Nice

My first class today:

male 1: Wow, Sara, are you sick?!

Me: errr...

male 1: sorry, that could sound really bad, but you just look pretty sick

Me: Ya. Sick. Right. I'm sick.


5 minutes later, same class:

Male 2: Sara you have this thing on your nose

Me: Ya. A pimple.

Male 2: shoulder shrug.

Annie: HAHA!

Good Morning to you too everyone.

The Third Eye

As I wake up this morning to an email from my mother about another sexual assault occuring on the UW campus during broad daylight, I can't help but compare the liberating feeling of walking around freely through the streets of Hong Kong to the sentiments I wake up with today, in Madison, my hometown.

The third watchful eye has crept back into my daily routine, as walks home from the library and other locales in the late night have been consciously limited, my step quickens during my walks home from c lasses that let out after dark, and I am left with the gut-wrenching realization that the one thing I fear most in this world has occured to at least two young women in the past weeks on my very campus.

Musicals, PJs, and Good Friends

A chillaxing night with two Beautiful ladies included nostalgic moments watching Joseph and the amazing technicolored dreamcoat at good old west high school, followed by a night in cozy pjs watching My Best Friends Wedding.

Gotta make the most of the times when we're all here in Madison.
I seem to take that time for granted.

Mary's Monkeys and life's other updates

Mary's Monkeys:

My most fun class in college so far is definitely my 1st semester arabic class. Mary, our TA, is a pretty remarkable individual. It's amazing how 6 classes a week for one pretty challenging course can create a strange bond between everyone taking part. So, in class, Mary's students are sometimes referred to as her monkeys, but outside of, she has two little monkeys of her own, Lydia and Sophia. Well, the monkeys were destined to meet this weekend, as a few of Mary's students decided to tag along on the family's Saturday bowling night. Plans changed a tad due to the popularity of saturday bowling leagues (who knew?), so bowling night turned into a night at Casbah, a local arabic restaurant/bar, where the seven of us, including Mary's monkeys, invaded Casbah's bar for a good two hours. Strangely good times. I have so much Respect for Mary.

The Fam:

My brother has officially been accepted to the UW. This has both positive and negative implications. This is a tricky phase for the little punk, I just hope it turns out well come next fall. He has some big life decisions to make...

As for the mother/daughter vaca, it has now turned into a whole family vacation. My mom, dad, brother, and I will be spending 21-26 of December in Puerto Rico. Random, I know, but my mom's hooked on the idea, and I'm goin with the flow. Sadek family vacations have ended on less than stellar notes the past few attempts, but I'm choosing an optimistic approach with this trip, and we'll see how this turns out.

End of semester:

Three weeks left of this semester, and the weather is getting to me, man. Let's see if I can build up any motivation to study these next three weeks. I'm looking forward to a fresh start next semester.

WSC

As of right now, Madison has 17 delegates going to this conference, most of which are driving 17 hours to get there.

That makes me smile.

Mother Daughter Vacation Advice

So, the madre's pretty set on a Mother-Daughter vacay this winter break prior to WSC. She's been talking a lot about Puerto Rico, but I don't know enough to say whether this would be a good place to spend a week with the madre. Any advice on Puerto Rico, or a more suitable locale would be appreciated.

Green Package

It came with a printed letter:

Sara,

I am sorry for taking your mittens. I feel ashamed that I did such a thing. I hope you are able to forgive me in your heart, though you don't know who I am. I hope college is going well for you.

Best Wishes

sitting patiently inside the green package were my favorite mittens from high school.

Rough Moment

My bracelet from Thailand has unfortunately passed.
With it goes a little piece of my soul.

How many delegates can we get to WSC?
I say: a buttload.
Let's get this rollin' folks
CLICK ME

Finding a Balance

Just as the overwhelming realization that the line seperating my normal life and my @ life has essentially disappeared, that my day to day interactions, work, thoughts, and weekends are becoming more and more consumed, I received a phone call that brought back a bit of my sanity. Next year I will be living in a house with some non-@ friends, and although this was a tough call, I think it will be for the best. While I may not have the weekends to spend with these folks this semester, it is refreshing to know that I will build into my life some time with these gals in our humble abode come next year.

Thank You

Thank you for working your ass off this past year, and still managing to be there for me whenever I need it. I'm so proud of you!

Making the Time

I realized recently that I have deprioritized most every aspect of mental sanity time, such as working out, theater, art, dance...and man, it has been taking its toll. I didn't realize how much I've depended on one or all of the above things to keep the stress level down until I took them each out of my daily routine little by little.

My excuse was: I have no time. Every time I tried to pencil time for myself, I thought of the hundred other things I needed to be doing instead. After some much needed conversations with people that mean a lot to me, I have realized that I have to prioritize my health and my sanity, or else I just won't be happy doing anything that I am doing.

So today, I made time for the gym. Yes it's ramadan, yes I had classes, and a conference call, and a meeting, and yes I have a quiz tomorrow, but I made the time. And man, it felt so good. I am now penciling in free art Friday before class this week, some much needed time with me and a ball of clay. I think I'm liking this...

Attempts at a monologue

For our first coach groups today, we had to bring in three objects that told a bit about our personality. I grabbed two of the objects with ease: my sketching pencils and mi caja de cigarros de Nicaragua. The latter is where I keep a plethera of pictures, old letters, postcards, notes... As I sat there emptying the box of its contents, I stumbled upon an crinkled old sheet of paper. I carefully unfolded it and read its contents. On the long forgotten sheet, scribbled at the top in my handwriting, were the words "first attempt at a monologue"...I read on. Performed in front of my entire high school with Multico my senior year of high school, this monologue spells out the gray line between culture and religion, between family and personal beliefs.

In my hand lay a monologue, a snippet of my life, spelling out my first attempts at grappling with what I truly found important. Today, reading over words that had once taken incredible personal courage to write, and were an incredible personal feat to perform, I sat and thought about how far I have come in the past three years. While I still haven't found that perfect balance, and still have questions that remain unanswered, I know I've come a long way. That, my friends, is a good feeling.

Reflecting with Helen C

As midterms surprisingly sneak up on my unsuspecting self esta semana, endless spanish vocab streams through my vains, mezclando con el cafe que ya esta circulando. I'm starting to feel productive. HK was a lot of play, and not so much work. Weird to say it, but I had missed the feeling of productivity. And now, while at times exhausting, a busy schedule keeps me going. It keeps my sangre flowing.

On a different not: Rowdie ROKS this weekend.
New members are rocking my world.
But right now, tis time to rock my espanol.

Back to Life

So I haven't been blogging. Writer's block I guess one could call it...or something of the sort. I've been having a difficult time wrapping my head around my last few weeks, where I'm at right now. Not gonna lie, getting back into Madcity life after my past 8 months has been hard, to say the least. Over and over again I had heard about reverse culture shock, about reintegrating into what used to be the norm, and how difficult it can be. I heard it, but I never actually...heard it...if that makes sense. I mean, I have lived in this city a greater portion of my life, and it is the closest thing I have to home, but right now it feels as if I've been gone too long and kind of missed a good chunk of college life; like my madison life kept moving forward, but without me in it. When does it get easier to be home?

HOME

Back from an 8 month journey which ended with an incredible IC... 30 Minutes until my first class starts. Today is filled with classes, student org fair, Jill's arrival, and a new trainee! There's no easing into this semester baby, we're divin in full force.

Yes, I have a lot to update and reflect on: AIESEC, IC, London, NYC, HK...the blogs will come soon. Patience friends.

