all the fixings.
Seeing as how i don't have 3 days off for thanksgiving, i decided to hold mine on Saturday as opposed to the traditional last Thrusday in November. I started cooking on friday night. I made the cranberry sauce(easy), Pumkin Pie, and the crutons and most of the mix for the stuffing. That took a long while seeing as how my 4 year old brother wanted to see how EVERYTHING was done. Luckly he had to go to bed so i finished before midnight.
With all the preperations done Saturday was here.
I woke up, walked down to the one bread shop near buy that sells baguettes and bought 4 for our feast (i wasn't about to let it be served with rice). I cooked the stuffing in a casarole, and then turned my attentions to turkey. Origionally frozen it had been thawing for 4 days in my host families refrigerator. even so i decided to err on the side of caution and i soaked it in cold water for 1/2 an hour. My host brothers where facinated at this gigantic chicken. However eventually i was able to get it away from them and into the oven.
While the turkey cooked i made Salade, and Mashed potatos. Everything was coming together beautifully. My exchange student friends from Europe and South America all were interested in what this thanksgiving thing was all about so i invited them over. Dinner was to be served at 6:00. The turkey came out (perfectly done) at 5:30 I made gravey and EVERYTHING was ready and on the table at 6:00 sharp. Everything was there, except for my friends who showed up 30 minutes later. They did call me ahead of time but for those thirty minutes i was quite annoyed. But it all worked out. with 7 guests and 7 of us we finished everything except for some turkey and a slice or two of pumkin pie.
The night was a sucess! 2 days of cooking but it was all worth it!
here are some pictures of the food i made.
My host brother looking at the turkey in the sink
So this is what i did yesterday. Hope you are all well
Patrick
Monday, November 24, 2008
Thanksgiving.
All of you will take off this week for the lovely festivities of Thanksgiving.
oh how i would love to do the same. However it is not to be.
I have this week and next week before EXAMINATIONS start. then chirstmas holidays.
However i refuse to let thanksgiving pass unmarked so i have planed to cook a full feast for my family, in our tiny kitchen, this saturday!
I hope it will go well. though i'm really not sure. It should be fun in general.
Sunday is the Gala Dinner for AFS. Then back to school and insanity.
Today was very interesting. the first half was boring. But at lunch I met a girl from the school next to mine. She used to go to my school an knew the exchange students who had gone to my school before me. that was interesting.
Then after lunch i had Tripple english were my teacher decided to show us a movie.
Little Ms. Sunshine!
I love that movie and i'd forgotten how good it is. all the other students liked it too.
However i dont' think tomorrow will be quite as fun as today. but one can hope.
life roll's on. nothing HUGE in the way of developments here.
I spent the weekend hanging out with the exchange students. It was David's birthday so we all went ice skating.
hope your all well
Patrick
oh how i would love to do the same. However it is not to be.
I have this week and next week before EXAMINATIONS start. then chirstmas holidays.
However i refuse to let thanksgiving pass unmarked so i have planed to cook a full feast for my family, in our tiny kitchen, this saturday!
I hope it will go well. though i'm really not sure. It should be fun in general.
Sunday is the Gala Dinner for AFS. Then back to school and insanity.
Today was very interesting. the first half was boring. But at lunch I met a girl from the school next to mine. She used to go to my school an knew the exchange students who had gone to my school before me. that was interesting.
Then after lunch i had Tripple english were my teacher decided to show us a movie.
Little Ms. Sunshine!
I love that movie and i'd forgotten how good it is. all the other students liked it too.
However i dont' think tomorrow will be quite as fun as today. but one can hope.
life roll's on. nothing HUGE in the way of developments here.
I spent the weekend hanging out with the exchange students. It was David's birthday so we all went ice skating.
hope your all well
Patrick
Friday, November 14, 2008
Hey everyone
Life here's pretty chaotic.
I just submitted my applictation to reed college, to the detriment of my mential health and my families. I'm glad to have it done none the less.
This weekend has alot going on. I'm doing Cooking for fun on saturday (a voulenteer program where supposedly we teach children to cook for fun though i've seen neither anywhere near the program) Saturday night i'm meeting my host father's friends.
Sunday is my host brother's birthday. we are going to cinderella the musical theater version. and i'm cooking pizza again.
This week Cantonese lessons started again. I'm excited to get back to learning at least a little of the language. I honestly doubt that i'll be anywhere near fluent by the time i leave... In fact i'd be supprised if i could understand more than 3 sentences. but hopefully i'll be better when i leave than now.
thursday saw me going to the AFS office to meet up with some other kids. AFS Hong Kong is turning 25 this year and there is a big party. Of course they wanted us exchange students to do something and so i'm part of a group that's supposed to sing at the "gala dinner".
More chaos will insue i'm sure.
I'm busy running around. I need to buy a different uniform for winter. I'm not sure why they have a maditory day for you to change uniform's but alright...
I realized the other day that my classes have finials.. that are suppoesed to be mega tough. They are the second and third weeks of december and each finial is 3 hours long. so now i have to study,(sigh), becasue they don't actually bother to teach you in school you have to teach your self or (as all my classmates do) go to turtorial (a tutor class)
If your ever in Hong Kong you will find some English newspapers. The two i see on any regular basis are the South China Morning Post, and the Standard. The SCMP costs money, the standard is free. I subscribe through my school to the SCMP daily, that was a waist of money... that paper is trash...
Get the Standerd it's handed out at 7:30 am daily across hong kong. be there when they are handing them out because they dissapear quick.
one of the thing's i love about the standard is a colum that comes out daily called Dissident's Diary. It's usually quite funny.
here's the link
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_sec.asp?we_cat=5&d_str=20081114
I hope you are all doing well
please email me with your comments and updates
Patrick
I just submitted my applictation to reed college, to the detriment of my mential health and my families. I'm glad to have it done none the less.
This weekend has alot going on. I'm doing Cooking for fun on saturday (a voulenteer program where supposedly we teach children to cook for fun though i've seen neither anywhere near the program) Saturday night i'm meeting my host father's friends.
Sunday is my host brother's birthday. we are going to cinderella the musical theater version. and i'm cooking pizza again.
This week Cantonese lessons started again. I'm excited to get back to learning at least a little of the language. I honestly doubt that i'll be anywhere near fluent by the time i leave... In fact i'd be supprised if i could understand more than 3 sentences. but hopefully i'll be better when i leave than now.
thursday saw me going to the AFS office to meet up with some other kids. AFS Hong Kong is turning 25 this year and there is a big party. Of course they wanted us exchange students to do something and so i'm part of a group that's supposed to sing at the "gala dinner".
More chaos will insue i'm sure.
I'm busy running around. I need to buy a different uniform for winter. I'm not sure why they have a maditory day for you to change uniform's but alright...
I realized the other day that my classes have finials.. that are suppoesed to be mega tough. They are the second and third weeks of december and each finial is 3 hours long. so now i have to study,(sigh), becasue they don't actually bother to teach you in school you have to teach your self or (as all my classmates do) go to turtorial (a tutor class)
If your ever in Hong Kong you will find some English newspapers. The two i see on any regular basis are the South China Morning Post, and the Standard. The SCMP costs money, the standard is free. I subscribe through my school to the SCMP daily, that was a waist of money... that paper is trash...
