Week 2 in Hong Kong!

This week has been a roller coaster to say the least. There have been lots of hard moments missing Kristen, but also it has been a week full of love and great memories in Hong Kong!!! Everyday I become more and more amazed by the culture here because everything they do here has incredible meaning behind it and these traditions really drive all aspects of their life. For example, most buildings don't have a fourth floor because "fourth" and "death" are pronounced the same in Chinese, so they want to avoid having a "death floor." And buildings must have proper feng shui so that it ensures that those in it will lead healthy and successful lives. Downtown the entrance to major buildings must be to the water, while the back of the building is facing the mountain.

It is incredible that there are a lot of familiar things here in Hong Kong, but there are slight differences that make things so interesting and unique. I'm just going to start blabbing about some of the crazy things I have noticed here... 

• They have an excessive amount of malls here, literally every where you go there is a mall that is usually 6 or 7 floors high and many times you need to walk through a mall in order to get to your next destination. 
• They LOVE to serve us french fries at our dorm, at any meal (especially breakfast) you're guaranteed to be given fries. 
• The language barrier has gotten more difficult in the past few years and we have had some difficulties communicating, especially ordering food or getting directions.
• The marketing and advertisements... I have been so amused at the commercials and posters that are in Hong Kong, they love to use things like anime or cartoons. I need to take more pictures of examples so you can see just how awesome it is... 
• The transportation system here aka the MTR is incredible... so efficient and fast. I don't think I have ever had to wait more than 3 minutes for a metro or bus here, it makes it so easy.
• The humidity here is awful I can deal with 115 degrees in Tucson, but this humidity makes walking outside (even at night) so tough and kinda gross. We have to walk up this huge hill to get back to our dorm and that is killer with the humidity.
• We have been in 2 typhoons here so far... I learned that there are different levels and colors that represent the intensity of the storm. They list either a (T1, T3, T8, T10) out side our dorm and elevator so you know how to prepare for the day. And then they can send out color coordinated warnings Amber (intense storm conditions) Red (no one can go outside) Black (everything shuts down and if you're at work, you have to go home!)
• I expected there to be a lot more Americans here but we've met a lot more people from Europe... France, Britain, Germany, Spain, Ireland, London... etc. 
• Every night they have a light show downtown, where they have lights on all the buildings synced up to music... it's pretty incredible.
• The food has been interesting, especially the meat. They leave the fat, skin, and anything excess on the food... slightly gross and unhealthy. But some of their traditional meals are so delicious, like the dim sum or hot pot. 
• People can be very impatient and not polite here, and most of the time on the MTR... many times people will not give up their seat to the elderly or some one in need.  
• I met this 90 year old lady on the MTR who moved to Hong Kong in 1941 and even though there was a language barrier and you could tell she was getting old, it was awesome to here her story and the coolest thing was is she was on her way to school to take an English class. Very inspiring.

Enough fun facts, now I'll show you some pictures!

And tomorrow I'm going on an all day Junk Boat out on the Hong Kong harbor, I'm so excited!!!

These are the flowers I was given from the program leaders and my roommate, it has been such a rough week, but the little things like this made it so much easier :) Thank you to everyone for being such a great support.

This is Hot Pot which could be compared to a Chinese fondue. Very delicious, but messy and not very filling.

Heading out to Lan Kwai Fong for Ladies Night :) On the MTR.

Glow-in-the-dark and light-up drinks at Club 97.

Some history about Tea in Hong Kong!

Today I met up with Dr. Brown from the UofA who is here for a month this summer teaching and doing research. It was incredible to spend the day with her and some of her fellow professors.

A shot from the Dim Sum restaurant we went to today, probably the best meal I have been to here in Hong Kong.  INCREDIBLE.

For Kristen ♥ Rest In Peace.

Change of Pace...

Kristen Nieves: Best Roommate and Best Friend I Could Ever Ask For ♥

I don't quite know how to go about writing about this or phrasing it, but I am dedicating this post and the remainder of my trip in Hong Kong to my dear friend, Kristen Nieves. On Saturday morning around 4:00 am (2:00 pm in Arizona), I received the news that hours earlier my roommate last year, one of my closest friends, and the most loving, incredible, and funniest girl I know was struck by a car while riding her bike. She was rushed to the hospital, and few hours later she passed away. I know she is in a better place now, she is with God in heaven making everyone up there laugh, sing, smile, and dance. Being half way across the world, it has been extremely difficult to cope with the intense and desolate pain and to really grasp the reality of the tragic situation that took one of God's greatest gifts to me and countless others.

