What the Bri'ian's lack in "T's" the Chinese make up in "Teas"

Wow, I can't believe it's been a week. It seems like 2 or 3... maybe a month. After fellow CNETS (Chatteris Native English speaking Teachers) arrived on Monday things were set in motion. Last Wednesday we went to an orientation camp on a "rural" island which houses the airport, Disneyland and thousands of people. Not "rural" compared to Mora, Minnesoata. Camp was great, and quick with accelerated lessons to prepare us to interact with students. Students ranged from 17-20 years old and typically spoke English well. The other, hidden agenda, for the camp was to better get to know fellow CNETS as this is key bonding time to find a roommate for the next 10 months. One week is hardly enough to get to know anyone...

Below is what I learned in the last week:

1. British English is harder to understand than Cantonese English (the Britts don't pronounce T's)

2. Knackered means tired or worn out

3. First impressions are the longest lasting and the least helpful

4. Apartment hunting is a dangerous game yet the sketchiest parts of Hong Kong remind me of Parkland and I find it comforting.

5. Stealing a room service cart from the hallway to flip on it's side for a beer pong table is not acceptable. Cameras can prove it

6. Paying by octopus does not involve a fishing trip

7. A seductive "Mmmm", 3 double takes, refusal to help me find an apartment and countless questions and stares are all part of being 6'5" in Hong Kong.

8. Stealing internet should be considered an Olympic sport.

9. Don't drink the water.... just trust me on this one

10. McDonalds is so good it hurts... literally. Too many $2 McFlurry's are not good for anyone

11. Eating peanut butter out of a jar with a finger is "one of the most American things I've seen."

12. A visa picture of you with long hair and plaid shirt qualify you as an "all american"

13. Harry Potter books are not limited to JK Rowling's books... http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.11points.com%2FBooks%2F11_Amazing_Fake_%2527Harry_Potter%2527_Books_Written_In_China&h=4a6f6wBQZpKK330Berx3HygDXHw

14. I still can't understand what anyone from the UK is saying.

15. Stars have been replaced by windows left on in skyscrapers

16. Wan Chai and Chai Wan are different by about an hour

17. It's not rain, it's water dripping from any of the 20+ floors above you

18. I'm probably going to end up living in the red light district

19. There's a Hermoine Granger in every class

20. PBJ is now considered soul food

21. Man Fuk and Mang Kok are common places in Hong Kong

22. Both Harry Potter and Ron Weasley are CNETS

23. Sometimes it's more sanitary to not wash your hands after using the toilet.

Hopefully pictures will be up soon to better explain the above. Especially number 5.

Talk to you all soon. Don't forget skype!

Love

Tyler

A new adventure started by a walk down memory lane

I left on Wednesday at 4:15pm from Parkland, WA and landed in Hong Kong on Friday at 6:15 am. It has been a long trip but absolutely worth it. A friend of mine from PLU, Jeremy Zee, met me at the airport and skillfully led me through Hong Kong via the public bus system. About an hour later, we arrived at his home, an apartment on the 7th floor of a complex only half a block from the hostel I will be staying at for the next 3 weeks. After dropping off my luggage we headed for downtown. Taking bus, minibus, subway and ferry, we set out on a detailed tour that didn't even scratch the city's surface. I saw many familiar landmarks and memories rushed back from the last time I had visited Hong Kong in 2008. Running through the tsunami-injured park, pictures by sculptures, ferry rides, "please mind the gap" and life in a different YWCA closer to the water...... (some pictures from these adventures may be found in a previous, but not distant, blog post)

Afterwards, I was able to check-in to my hostel, connect to the infamous world wide web and update friends and family on my whereabouts. However, due to jet lag, I fell asleep around 7pm only to wake up again around 3am. Yet many great ideas come about while sleeping! The sun was still fairly high when my eyes fell low so it was a surprise when I awoke and needed to find the light switch. After finding it, I discovered another switch on the wall... for air conditioning. I thought I was in the room with the broken AC but in actuality I misunderstood how it worked and did not look closely enough to its operation.

The next day (today), I did not do much at all. In the morning I found a McDonalds and supermarket (to pick up peanut butter and bread) after a skype call with my family. I went back later in the afternoon to pick up some watermelon, wandered into a park bench and continued reread The Man Who Stayed Behind by Sidney Rittenberg. Judging by the average age of park goers, I think the bench I found was close to a retirement apartment. Ironically the building's name was Sik Man. It was a great way to spend 4 hours.

On another note, I am finding myself anxious for others to show up for training on Monday so I have some peers to go on adventures. With them it will not be too terrible if I get lost as I am at least with good company. However, a friend from PLU, Teal Flanigan, will be joining me tomorrow on a layover on her way to Sri Lanka.

For those of you interested in funny street signs/the street sign to which the hostel belongs, please see below.