How I Got Here

So yeah, Hong Kong ... wtf, right? That's kind of what I thought too. Six months ago, As we were planning this trip, it was designed to be a couple day layover in Singapore to recover from jetlag and visit other colleagues teaching there, then teach creative writing to English faculty, undergrads and graduate students at Sichuan University in Chengdu, China for a week or so, then take a train to Tibet, and fly back. Yeah, cuz that happened. First, we had to use Hong Kong for our layover instead of Singapore because of the airline we used. Then while I was in Belize over spring break and out of touch in the rainforest, the Tibetans rioted, 150 or so people were killed, and 2 ASU faculty from my program were evacuated from Lhasa. So that was out. Then last month the earthquake hit Sichuan not far from Chengdu, killed about 80,000 people, and really just threw the entire province out of balance (to be intentionally vague and general). So that was out. But we had tickets, vaccinations, visas, fellowship money ... so here we are. 4 days in Hong Kong, a week in Beijing (starting tomorrow), then 10 days in Singapore. A little different, right?

If any of the above sounds like a complaint, rant, or railing against the fates, I'm listing things quickly to spare you from reading a hundred pages. I expect to return to China soon enough to teach the planned curriculum in Chengdu, though adapted to address writing about tragedy, the earthquake, recovery, etc. I continue mentoring the professor of English there by email, who I've worked with all semester. I don't see this as an opportunity taken from me or missed, but one I was delayed from for my own safety ... I'm just fine with that.

As I was out of the country (Belize again) when the decision was made to go to Hong Kong instead of Singapore, I didn't have an input, and honestly was disappointed (which is why I planned to end the trip there). I knew nothing about Hong Kong. Why is it that we often assume the unknown is bad, dangerous, boring, scary? Hong Kong is amazing. It's a city of blended lines: the city is built between mountains and the sea, encircling a channel harbor between the mainland and Hong Kong Island; it was still a British colony 25 years ago, but the population is 90-95% Chinese. You'll walk through a street that you can lie to yourself is in midtown Manhattan (a little narrower, perhaps, a bit more humid), and turn the corner and find yourself in a rural Chinese style outdoor market. As Mike commented on one of my first posts, it's jungle and Starbucks ... does it get any better than that? :-)

I'm leaving for Beijing tomorrow evening. Again, I have no idea what to expect really, as this was only planned about 8 days ago and I hadn't the time to do much research beyond the hotels. But clearly, the unknown does not translate into a bad thing. I was told this morning that the Chinese restrict access to blogging within their borders (apparently Hong Kong still doesn't quite count), so I don't know if I will be able to post after tomorrow afternoon. I expect to post again later tonight or tomorrow, but if I don't have anything new for about a week, that's why (and in Singapore, it may take a few days before I have internet there). There are a couple people that may be reading these - I won't name names, Mom - that would worry. No need. It would only be an issue of access.

Here are two more pictures for your viewing pleasure ... no new ones today, it's been pouring rain all day, and I had a 3 hour meeting with Jewell (with a window view of the harbor ... beats Tempe). These show a view from near the top of our hike yesterday (which isn't actually the peak, it's kind of on the ridgeline between two peaks) and it shows the hills and jungle, the harbor and city. The second photo shows the harbor and the color of the water; Hong Kong island on the right, Kowloon on the left.