Get the Standerd it's handed out at 7:30 am daily across hong kong. be there when they are handing them out because they dissapear quick.
one of the thing's i love about the standard is a colum that comes out daily called Dissident's Diary. It's usually quite funny.
here's the link
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_sec.asp?we_cat=5&d_str=20081114
I hope you are all doing well
please email me with your comments and updates
Patrick
Friday, November 7, 2008
Why Reed?
Wow... it's been a little while
Many thing's have happened... the last update i gave you was before halloween.
mostly I've been hanging out with friends... it really is a great thing to do...
On halloween we wandered around as usual. on Saturday the day after we had a haloween party.
so in the morning i went down stairs and bought a bottle of EXTRA hard Gel. and proceeded to make my hair into a mohawk... it took about an hour including all the failed attempts. but in the end i think it came out pretty well.
Then i went to something called "Cooking for fun" it's a voulenteer program with AFS where we go and teach little azn kids how to cook "for fun" wellllll... it was neither cooking or fun...
well there was some fun to be had making fun of it. I came up with a theroy. I think it's not really a free program for children. I'm thinking it's a pay for program (kind of like a political fund raiser) where where cook to rais money so OTHER PEOPLE can have fun.... but the other kid's thought this unlikely...
we then proceeded to the other side of hong kong where the Halloween Party was. Eveyone loved my hair and my new Cowboy boots (thank's mom!). The party was great.
Sunday we hiked Over Hong Kong Island. it took about three hours and was a lot of fun.. but by the end i was dead tired...
this week's been good... I've been working hard on my applications to college... the first one of which, to Reed, is due next weekend. I was anxious about the elections on tuesday and i couldn't pay attention at all on wensday morning (when the results where coming in) i go the final word at about noon when i went out to eat lunch!
That really brightened up my day... I cought Obama's acceptance speach in the lunch room where they have a tv that's always playing something.
Friday was the school pick nic we went to a park that looked out over Clearwater Bay. My classmates had designed a t-shirt for us and it somehow ended up bright pink.. but it was fun. We tryed to go see james bond last night but they where sold out. so we went to the one mexican food place in all of hong kong instead... that was good.
here are a few pictures. if you want to see the rest of my pictures they are up on my myspace... www.myspace.com/pandora_the_third
I was walking around Mong Kok with some friends when we happend across this is a Jewlery store window... now you've all seen strange and stupid jewlery before... but this was in an up scale jewelery store... it's made of real gold... and i'm not sure why it exists
The pink class photo
And last but not least... my friend Guille from Arguentina gave an interview to someone or other over the phone. they asked if he had any pictures he said no. they asked if he had facebook so he gave them the link. about a week later this poster shows up in like 7 different schools around Hong Kong... it's quite funny and the best bit is... Guille didn't know anything about it untill we told him....
Many thing's have happened... the last update i gave you was before halloween.
mostly I've been hanging out with friends... it really is a great thing to do...
On halloween we wandered around as usual. on Saturday the day after we had a haloween party.
so in the morning i went down stairs and bought a bottle of EXTRA hard Gel. and proceeded to make my hair into a mohawk... it took about an hour including all the failed attempts. but in the end i think it came out pretty well.
Then i went to something called "Cooking for fun" it's a voulenteer program with AFS where we go and teach little azn kids how to cook "for fun" wellllll... it was neither cooking or fun...
well there was some fun to be had making fun of it. I came up with a theroy. I think it's not really a free program for children. I'm thinking it's a pay for program (kind of like a political fund raiser) where where cook to rais money so OTHER PEOPLE can have fun.... but the other kid's thought this unlikely...
we then proceeded to the other side of hong kong where the Halloween Party was. Eveyone loved my hair and my new Cowboy boots (thank's mom!). The party was great.
Sunday we hiked Over Hong Kong Island. it took about three hours and was a lot of fun.. but by the end i was dead tired...
this week's been good... I've been working hard on my applications to college... the first one of which, to Reed, is due next weekend. I was anxious about the elections on tuesday and i couldn't pay attention at all on wensday morning (when the results where coming in) i go the final word at about noon when i went out to eat lunch!
That really brightened up my day... I cought Obama's acceptance speach in the lunch room where they have a tv that's always playing something.
Friday was the school pick nic we went to a park that looked out over Clearwater Bay. My classmates had designed a t-shirt for us and it somehow ended up bright pink.. but it was fun. We tryed to go see james bond last night but they where sold out. so we went to the one mexican food place in all of hong kong instead... that was good.
here are a few pictures. if you want to see the rest of my pictures they are up on my myspace... www.myspace.com/pandora_the_third
I was walking around Mong Kok with some friends when we happend across this is a Jewlery store window... now you've all seen strange and stupid jewlery before... but this was in an up scale jewelery store... it's made of real gold... and i'm not sure why it exists
The pink class photo
And last but not least... my friend Guille from Arguentina gave an interview to someone or other over the phone. they asked if he had any pictures he said no. they asked if he had facebook so he gave them the link. about a week later this poster shows up in like 7 different schools around Hong Kong... it's quite funny and the best bit is... Guille didn't know anything about it untill we told him....
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Sorry bout the wait
I know it's been a while since my last update...
I have many excuses believe me!
but alright...
it's been good for the most part. Starting with the bad news however i lost my ipod shortly after my last post. (it was a bad week both the ipod and the cell phone) this has been annoying me becasue i'm on public transit everyday for at least a half hour... and on weekends or if i'm going somewhere in the new territories i can be on the mtr for an hour and a half at a time... so in short i neeeeeeed my ipod...
Luckly i thought ahead and i have a back up of all my music on an external harddrive so i'll still have it when i get a replacement ipod.
Back to life
School is boring... more so than ever... Chemestry can be ok depending on the day. English is easy but fun. and math and phyisics put me to sleeeepppp god... soooooo dullllllll... and it's every day.... anywho...
Everyone here is good. I made pizza for my host family last sunday. And spagetti a la carbonara for them on wensday they liked them both.
I went out to dinner last night with Ozgur the turkish boy. which was fun. I've also been spending alot of time with the South American/Italian Group...
I've decided that i should learn Spanish... It will be easier than Chinese and i'll actually have a chance to use it...
this weekend i was reading harry potter to my younger brother (we're on book 3) and he looked out the window and said HEY SOMETHING'S ON FIRE sure enough there was...
I'm not sure what really went on but here's a picture i took from my house.
So there are tram's on Hong Kong Island. They (like everything else here) are very skinny and very tall (well maybe not the people) they run on two steal tracks... and infront of the central library in Causeway bay they are putting in new concreat for the road... while in america they would stop traffic. they just work the construction around the trams here...
click on it to see it bigger...
I figured out that photobucket takes forever to upload photos so they are now all being hosted at my myspace page!
www.myspace.com/pandora_the_third
I hope your all well
Pat
I have many excuses believe me!
but alright...
it's been good for the most part. Starting with the bad news however i lost my ipod shortly after my last post. (it was a bad week both the ipod and the cell phone) this has been annoying me becasue i'm on public transit everyday for at least a half hour... and on weekends or if i'm going somewhere in the new territories i can be on the mtr for an hour and a half at a time... so in short i neeeeeeed my ipod...
Luckly i thought ahead and i have a back up of all my music on an external harddrive so i'll still have it when i get a replacement ipod.
Back to life
School is boring... more so than ever... Chemestry can be ok depending on the day. English is easy but fun. and math and phyisics put me to sleeeepppp god... soooooo dullllllll... and it's every day.... anywho...