Memories of a New York Subway

-God bless you, Sir-

-Mommy why is that man sitting on the ground?

-Well honey, he's homeless just like we are.

-Mom, we're not THAT homeless!

-We're lucky because we're a mother and daughter so we get to stay in a shelter. This man is probably a war veteran or something.

-Oh.

My View

This is the view from my room's balcony at my dad's apartment in London...

A Big Responsibility

Soora, I hope you can accomplish everything you want to accomplish with AIESEC...The world needs it right now.

-My Mom

Time to Decompress...?

Well, six months of Hong Kong, two internships in NYC and an amazing SSC in none other than Fort Wayne Indianer, I am finally back in Madison...for six days until I take off to IC. In the meantime, how will I spend 6 days in the MADCITY, you ask? Getting my lovely wisdom teeth yanked.

Thoughts run rampant, but until I have time to decompress, they will remain jumbled and away from my blog...

Till next time.

A Snippet of Work Talk

I used to be terrified of clowns, like mortally terrified...But it wasn't until I started working here that I began to really understand...and develop a whole new level of respect and appreciation...for the performance art of....of clowning...

An Epic Journey

Stepping out from the JC diner with the overwhelming menu at some ambiguous hour in the early afternoon on one of the four days that have somehow blurred themselves together in my mind, three dazed individuals embark on an epic journey: buying coals from the Egyo place. With the greasy gyro I'd just devoured weighing down my every step, I force my feet to inch toward the PATH station. The sun is out to get me man, but I'll take it god damnit, there are coals to be bought. To my left, T-rent diligently recites road signs, and to my right, Arnaub engages in an equally pressing conversation...with himself. This continues for a good bit. Arnaub proceeds to trip over his feet, or the sidewalk, or run into a pole or a door or something....for probably the 5th time in our short journey to the PATH. This fuels my giggle fit, which has loyally accompanied me since we stepped foot out the diner. God Bless the Giggles.

The subway ride is somewhat of a blur, as is the egyo place and the purchasing of the coals. Arnaub suddenly has an uncontrollable yearning to purchase Eurotrip, and so, our three-beats-off minds set out in search for a video store. Since neither "Jesus Loves Us" nor "Big Ass Sistas" were adequate replacements for Arnaub's unreasonably demanding movie tastes, we proceeded to head back to the PATH.

Thirsty and exhausted, we trudge towards the PATH, our epic journey near completion. The path station in site, smiles slowly creeping across our eager faces, we stand a bit higher and Creep forward a bit faster... well, except for Arnaub, who still dodges the trash cans and fire hydrants jumping at his feet. Damn stationary objects.

Of course, its our special day, so our epic adventures can't possibly end without little surprise! Trent manages to place his foot perfectly on a full HI-C juice box just waiting patiently for three unsuspecting pedestrians, and its explosion, which could not have been more perfectly-timed, showers Arnaub and I thoroughly in the red, sticky sweetness of HI-C.

And with that, we completed our journey, and made it back alive.
That, my friends, is impressive.

Mejorando mi espanol

I just had an entire conversation with my director at Teatro IATI, entirely in Spanish, about her experiences in Cuba. I love this job.

A slice of HK

Walking down the ol' Newark Ave in JC and stumble into one of the endless 99 cent stores in my sweats and tshirt. I'm at the register paying for my banana chips (soo good)...a guy shoots me a puzzled look and asks: You study in Hong Kong?! I look back, slightly confused, and then remember I'm wearing a shirt with the name of HKUST written in Chinese down the front...I smile, the two of us proceed to chat about a place half way across the world, and strangely, the city of Hong Kong and the memories made within it inch a bit closer to home.

Home...or something like it

I'm back in the good ol US of A, and life is good. Highlights of the past week include:

1) One last hoorah with the glorious HK crew...
2) Surviving the 16 hour plane ride and landing in NYC baby!
3) Flopping
4) Eating every meal I'd craved in Hong Kong
5) Finding my way around without getting lost...much
6) Starting my two internships, and actually liking them
7) Free Eels concert followed by a pirateship ferry ride
8) Movie nights in Hoboken
9) T-rent making me food
10) Roofdeck bonding with Betsy and Clarali.
11) Applying for LCP.
12) Roofdeck Movie Nights
13) Getting accepted for IC
14) Sitting through a two hour all-Spanish meeting and understanding it.
15) Spacehogs with narration

It's good to be back...

Back From Nam

Tanja and her boyfriend Mike blessed me with their presence for the past two weeks, and after much manic shopping and siteseeing for the 2 days we had in HK, we took off to Ho Chi Minh last Monday. HCMC is vibrant, hectic, and overwhelming. I loved it. We learned to cross the the motorbike-infested streets pretty damn quick...Usually by just throwing Mike out into oncoming traffic and following alongside with eyes half shut hoping we wont die. We took a video crossing the street if you want proof of the madness.

This trip was a bit more lax than Cambodia and Vietnam, since I went into it with no agenda, and in some ways that was great. The only downer is that we ended up booking a three day tour of the Mekong Delta, and I don't dig tours, I quickly came to learn. I'm not a fan of the structured, 30 person boat rides and dinners with no wandering time, and definitely less a fan of the "people zoo" feeling a tour like that gives. Also, not a big on our tour guide. After a slight suspicion that he was making shit up, halfway through the tour my suspicions were validated when he started explaining the religion of islamism. BUT, bitching aside, parts of the trip were definitely worth it. We hopped into these long, narrow, rickety wooden rowboats where a women stood on the back of the boat and rowed us through the houses on stilts while her little girls crawled around and played games with Tanj and I. We also went to an island where the Cham people, an ethnic minority in Vietnam, live (they practice "islamism"). So in the middle of a small island in the Mekong Delta, we went and saw a beautiful white and blue mosque. What I was not ready for was looking off the side of the mosque and seeing a 14 year old boy's circumcision...I don't want to talk about it....so in a nutshell, long bus rides, shitty tour guide, snake wine, boat rides, circumcisions...that pretty much sums up those three days.

We were ready to kill everyone on the bus by the time the third day rolled around, and nearly cried for joy when we finally made our way back to Yellow House, our hostel in Saigon which now felt like home. 5 dollars a night, free breakfasts and internets...Beautiful.

But, now, fastforward a few days, and I'm back in Hong Kong in the YMCA lobby in TST, sans Tanja and Mike. The two made a gruntled and confused departure at 6 in the AM after a rather ridiculous night last night, which started at Lan Kwai Fong and ended with Jefferson hijacking our cabdriver with his sneaky Cantonese and taking us to the top of Victoria's Peak instead of to our hotel.

Two more days of HK...

Winding down

I have two weeks left, and everything is happening fast. Tanja is here and gets back from the Philippines tomorrow. Rusty gets in on Sunday. Tanj and I take off to Vietnam on Monday, back the 6th and I leave the 10th. The 9th I will find myself surrounded by great company: Rusty, Digs, Tiffany, Yat Wan...a fitting way to go.

Anxiety is high, emotions rampant, and I can't possibly begin to articulate how weird saying goodbyes and packing my semester away has been.

I'm going to miss this place.

Senile Old Men

Dear Tiffany,
I don't know you yet but I already don't like you. The reason is simple. You are young. I hate young people. Like Sara. I especially don't like her because she is young and ugly. She's like a baby yeti. UGO. Plus she's Egyptian. I don't like them either. Living in the glory days of the past, trying to forget that even the Albanians and Georgians colonized them. The fact that you are friends with her puts you in bad standing already.

