As I'm required to have a blog for this study abroad trip and I didn't keep up with the last required blog, I suppose I'll tack something up here about my trip thus far.
Random Thoughts After 1 Week:
- The only real way to describe this city is "moist".
- Ox intestine, cow stomach, chicken feet, and fried fish hea
d are all rather good.
- DO NOT lick your hands after eating "hot pot". The hospital may be right across the street, but medicine is an undergraduate degree. Yeah, the system is just different, but that doesn't assuage fears of bloodletting and upside-down x-rays.
- There aren't many spiders or scorpions around the city, but the ones near the beaches or on the hills are bigger than my head! An example:
-When having a gorgeous Egyptian as your guide to class, don't use sarcasm as a way to flirt. Also, don't assume they're exchange students. Also, don't let them know you're an American. It will not end well (and you may be dropped off at the wrong floor).
-Why is the average size much smaller than in Western countries? There are many theories. Mine? The incredibly small portions and the utter lack of quality protein.
-At first I though, "Skin whitening? Really? How utterly shallow! Are they that obsessed with a socially constructed archaic idea of beauty that they would bleach their skin and avoid the sun?" And then I remembered all the stupid people at home with self-tanning lotion and MEGA passes to a tanning salon. At least people here aren't getting skin cancer. They also don't look like deranged oompa-loompas in Uggs and Pink sweatpants.
- Ikea sucks.
- Beautiful Korean girls aren't keen on cramped taxi cabs.
- It is possible to pass out in an alley in Kennedy Town and not by robbed.
- Don't go shirtless, but do go shoeless, in the dorms. I am now a pariah amongst the locals in Wei Lun because I did that holy commandment backwards.
- Thou shalt shower 3 times per day or risk offending locals (affectionately referred to as Honkies by the other exchange students. Only Americans laugh).
- There IS a class entitles "Is America Addicted to War?". I sat in on this class. Apparently, yes, yes we are. And I'm not sure "international douche-bags" is a term of endearment.
- Finally, do not ask anyone about deals or making a deal. They'll probably speak english, but in Cantonese it's effectively the f-bomb.
More to come, including picture and video. Seeing as how my dorm internet connection is rather weak, it won't be until I'm back on campus.
Cheers.