Everyone here is good. I made pizza for my host family last sunday. And spagetti a la carbonara for them on wensday they liked them both.
I went out to dinner last night with Ozgur the turkish boy. which was fun. I've also been spending alot of time with the South American/Italian Group...
I've decided that i should learn Spanish... It will be easier than Chinese and i'll actually have a chance to use it...
this weekend i was reading harry potter to my younger brother (we're on book 3) and he looked out the window and said HEY SOMETHING'S ON FIRE sure enough there was...
I'm not sure what really went on but here's a picture i took from my house.
So there are tram's on Hong Kong Island. They (like everything else here) are very skinny and very tall (well maybe not the people) they run on two steal tracks... and infront of the central library in Causeway bay they are putting in new concreat for the road... while in america they would stop traffic. they just work the construction around the trams here...
click on it to see it bigger...
I figured out that photobucket takes forever to upload photos so they are now all being hosted at my myspace page!
www.myspace.com/pandora_the_third
I hope your all well
Pat
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Orthodox....
So last night was the begining of Yom Kippur...
Me and Guille (Arguentina) decided to head out to a jewish synagog we had heard about in Hong Kong...
We where walking down the road where it was looking but didn't see any sign's that said JCC in big letters. Luckly we saw a guy wearing a Kippa ahead and asked him where it was... he said in here and jestured to something that looked terribbly like an appartment building... so we went in.
We got all the way to Security where we where interrogated by a Big Jewish seceurity guard for 5 minutes... he asked us if we came last satruday (i started to get the hint that this was an orthodox temple...) he asked to see our id's, we went through the mettal detctor and they searched my back pack. I'm supprised they didn't ask to see if we where circumsized or not.
So we went in and of course it's divided by men and women. not only that but everyone in the congrigation has their own assigned seats... there was much chanting in Hebrew.
The other strange thing about this Orthodox Temple in Hong Kong is that there where no chinese people in the whole place.... it was all white people...
After about an hour of looking around nervously to see if someone was going to yell at us.. Me and Guille Split.
We got some mexican food for dinner and had a good time over all!
My camera wasn't allowed inside the Temple so no picutres...
the phone is officially gone.. so i'll be buying a new one asap....
Hope your all well
patrick
P.S.
here are pictures of the cards that the student association handed out and of Atlas Shrugged.
Me and Guille (Arguentina) decided to head out to a jewish synagog we had heard about in Hong Kong...
We where walking down the road where it was looking but didn't see any sign's that said JCC in big letters. Luckly we saw a guy wearing a Kippa ahead and asked him where it was... he said in here and jestured to something that looked terribbly like an appartment building... so we went in.
We got all the way to Security where we where interrogated by a Big Jewish seceurity guard for 5 minutes... he asked us if we came last satruday (i started to get the hint that this was an orthodox temple...) he asked to see our id's, we went through the mettal detctor and they searched my back pack. I'm supprised they didn't ask to see if we where circumsized or not.
So we went in and of course it's divided by men and women. not only that but everyone in the congrigation has their own assigned seats... there was much chanting in Hebrew.
The other strange thing about this Orthodox Temple in Hong Kong is that there where no chinese people in the whole place.... it was all white people...
After about an hour of looking around nervously to see if someone was going to yell at us.. Me and Guille Split.
We got some mexican food for dinner and had a good time over all!
My camera wasn't allowed inside the Temple so no picutres...
the phone is officially gone.. so i'll be buying a new one asap....
Hope your all well
patrick
P.S.
here are pictures of the cards that the student association handed out and of Atlas Shrugged.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Butterfly Beach
Sorry for the big gap between updates... I ment to do one this weekend but the time got away from me...
Casual Tuesday was ANNOYING.
So It's the one day in the year when you don't have to wear the uniform, and they have more rules about what you can wear on that day than on any other day...
So I wake up and put on my clothes, because i don't think i own anything that wouldn't be appropreiate for casual day. I don't have short shorts or shirts that say "weed is great" so i don't see anyway the administration can be angry with me.
So i get to school and the second i get there all my class mates tell me "NO YOU CAN'T WEAR SHORTS TO SCHOOL ON CASUAL DAY!" WTF.... anyways... the teachers didn't notice... but it was irritating as all hell....
plus the fact that it was 35 degrees C outside... it seemed stranged everyone else was wearing jeans...
Wensday was National Day
I went with my family to the Hong Kong Science and Technology College to hang out... it's a big campus with a soccar feild and some very pretty panoramas... I'll put the pictures up soon... we had a good time running aroung...
Aadne called and we made plans to go to Tsim Sha Tsui to watch the fireworks for National Day. (national day of china not Hong Kong) The Fireworks are in Victoria Harbor and the newspaper said the next day that 300,000 people turned out to watch the Fire works... at least 80,000 of them had to be with in 4 block's of where we where casue it was NUTS.
Afterwords the poliece blocked off the streets so you couldn't get to the closest MTR station and we ended up walking 2 miles to Kowloon station as opposed to the Tsim Sha Tsui station....
Luckly i was with friends and it was a great time...
here's one of many many many youtube videos shot that night... you can go to youtube to find more if you don't like this one... just type..
National day Hong Kong Victoria Harbor.
Thursday was my last organized Cantonese class through AFS...
It was sad becasue we won't all see eachother every week... well we won't see eachother durring the week we will still see eachother on weekends... and there are more cantonese classes but it's 2 to 4 students to a voulenteer teacher soo i think i'll learn a lot more that way...
Friday was school...
Saturday I went up and down Hong Kong Island looking at things... took some pictures.. it was good.... that night i met up with the AFSer's but they didn't doo much so me and Guille (arguentina) left... we headed to the IFC the tallest building in Hong Kong to talk and hang out... on the way home I figured out he was JEWISH! soo now we have a jew crew in hong kong...
Sunday was fairly boring...
I finished reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets to my little brother and we watched the movie...
Monday
I finished Atlas Shrugged! by Ann Ryand it was good... the end started getting a bit boring... I don't think i quite agree with her but she does have some good points...
the funniest bit is that the my classmates who are running for school government handed out cards on monday... all the cards had you timetable printed on the back so you can carry it with you so you'll remember and on the front it has their logo and their slogn.
"You say what you need. We give, You receive."
I thought the Irony was too thick to help but laughing at...
*you won't get it unless you've read atlas shrugged*
Tuesday was off school for some holiday or another...
I went hiking with my family in the morning. (well waking along an even paved path) We went through the mountains a little and took some pretty pictures... of course it didn't last long... as hiking with 4 year olds never does...
A friend of mine was with us becasue their family was along so we talked the whole time...
At Noon thirty we got back and i split for home... I had planed on going to a party with the other exchange students at butterfly beach... an hour and a half by mtr to get there... I had to stop at home to get my cell phone wich i thought i left...
it turns out that it must have fallen out of my pocket becasue it wasn't at home... so i'm probably going to have to buy a new phone tomorrow...
But i called up someone there and got directions... and met up with them. We all had a spiffing time there on the beach and talked untill we went home...
Today Wensday...
I think is yom kipur, just looked it up... it start's tonight and is officially tomorrow... but me and Gillie are going to check out the local synagog...
He seemed intrested and i was wondering if i could find any chinese jews soo that's what i'm doing tonight...
school's ok... but that's life...
more fun thing's comming up soon
Hope your all well
Patrick
Casual Tuesday was ANNOYING.
So It's the one day in the year when you don't have to wear the uniform, and they have more rules about what you can wear on that day than on any other day...