Anyway from my observations on your blog it looks like you are a real trouble maker. I won't tolerate that, I won't stand for it either. You will learn to respect authoritah!!! I don't think I would want to get to know you at all actually. All my years as an undercover agent for IASTE within @'s evil empire instilled in me a distaste for foreigners. @ would be a lot cooler if it wasn't for all the damn foreigners.

I just wanted to take the effort to give you a glimpse of how miserable you will be in Shanghai. Let me know when you are coming, where you will be staying blah blah blah and I will personally take it up on myself to ruin your life while you are here. It's a dirty job but someone's gotta do it.

Love and peace or else,
Digs

PS: I'm very creepy, avoid me at all costs if you know what's good for you. All the rumors you heard about me are the tip of the iceberg... The bad ones are the tip of the iceberg, the good ones are lies.

Oh Goody, A typhoon...

Tomorrow should be an interesting twist to life on this beautiful seaside campus when Typhoon Chanchu meets the HK shores. Notice that experiencing a typhoon is NOT on my list of HK goals.

Crapola.

Why am I still here?

I'm sad, frustrated, and demoralized. Why am I still in aiesec?

1) The unyielding belief in creating an organization that at this point doesn't exist.
2) The people

That's it.

Good Day, Sunshine

Two goals accomplished today:

1) Get really lost

2) Have a near death experience


Some may disagree with the latter, but to two already-freaked-out and very lost ladies on what was meant to be a relaxing hiking trip through Sai Kung, a huge snake encounter directly followed by a WILD BOAR encounter definitely qualify, and "near death experience" can be crossed off my list of goals.

Aside from that little adventure, this has been an absolutely incredible day. Life is falling into place beautifully...I'm still in disbelief. There's just no way to describe how relieved and happy and lucky I feel, so I'm not even going to attempt to do it...BUT, one thing I do need to say is that I have some pretty fucking amazing people in my life, and I am so grateful for that.

On that note, 28 days till I'm back in the US of A!

Border Crossings and Teddy Bear Kingdoms...or lack thereof

I woke up this morning in eager anticipation for my long-awaited shopping trip into Shenzhen. Consumer goods were waiting for me across the border, and I was ready. I had my fanny pack on, my passport ready, my knock-off northface glued to my back, and pictures of my soon-to-be tailored suits printed and ready for action. After the 25 minute MTR ride, followed by another 30 minute KCR ride...Jess, Jacqui and I eagerly arrived at the borders. SZ and the glorious shopping in store were only a few short feet away.

One slight problem: my visa expired YESTERDAY.

I sat staring at my passport in disbelief. How the fuck did it get to be May 7th?! Three months have passed since I was in Shenzhen? I asked if there was anything I could do. Nope. I asked if they gave visas at the border. Yeah, unless you're from the good ol' US of A. Fucking A man, Fucking A. So, after I proceed to beat myself up over my idiocy, I had to turn my ass around as the girls proceeded on an epic shopping adventure without me. It took about another half hour in between the SZ and HK borders as I waited to be cleared to go back into Hong Kong. I cried. A nice man gave me a napkin. That helped a bit.

after a rather disappointing start to my morning, I decided there was only one thing to do with the rest of my day to make me feel better...find Teddy Bear Kingdom. For the longest time, I have heard tall tales of the mystic lands of Teddy Bear Kingdom located somewhere in the heart of Hong Kong. I was told I would encounter it on one of my HK endeavors. A certain person got lost in the midst of the land of the Teddy Bears, and his eerie retelling of the events only escalated my anticipation of the adventures I would encounter when I made the discovery.

I was given no clues as to location before journeying to Hong Kong...only that it was inevitable I would stumble upon it. I came to Hong Kong confident in the certainty of finding it..but as my time here progressed, I began to second-guess myself. What if I was never to discover the magical place? What untouched part of Hong Kong did it consume? If I can't find this place, how much of the rest of HK am I missing out on?

I finally asked for a hint. HK museum of art. Noted.

My search was temporarily forgotten through the excitement of travels and the daunting week of school work which followed (yea, I actually take classes). But, today, after my piss-poor morning, I was determined to find it once and for all. I took the MTR to the TST stop, speed walked down Nathan road, under the subway to the upscale mall SOGO. I then began to ask questions...people pointed left, they pointed right, looked at me funny and shook their heads. you know, the usual.

Finally, I get the answer to the puzzle: This is it. SOGO. Teddy Bear Kingdom was replaced by the mall one year ago.

NOOOOOO!

Summertime

I've decided to raise the middle fingers up to resume-fucking for the summer and go with my gut. I'm working at Teatro IATI the non-profit Spanish theater company as an intern to the administrative director. And, if all goes as it should, I'll be living with Clarali. Come August if I'm not fluent you all have a right to punch me in the ass.

What I've learned in Org Management 121:

...

Pulled in Two Directions, and I want it All

I went from zero summer prospects to way too many in 1 weeks time....

Option #1: Pace Summer Internship Program: High-intensity, obscure internship specifications, NYC history and culture courses, all with a rigorous global culture and leadership development focus

Option #2: Assistant to the Artistic & Administrative Director at NY ARTISTS UNLIMITED

founded in 1982, is dedicated to taking professional theatre to under-served audiences. The
company focuses on works that evoke dignity of the indivi-
dual and sanctity of the human spirit. A multicultural nonprofit
company, we tour self-contained to the ethnically-specific and
-diverse neighborhoods of New York City and the Northeast.

Option #3: Intern with the Artistic Director of a Spanish theater company at Teatro IATI

Teatro IATI (International Theater arts Institute) is a New York based, non-profit theatre organization established in 1968 dedicated to the production of theater works in Spanish for children and adults audiences, which it performs on its home base of NYC and on tour in the US and abroad. Teatro IATI specializes in the performance and promotion of contemporary Latino and Hispanic playwrights through play readings, workshops, and full theatrical productions. Teatro IATI serves as bridge between these playwrights and the increasingly mobile Spanish-speaking community in NYC, in the US and around the
world.


I sat here seriously torn in two polar opposite directions, and each one represents a field I'm passionate about and could seriously dedicate my future to. Do I take the structured, high-intensity international business route, or the riskier route-less-travelled of the vibrant theater world of NYC, all while developing my Spanish skills? This is incredibly daunting to decide, because it forces me to prioritize between two completely opposite and equally inticing paths, each that could potenially open future doors.

This brings me right back to choosing my major. I entered into college with intentions to major in Theater and Poli sci...I wanted to have it all...Reality check: not enough hours in the day for a double major with theater if you want to have a social life, and especially if you want to have an AIESEC life. So, a choice was made, classes dropped, auditions stopped, and in my gut, it was the right thing to do.

Now I find myself pulled in that direction once again. It took me a phone call to a teacher, a second-mom, a mentor, and a friend to put things into perspective. To help me sort my thought process out. To show me where my gut is.

I'm almost ready to make a decision.

Almost

For Lack of a Better Word...

This isn't an accurate description, because I'm not necessarily referring to a specific location called home, but rather to the people whose presence creates a feeling closely linked to the feeling one would attribute to the idea of "home."

If that makes sense.

So, for lack of a better word, I will just have to settle on describing myself as a tad homesick these days.

Dripping with Irony

LTM is this weekend, and instead, I sit here writing page 5 of 20 for my Organizational Management course.

The Title: Change and Restructuring: A Consultant’s Perspective on the Management of Change at Organizational, Group, and Individual Levels

Akward Encounters: Kenya Style

I asked Burbach to share an awkward story from Kenya.

