Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Five Days in Shanghai
I am back from my trip to Shanghai - we got in around 9:30 pm yesterday (Monday) night. I had an incredible time. I can't wait to recap the entire thing for you - it was truly an adventure. I hope to have the post up sometime in the next couple days...it will be a long one. There is simply no way around it.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Heather's Hong Kong-Inspired Playlist
You can listen to a YouTube playlist I put together with songs inspired by my time in Hong Kong by clicking here.
Just click on "Play All Videos", which you can find on the menu to the right.
Enjoy!
Just click on "Play All Videos", which you can find on the menu to the right.
Enjoy!
Two-For-One Sushi!
I just got back from Sushi One, a restaurant chain in Hong Kong where Sushi is half-off after 10 pm. It is so popular here that the restaurant actually clears out between 9 pm and 10 pm, and people line up outside, waiting for the clock to hit 10!
It was absolutely delicious.
Tomorrow, I am going with Lisa and Chelsie to see Ivey's Hong Kong campus. It is in Wan Chai, and it is supposed to be really beautiful. Then, at night, we are going to have a barbecue at the beachfront barbecue site.
After that, only a couple of days until I am off to Shanghai!
It was absolutely delicious.
Tomorrow, I am going with Lisa and Chelsie to see Ivey's Hong Kong campus. It is in Wan Chai, and it is supposed to be really beautiful. Then, at night, we are going to have a barbecue at the beachfront barbecue site.
After that, only a couple of days until I am off to Shanghai!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
I Keep Thinking of Things I Want to Tell You...
I don't think I mentioned this yet...I switched my courses around again, and now, my life could not be more perfect.
Ready for it?
I have class from 9 am until 3 pm...on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
That's it! Incredible, right?
Ready for it?
I have class from 9 am until 3 pm...on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
That's it! Incredible, right?
Happy Valentine's Day!
I just remembered that it is February 14th...Valentine's Day! And Valentine's Day just happens to be my favourite holiday of all! Do I have a Valentine? No. But am I celebrating Valentine's anyways?
Of course! In fact, I already did. With the help of Hall IV.
If you have been following my blog and reading regularly, you will know that Hall IV has its own student government, and these students are absolutely out of control. They do so much for us...it seems impossible that they ever have time for school, let alone sleep. In fact, I asked one of the "Foursters" (that's the name of the elected cabinet) how often he sleeps, and he said "Seldom." I asked him how often he studies, and he said "Seldom." So, I suppose all of these events come with quite a large sacrifice to the students...but they are just really great.
Anyways, back to the Valentine's Day celebration. Around 10 pm, I came back to Hall IV after going for a run, and to my surprise, there was a full-fledged party going on in our backyard! I walked over, and the local students (who all know me by now) insisted on showing me around and helping me to do the activities that they set up.
First, there was a huge backdrop of a garden scene, with the words "Endless Love" written in Chinese. They had a huge bouquet of paper-origami-ish flowers, and a photographer taking photos of groups of students.
Next, I was whisked over to the Pancake station, where we could make crepes with bananas, chocolate sauce, icing sugar and whipped cream.
At the next station, I made (with a lot of help) an origami doll. I was supposed to make two, one girl and one boy, "so that they could be lovers," but my first one was so ugly that I gave up.
Next, I learned to write "I love you" in Chinese, and wrote it on a Valentine to give my roommate.
Finally, the Foursters had made a giant wheel that you could spin to determine your love fortune. The kinds of things that they make here are actually incredible. I spun the wheel, and...didn't know what my fortune was, because it was in Chinese. I asked someone, and they told me it said, "You have a secret admirer nearby, but you don't know them yet." How exciting!
The next day, I got a package in the mail from my mom, with Valentine's Day cookies and chocolates, and also a couple things I had been really missing, including black tea. You can't buy it here! Thank you again, Mama!
I am going to round off the celebrations of my favourite holiday by heading to Lan Kwai Fong tonight (a popular bar district, especially for exchange students, ex-pats and foreigners) for a girls' night! I am so excited!