So I wake up and put on my clothes, because i don't think i own anything that wouldn't be appropreiate for casual day. I don't have short shorts or shirts that say "weed is great" so i don't see anyway the administration can be angry with me.
So i get to school and the second i get there all my class mates tell me "NO YOU CAN'T WEAR SHORTS TO SCHOOL ON CASUAL DAY!" WTF.... anyways... the teachers didn't notice... but it was irritating as all hell....
plus the fact that it was 35 degrees C outside... it seemed stranged everyone else was wearing jeans...
Wensday was National Day
I went with my family to the Hong Kong Science and Technology College to hang out... it's a big campus with a soccar feild and some very pretty panoramas... I'll put the pictures up soon... we had a good time running aroung...
Aadne called and we made plans to go to Tsim Sha Tsui to watch the fireworks for National Day. (national day of china not Hong Kong) The Fireworks are in Victoria Harbor and the newspaper said the next day that 300,000 people turned out to watch the Fire works... at least 80,000 of them had to be with in 4 block's of where we where casue it was NUTS.
Afterwords the poliece blocked off the streets so you couldn't get to the closest MTR station and we ended up walking 2 miles to Kowloon station as opposed to the Tsim Sha Tsui station....
Luckly i was with friends and it was a great time...
here's one of many many many youtube videos shot that night... you can go to youtube to find more if you don't like this one... just type..
National day Hong Kong Victoria Harbor.
Thursday was my last organized Cantonese class through AFS...
It was sad becasue we won't all see eachother every week... well we won't see eachother durring the week we will still see eachother on weekends... and there are more cantonese classes but it's 2 to 4 students to a voulenteer teacher soo i think i'll learn a lot more that way...
Friday was school...
Saturday I went up and down Hong Kong Island looking at things... took some pictures.. it was good.... that night i met up with the AFSer's but they didn't doo much so me and Guille (arguentina) left... we headed to the IFC the tallest building in Hong Kong to talk and hang out... on the way home I figured out he was JEWISH! soo now we have a jew crew in hong kong...
Sunday was fairly boring...
I finished reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets to my little brother and we watched the movie...
Monday
I finished Atlas Shrugged! by Ann Ryand it was good... the end started getting a bit boring... I don't think i quite agree with her but she does have some good points...
the funniest bit is that the my classmates who are running for school government handed out cards on monday... all the cards had you timetable printed on the back so you can carry it with you so you'll remember and on the front it has their logo and their slogn.
"You say what you need. We give, You receive."
I thought the Irony was too thick to help but laughing at...
*you won't get it unless you've read atlas shrugged*
Tuesday was off school for some holiday or another...
I went hiking with my family in the morning. (well waking along an even paved path) We went through the mountains a little and took some pretty pictures... of course it didn't last long... as hiking with 4 year olds never does...
A friend of mine was with us becasue their family was along so we talked the whole time...
At Noon thirty we got back and i split for home... I had planed on going to a party with the other exchange students at butterfly beach... an hour and a half by mtr to get there... I had to stop at home to get my cell phone wich i thought i left...
it turns out that it must have fallen out of my pocket becasue it wasn't at home... so i'm probably going to have to buy a new phone tomorrow...
But i called up someone there and got directions... and met up with them. We all had a spiffing time there on the beach and talked untill we went home...
Today Wensday...
I think is yom kipur, just looked it up... it start's tonight and is officially tomorrow... but me and Gillie are going to check out the local synagog...
He seemed intrested and i was wondering if i could find any chinese jews soo that's what i'm doing tonight...
school's ok... but that's life...
more fun thing's comming up soon
Hope your all well
Patrick
Monday, September 29, 2008
Casual Tuesday
Tomorrow is Causal dress day at school. I had to give them 20 dollars (hk so it's 2.50) which apparently is going to charity. never the less the fact that you have to give the school money to be able to wear normal clothes or for air conditioner fee's is very very strange to me...
Anywho.. I just got through another amazing weekend! I went to a Birthday party with the other exchange students... It was for Nelson's sister. (Nelson was one of the first friends) soo all the exchange student's hung out ONCE AGAIN! it was awesome... there were these little speaker things so I put on my music for everyone... me and the other kids spent a lot of time flipping through my Ipod saying "I LOVE THEM" and "HAVE YOU HEARD OF" it was a good time had by all...
Sunday I was going to go see a friend play a show... but my host family told me at noon that my support contact was coming over... so I told my friends I had to bail and went out to buy school book's.... Ozgur the Turk* showed up he happened to be on HK island so we hung out for a while...
*
I met with my support contact and told her everything was going dandy, and that leaves me at today...
Today was more school, P.E. where I played basket ball and realized I've forgotten completely how to shoot a basket ball, and closing the day with triple Math's... I caught up on some reading I've been meaning to do....
Paperwork here is like a religion. I keep getting thing's for my parents to sign even 1 month into the school year. I applied for a library card... but that needed to be revised because it needed a photo copy of my gaurenteer's HKID card. I tryed to get My Student MTR Card Today and they wanted a photo so they wouldn't take it... anywho...
it'll all get done....
You guy's keep on surviving.
Patrick
P.S.
It says "that's where I live if you where wondering" click the picture if you want to see it bigger...
It's the same picture as the blog header...
Anywho.. I just got through another amazing weekend! I went to a Birthday party with the other exchange students... It was for Nelson's sister. (Nelson was one of the first friends) soo all the exchange student's hung out ONCE AGAIN! it was awesome... there were these little speaker things so I put on my music for everyone... me and the other kids spent a lot of time flipping through my Ipod saying "I LOVE THEM" and "HAVE YOU HEARD OF" it was a good time had by all...
Sunday I was going to go see a friend play a show... but my host family told me at noon that my support contact was coming over... so I told my friends I had to bail and went out to buy school book's.... Ozgur the Turk* showed up he happened to be on HK island so we hung out for a while...
*
I met with my support contact and told her everything was going dandy, and that leaves me at today...
Today was more school, P.E. where I played basket ball and realized I've forgotten completely how to shoot a basket ball, and closing the day with triple Math's... I caught up on some reading I've been meaning to do....
Paperwork here is like a religion. I keep getting thing's for my parents to sign even 1 month into the school year. I applied for a library card... but that needed to be revised because it needed a photo copy of my gaurenteer's HKID card. I tryed to get My Student MTR Card Today and they wanted a photo so they wouldn't take it... anywho...
it'll all get done....
You guy's keep on surviving.
Patrick
P.S.
It says "that's where I live if you where wondering" click the picture if you want to see it bigger...
It's the same picture as the blog header...
Thursday, September 25, 2008
School and a Typhoon
So I got off school on wensday for the Typhoon.
it got to level 8 wich is why we got off. unfortunately it came through at night... it started really picking up at about 8 or so at night and by the time I woke up the next morning it had passed...
So i'm waiting for the next one to go dancing in the rain....
School is pretty boring but that's ok
Hope your all doing welll
Patrick
it got to level 8 wich is why we got off. unfortunately it came through at night... it started really picking up at about 8 or so at night and by the time I woke up the next morning it had passed...
So i'm waiting for the next one to go dancing in the rain....