As per your request a moment of awkwardness. It was difficult to select, but here's one of my favorites. So I'm sitting by the fire with my host sister cooking dinner, as the brother is drinking tea. She looks at me and asks, "So when are people initiated in the US?" This question caught me completely off-guard as my mind was wondering and I wasn't really with it...what a surprise right? Anyways, my brilliant reply, "What kind of initiation?" She makes a motion signifying circumsion. Ohhhhh. I told her that it wasn't as big a ceremony in the US, that babies usually have it done to them when they are a few days old. I explained that it is a big ceremony in Jewish culture however. Then the awkwardness begins when she tells me that her brother, who is 14, is not circumsized but that he desperately wants to be. He is obviously both verbally and visually embarrassed by this. Then comes the finale..."So are you circumcized?" Keep in mind she is 22 and even in Kenyan culture that's a taboo subject. There is awkward silience. "So how's that rice lookin?

He did not disappoint.

Leadership and Improvisation

Leadership explained in language that's rusty, yet native to me. Man I miss theater.

On Dahab

I sat in bed yesterday feeling physically sick at the news of another bombing...I can't get over the fact that this shit is getting more and more frequent, and we are living in a world that, I'm disgusted to say, has grown accustomed and in a way numbed to the fact.

People Have Died.

I am not ok with letting the increasing number of these events numb my reaction to each and every one of them. I refuse to detach myself from the fact that so many people have lost their lives too early, too young, for nothing. I refuse to live in a world so tainted with blood, hatred, and irrationality, that a gutwrenching act such as this one is just another blurb in the news, heard but not internalized, leaving people unphased and apathetic.

I sat in bed yesterday anxiously waiting for my mom to call me back with news about my family and friends. I am so relieved to say that they are all okay, and so sorry for those that can't say the same.

I wish I could make more sense of all of this.

You are Always on my Mind

Maddie Ice, a friend from high school, has never left the country. I talked to her online for the first time since I've been abroad, and shared some stories, pictures from my little adventures around SE Asia, my AIESEC conference, my future AIESEC plans of conferences and traineeships. Maddie ICE was blown away. ICE has wanted to travel. She's wanted an opportunity to live abroad, see the world. She has no direction, and no place to start, aside from study abroad programs or semester at sea. She has no network around the world to provide her advice on, say, crossing the Thai-Cambodian border . I told her a little bit about nomadlife, and a touch about AIESEC. My stories and experiences with this organization, the incredible people I've met through it, and my relentless passion, evident through the poor medium of AIM from half way across the fucking world, have pushed Maddie ICE to CREATE experiences of her own. I could just feel her passion building, the possibilities formulating and expanding in her mind. The seed's been planted in yet another potential change agent. I can FEEL it. And it feels good!


Since APXLDS in the Philippines, AIESEC has been a constant on my mind. I anxiously await the chance to dive back in. Shake things up. Create CHANGE. I'm itching to take action. Every day my vision for where I would like to see Madison head becomes more vivid and tangible, the steps toward that vision more concrete. We hold so much potential as an organization that it's sometimes overwhelming and difficult to grasp. We have so many resources at our fingertips that we need to be taking Advantage of...

I read Sarah's incredible post about her experiences in AXLDS Colombia and I am completely struck by just how much six days at an international conference can impact an individual.

I read Nicky's post about her first FACI experience at an Australian conference and the HUGE progress she's made in developing as a leader.

I read Betsy's inspiring blog on taking hold of the direction of our organization and creating leaders better than ourselves.

I want to see more people jumping at the opportunity to attend an international conference. I want EVERY member at my LC to have the chance to experience what Sarah did without costs holding them back. Arthur, LCP Cornell, made it happen for his LC. Madison can too. I want ALL of us to feel ourselves taking huge strides toward our leadership development and SEE the results like Nicky's epiphany. Most of all, I want us all to TAKE OWNERSHIP of our organization and towards developing future leaders within it Like Betsy is.

I am so fucking proud of so many leaders within AIESEC these days. I feel the PASSION, and I'm loving it.

Let's blow shit up my friends.

Cambodia

Ramblings From Krabi

This trip has been incredible, and there is no way I can sum it up in a blog entry. Cambodia was unlike any place I've ever seen; Siem Reap the incredible temples of Angkor,Three year old girls who's first few words are probably "postcards 10 for 1 dollar" in five different languages...Dinners with tuk tuk drivers in front of humble homes. Watching the tuk tuk driver get drunk on homemade rice wine and slowly watch his personality morph before our eyes. 14 hour border crossings, shitty bus rides, sketchy hostels, getting thoroughly ripped off and loving it. Endless bus rides through fields and shacks. Phnom Penh: the eerie silence and energy of a school-turned-torture center 30 years ago during the Khmer Rouge regime. The realization that every Cambodian you meet has some relation to one of the 2 million people who were killed, A local free hospital being told that it's facilities, which save hundreds of lives, are too high tech for the economic realities of Cambodia...Like I said, I've never been anywhere like Cambodia, and it completely blew my mind.

And just like that, I was flown out to Bangkok and then to the south of Thailand for a week of incredible beaches, snorkeling, white sands, and Thai New Years. Thai New Years is celebrated like no other new years. Streets turn into the Water war of all Water Wars, and anything is fair game. Supersoakers, buckets, and hoses are in full force, and Patong Beach in Phuket is unreal. Motos and pickups pile people on and drive up and down the beach pouring buckets and super soakers at each other, while others wait alongside the road fully equipped to attack. After the festivities, we hitched a pickup and a 20 minute drive took one full hour and by the end, the pickup was filled with water and we were drenched and covered in white powder and loving it.

I can't possibly describe all the experiences I've had here. The amazing people I've met. The eerie energy of Cambodia followed by the postcard island, limestone, white beaches of Thailand, and the impact the juxtaposition of these two opposite experiences created. There's just no way to put it all into one simple blog post. All I can say is that it's been incredible and will happily provide more ramblings in person.

The trip is nearly over. My semester is nearly over. I sit here in Krabi and have time to just pause for a bit and let some of this soak in. I spent a great deal of the semester expecting to stick around Southeast Asia for the summer. Then I seriously considered following some of the most passionate AIESECERS I've met and learning a bit from them in Australia. I've thought into this a lot, and realized that right now, I really need time to process everything that's happened this semester, and a whole lot has happened...

I need to be in a place where I feel grounded. I need to be doing something where I feel like I am directly impacting at least other people, even in a simple way. I need to be with friends who are inspiring, ambitious, and supportive. I need to be away from Madison. And I need to let myself saturate all this before plunging into whatever comes next.

So, on June 10th I fly into NYC, and plan on doing volunteer work there for the greater chunk of the summer.

I'm not sad to be going back to the US soon. I'm actually inspired. I'm inspired by everything I've seen here. By people I've met... In Hong Kong, at AXLDS, on my trips. Right now, I'm incredibly blown away by a few amazing leaders back in the US, who are stepping up in a huge way and steering the direction of an organization we've all invested so much into.

One more month of Hong Kong, and then it's time to step up...I'm ready for it.

From The streets of Phnom Penh

I'm safe and doing well. Cambodia is blowing my mind. Details and pictures to come after this crazy ride is over.

Chloe's Story

Exerpt from Chloe's email, OZ @er, about happenings at APXLDS post departure...

