I am back in Texas. Yay! Now that my semester in Hong Kong is officially over, it is good to reflect on how this experience has shaped my identity and influenced my interactions with people from around the world. First of all, I still believe that it is important to recognize differences in culture and…
Author: abaxter@rollins.edu
Shanghai Sweetheart
Andrew came to visit! After not seeing my boyfriend for a little over 4 months, I met him in Shanghai. It was like a movie scene: me, waiting at the airport, spotting him in the crowd and running over to give him a hug. Unlike the movies, I was sweating like a pig, panicky and…
Parents Weekend
This past weekend my dad and stepmom came to visit me in Hong Kong! It was so nice to get to see family, especially after being away for almost a year. One of the best things about having visitors is the free food 😉 Friday night I met them at a really special restaurant in…
Sunny Days
Just when the temperature was starting to warm up and I was enjoying the sunny days, the rain came in and my hair grew out. At least while it was sunny, I made sure to take full advantage. Rooftops in Hong Kong are plentiful. Count all of the tall buildings and I can guarantee there…
Jackie Chan Is My Neighbor
Growing up, I was always the kid to admit that math was my favorite subject in school. While other children were only excited by P.E. or art classes, I embraced my “nerdiness” and got excited about mathematics and reading. Well as Michael Scott would say, “Oh how the turntables have turned…” Because my mathematics courses here…
Eating My Way Through Hong Kong
Aside from my usual order of the BBQ pork and rice at the school canteen, I have tried to explore the wide variety of food available in Hong Kong. My first “foodie” adventure started when two of my mainland China friends invited me and two of my exchange friends to a hotpot restaurant. Now I…
New Places and Familiar Faces
This past week has been filled with both new and old friends! Friday night I went out with my exchange friends to Mr. Wong’s for a little “girls night out” dinner. Now, Mr. Wong’s is pretty famous in the Hong Kong exchange student community. Particularly, it is known for having tables spilling out the doors…
Year of the Rooster
This past week was the Chinese New Year! And, given its huge significance in Hong Kong, I had an entire week off from classes. Yay! Last Friday I went with a few friends to Lamma Island, the third largest island in Hong Kong. Even though it is the third largest, it is still small enough…
Reflection on Identity
As a part of my study abroad program here in Hong Kong, I was asked to reflect on how my identity influences my experience of the world. Well, to begin, it is a little bit difficult to define my identity. I am a student, I am a women, I am a sister, amongst many other…