School is pretty boring but that's ok
Hope your all doing welll
Patrick
Monday, September 22, 2008
Typhoon level 3 has been posted...
if it goes to level 8 we get to go home!
there is nothing between 3 and 8 i don't know why
the levels are 1 (which is ignored) 3 (pretty much ignored) 8 (everything shuts down) 9 and 10 (JESUS CHRIST PLEASE SAVE US)
just thought you would like to know
Pat
there is nothing between 3 and 8 i don't know why
the levels are 1 (which is ignored) 3 (pretty much ignored) 8 (everything shuts down) 9 and 10 (JESUS CHRIST PLEASE SAVE US)
just thought you would like to know
Pat
Sunday, September 21, 2008
ONE MONTH DOWN!
Sorry for the lack of updates...
School this week was fine... a fairly normal week... For P.E. we did swimming and played "water polo" (the pool is 3 feet deep so no one was swimming)
Thursday I BOUGHT A CAMERA!!!!
specks for the nerd friends out there!
8.0 mega pixels
5x optical zoom
4 gig sd chip
facial recognition
and more features than i would know how to use...
It's small and has a big screen which makes it perfect...
I've been taking a lot of pictures too many to try and up load to blogger...
Blogger's photo upload interface is fine for 5 or even 10 or so photos but i took a lot so I'll put them up on photobucket.com
the Internet is being finicky.... it's rather annoying...
soo Thursday was Cantonese lessons as every Thursday is... After we went out to fast food Japanese.... all good I fell asleep at probably 11
Friday was another good day and after school I went to a BBQ party at the Icelandic Exchange student's house. It was a great time. It took a lot of newspaper and failed attempts to light the charcoal but eventually we got it going and a good time was had by all... I left Baddi's House around 10:30 I ended up at home at 12.
Sign up's for after school activities must be done through the web the deadline was Saturday night at midnight so i was up till one getting ready for bed and signing up for Football (soccer) and Chess clubs'
Saturday was ORIENTATION!!! the orientation that was scheduled for the day we got here. we finally had it.. One month to the day after landing. So it was up at 7:30 and out the door at 8 to get to the other side of the new territories... if you care to look the meeting was at the Fanling MTR station on the light blue line i live at Fortress hill/North point on the dark Blue line (called the island line).
Camp was good because of the other students... the material was the same boring talk about culture shock they had given us in every book and in the us orientation, so that was fairly boring but it's hard to have a bad time with 30 of your friends and you hanging out. soo we played basket ball and talked about everything, school, host families, a lot about the differences between here and our home culture. It was great!
We had a talent show so I solved the Rubix cube. everyone was very impressed.
One German boy has been playing piano since he was 2, I think, and sat down at a piano and just whips out this beautiful piece of classical music from memory. he is an amazing musician it's crazy... and for him it was no big deal... he seemed to be bored... I wish I could play like that but just thinking of the practice involved make's me cringe....
for dinner was BBQ again... this time I helped light 2 or 3 fires after having figured it out the night before... they do BBQ differently here than in the US... in the us the Charcoal goes in the bottom of the BBQ and then you have the grill over it where you put the food down to cook... here you put news paper in the bottom to light the charcoal on chicken wire and you cook over the charcoal on sticks.... ummmmmmmm.... Meat on a stick... It was all very tasty....
After words we went to "bed" meaning we all sat in the Court yard talking all night... I was up till 4 my time... and wake up call was 7 am.... toooo early.... but i got a nap this afternoon... I'm behind on sleep over all...
We where at a camp. a summer camp, camp. bunk beds. soccer Field basket ball hoops room's to meet in and a Canteen. The canteen food at lunch on Saturday wasn't bad. it's camp food though and it's very strange to think of Chinese camp food... It was definitely passable... I mean I ate it... but think of the camp version of burgers or camp version of spaghetti and meat ball's. Now think of the camp version of mushu pork... of fried and glazed fish... any who...
Breakfast consisted of cold Hom Bow and a noodle soup of some sort... it was ok but not what I (or any of the other kid's at my table) where looking for in breakfast... Looking at the half empty serving bowl of noodles I found their opinion of breakfast personified in a "sign from the heavens"* camp got out at ten and we went off to find food. unfortunately by the time we caught the bus to the MTR to Kowloon tong... it was Noon so we gave up on breakfast and had lunch...
I got home at 1:30. I'm reading Harry potter (in it's entirety) to my 10 year old brother, we have finished the 1st book and are on the second one. so we watched the first Harry potter movie... I started falling asleep so i went off to take my nap...
anywho both my brother's want me to read to them soo I'm off...
Hope your all well
Patrick
*there's your sign....
School this week was fine... a fairly normal week... For P.E. we did swimming and played "water polo" (the pool is 3 feet deep so no one was swimming)
Thursday I BOUGHT A CAMERA!!!!
specks for the nerd friends out there!
8.0 mega pixels
5x optical zoom
4 gig sd chip
facial recognition
and more features than i would know how to use...
It's small and has a big screen which makes it perfect...
I've been taking a lot of pictures too many to try and up load to blogger...
Blogger's photo upload interface is fine for 5 or even 10 or so photos but i took a lot so I'll put them up on photobucket.com
the Internet is being finicky.... it's rather annoying...
soo Thursday was Cantonese lessons as every Thursday is... After we went out to fast food Japanese.... all good I fell asleep at probably 11
Friday was another good day and after school I went to a BBQ party at the Icelandic Exchange student's house. It was a great time. It took a lot of newspaper and failed attempts to light the charcoal but eventually we got it going and a good time was had by all... I left Baddi's House around 10:30 I ended up at home at 12.
Sign up's for after school activities must be done through the web the deadline was Saturday night at midnight so i was up till one getting ready for bed and signing up for Football (soccer) and Chess clubs'
Saturday was ORIENTATION!!! the orientation that was scheduled for the day we got here. we finally had it.. One month to the day after landing. So it was up at 7:30 and out the door at 8 to get to the other side of the new territories... if you care to look the meeting was at the Fanling MTR station on the light blue line i live at Fortress hill/North point on the dark Blue line (called the island line).
Camp was good because of the other students... the material was the same boring talk about culture shock they had given us in every book and in the us orientation, so that was fairly boring but it's hard to have a bad time with 30 of your friends and you hanging out. soo we played basket ball and talked about everything, school, host families, a lot about the differences between here and our home culture. It was great!
We had a talent show so I solved the Rubix cube. everyone was very impressed.
One German boy has been playing piano since he was 2, I think, and sat down at a piano and just whips out this beautiful piece of classical music from memory. he is an amazing musician it's crazy... and for him it was no big deal... he seemed to be bored... I wish I could play like that but just thinking of the practice involved make's me cringe....
for dinner was BBQ again... this time I helped light 2 or 3 fires after having figured it out the night before... they do BBQ differently here than in the US... in the us the Charcoal goes in the bottom of the BBQ and then you have the grill over it where you put the food down to cook... here you put news paper in the bottom to light the charcoal on chicken wire and you cook over the charcoal on sticks.... ummmmmmmm.... Meat on a stick... It was all very tasty....
After words we went to "bed" meaning we all sat in the Court yard talking all night... I was up till 4 my time... and wake up call was 7 am.... toooo early.... but i got a nap this afternoon... I'm behind on sleep over all...
We where at a camp. a summer camp, camp. bunk beds. soccer Field basket ball hoops room's to meet in and a Canteen. The canteen food at lunch on Saturday wasn't bad. it's camp food though and it's very strange to think of Chinese camp food... It was definitely passable... I mean I ate it... but think of the camp version of burgers or camp version of spaghetti and meat ball's. Now think of the camp version of mushu pork... of fried and glazed fish... any who...
