I can't believe that I've been in Hong Kong for a full week already. Whether or not it has truly hit me that this place will actually be my home for the next few months, I am seriously obsessed with this city.
But no matter how exciting traveling is, every traveler finds initial comfort in familarity. Upon arrival in my hall (or hostel, as people like to call it here), I heard English being spoken down the hall and it immediately put all my worries and concerns to rest. I'm really thankful for all the girls in my hall - majority of which are all international exchange students from mainland China, the U.K., Australia, Europe, and surprisingly a whole lot from California alone! Having a common language is definitely a great way to get settled into a new country, because it enables communication, the most basic and best way for cultural exchange.
The following day, a group of us decided that we needed to make our dorms feel like home. Or more precisely, give our corners (bunkbed, desk, and wardrobe) a touch of home.
The only furniture store that we were all familiar with was IKEA, so our first public transporation journey in Hong Kong was to find an IKEA. It's amusing how we all picked up the same basic pieces..even though we were from different countries. Overall, the trip was a success and we only got lost about 5 times.
Food was also an issue. Our hostel/hall is actually off-campus, and the university in general is already located on a mountain far off from the city. We really had no where to eat, so of course when we entered IKEA, we were so excited to eat the infamous Swedish meatballs! (Yes..flew all the way to Hong Kong to eat IKEA food) Afterwards, we went grocery shopping at Wellcome (their local supermarket chain) and found that fresh vegetables and fruits are super over-priced here. I'm definitely going to appreciate how convenient groceries are in the States once I'm back!
With new friends, a bunkbed to call home, and food to survive, I've been adjusting well to life in Hong Kong. The transition really hasn't been as extreme as I thought it would be since Hong Kong is actually a really modern city. Whatever America has, Hong Kong is sure to have it - if not, maybe even on a larger scale for certain things. This place is full of so many different people and cultures that almost anyone can adapt to life here quite easily. Even though I am halfway across the globe right now, I really feel like I am living in an Asian New York City. The best part now is to start exploring the local Hong Kong culture!