Fab 5.
Prisila, Kristen, Me, Suzi, and Julia. We're missing Ryan Lloyd.

I can't even being to explain what an incredible person Kristen was... but the video below that my incredible friend Amber Richmond created, really captures the essence of her undeniable beauty and contagious personality. You can see why so many people love her and how the void in our hearts may never be fully mended. My deepest thoughts and concerns go out to the Nieves Family... Her beautiful, caring, and passionate parents, Eileen and Ron, her younger brothers A.J. and Timothy, and anyone who was blessed to have Kristen in their life.

As hard as the last couple days have been, I have been blessed to have an incredible support system here in China. Matt Pacheco and Melissa Montoya both knew her because we all lived with Kristen the dorms together so that has been great to share her memories with them. Also everyone I have met here has been more than incredible and such a great support system. I cant thank my friends enough: , Matt, Melissa, Elise, Alexia, Amanda, Chris, Ross, Alex, Ignacio, Mercedes Mike, Michael, Mikey, Steph, and Jocelyn. (I hope I didn't leave anyone out). And beyond that the Dream Career's staff (Bryce, Tatiana, and Maya) here have gone above and beyond and I can emphasize how much they have helped me... whether is was bringing me flowers or going with me to mass, I has been truly amazing. Nothing will make the reality of this situation lessen or go away, but the little things make the process so much easier. ♥

Also a special thank you to my parents, who have been on the phone and on skype at all hours of the day just to be there even for only a short moment. I love them and can't wait to be with them again.

One of the quotes that has helped guide me through the week was given to me by Bryce, the leader of the program... He told me, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." I might not be at the point where I can contain the tears or the haunting sadness, but I am smiling because I am so blessed to have had Kristen in my life. She will always be a part of me and I will never forget the endless amount of memories she blessed me with. I am so happy I had taken so many pictures over the last two years of knowing her because I can look back at all the wonderful moments. Take as many pictures as possible, they are truly worth more than 1,000 words.

And in a way, if it is at all possible, to conclude this post's sadness... Kristen is all about celebration, she lived and thrived when people were around and when she could share her DIVA love and passion. So my thoughts and prayers go out her family and friends during this time of mourning and heartache... but I hope this time is also a celebration for Kristen and the beautiful and incredible life she led! I know Kristen would want me to enjoy this trip and to really embrace the opportunities here in Hong Kong. So I am making my promise to here that I will live out every moment to it's fullest and enjoy it all. I miss you so much, but Kristen Nieves... this trip is for you.

Kristen: Since I can't be in Arizona with all the people whose life you touched, and now I no longer can physically be with you... I had your name written on a grain of rice so you will always be on my heart. It's a small little thing, but it means more than words to know you are with me. I love you and miss you so much, keep being your Diva self up there, your laugh, your smile, your personality is infectious and contagious. You are the true DIVA and no one will ever compare. I love you best friend, roommie, Eunice, Kridden Krunk... L230 L♥ve.

Photo Credit: Melissa Montoya

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I do need to fill you in on how the trip is going other than the recent events. Last time I talked with you, I had just finished my first day of work and another great meal. But now we are really getting a feel of the city and embracing the culture, because we are beginning to adjust to all the differences and transporting from one place to another is a lot easier now. And we officially finished our first week of work. I'll break the past events down more by pictures this time instead of a lot of writing, but would be happy to explain too, just leave some comments or email me if you want to know more...

Night time in Mong Kok

Dessert in Mong Kok... It was like a combination of Gelato and Ice Cream, and it was DELICIOUS.

We went to see the Light Show at the Hong Kong Skyline... but unfortunately it was POURING that night... I still need to see it in clear weather conditions.

Dessert at Sweet Dynasty Restaurant. It is basically a tofu pudding with strawberries and they brought it out with Dry Ice in the Bowl below!

More tofu pudding, sweet syrup topping and a Dim Sum dessert with poppy seeds inside.

Night out on the town. We went to Sky Bar/Azure and Liquid. Great friends, great times.

First Hong Kong Tour!!!

Temple Street Night Market, Jumbo Floating Restaurant, and Victoria's Peak!

Walking through The Night Market, and you can see some interesting food... enjoy ;)

The girls on the Jumbo boat for dinner!!!

Our hilarious, yet adorable tour guide!

Dinner at JUMBO! This giant, floating, yet stationary boat.