Breakfast consisted of cold Hom Bow and a noodle soup of some sort... it was ok but not what I (or any of the other kid's at my table) where looking for in breakfast... Looking at the half empty serving bowl of noodles I found their opinion of breakfast personified in a "sign from the heavens"* camp got out at ten and we went off to find food. unfortunately by the time we caught the bus to the MTR to Kowloon tong... it was Noon so we gave up on breakfast and had lunch...
I got home at 1:30. I'm reading Harry potter (in it's entirety) to my 10 year old brother, we have finished the 1st book and are on the second one. so we watched the first Harry potter movie... I started falling asleep so i went off to take my nap...
anywho both my brother's want me to read to them soo I'm off...
Hope your all well
Patrick
*there's your sign....
to see photos
go here
http://s60.photobucket.com/albums/h18/inky232000/hong%20kong%201/
Monday, September 15, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival
hey it's the end of a Monday here and we had the day off for Mid Autumn Festival.
I really don't know much about it even after living through it... everyone seemed really excited for it and then just sort of went through a few motion's and there didn't seem to be much point... we went to a park and lit candles and played with lanterns.... that was it... there wasn't any ritual to it... it seemed odd to me... espeically after all they hype I've gotten about it being some great holiday...
anyways I've got more pictures for you
These are From the Peak of Hong Kong Island, The big building is the IFC the tallest building in Hong Kong you might know it from Batman (he jumps off it)
look at Hong Kong again from the peak. My house is in this picture but i'm too lazy to highlight it now.
my host dad standing at the peak .
a view of the other side of the island fromt the peak
My little brother adreil durring the daily battle to make him eat dinner
Mid Autumn Fetival
some of the many amazing lanterns at Victoria park
Adreil and Sandy Host brother and mother
More lanterns with Hong Kong in the background
more lanterns
even more
Different angle on the same lanterns
another angle
More lanterns!
More more more!
Different angles looking at the latnerns!!!
A man dressed up as a ferry with guess what a lantern on his head and on stilts.
Angles lanterns
Angles and lanterns
more and more and more
Me and my Host Dad
Candles we burned
The little brother
Taken from the living room of our house Sail boat races
More pictures of boats!
The last week has been good, I've been going to school. Math class is the most boring thing I have ever had to sit through repeatedly. after math class it's like someone snapped my brain... it's a horrible feeling... any who... the rest of school is good i really like my class mate's though I don't have any pictures of them up yet... I'm going to buy a camera this week. at the Moment I'm operating on a camera borrowed from my host family.
I'm sooo tired right now. we got home at 11:30 and went to sleep at 12:30 here last night and left this morning at 9 to go swimming. They are used to it... I need more sleep. but it is absolutely useless to try and sleep in. other than the fact that my room faces east and is one big window. my little brother is up at 7 every morning and if I'm in bed he's yelling at me and poking me... for no good reason... I haven't been able to make it past 10 asleep...
on September 30th there is a day we don't have to wear our school uniform if we pay 20 dollars (a form a extortion if you ask me) but you need to pay it through an online system they use called pps... of course I'm not on any system and soo i spent all week trying to give them money that they wouldn't take... any who.
They told us on Friday that to sign up for after school activities you have to do it through eclass... an online program through the school.................................................................................... that will be this week's battle...
more school more school... orientation for AFS kids is this coming weekend and that will be fun soo yeah...
stuff too look forward too...
Pat
I'm sooo tired right now. we got home at 11:30 and went to sleep at 12:30 here last night and left this morning at 9 to go swimming. They are used to it... I need more sleep. but it is absolutely useless to try and sleep in. other than the fact that my room faces east and is one big window. my little brother is up at 7 every morning and if I'm in bed he's yelling at me and poking me... for no good reason... I haven't been able to make it past 10 asleep...
on September 30th there is a day we don't have to wear our school uniform if we pay 20 dollars (a form a extortion if you ask me) but you need to pay it through an online system they use called pps... of course I'm not on any system and soo i spent all week trying to give them money that they wouldn't take... any who.
They told us on Friday that to sign up for after school activities you have to do it through eclass... an online program through the school.................................................................................... that will be this week's battle...
more school more school... orientation for AFS kids is this coming weekend and that will be fun soo yeah...
stuff too look forward too...
Pat
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Hard Rock and More School
Sunday was good.
I woke up at 10 and read some Atlas Shrugged, then I read to Adriel, then I read to Adrien. Finally i slipped out around 4:45 to head to Tsim sha tisu to meet everyone and go to the Hard Rock Cafe. My bus took forever to come... but it was Sunday afternoon...
so I was a little late... it was good though and we all had a great time. I realized that the Hard rock is real American food. McDonald's isn't. Anywho... After we walked around and ended up at the star ferry pier looking out at Hong Kong it was nice being with friend's hanging out.
I met a German kid who had gone to the same school as me... he wasn't wild about it. also a Hong Kong kid who spent his exchange year in the Cezch Republic. It's interesting because growing up in the suburbs I'm excited to live in a city. However whenever I talk to people here about not liking the country they all look at me funny. They all like the country, I have a feeling though it comes from growing up in Hong Kong, and they don't really know how boring it is...
Back to school... More of the same... I've been playing a lot of chess with the other kid's. I've mostly been loosing but i won one game today.
I hope you are all doing well.
Patrick
P.S. I just found the camera today so no pictures from this weekend from me. I'll see if I can get some from the other kid's to post.
I woke up at 10 and read some Atlas Shrugged, then I read to Adriel, then I read to Adrien. Finally i slipped out around 4:45 to head to Tsim sha tisu to meet everyone and go to the Hard Rock Cafe. My bus took forever to come... but it was Sunday afternoon...
so I was a little late... it was good though and we all had a great time. I realized that the Hard rock is real American food. McDonald's isn't. Anywho... After we walked around and ended up at the star ferry pier looking out at Hong Kong it was nice being with friend's hanging out.
I met a German kid who had gone to the same school as me... he wasn't wild about it. also a Hong Kong kid who spent his exchange year in the Cezch Republic. It's interesting because growing up in the suburbs I'm excited to live in a city. However whenever I talk to people here about not liking the country they all look at me funny. They all like the country, I have a feeling though it comes from growing up in Hong Kong, and they don't really know how boring it is...
Back to school... More of the same... I've been playing a lot of chess with the other kid's. I've mostly been loosing but i won one game today.
I hope you are all doing well.
Patrick
P.S. I just found the camera today so no pictures from this weekend from me. I'll see if I can get some from the other kid's to post.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Mong Kok on a Saturday
Hello everyone,
yesterday was another exciting day. All the exchanges students came together again for another day of weekend fun... this week's destination Mong Kok, Imagine Time Square Crowded all the time and for about 20 sq. blocks. That's Mong Kok, it's the cool part of the city. It's got cafes and Karaoke bars and the Ladies market*, and many other thing's to see and do.
However we soon realized that Mong Kok was not as easy a place as the beach for a gathering of 20 exchange student's. The Beach is easy you all show up and some people swim some people sit there it's all straight forward... Mong Kok is almost like it's own city there is ton's to do and it's all very different... there is no way to keep together 20 student's for 12 countries with a variety of interests... so we got to the Ladies Market* (oh all right I'll explain the ladies market here. The Ladies market is a BIG STREET full of people selling knock off everything, watches, t-shirt's, Rolex's, Gucci bags, anything you want you can get there, cheep if your willing to bargin.) and we decided to split up and meet up at three o'clock, because trying to shop in group's of twenty is like trying to skydive with a duck for a parachute, it end's badly... so Aadne the Norwegian (pronounced odd neh), Tim from Belgin, and Dylan the Aussie, and I got some grub at a local cafe.
