First Day of School.

So I've been here a little over a week now, and I'm finally on my way to being completely settled in. Have got my hang of the infamous green mini buses (which don't stop until you shout "yow lock!") and have even become ever so slightly accustomed to the humidity. My hair is another story completely - whether it's the weather (ha) or the terribly weak shower, it just continues to look a hot mess. (Literally.) Other than the shower.... aaaand the fridge not working, I'm very content with my room and halls. They are in a very good location, a short walk from campus and I feel very lucky to have such lovely roommates.

I had my first class today which was really interesting. It was a module simply entitled "Shakespeare" which is taught by a really enthusiastic lecturer from the States.

The past few days I've experienced a lot of new things. This week I have been going out in massive groups of people from all over the world. Tonight, a group of maybe 40 or more went to see the Hong Kong lightshow which is when the buildings of Hong Kong Island all light up in different colours and is observed from the Avenue of Stars, across the water in Tsim Sha Tsui. Tonight I also tried Vietnamese Pho noodle soup which is a bit like Japanese Ramen. I have also sampled many different tea based drink and the infamous durian which is a fleshy, creamy fruit known for its unpleasant smell which has led it to be banned from certain public areas Southeast Asia. Let's just say it was not to my taste.

I haven't been taking any photos due to being busy and forgetful. I'll try to start taking some snaps over the next few days. I am planning to get some authentic dim sum tomorrow night, so maybe I'll start looking more like a tourist then.

S'laters haters, (umm what?)
Annabel

Touchdown!

Have now been in Hong Kong for 3 days now. After two long flights, and no sleep for 31+ hours, I finally made it! As soon as a stepped outside the nice, cool, air conditioned airport, the heat and humidity hit me like a tonne of bricks. Arrived at the hotel at around 11pm and pretty much went straight to bed.

Woke up the subsequent morning with dizziness and nausea (great start!) But despite that, the first day went smoothly, sorting out a sim card, travel passes (Octopus card) and a new laptop. The Apple store here, or at least the one in Causeway Bay is amazingly efficient, we were in and out, set up and paid for in under 15 minutes - you would be hard pressed to find such service in Scotland. Not only that, but if it is your first time buying a product in the store they give you TGIF-esque cheer when you open it.

That evening we took a bus tour around Hong Kong Island to get a feel for the place, and to help understand the layout better and work out how to get from A to B. Then straight to bed after dinner as I was still exhausted from the travel.

On Sunday we got the ferry over to Kowloon and took another bus tour around that area. We then did a little bit of exploring around the area, taking a wander through the Temple Street Night Market and other neighbouring streets.

This morning I had the chance to meet a friend of the family who has lived in Hong Kong for several years. He was a great dispenser of knowledge and advice and has kindly agreed to help with some arrangement such as setting up bank accounts and applying for a HKID card etc.

I then took a bus up to the university to gather information packs and register. The university is a 20 minute bus journey for the centre of Hong Kong Island and the entire complex is more or less connected, and also on a hill. I did get a bit lost as you have to get lifts to get to hidden walkways but I eventually manoeuvred my way through the many skyscrapers that make up HKU. (I also found out that HK is the city with the most skyscrapers in the world, with double the number of New York which comes in second!)

The weather hasn't been too bad, a few spells of rain, but luckily have managed to miss them. I'm sort of getting used to the humidity blanket that engulfs be as soon as I leave a building, but all in all it hasn't been too horrific. That being said, I did end up a bright shade of magenta after trekking across campus in 34 degree heat.

Don't worry, I'm keeping all my clothes on. 

Apologies for the long post - it has been a hectic few days!

Annabel 

T -24 hours.

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go... Almost.

The pictures in this video are quite hilar.

Today I ate my last greggs sausage roll for approximately 1 year. Haven't weighed my bag yet. Am slowly running out of irn bru. Black pudding for dinner (and breakfast too, probably).

Reality hasn't hit me yet, no doubt it will as soon as I stop off the plane into the sweltering humidity that will be the bane of my life for the next year. God help those who have to be within a five foot radius of me.

Will also be abandoning my 7 year old laptop and getting a new one in HK, so will be MIA for the next few days. Watch this space for updates from across the world!

Adios bitches,

Annabel

It's the Final Countdown.

Only 5 days left to consume as much diet irn bru and black pudding as I can.

I'm really cheesey like this:

About to start on the mammoth task of condensing my wardrobe/life into one 30kg suitcase.

Wish me luck,

Annabel

The Countdown Begins...

In 13 short days I will be leaving my hometown of Glasgow and moving almost 6,000 miles away, to Hong Kong.

I won't be needing Sharwoods to take me there much longer.

There is a musical example for everything. Everything.

Currently I am feeling ever so slightly apprehensive (naturally) as it is going to be a massive lifestyle change. Moving to a tropical climate (no biggy), sharing a room (gulp), and a completely new culture, from food, to fashion and general customs. No doubt this blog will probably consist of about 90% food posts, sorry.*

I'm not going to be writing a terribly long and tediously dull posts because no one really is that interested. So I'm going to keep it short, simple and oh so delicious. How bad can that be?

Signing off,
Annabel

*I'm not sorry.