Video of the Hong Kong Skyline.

Magical view of the Skyline from Victoria's Peak! Unbelievable, my camera doesn't do this justice.

For Kristen ♥ Rest In Peace.

First Day of Work and The Temple Street Night Market

The internship officially began today, and I am so excited for this coming summer at Intuitive Automata. We arrived professionally early the first day and met Cory Kidd, our boss and founder of Intuitive Automata was such smart mentor who has so much enthusiasm in his company. It is a relatively small office, with not many people on staff, but everyone we met was so welcoming and very talented in their fields.






Ross and I will be able to work on various methods of marketing the company online and in the press so that their product will be ready to launch. I know this summer is going to be a great experience and I know I am going to learn so much. Although the company is an American based company, we will also get a chance to learn about Chinese and international business practices. And hopefully we will have the opportunity to visit the factory where the robots are made!

Here are some other views of the Science and Technology Park!










After work, we all met up to go to a Dream Careers event at the Temple Street Night Market! It was a blast, check out the Cuisine Tab for more :)

And the Hong Kong summer officially begins....

Our dorms have finally been connected to the internet so this is the first chance I have had to blog since I have been in Hong Kong! This post may be a little long, but I have so much to share!

Long story short: Hong Kong is absolutely incredible. I am in love with this city and all that comes with it!

First things first, that plane was

rough. I had heard rumors about how

long the plane ride would be, but 15 hours of leg cramping and the constant anticipation of arriving was hard to sit through. Plus, the food was interesting- we had cups of noodles instead of peanuts and breakfast consisted of what I would consider a Chinese omelet (if there is such a thing). As long as the flight was, the entertainment selection was awesome (86 movies, 500 tv show, and like 800 songs cds). With the combination of movies and sleep, I wasn't bored much.

The adventure really started at 07:37 when I arrived at Hong Kong International. My friend Matt met me at the airport and he helped me get to the hotel. I have since learned that the transportation system here is incredibly efficient, but at the time I was in a blur amazed by the masses of people that were moving about from one train line to the next.

*Anytime they do construction here they use bamboo as scaffolding...

With a stop at Starbucks and a quick walk in the city, we headed off to Stanley (a train ride and a beautiful bus ride through the hills). It is a small town that used to be a popular fishing town and is known for it's markets and relaxing atmosphere. Stanley reminded me a lot of a Mediterranean city (well what I have seen from pictures) because of the colors and boats in the bay. Despite the beauty of the town, the humidity here is unbelievably distracting, sticky, and kinda gross. Therefore, we stopped at one of the restaurants on the main stretch of the road to cool down before hitting the markets. I highly recommend visiting here if you have the chance to make it here!

Throughout Stanley, there were little temples scattered in the town. They were painted with lots of red colors, guarded by dragons, had incense constantly burning, and had kneeling pillow for people to pray. It really shows how much pride the locals here have in their traditions, faith, and customs.

We made it back to the hotel, went for the swim, and passed out by 20:00 (8:00pm).

Day 2, 3, & 4: The Dream Careers Program Starts!!

Matt, Melissa, and I headed to the City University of Hong Kong to check-in for the next two months.  It had been a while since I have been in the dorms, but part of me misses the social atmosphere. However I do not miss the small little space they call a room. Oh well, it is going to be a great 8 weeks! The people in the program are incredible... I thought that most people would be from America, but actually out of the 58 of us only about 20 are from the US. For starters, my roommate is from Paris, France and then there are others from Sweden, Canada, Jamaica, Haiti, Mainland China, Thailand, Mexico and more....  After moving in and a short orientation, we had a blast spending time in Lan Kwai Fong which is the world-famous club district in downtown Hong Kong. It was a great time to bond with new friends and experience the culture. 

 

The next day we had our official orientation to the program and heard about all the events to come this summer! Tuesdays are Tasty Tuesday and we are going to try a new restaurant in town each week. And throughout the Summer we're going to: visit Victoria's Peak, spend a weekend in Macau, tour Hong Kong, visit Lantau Island, and so much more. There is so much to look forward to this summer!!

That afternoon we went on a "practice run" to our work, I am working with Ross who is also from the UofA and we will be doing a marketing internship at Intuitive Automata which is located in the prominent Science and Technology Park in the New Territories north of Hong Kong. Many start up companies have offices there because of the amenities for innovative and technological advancement.

*I can't take credit for these pictures, but here is the link for the park's website: http://www.hkstp.org!