The cafe was on the second floor. We got there and ordered stuffed snails to share around the table and deep fried soft shell crab also to share.. and a "chocolate milkshake" each... The chocolate milk shake was more like chocolate milk with some crushed ice and (because it's Asia) chunks of chocolate jelly at the bottom, like a bubble tea. They where ok, the Crab and Snails where very good and we went on our way...
We got back to the appointed place at 3 o'clock, and of course, no one was there. They had all gone for lunch at, do you want to guess.... McDonald's....... AGAIN, it's like some weird obsession for these kids or something...
so we called them and said "where are you?"
"McDonald's"
"okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk, Which McDonald's?"
"It's in a mall"
"Which Mall"
"It's by the MTR"
"how bout this, go out side and give us a street name...."
"WHAT"
"whatever, bye"
to give you an idea of how unhelpful their directions where.. it's like trying to find someone in Seattle and they tell you, "I'm in a Starbucks"
Every building in Hong Kong is or has a mall, even my apartment complex has a mall under it, with a toy's r' us. and there is a McDonald's on every other block.
Eventually we found them. Once we did they wanted to go back to the ladies market.. so me and the 3 other's above mentioned + a German kid decided to go off our own way and check out the computer center.
The computer center is a special type of mall in Hong Kong. It's 3 stories, full of small booth's, all of them about electronics, Laptops and components galore for ridiculously cheep. we spent a good hour looking at different laptops and such... it looks like about 5,000 hk$ for a good laptop. We also saw a lot of E PCs or mini lap top's which i find very interesting. I'm not sure if i want one but I like the idea...
we saw one that was like 6 inches by 4 inches it was just big enough for a keyboard, (that you couldn't type on) and no mouse pad so it had like the little mouse nub and two clickers off on the side... It was cute but stupid...
Next on the agenda it was decided was food and a movie... we found both in a mall however the only non chick flick in English was... Bangkok Dangerous, the most generic and predictable movie I've seen in a while. What's worse is it had Nicholas Cage, who I despise. However I got some good Indian food and the rest of the day was good so, I'll let that be.
Tonight we do it all over again... but this time lead by me and my "first friend". about 15 of us are meeting up at 5:30 and we are going to the Hard Rock Cafe. It will be epic.
more later
hope your all well
(Photo's from flickr)
yesterday was another exciting day. All the exchanges students came together again for another day of weekend fun... this week's destination Mong Kok, Imagine Time Square Crowded all the time and for about 20 sq. blocks. That's Mong Kok, it's the cool part of the city. It's got cafes and Karaoke bars and the Ladies market*, and many other thing's to see and do.
Mong Kok at Night
However we soon realized that Mong Kok was not as easy a place as the beach for a gathering of 20 exchange student's. The Beach is easy you all show up and some people swim some people sit there it's all straight forward... Mong Kok is almost like it's own city there is ton's to do and it's all very different... there is no way to keep together 20 student's for 12 countries with a variety of interests... so we got to the Ladies Market* (oh all right I'll explain the ladies market here. The Ladies market is a BIG STREET full of people selling knock off everything, watches, t-shirt's, Rolex's, Gucci bags, anything you want you can get there, cheep if your willing to bargin.) and we decided to split up and meet up at three o'clock, because trying to shop in group's of twenty is like trying to skydive with a duck for a parachute, it end's badly... so Aadne the Norwegian (pronounced odd neh), Tim from Belgin, and Dylan the Aussie, and I got some grub at a local cafe.
Mong Kok Ladies Market
The cafe was on the second floor. We got there and ordered stuffed snails to share around the table and deep fried soft shell crab also to share.. and a "chocolate milkshake" each... The chocolate milk shake was more like chocolate milk with some crushed ice and (because it's Asia) chunks of chocolate jelly at the bottom, like a bubble tea. They where ok, the Crab and Snails where very good and we went on our way...
We got back to the appointed place at 3 o'clock, and of course, no one was there. They had all gone for lunch at, do you want to guess.... McDonald's....... AGAIN, it's like some weird obsession for these kids or something...
so we called them and said "where are you?"
"McDonald's"
"okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk, Which McDonald's?"
"It's in a mall"
"Which Mall"
"It's by the MTR"
"how bout this, go out side and give us a street name...."
"WHAT"
"whatever, bye"
to give you an idea of how unhelpful their directions where.. it's like trying to find someone in Seattle and they tell you, "I'm in a Starbucks"
Every building in Hong Kong is or has a mall, even my apartment complex has a mall under it, with a toy's r' us. and there is a McDonald's on every other block.
Eventually we found them. Once we did they wanted to go back to the ladies market.. so me and the 3 other's above mentioned + a German kid decided to go off our own way and check out the computer center.
The computer center is a special type of mall in Hong Kong. It's 3 stories, full of small booth's, all of them about electronics, Laptops and components galore for ridiculously cheep. we spent a good hour looking at different laptops and such... it looks like about 5,000 hk$ for a good laptop. We also saw a lot of E PCs or mini lap top's which i find very interesting. I'm not sure if i want one but I like the idea...
The Computer Center
we saw one that was like 6 inches by 4 inches it was just big enough for a keyboard, (that you couldn't type on) and no mouse pad so it had like the little mouse nub and two clickers off on the side... It was cute but stupid...
Another Shot of the Computer Center
Next on the agenda it was decided was food and a movie... we found both in a mall however the only non chick flick in English was... Bangkok Dangerous, the most generic and predictable movie I've seen in a while. What's worse is it had Nicholas Cage, who I despise. However I got some good Indian food and the rest of the day was good so, I'll let that be.
Tonight we do it all over again... but this time lead by me and my "first friend". about 15 of us are meeting up at 5:30 and we are going to the Hard Rock Cafe. It will be epic.
more later
hope your all well
(Photo's from flickr)
Friday, September 5, 2008
The Weekend
Sorry I haven't posted in a while... been busy...
School is finally going... we're actually doing thing's in class chemistry is a little complicated... and physics is easy so far... Math is putting me to sleep...
The other kids at school are a lot of fun to be around. we have been going out to lunch together... it's crazy cause we all descend on a place like 15 of us and take over... today we had Japanese food... I got basically sushi in a bowl... it was little cubes of different fish, some shredded seaweed, and fish eggs on a bowl of rice. it was really good...
I had Cantonese lessons last night with the other AFS kids... after we went to where else the worlds restaurant, the internationally acclaimed McDonald's.... yes it's sad but true...
Every time we get together it seems like they all want to go to McDonald's...
oh well...
I'm excited for the Weekend... tomorrow I'm going to Mong kok which will be tons of fun and Sunday night I'm going to the hard rock cafe.
I'll take pictures and write more soon...
Oh and BTW the stories about the having rolls Royce taxi's here are all lies... maybe executive taxi's but EVERY taxi I've seen has been the same boxy old Toyota....
Pat
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Ebb and Flow
point counterpoint, action reaction, stop and go.
There is a lot of that in Hong Kong. For me it's very conscience. Crossing the street is a dance of other people and traffic. I wonder if the people who live here even think about it anymore. they do it 50 times a day every day.