Did you hear that Mel Mel, me, the Bangladeshi guys, the UAE guys, the OC and the Faci were all held hostage on the 29th when we were supposed to be leaving? Well the story goes... we all got in the car on the 28th to go to another hotel to stay the night together and then catch the ferry in the morning to Cebu to get our flights. Well so our luggage was supposed to be coming later. 1am roles around that night and I have my luggage but none of the Bangladeshi or Mel Mel have their luggage. We are told - typical Philippine style "don't worry it will all be resolved in the morning!" Morning comes and we are supposed to catch our ferry at 8:30am. We catch the bus back to Bohol Tropics because apparently our luggage is still there waiting for us... weird but ok...

We get to Bohol Tropics and find out that our luggage, with the Bangladeshi guys passports in it are being held hostage at the resort, along with the Faci and the OC. ie. these guys aren't allowed to leave the hotel or open their luggage because the hotel staff won't let them. After waiting 2 hours and the Bangladesh guys missing their flight we find out that apparently until the OC pay the hotel the account for the conference $25,000 US in cash they will not let the OC or Faci out of the hotel and were holding our luggage as assets. Time was ticking down till me, Mel Mel and the UAE guys had to catch our flight and catch the ferry so we wouldn't miss our flight. Luckily we eventually got our bags and caught the last ferry. We had to call the airline and get them to hold the gates open for an extra 15 mins for us! Luckily we made it.

Ridiculous

The big 50

That's right. Through the whirlwind of it all, my dad just turned fifty.

Is fifty a year of reflection? A year of looking back at your past and gauging your triumphs and challenges, successes, Mistakes? Of evaluating the person you were, the person you are, the person you wished to be? Maybe it's just about being with the people you love. With the people that love you. Maybe it's just a day to capture the whole of your life, at that very moment, and to let it sink in. A day to just pause it all for a fraction of a second and redirect your path, if you so choose.

Is fifty too late for change? Does a person reach a certain point where their inner-self, their habits, relationships, mindset, are so deeply ingrained that the task of self-growth and redirection is as monumental as moving a fucking mountain?

Is a birthday just another day that's meant to be this great milestone in your life, only to leave a person sorely disappointed when the golden day doesn't live up to that picture perfect Kodak moment?

Somewhere between my 6th and 20th birthdays, things got complicated. As much as I'd like for my dad to have had a glorious BIG 50...life doesn't always happen like we want it to. But hey, I guess we're even now. The padre and I. Birthday for birthday?

The simple things

I love confidence.
I hate arrogance.
I love parity.
I hate insincerity.
I love to dance.
I hate insecurity.
I love independence.
I hate feeling naive.
I love intuition.
I hate pride.
I love a good hug.
I hate being misread.
I love passion.
I hate pessimism.
I love a hearty laugh.
I hate being hurt.
I love a good joke.
I hate being belittled.
I love laughing til my eyes water.
I hate frumpy moods.
I love a good challenge.
I hate guilt trips.
I love opportunity.
I hate indecisiveness.
I love being in love.
I hate accepting compliments.
I love holding my own.
I hate not feeling grounded.

Congratulations, Friend!

Everyone should congratulate ADAM for receving the Hilldale Fellowship, his ticket to pursuing his goal of doing research in Uganda for the summer! For those of you who don't know this guy, he works his ass off tirelessly, has an AMAZING drive and passion, and still manages to be the crazy goofball that he is. The dork follows "work hard play hard" like no other. I couldn't think of a more fitting way for you to spend your summer....you totally fucking deserve this! Looks like I should be seeing you in Hong Kong, buddy!!

Blind Ticket

By that I mean no serious planning was involved, I'm clueless as to the itinerary that may or may not be in the works by my fellow companions, and I'm just goin with the flow. I'll be backpacking through Thailand and Cambodia from April 6-April 19.

We'll see how all this turns out.

Conference After-thoughts

A room-full of inspiring people from every end of the world brings on an incredible high.

The only way to make the most of an Intl conference as a US delegate is to enjoy the people and ignore the politics.

When a person's native tongue isn't English, participating in a conference means listening to English coming from nearly twenty different accents, translating it to their own language, reflecting and forming opinions, and translating those opinions back to English. Tough stuff.

One incredible speaker can shake up an entire room's perspective.

A note scribbled away on a dinner napkin at 5 in the AM is better than any sugar cube or business card.

AIESECing is the one thing that can completely block out situations cluttering life at the moment.

When a plenary activity involves the chucking of uncooked eggs, keep the purse away!

Kareoke's not complete without over-enthusiastic backup dancers.

A conference may be described as life-changing by some. The best way I can sum it up is mind-jolting.

The fireman's dance is as brilliant internationally as it is in the Madtown.

Jumping high to Numa Numa is contagious. Once a person Starts, they infect the entire delegation.

Tanuk tanuk has countless line dance versions, all which are stubbornly performed simultaneously.

When a certain faci hints that an object for the scavanger hunt is hidden in the pool, he lies.

My realm of sight in the AIESEC world for my not-so-distant future has drastically expanded.

Friendships formed at this conference will stay strong across oceans and borders.

That was one hell of a ride. Now it's back to reality...

Challenge the Unchallenged

I've just sat through a mind blowing session given by Jose Andres Sotto, an individual who has worked extensively in the United Nations, is a Doctor in psychology, consultant to the Philippine government on crisis intervention, a graduate professor, and a man with an incredible love for AIESEC. This speaker embodied wha every external should and well beyond. With a relationship with the organization that's lasted over 10 years, he knew our goals, understood our mission. He's spoken at past ICs and IPMs, and even threw around our accronyms with ease. His skills with communicating, engaging and continuously reading his audience and the inspiration, passion, and energy he spread throughout the entire room was incredibly empowering. There are now three of us typing ferociously at computers in attempts to capture the knowledge and insight gained in the past hours.

"God is Dead"
The words were plastered on the powerpoint. Just three bold words, and silence. We are left to contemplate the idea, let it simmer. Soak in the feeling and energy those words bring us. Sotto then opens the Nietzche challenging an entire continent's worldview and being a catalyst to the post-modernist mentality. As I sat and listened to Sotto lay out a picture of our post-modernist mentality and prevelant youth trends throughout the world, I wondered how he would tie it all back to the key topic of development. We are subjective individuals. We question the world and cringe from the idea of absolute Truths. We are skeptical. We are narrative. Through our stories and experiences, we bring others into our different worlds. We like our relationships without costs, yet we value community. In our worldview, things are simply not quantifiable. We identify with all these qualities, although perhaps we haven't articulated all of them.

relationships without costs . That blew my mind. It embodies a huge concept that I identify with, yet never articulated, in three simple words.

Deconstruction
Sotto simply refused to jump into the topic of education and development. Why? He wanted to lay a foundation of critical thought. We need to be aware that every viewpoint in that room is seeing things from a different worldview and position in society. We can all read the same exact book, and we would all interpret it differently based on our worldviews, opinions, cultures, organizational affiliations, etc. We need to harness the process of deconstructing opinions, beliefs, opposing opinions, strategies, and institutions. Only then can we address huge issues such as development and education.

"AIESEC Is Dead"

Again the words were plastered on the wall, Bold and offensive. We uncomfortably sat and stared at these words and let the tension build within the room. Let those words sink in. Only when AIESECERs sieze to ask questions, engage in critical thought, and challenge the unchallenged will the organization be dead. By willingly handing over our opinions, conforming to the ideas and institutions surrounding us, and complacently following strategies, believes, or the opinions of others without seeking to understand and challenge those ideologies, we willingly surrender the ability to become the leaders and change agents that AIESEC is meant to build. The single most important quality within this organization is that very ability to question and requestion. Form opinions and challenge them.The moment when we stop questioning, being skeptical, and challenging viewpoints and institutions that surround us, both outside our organization and within, is the moment AIESEC Is Dead.