We officially start the internship tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, and I cannot wait! I am anticipating that it will be a great experience because the company is relatively new and there are a lot of creative and advanced ideas being used for the company! I added a tab to this blog called "Intuitive Automata Internship" where I will be reporting the concepts I am learning and doing over the next couple weeks!!

Then we met up with some friends at a diner back in Lan Kwai Fong to have some long awaited American food :).

Today, we spend the day doing errands, eating lunch overlooking the ocean, and exploring the city. Now we are all just catching up on all we missed on the internet. It is amazing how dependent our generation has become on the internet and we are really lost without it. For example, I just found out about 3 hours ago that the Mavs won the NBA championship!!!  And it doesn't help that the phones we are all using are from about 1999 and we have to readjust to texting on a normal keypad and no camera phones!! I'm sure many people are rolling their eyes, but watching our group go back to "a regular, low-tech" phone is almost sad. Butttt every moment has been an adventure and every step has been a refreshing learning experience. It is great to step away from the internet, away from the constant buzzing of the phone, and from the daily worries and really get the chance to explore and find the amazing things about this world that we wont find on a computer screen.

I love you all and miss you! I can't wait to keep you posted on the adventures to come!!!

♥

Sitting in the airport...

My flight to Hong Kong officially leaves in an hour! And 14 hours and 40 minutes after that I will be there :) Wish me luck and I'll blog some more once I've absorbed a little bit of the city...

I miss my family and friends already & I can't wait for this summer to officially begin!

Last day in the USA.

Tonight I said goodbye to my incredible friends here in Tucson with a celebratory Chinese dinner, I just checked-in to my flight, my bags are almost packed, and I just received my Hong Kong Dollars!! Oh and finally was assigned a roommate for the summer!!! Some how I still don't quite feel like I am leaving in just over 24 hours, but I guess so...

Here is a little snap shot of the different Hong Kong Dollars:

FYI: Current Exchange Rate: 1 US dollar = 7.778 HK dollars

Maybe fortune cookies weren't invented in China, but I'd say this is a good fortune!

Best way to get ready for hong kong :)

The MIS Department at Eller had a going away lunch for me complete with balloons and flowers! It seems like everyone who came knew so much about hong kong and the people there. They gave great advice and calmed some nerves...

It's starting to sink in...

As I begin to pack and plan for the impending trip, it is finally starting to settle in that I will be at the LAX airport five days from now getting ready to board my flight to Hong Kong. Thinking about this trip has helped me realize what a true T-loc (Tucson local) I am... The longest I have ever been away from my hometown for a single period of time is three weeks. And those three weeks were spent in Wisconsin will all of my wonderful family and friends. But, it was familiar and comfortable. Plus I have never "actually" been out of the United States... Technically I can't count a quick trip to Mexico when I was 10 that ended abruptly when I was offered a switch blade and I can't count the drive to Canada where our family spent a total of 4 hours going through customs and only 20 minutes in Canada. I did use my passport once, however, I went with my mom and family to the Bahamas and stayed at a nice resort the whole time... so not REALLY a cultural experience.

Nonetheless, in 5 days I will be heading out on the first big journey of my life. First 14 hour flight (alone). First time away from my family, friends, and comfortable hometown for nine weeks. First time outside North America. First time being a foreigner. First time knowing close to nothing about their language, culture, or lifestyle. First time working abroad. First time living with a completely random roommate. First time it will be hard to quickly communicated with my family. First time where my only commitments are to my internship and the experience. These firsts could go on forever....

I am truly blessed and fortunate to have this experience and I have promised myself not to take it lightly or for granted. I want to spend every moment soaking up the culture, being immersed in the unfamiliar, and learning so much about the Hong Kong way-of-life and also more about myself.

Thank you to all of you who are actually reading this (I mean I could be talking to myself and that's fine), I hope to keep you posted on everything I discover and experience. For those of you who are worried about me and my safety (mhmm my mom and dad)... I promise I will be safe and use all the tools you guided me with while growing up. I LOVE YOU ALL.

I hope you're having an incredible summer! Please...
Sleep in too late. Have too much fun. Relax too often. Laugh too hard. Smile too wide. & LOVE too many... Life goes too fast.

Discover Hong Kong

The video is 10 minutes, but it gives a pretty good overview of the culture, history, and attractions in Hong Kong.

PS. Sorry about the ad...

Discover Hong Kong

Count to 10 in Cantonese

The Countdown Continues...