It was another boring day at school. We still haven't started to do anything. Tomorrow is the real first day. I exchanged my book's from form 4 for form 6 book's. I'm ready to fight the new year. ready to weather the storm that is school. (i hope.) It should be good though.
It is raining today... It's the first time it's rained since I've been here. it's really more of a drizzle... but it counts... it's very cloudy and thankfully it's cooled down some today... the atmosphere is strange a cool and warm mixture always tinted with the dampness of the rain.
Hong Kong is very much an Umbrella Cultrue... unlike Seattle... Eveyone carries a small umbrella in their bag... weather for sun or for rain it's always on hand.
The busses here are much simpler than back home... I'm already confident enough to ride the bus into Wan Chai and back. Where as the busses in Seattle take a Phd to navigate. They are all clearly numbered and like everything else can be paied for with your octopus pass.
My school gave me an RFID card wich is my Student ID for now. It doesn't have my picture (yet) and is unerving and annoying for me... they don't take roll at my school you scan your RFID when you walk in the front gate and again when you leave... so they will know if your even one second late...
It's amazing the proliferation of technology into every day life here... it's not that they are very far ahead in what they can do, but they are light year's ahead at doing it in everyday life...
I'm reading Atlas Shrugged, becasue I loaned War for the Oaks to an Italian girl at the beach (she didn't have anything to read and wasn't swimming) It's good so far... But i'm only 40 pages in...
I'm reading Harry Potter to my 10 year old brother and the rest of the family. Sandy my host mom who tought english for 10 years is very keen on having me read in english out loud to the kids. I tryed to read Harry Potter to Adriel but he doesn't understand all the words...
It's strange to think that english isn't his first language when he can already speak it so well. Adrein seems to like it but we are only one chapter in.
All this week school starts at 7:40 so I have to leave the house at 7 which mean's waking up at 6:30.
Much too early to be waking up for school espically a school you didn't sign up for....
Although i suppose in a way i did... but what ever...
My school is a Christian school, I'm supprised that no one has figured out that I'm Jewish yet. I thought it would be a tip off that I have to read the Lord's Prayer out of the book... but I suppose they aren't looking at me...
I'm in the Destdedit house (sound's like destitute) for p.e. apparently it's this big competition inside of the school they have Volly Ball games and ches games and quiz games, and a track and feild meet and other competitions and who ever get's the most "marks" win's. I think it's annoying and unnessary... but i always thought school spirit was in High School.... But worse that that you are REQIRED to do a sport for your house... so i suppose i'm going to do Shot Put, Javalin, and Discus. So I can avoid running and swimming... wich are the only other two options....
Tomorrow's Wednesday.
Another day another adventure
(P.S. the picture at the top of my blog is from the Peak of Hong Kong Island At night)
There is a lot of that in Hong Kong. For me it's very conscience. Crossing the street is a dance of other people and traffic. I wonder if the people who live here even think about it anymore. they do it 50 times a day every day.
It was another boring day at school. We still haven't started to do anything. Tomorrow is the real first day. I exchanged my book's from form 4 for form 6 book's. I'm ready to fight the new year. ready to weather the storm that is school. (i hope.) It should be good though.
It is raining today... It's the first time it's rained since I've been here. it's really more of a drizzle... but it counts... it's very cloudy and thankfully it's cooled down some today... the atmosphere is strange a cool and warm mixture always tinted with the dampness of the rain.
Hong Kong is very much an Umbrella Cultrue... unlike Seattle... Eveyone carries a small umbrella in their bag... weather for sun or for rain it's always on hand.
The busses here are much simpler than back home... I'm already confident enough to ride the bus into Wan Chai and back. Where as the busses in Seattle take a Phd to navigate. They are all clearly numbered and like everything else can be paied for with your octopus pass.
My school gave me an RFID card wich is my Student ID for now. It doesn't have my picture (yet) and is unerving and annoying for me... they don't take roll at my school you scan your RFID when you walk in the front gate and again when you leave... so they will know if your even one second late...
It's amazing the proliferation of technology into every day life here... it's not that they are very far ahead in what they can do, but they are light year's ahead at doing it in everyday life...
I'm reading Atlas Shrugged, becasue I loaned War for the Oaks to an Italian girl at the beach (she didn't have anything to read and wasn't swimming) It's good so far... But i'm only 40 pages in...
I'm reading Harry Potter to my 10 year old brother and the rest of the family. Sandy my host mom who tought english for 10 years is very keen on having me read in english out loud to the kids. I tryed to read Harry Potter to Adriel but he doesn't understand all the words...
It's strange to think that english isn't his first language when he can already speak it so well. Adrein seems to like it but we are only one chapter in.
All this week school starts at 7:40 so I have to leave the house at 7 which mean's waking up at 6:30.
Much too early to be waking up for school espically a school you didn't sign up for....
Although i suppose in a way i did... but what ever...
My school is a Christian school, I'm supprised that no one has figured out that I'm Jewish yet. I thought it would be a tip off that I have to read the Lord's Prayer out of the book... but I suppose they aren't looking at me...
I'm in the Destdedit house (sound's like destitute) for p.e. apparently it's this big competition inside of the school they have Volly Ball games and ches games and quiz games, and a track and feild meet and other competitions and who ever get's the most "marks" win's. I think it's annoying and unnessary... but i always thought school spirit was in High School.... But worse that that you are REQIRED to do a sport for your house... so i suppose i'm going to do Shot Put, Javalin, and Discus. So I can avoid running and swimming... wich are the only other two options....
Tomorrow's Wednesday.
Another day another adventure
(P.S. the picture at the top of my blog is from the Peak of Hong Kong Island At night)
Monday, September 1, 2008
First day of School
MORE PICTURES!!!
this is me and the Australian Kid. In the background is Hong Kong at night (isn't it pretty..... :-P) we where in Kowloon, but the camera didn't get it soo well...
The camera in night mode... you can see the city much better and me and two friends very creepily!!!
a picture of just Hong Kong at night...
taken from the window of the closet, where the computer is and I am right now...
I have more pictures.. some from the peak of the mountain on hong kong island... I'll post them later.. Today was my first day at the school here... it was a half day and full of handing out papers....
I got bumped up to form 6 so thing's should be interesting at least in the school work... My class mates seem like really nice people... The school is about 1,200 kid's like MIHS but it's forms 1-7. soo my grade is about 90 people... who are split up into three sections... Sciences (where i am), Arts (not really arts it just called that... it's really humanities... history, economics and geography), and something else i can't remember....
HSBC skrewed up my bank account... they mixed it up with another exchange student... but I cleared that up today.. and me and Maria (German) hung out for the rest of the day, we got coffee and talked about thing's it was good...
I went to the Beach this Saturday with the other AFS kid's I had TONS of fun.. swimming... i also got a big sunburn but it's healing well soo I'm not worried... it's very hot here...
92 degrees and 80% humidity... so i sweat all day... except inside where there is AC
I've been eating all sort's of different food... My family went to Spaghetti house (basically olive garden of HK) and we got a set menu with ribs, risotto, pizza, and spaghetti with cuddle fish ink sauce... which surprisingly, despite it's black color is very good
I've also eaten chicken feet while here. Thing's I expect to eat before I leave include... Goose, Snake and other things...
all the food here is very good... My school uniform isn't bad either and I'll Post a photo of me in it soon...
I need to get off the computer for now... But I'll up date soon
hope your all well
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