Tomorrow, I am going to start planning my trip to Shanghai. I some people yesterday who spent four months in exchange in Shanghai, and they gave Lisa and me some great tips. For example, they said that the first place we have to go is the "Fabric Market." Apparently, you can bring a photo of an outfit you love to any of the shops in this market, and they will make you an exact replica that fits you perfectly for next to nothing.
So exciting! I wonder what I should get!
Anyways...Happy Valentine's Day to everyone at home! Although I am having the time of my life, I miss you a lot and I love you!
...especially Mom, Dad, Michelle and Morgan! xoxo
Of course! In fact, I already did. With the help of Hall IV.
If you have been following my blog and reading regularly, you will know that Hall IV has its own student government, and these students are absolutely out of control. They do so much for us...it seems impossible that they ever have time for school, let alone sleep. In fact, I asked one of the "Foursters" (that's the name of the elected cabinet) how often he sleeps, and he said "Seldom." I asked him how often he studies, and he said "Seldom." So, I suppose all of these events come with quite a large sacrifice to the students...but they are just really great.
Anyways, back to the Valentine's Day celebration. Around 10 pm, I came back to Hall IV after going for a run, and to my surprise, there was a full-fledged party going on in our backyard! I walked over, and the local students (who all know me by now) insisted on showing me around and helping me to do the activities that they set up.
First, there was a huge backdrop of a garden scene, with the words "Endless Love" written in Chinese. They had a huge bouquet of paper-origami-ish flowers, and a photographer taking photos of groups of students.
Next, I was whisked over to the Pancake station, where we could make crepes with bananas, chocolate sauce, icing sugar and whipped cream.
At the next station, I made (with a lot of help) an origami doll. I was supposed to make two, one girl and one boy, "so that they could be lovers," but my first one was so ugly that I gave up.
Next, I learned to write "I love you" in Chinese, and wrote it on a Valentine to give my roommate.
Finally, the Foursters had made a giant wheel that you could spin to determine your love fortune. The kinds of things that they make here are actually incredible. I spun the wheel, and...didn't know what my fortune was, because it was in Chinese. I asked someone, and they told me it said, "You have a secret admirer nearby, but you don't know them yet." How exciting!
The next day, I got a package in the mail from my mom, with Valentine's Day cookies and chocolates, and also a couple things I had been really missing, including black tea. You can't buy it here! Thank you again, Mama!
I am going to round off the celebrations of my favourite holiday by heading to Lan Kwai Fong tonight (a popular bar district, especially for exchange students, ex-pats and foreigners) for a girls' night! I am so excited!
Tomorrow, I am going to start planning my trip to Shanghai. I some people yesterday who spent four months in exchange in Shanghai, and they gave Lisa and me some great tips. For example, they said that the first place we have to go is the "Fabric Market." Apparently, you can bring a photo of an outfit you love to any of the shops in this market, and they will make you an exact replica that fits you perfectly for next to nothing.
So exciting! I wonder what I should get!
Anyways...Happy Valentine's Day to everyone at home! Although I am having the time of my life, I miss you a lot and I love you!
...especially Mom, Dad, Michelle and Morgan! xoxo
Friday Night at the Peninsula Hotel!
The Peninsula Hotel opened in 1928 and was Hong Kong's first hotel...and it is magnificent. According to Wikipedia (I love Wikipedia) it has been recognized as the world's best hotel on a couple of occasions, and after last night, I can see why.
Before I go on, let me show you a few photos of this incredible place.
Here is the exterior:
Here is the lobby:
And here is the bar we spent the evening at, called "Felix":
It is on the 28th floor, and overlooks all of downtown Hong Kong. It was so beautiful.
Anyways, we had a great time. The service was incredible, the people were interesting, and the atmosphere was exhilarating...which somehow made spending $10 - $25 Canadian dollars on each drink okay. Hahaha.
I am definitely going back. The place is supposed to be famous for its "Afternoon Tea"...it is the place to go to mingle with Hong Kong's elite. And why shouldn't I be in that group?
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