Tomorrow I shall dance: @ style

I heard "ojos asi" at the sheesha bar yesterday, and @ was on my mind...

Tomorrow I take on my first international conference.
They are said to change lives.
I was warned.

But right now, all I can think about isJumping til I'm gasping for air to "numa numa" for the girls, Busting out the fireman's dance for the dork, And tanook tanooking the nights away.

Will I dance?
You bet your sweet ass.

The Kid Brother

Fully equipped with a custom-tailored white suit and a folex, the bro departed HK feeling pretty dominant. He's on the lookout for a white top hat and cane to complete the look. Then he can take his lady friends out in style. Hilarious.

Tanja's News

After dragging myself out of class post dismal-midterm-performance and forcing my sleep-deprived body to make the oh-so -treacherous 5-escalator and 3-elevator journey to my dorm room, I open my inbox to find an email patiently waiting to be read.

On May 22-June 8, Hong Kong will open its arms to an AIESEC buddy, future roommate, fellow goofball, and one of my best friends. The arrival of this email seriously couldn't have been more perfectly timed.

And, even though I'll get rocked just as hard for midterm numero dos in T minus 2 hours, I can see the silver lining that lies only a few short months ahead.


I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU TANJA!

I'm quoting Garden State. Deal with it.

You know that point in your life when you realize that the house that you grew up in isn't really your home anymore? All of the sudden even though you have some place where you can put your stuff that idea of home is gone. It just sort of happens one day one day and it's just gone. And you can never get it back. It's like you get homesick for a place that doesn't exist. I mean it's like this rite of passage, you know. You won't have this feeling again until you create a new idea of home for yourself, you know, for you kids, for the family you start, it's like a cycle or something. I miss the idea of it. Maybe that's all family really is. A group of people who miss the same imaginary place.

Comfort Songs

In rocky times, when the people that bring you comfort are oceans away, a good playlist is a necessity.

Tears in heaven: Eric Clapton

Do you realize?: Flaming lips

Such great heights: Iron and Wine

You can close your eyes: James Taylor

Just call out my name: James Taylor

Fast Car: Tracy Chapman

The promise: Tracy Chapman

A Case of you: Joni Mitchel

Waste: Phish

The only living boy in New York: Simon and Garfunkel

Almond Kisses: Spacehog

Remember: Ten Mile Tide

Facing West: Ten Mile Tide

Sometimes, on rare occasions, cheesy is okay.

Jenga

It all came tumbling down.

HK economy: Hands Tied Tight?

Wow, an actually interesting day of classes. I love when professors take the time to apply the very basic concepts we're learning (I should say re-learning) to what is happening here in Hong Kong. I'm just begining to grasp the predicament in which the Hong Kong economy finds itself. With one hand tied by the Fed and and the other by Basic Law , there's little room for flexibility. The Fed needs to raise interest rates to cut back on spending in the US economy. Now, HK interest rates are raised in response, even though the HK economy isn't in a position where it needs to be cutting back on spending. So, their economy contracts and GDP falls. Adjusting through Fiscal Policy is severely limited by HK Basic Law in the sense that HK can't dip into budget defecit for an extended amount of time...I'm not sure if that's explicitely stated, or why, but apparently Basic Law is nearly as difficult to ammend as the US Constitution according to my prof, so changes would be difficult to say the least.

Now Shenzhen comes along and makes things messier by grabbing at HK's market share of the shipping industry by building a port which has swiftly stolen Hong Kong's title as world's 4th busiest port as of 2005. Because of its convenient location near factories in Guangdong province, by-passing Hong Kong's hub completely and going through Shenzhen makes a lot more sense logistically to exporters.

Ok, so yes, my understanding is fairly elementary at this point, but man, definitely seems like HK has little to no flexibility in making economic adjustment, and that it's getting bullied by Shenzhen hardcore.

Adam, you're probably the only one still reading at this point...I am saddened by the lack of dorks around here to have this conversation with, so I've resorted to blogging it. I hope you appreciate.

LDS Philippines: Officially Accepted!

The cards have magically fallen into place, and on March 23-28, I will find myself developing my leadership on the lovely islands of Cebu and Bohol in the Philippines.

AWESOME

LDS Philippines may pass me by

This is not by choice. The delegates list is out, and I'm not on it.
Hmph.
To pouter-haters: go take your rage out on a piñata.

The Story of the Snake

At 4 AM this morning, In response to a massive snake creeping up my leg, I jolt out of bed, toss my sheets to the ground, and let out a prolonged shrilling scream. My roommate follows suit. Within 20 seconds time, both our sheets are knocked to the floor and we're outdoing each others' manic shrills.

It took us all of two minutes to realize that, of course, there was no snake. But man, in my dream the thing was out to get me. Why was the roommate screaming at a figment of my imagination, you ask? Coincidentally, she was having an equally horrific dream, and my scream came in at a quite convenient time in her dream's plotline. Our dreams intertwined and the result: two screaming idiots at 4 AM.

I've been laughing at myself all day. Feel free to do the same.

Hiking Lantau

It's the moments when the task at hand requires your energy, strength, endurance, and determination that you're brain just clears itself from all the clutter.

You're hiking up Lantau peak with three fit, fast-paced males.

Shit, it's not so bad...you've been working out right? The elliptical and the treadmill? Sure, you're in peak condition to hike Lantau. I mean, it's only a tenth the size of Everest, and You started at the Buddha. This things practically a hill. You're just getting started man. You're feeling cocky.

The steps get steeper, the trail more winding, the pace picks up. How long is this hike?

Half an hour later, you're just trying to fucking hold your own. Shit this is hard. You pause to take a breather and realize that you are surrounded by rolling green mountains, the ocean, and silence. You look ahead and all you see are winding endless steps, And you're asking yourself if the two full sheeshas single-handedly smoked the night prior were really necessary. Your lungs hurt. Your legs wobble. Shit, you're out of shape. Lingering thoughts of turning back seep into the crevices of your brain. Maybe it'll do to just enjoying the tranquility of the very step you stand on.

Suck it up man, suck it up.

And you just push each leg forward, one step at a time. The men sprint ahead and you're left alone, just you and endless rolling hills and winding steps. And the quiet. Now it's just you. Nothing to push you forward but your own determination. It's a game now. A game of endurance, of strength, of willpower. Of proving to yourself that you're not about to turn back.

That you're stronger than that.

And you play the game until the last winding step.

Lantau Peak.
Overlooking the island at 934 meters.

Damn. That feels good.

Frumpy to the Max

Today was an entire waste of 24 hours of my life in a state somewhere in between awake and asleep, never satisfied with one or the other. I don't know if I've ever been this wound up for no real reason. WTF man, WTF. And the lack of heat in this dingy room doesn't help. I'm not here to freeze my ass off as I huddle under my mediocre blanket wearing two sweatshirts with the hoods up, two pj pants, and a pair of wool socks. You'd think kicking my own ass at the gym every day would make me want to pass out in bed every night. You'd think. Instead I'm stuck with a brain that's going a mile a minute through anything and everything. I find this Highly Obnoxious.

Obviously.

Man, I could really use some comfort food, family guy, a good friend. And a couch to plop on.

Lacking all of the above.

Awesome.

Should I Stay or Should I Go

To our Dear Delegates,

Greetings from AIESEC Philippines!