Officially on the 10-Day Weather Forecast!!!

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/CHXX0049

Scattered T-Storms
86 Degrees
60% Humidity

Hong Kong Travel Guide

http://wikitravel.org/en/Hong_Kong

The Basics to Hong Kong Etiquette

Hong Kong Etiquette... Interesting video, I'm going to have to get used to not hugging people so much!

Intern Company: Intuitive Automata

http://intuitiveautomata.com/autom_intro.html

This is Autom who is the “nutritional robot” I will be marketing and promoting during my internship this summer. From what I’ve heard from my employer, I will be working on summer-long projects as well as short-term deliverables that focus on social media marketing, web analytics, and promotional techniques for their approaching product launch.

Location of Intuitive Automata: The company I will be working for this summer!

Located at Science and Technology Park in downtown Hong Kong.

View Larger Map

Hong Kong Photography

Photo's from all over Hong Kong
www.hongkongphotography.com

Weekend Schedule in Hong Kong with Dream Careers

Weekend Schedule in Hong Kong

Your 2011 Weekend Events

Tour of Hong Kong:  Saturday, June 18^th

We’ll head out to get to know our new home away from home a little better with an Evening Tour of Hong Kong! After more than a century of cultural and traditional exchange, Hong Kong is now one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities where East truly meets West!  This is the perfect opportunity to take pictures, get acquainted with the city and begin to plan all the places you want to see throughout the summer! Our tour is not meant to give you enough time to really visit each must see in HK, it is meant to show you an overview of the city, pass by some famous landmarks take some great pictures and enjoy some time as a group!

Introduction to Culture in Hong Kong:  Saturday, June 25^th

This weekend will be a fun introduction to a part of culture in Hong Kong filled with tea tastings, delicious dim sum and a stop at the famous Avenue of the Stars!  Learn all about the culture and food of Hong Kong while you get to know your fellow participants.  Take pictures, take notes and take the time to take it all in! 

Lantau Island Tour:  Saturday, July 2^nd

We’ll take a day trip to Hong Kong’s largest outlying island, Lantau Island.  You’ll visit the historical fishing village at Tai-O, where people continue to live on stilted houses and rely on fishing for their livelihood.  After enjoying this glimpse from the past, our group will explore the Po Lin Monastery, known as the “Buddhist Kingdom in the South.” Here, you’ll be able to see the world’s tallest seated outdoor bronze Buddha and later you will enjoy a delicious traditional Buddhist lunch at the Po Lin Monastery. We will end our day of adventure by an incredible 360 degree cable car ride from Ngong Ping back to Hong Kong. This is definitely a trip you don’t want to miss out on!

Dinner on the Town:  Saturday, July 23^rd

We’re going to take a culinary excursion out as a group.  As we get closer to the end of the program, we want to give you all more time as a group to reminisce on this summer and make final sightseeing plans. Make sure to dress your best as this will truly be a night to remember!

Macau Overnighter:  Saturday, July 30^th to Sunday, July 31^st

Our final event of the summer will be our overnight to Macau!  Macau, also known as the “Las Vegas of the East,” is considered the island that never sleeps. It is located just 60 kilometers west of Hong Kong. It is an alluring destination with historic churches, temples, cobbled lanes and narrow winding streets, hilltop fortresses and a grand seafront promenade.  It is a beautiful island with a strong Portuguese influence, casinos, and plenty of entertainment. On July 30^th we’ll leave in the early afternoon and head to Macau via ferry.  Once the group arrives in Macau, you will check in to the hotel and you will have the evening to check out all that Macau has to offer you! We’ll have a list of great dinner places, the hottest clubs in town and a list of amazing shows in Macau that are not to be missed! The next day, you will have time to visit some of the most famous sights in Macau and then in the later afternoon our group will head back to Hong Kong. Plan ahead so you can make the best out of your 24 hours in Macau!

FREE WEEKENDS:  The Weekends of July 9^th and July 16^th

These will be your free weekends in HK which will be the perfect opportunity to get out there, explore, shop or even take a hike on Lamma Island! While you won’t have sponsored events on these weekends your staff will be putting together optional events for those of you who won’t be traveling and would like to do something as a group! This also is a great opportunity for friends or family to come visit you at the program, remember that you can’t have overnight guests at the dorms, but your staff can provide nearby hotel recommendations! Take the free weekends to relax or get a group together for a fun trip, your staff will also have great events around the city for you to take advantage of. 

Count Down until Hong Kong!