Deep Soul Searching?
So, recently I have been finally feeling at home here in Hong Kong. Living abroad has somewhat painfully taught me alot of lessons. Before moving, I always thought I was an open minded person. I guess I sort of prided myself on the idea that I could live any where, and do anything, make friends with anyone. I'm finding out though that that is not always the case, and I have to constantly allow myslef to grow.
Living in Asia has tested just how much I am willing to let myself be open. I have been here five months and am only just beginning to fully grow. I am finally making more local friends and doing more exciting things.
One great new friend I made is a girl named Annie. Annie is coming on exchange to Centenary next year. We met for a meal and talked, and eventually we just got deeper and deeper in conversation. We shared our life journeys and lessons. We talked alot about philosophy and how I was disappointed that the upper level philosophy courses at Lingnan were in Chinese because I really liked Eastern philosophy.
A few days later we had dinner with Vanisa who is also coming to Centenary and Pauline my friend from France. In the middle of the meal Annie said she had to leave to pick something up, she came back and had a book of wittings by Confucius that she had ordered for me! She remembered our talk and knew I would enjoy the book to help with my studies. She wrote me a nice note in Chinese that I will keep forever.
Thursday was Lord Buddha's Birthday. We went down to Cheung Chau Island. The festival was started to save the small fishing village from pirate attacks. Awhile back there was a plague on the island and it was raided by pirates. The locals dressed as gods and goddesses to ward off the evil spirits. Now there is a "floating children" parade with costumed children on planks above the crowd. Also there is a lion dance to bless the shops and at midnight competitors race to the top of giant towers made of buns to bring good fortune to their families. The higher the bun the greater the fortune. Also in honer of Buddha's birthday the entire island goes vegetarian for a week, even Macdonald's stops serving beef and sells mushroom burgers.
On the ferry to the island.
The yummy buns.
The lions blessing the shops (see videos below)
The gigantic bun towers.
Offerings.
Island homes.
The beach at sunset.
For the next month I will be practicing for the International Dragon Boat Competition There are ones all over Hong Kong as well as one in Macau. The festival honors the death of, Qu Yuan, who drowned himself 2,000 years ago as a protest to corrupt leadership. Legend has it that the townspeople were trying to rescue him by beating drums and throwing dumplings in the water to scare away the fish. Now the Dragon Boats have large drums which help the rowers keep time and the dumplings are a popular festival food.
I have been pretty stagnate after finals and have had about a week of rest and doing nothing, so practice is going to be intense and I anticipate being super sore!
It's Kinda hard to take pictures in a boat, holding a paddle and covered in water and all. So I pulled some pictures of Dragon Boats Races off the internet.
This will be me in a month!
I move in with a local student, Banana, tomorrow. She lives in a village away from the city and her parents don't speak any English, so it's time to brush up on my Cantonese. I'm excited to go to the next phase of my journey. Most of the other exchange students have left which is sad, but it will force me to stop reverting to my western ways. I can start to do the things I've put off doing in Hong Kong for five months.
Till next time,
Ley Hoi.