Everyone is currently aware of the political situation in our country today. We would like to assure everyone that despite what is being featured in the news, everything is under control with regards to the security of the conference and the security here in the Philippines. The situation here in our country has not endangered anyone nor has it affected any of the conference plans.

The actual conference will be held at the south of the country in the peaceful islands of Cebu and Bohol, located over 600 kilometers away, in islands separate from Manila where the protests occurred last week. While the areas where the protests occurred had been highlighted by the media, this does not reflect the true situation in the city. The protests were isolated in the areas seen and not widespread, Manila contines to be safe and peaceful. The protests lasted only a day have now been contained and controlled. Rest assured that security measures continue to be observed to ensure the safety of all Filipinos and tourists. For AIESEC and the rest of the country, it's business as usual. We continue to work very hard to make sure that APXLDS will be a memorable event for everyone. Upon your arrival, AIESECers will be present to welcome and assist you in your connecting flights and other transportation needs

All in a weekend

I passed up travel plans for the weekend to "rest," seeing as I've been sick about half the time I've been here. Apparently, the logic behind that move was a bit flawed, seeing as how the atmosphere for exchange students on this campus is not so conducive to passing up a weekend. I'm still amazed that within Hong Kong, you can feel like you're in the heart of one of the great cosmopolitan cities of the world one day, and the next day, just a short ferry ride away you can find yourself on Lantau Island, home to beautiful peaks, the biggest Buddha in the world, and Tai O fishing village. Can this city ever get old?


Friday: Some fancy shmansy media party at Shaw movie Studio


Saturday: My friend sheesha and I hangin in Wan Chai


Sunday: Lantau Island and big Buddha


Sunday: Lantau Island, Tai O fishing Village


Good news is, I'm all "rested" up and ready for another weekend of travels. Where I'll take of to is yet to be determined...

The ticking clock

The number one question I've been asked is: If you're a spanish major, what the hell are you doing in Hong Kong? That question was just racking my brain the week after I got off my 16 hour plane ride. How the hell did I end up here? I can finally articulate a semi-coherent response.

I'm here for the very reason people expect me not to be here. It's a region that has always been off my radar. Probably the one region in the world I had never given a second thought about visiting. It had little to do with my majors, and less to do with my aspirations for the future. And that's why I am here. Of all the places, this culture was the one most foreign to me, the place that was the most outside my comfort zone. It's the region of the world that I was least comfortable approaching.

Some people might find that a bit ridiculous. I'm on a study abroad program through the business school of a prime university in a highly developed, urbanized high tech society. And what, I was expecting some huge mind-blowing cultural leap? My campus is more high tech than I could have imagined, with a total of 3 elevators and 6 escalators to get to any given class. I am not deprived of any material or "western" luxuries. If anything, they're more accessible. But the challenge in this study abroad is the challenge of the culture and all of its subtleties. Of taking the vibrant life of Hong Kong and melding to it and making it my own.

I've been an aiesecer for just about a year now. And now I'm here because of it. Because of the people I've met in it that have pushed me to push myself. It's weird to think that just a year ago two timid newbies took on a little project that we were slightly pushed into thanks to T-rent and the Mix. And now, one year later, Kaitlin's on the US MC working with Salaam in Egypt, and I'm here, in a place I never thought I'd be.

But all these are baby steps. I've barely made a dent, both in Hong Kong and in AIESEC.

I'm just getting my feet wet.

I'll end with a thank you to the aiesecers who've impacted me and inspired me to push myself and to blow some shit up. I'm on the brink of delving in full force...in due time, in due time.

But first, four more months of taking in everything I can from this place.

And the clock ticks.

Liberating

I have tucked away that third watchful eye. The one that creeps up on the sketchy late night walks home crossing the railroad tracks. The intensity of being completely aware you are physically weaker than the passerby across the street on a late night. Fumbling for the keys as you scurry through the parking lot.

I may sound irrational, overexaggerated, paranoid, but I can gaurantee you most women have dealt with this feeling to a certain degree.

You know what struck me today? As a woman, I am just as safe on the HK subway during the day as I am late at night. Within the city of Hong Kong, that third eye has just evaporated. Maybe I'm being naive, perhaps overly confident, or maybe this is actually a really safe large scale urban city.

What a liberating feeling.

I've always wondered...

A Heineken for Vday

My roomate and her boyfriend wear matching outfits.
They buy themselves matching shoes.
They nap together in their matching attire.

They wake up.
They see I am not in the festive Vday spirits.
Something must be done.

Boyfriend gets up.
Unzips his bag.
Hands me his beer.
A heineken for my Valentine's day.

They happily skip out the door in their matching outfits.
They feel good.

And here I am
left to unravel
The layers of hilarity that just ensued.

Happy Vday everyone
From Hong Kong, With love.

My friend: the Cab Driver

I'm thoroughly convinced that cab driver convos are the best way to get an inside look at a new place if your crunched for time. Absorbing the culture of both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur didn't happened through tour maps and major attractions, but instead through my taxi ride convos to and from them.

There's a few tricks to the taxi game, simple, but crucial. The first and most important question to ask yourself: Is this a real cab?

This brings me to lesson learned number one: If you're hassled by 5 different equally sketchy "cab drivers" for what you are certain is the naive tourist price at an ambiguous transfer hub of sorts, you're not quite sure where you are, and are then taken out back to a black, obscure unmarked car...This is probably not a real cab. If the driver's wife shows up, smirks at the naive tourists in the back seat of her husband's car, this is definitely not a real cab. You have two choices at this point: either kindly remove yourself from the untaxi, or just accept the sad fact that you have fallen victim and suck it up...We shamelessly did the latter.

After you've mastered identifying sketchy uncabs, you want to break down the wall between the cab driver and yourself, which is tougher for some drivers than for others. Scope out the car. What's this guy about? Background? Language? Religion? Take whatever information you can process from the cab's decorated interior and relate it to a personal experience or story to share with your new-found friend. A language barrier is ok, sometimes preferred. This gives you a chance to pick up some key phrases and prove your interest in their culture. Ask questions, flash a smile, confess ignorance. Show genuine interest. These men are the experts in their city. They know every winding road, every local hole-in-the wall overlooked by the average tourist. Restaurants, sites, and temples not listed in your trusted lonely planet. Don't let their inside knowledge go untapped. Rarely will this experience fail you.

You may even:
-Pick up some Cantonese from a Singaporean who speaks 4 different dialects of Chinese.
-Learn about Thaipusam from a man who hiked the 272-staired temple of the Batu Caves four times in the last 24 hours
-Be invited to stay with a Malay Muslim family the next time you roll into Singapore

Not too shabby for a weekend trip.

My View:

So much to say, so little time

Roommate status: She's finally here! My roommate Lu duo, is from Shenzhen in mainland China. This is awesome because
A) she speaks both Mandarin and Cantonese, and is chatty and wants to teach me.
B) she can take me into town to help me buy cool toys such as DVD's and seven jeans that apparently "fell off the truck" (whatever that means) All while avoiding some of the sketchiness of Shenzhen
C) she invited me to stay with her and her family for a weekend!

Other reasons she is so cool: She was just in New Zealand on exchange for winter break. She requested exchange roommates both semesters because she thought it would be a good cultural experience. Her boyfriend is Malaysian. She wants to hang out and watch movies with me. Her boyfriend and her help me enroll in classes and find which of the 30 lifts to take to get to them. She wants me to teach her how to put on make up. She wants to go into lang Kwoi Fong with me, even though she's never been. She has already given me a Mandarin Lesson. It took place 20 minutes after I met her.

