I’ve struck up a friendship with one of the security guards in our lobby. It’s a simple friendship really, I say “ni hao” and he says “hai ke yi” or “hen hao” back (“Pretty good” and “great”, respectively). Sometimes I add a little spice and say “wo de peng you” (“Woah de pung yeo”-You are my friend) and he just smiles back. It’s strange, having been away for 6 weeks and having been in Hong Kong for almost a month how much I already feel like a local. In some ways, it’s a bad habit to be a local. I feel more urge to get back to my own space and do my own thing than to go out and explore my unique and momentary surroundings.
I’m sitting in a poorly lit room, with a Money & Banking text book open, but with Chinese flashcards spilled all over it. I take it as a compliment that my fellow classmates want help with Chinese, but the sad truth is that I’ve never really intended on taking another Chinese class after this semester. There are a lot of unintended things that I’ve thought about changing. Grad school. Grad job? Being away gives you the perspective of how important decisions are at home.
The air conditioner in our room is constantly running. The air in Hong Kong is stratospherically humid. Thank God giant water bottles are only US$1.50 from the 7-11 at the corner.
Everyone is traveling. Friends went to Singapore last weekend, some are going to Taiwan this weekend. There’s a Bangkok trip and a Phuket trip planning in coming weeks. I’m not attending any of them. I’m at peace with this mostly because I have little interest in Singapore or Taiwan and have seen Bangkok and Phuket. I’m get excited looking at Wikipedia articles on Angkor Wat and Hanoi and Hoi An. But being here has also given me a peace of mind about not always having to move, being in one spot and enjoying it. I look forward to weekends where abroad friends are gone and I’m free to do and spend my time as I please. The people here are great, but not long lasting. In a roundabout way, pictures and phone conversations and Skype’s with home are long lasting.
Back to Chinese I suppose. I’m going to work on posting shorter pieces more often. Zai jian. (“Tzi jee-an”-Good bye).
I like this.