Class Status: What? Class? Psh.
That was my initial reaction. Then I actually had to go to classes, and it finally hit me that HKUST is a pretty demanding university. Not a resort. Although this campus setting is deceiving. It's ok though, I've got 4 straight powerlecture on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which leaves me 4 day weekends aside from a disco on Monday afternoons. Prime traveling schedule. Wednesdays for day trips in HK, long weekends for everywhere else. As for Tuesday and Thursday nights...a little beach time, a little time down at central...ah the demanding life of the exchange student.

Food status: Few hits, few misses. The misses can be brutal. I find limiting my noodle intake to one meal a day and sticking to western style breakfasts makes it easier. When there's sushi or seafood, I am happy.


Shopping Status: Problematic. After 5 hours at Prince Edward today led to the mindboggling revelation that everything costs nearly nothing, I already fear packing for my return home. Another concern: fashion here is crazy. The girls here can pull it off. By the end of the day, we were all losing any sense of judgment for what we could and could not pull off. Multicolored fishnets? Metallic blazers? Hello kitty watches? How about flashy yellow pumps?
Its hard to resist buying anything and everything....As soon as I picked up sneaker style stilletos, I knew I had to cut myself off for the day...I feel addiction to materialistic objects and trendy fashion brewing...Who am I!

Friend Status: I have friends! Seriously...I swear.
Ok so honestly, this campus is so international with its exchange students that I'm getting to practice my Spanish with a hilariously entertaining Mexican fellow named Sergio, hanging with a German with her crazy Australian english, finding out much more about Canadians than I probably ever intended to (eh Jess, eh?), and doing the frosh year game all over again. Only no one is from small town Wisconsin, unlike my entire floor freshman year. A bit more refreshing this time around. And of course with @ contacts, (Devrim and his crew) I think I'm well taken care of in this part of the world.

AIESEC Status: I met the gang today! They host a party every semester for exchange students, and are a great bunch. They're so eager to include me on everything, including their @ role call (yes I was the only non Asian). They are pushing for me to go with them to LDS in the Philippines...If all works out with my midterm schedule, I'll be @ dancin in the Philippines come Mid March...

Travel status: tentative plans
Singapore in a week, possibly two...
Thailand for spring break: how safe is it to motorbike across Thailand? Hmmmm
Mainland of course, but more planning is necessary.
Cambodia and Vietnam.
A few other ideas brewing...We shall see. Any suggestions or useful hints are appreciated.

I have most of my final exam times scheduled so Tanj and I are plotting. She shall come around May 17th for some time in the HK, and after my last exam (somewhere last week of May) We shall take off, to wherever I have yet to visit (possibly Cambodia and Vietnam?) Anyone eager to join our crazy adventures, let us know (Lichtenheld...)

As for tomorrow, day tour to Victoria's peak.

And the rollercoaster continues...

Mm goi?

One of my courses is taught entirely in Cantonese.
Maybe I should switch out.
Maybe not.

PS

I should mention that I saw Jean Claude Van Dame in Lan Kwai Fong the other day... I'm sure that will impress some more than others. I didn't even know who he was, but apparently people here think that's a big deal. Celebrity status and whatnot. Psh.

Santa on a helicopter tossing croissants

Setting: Chinese New Year's Parade.

friend: Oh look! It's Santa clause riding a helicopter!
Guy: that's the god of good fortune.
friend: Oh...is he tossing croissants?
Guy: I think that's gold.
friend: Oh wow, what's that symbolic of?
Guy: Nothing. It's just gold...

Yeah, I'm badass

I snuck on a boat tour today. Yeah that's right, I'm badass. While the guys reading off names, I casually climb on the bus after a friend, make myself comfortable and wait for someone to notice. For a bit it looks like I'm in the clear...then I look out the window. I count the number of people, I count the number of seats. There are definitely more people than seats. I think of the horror of shamefully getting kicked off the bus for not being on...THE LIST. I keep my cool. There's confusion in the front. Not enough seats. Will they check THE LIST? Ha. No. The suckers have to squeeze together up front. I feel a tinge of guilt...and debate turning myself in. My unquenchable thirst for living on the edge hampered my need to do good.

Result: fresh seafood dinner and a boatride to witness the New Year's fireworks while surrounded my Hong Kong's skyline.

I'm like Dicelaws, only crazier, and without the molestache.

Along for the ride

After arriving to Hong Kong and experiencing confusion, frustration, and an overwhelmingly heavy dose of culture shock, the best thing to do was escape to Boracay Island in the Philippines for my first pseudo-exotic adventures. I say pseudo because Boracay is an island for the tourist, designed for their comfort and catering to their needs...exactly what I needed for my first trip out of HK, as pampered as that may sound.

To be honest, the first two days were brutal. My anxiety ran rampant after a small health concern escalated to a situation of panic. Knowing something is alarmingly off with your health and being isolated from medical care is just scary...I guess I was a bit lucky, because my body decided it wasn't really into the whole being sick thing. Good thing... And I was begining to think I'd miss out some crucial beach time.

And the beach: It goes without saying that a 5 day trip of too much time, sun, and food on a strip of beautiful white sand and clear blue waters forces a person to destress. If a person is resiliant, just throw in the hour long full body massage, which costs a whopping seven us dollars.... Although, that hour involved some awkard instances, such as ass punching. Yes, ass punching. I've never gotten a massage before, so perhaps I'm not an expert, but, I was NOT expecting that.

Here's the point: The extent of culture shock I experienced initially was highly unexpected. But, I am finally relaxed and ready to be here. I've met some cool people, taken some time to adjust, pampered myself a bit, and am back in Hong Kong ready to learn and flow with the culture.

Everyone needs a good punch in the ass every once in a while.
Keeps you on your toes.

Sunburnt and Soaking

Im in Boracay in the Philippines, I'm at an internet cafe, and I'm dripping wet. After a kilometer sprint through mud puddles and street vendors, I've reached the glorious halfway mark to my hostel...the internet cafe. Now I must take off, only 80 pesos left to get myself off this island. More details to come.

Out of my element

The language barrier is rough. The cultural barrier, rougher. It hit me last night that this is the first time I've been so completely removed from familiarity. I have nothing from my own personal experiences to relate Hong Kong culture to. Attempting to break down the language or pick up the main jist would be completely impossible at this point. And deciphering culture...I feel ignorant, loud, and American. I can't gauge the tone of someone's voice, their mannerisms or actions...I'd be using a completely skewed perspective. I have to throw it all out and start from scratch. I left behind any sense of knowledge and comfort... I know this will be hard, I know I'll be frustrated and pushed to my limits. I'll probably offend some people, create numerous awkward situations, get my directionally impaired ass lost countless times.

It's 2:30 AM, I'm in the lobby, sleepless , confused, overwhelmed, and jetlagging...a security guard just walked over.

"lady, good drink for you!"

And he buys me a refreshing soy milk. I try to remember how to say thank you in cantonese.

I fail. He laughs.

And life is good.

And 16 hours later...

I'm finally in Hong Kong.
I've been here all of 3 hours and Already I have:

1) Surrendered to the fact that no one knows what Wisconsin is, so I'm now from outside Chicago
2) attempted to take in a quick lesson in Cantonese from my taxi driver
3) Met @ers, and of course, experienced an awkard moment while saying goodbyes (I guess hugging is a no?)

If sources are correct...come daytime I should be able to see the ocean outside my dormroom window.
Perfect.