By Amy

Rise and shine! It’s 9 am and we’re getting ready for an entire day of activities. Our study abroad trip could not go by any faster! For the past two days, we split up into two groups in the morning from 9-2 pm to tour Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. I was part of the group that toured Kowloon. We first took a minibus to Tsim Sha Tsui and walked to Kowloon Park. We were definitely not ready for the amount of walking we were about to do today and how much the heat would affect us. The park had a large amount of green space and beautiful plants, making it a very nice place to walk around. One of the first things we saw were older adults doing Tai Chi or exercises. Our tour guide Susan pointed out that it was very common to join in on other groups doing tai chi as long as we did not disturb them. She also shared a story when she used to go to the parks herself to exercise daily at 6 am. Most of the citizens of Hong Kong cannot afford to go to the gym and come to the park and use the exercise machines, including a “treadmill” and a pull down machine. One day, she skipped exercise and the next day she came back, the other people there asked her, “Where were you?” because they missed her. She explained that people developed close relationships seeing each other exercising daily and most of them take care of one another because they do not have kids. This was just one example of the unique aspects of Hong Kong culture and how parks are communal areas where people can relax and get to know one another. After exploring the park, seeing the recreational pool for families, and the birds, we walked over to Temple Street and had lunch. We stopped by a very small shop, big enough to only fit all 11 of us to have wonton noodle soup. Susan was also very kind and surprised us with dessert from a nearby bakery, a special sponge cake that we first tried at Dim Sum. After Temple Street, we walked around to the Jade Market and Goldfish Market.

Walking in Kowloon Park.

View of wet markets from walk bridge

Produce stands of the wet markets

Half the group at Victoria Harbor

After a few hours of free time when we relaxed a bit, we met the other group at the Sai Wan Ho MTR station. Our first stop was to visit the tofu master, Bill Chan Tze-fu. He has been running the tofu shop for over 50 years and has enlisted his two sons to take over. Bill explained the process of making the soybeans and we were able to try soy milk and soy pudding.

Various tofu products

We had even more food when we left the tofu house to visit the “little kitchen” of Chef David Forestell. Lesson learned here: Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. We walked through a small cramped alley way and were told that we were going to eat in this old run down beauty. But moments later a surprise awaited: upstairs was a beautiful private European kitchen restaurant. To our delight, we enjoyed a refreshing drink created by the chef himself with ginger, mint, and lemon as well as some butter cookies. I am sure that all of us wanted to stay longer but we had more activities planned for the day.

Group inside “Little Kitchen” – a secret restaurant in Sai Wan Ho

We then walked to a park where we had an “Amazing Race” style competition exploring the Tai On Building in Sai Wan Ho, a residential and commercial building. We had a list of questions to answer such as “Which fruits are not imported from Hong Kong?” (We learned that Hong Kong does not grow any fruits) and then had a series of snacks to try. We tried foods such as egg tarts, xiu mai, egg puffs, and waffles, all of which were amazing. After the one hour we had to complete the game, the losing team had to walk across massage rocks in the park. Finally, our day was almost over and we headed to a seafood restaurant to enjoy dinner. It was a long, tiring day but we’re all enjoying our first week in Hong Kong. Stay tuned to hear about our hiking adventures!

Kathleen walking on massage rocks.

By Chi

“TIME CHECK: it’s 8:30, we need to be downstairs in 15 minutes if we want to get breakfast.” By our fourth day many of us got down our routine of walking down the street to our favorite bakery to get some fresh goods, coffee, and bottled water. My roommate, Melissa, and I hurried back just in time to meet our local tour guides for the day, Gabby and Susan. We were all split into two groups, one exploring the Kowloon side and the other exploring the Central District on the Hong Kong side. I was in the group with Gabby who took us to the Central District. It took us 2 buses, and 1 ferry ride to get there. In total we spent 14.26 HKD which is equivalent to about 2 USD. It was well worth the trip! The ferry, train, and the tram were all used in the old days as the main source of transportation and still widely used today. New sources of transportation that were later added were tunnels and the subway (MTR), which we all have gotten quite comfortable with. Once we boarded the ferry, everyone was in awe of the breath-taking view of the harbor. The subtle breeze from the harbor was enough to cool us down from the humid weather.

The view from Victoria Harbour before we boarded the ferry,

Half the group on the Star Ferry!

We walked to a commercial area where you can find many business men and women in formal attire. We quickly observed that many business men dressed in suits used the walk ways from building to building with AC to keep themselves cool from the heat. From Statue Square, we saw the court building, which is the oldest building that still exists in Hong Kong. Where there was once a statue of Queen Victoria, it is now replaced with a statue of the first general manager of the HSBC bank. The HSBC bank was once the tallest building in the Central District, and it now has one of the most powerful energy lines coming from the mountain to the sea. It is believed here that energy lines should be used and not blocked. This told us a lot about the control centers of the Central District and the belief of Feng Shui among Hong Kongers. Many businesses, like the HSBC bank, have two lions stand in front of the building to protect the building and the people in it. Everything here was strictly business and those who do business best, survive. The main goal is to get money that is what brings Hong Kongers together. There is no room for welfare in the Central District and everyone must look after themselves. No one really thinks bad of anyone and people look to each other with admiration for being so successful. This was interesting to hear because in the US we have many options for welfare support for those who need it.

Frankie defying gravity in the SoHo district.

Statue of the first general manager of the HSBC Bank.

Koi fish outside the Bank of China. Gold koi fish represent prosperity, good fortune, and health.

Next, we went to St. John’s Cathedral which is an Anglican church. Back in the old days many churches, just like St. John’s Cathedral, were build on hills from the highest point so it may be seen from the harbor. Trade between China and the western regions of the world became established early on and trading ports were of great value. The windows in the church were dedicated to all the people at sea such as fishermen. Gabby shared with us that she has been residing in Hong Kong for over 20 years and told us that originally, she was not planning to stay for more than a few years but ended up loving Hong Kong so much that she stayed. She also mentioned that she and her husband got married and had children in Hong Kong. He currently works at a university here and because of that, they get free housing in Hong Kong. Gabby took us around the SoHo district which has extremely high rent that can start with a base of $15,000 HKD, which is around $2000 USD. We quickly realized that the SoHo district had a lot of similarities with the Silicon Valley. We analyzed that both areas were extremely expensive to live in and it takes about 2-3 people to help pay rent for something as small as a 2 bedroom apartment. Last on our tour, we stopped by an old building which was once an old police quarter provided by the government for free housing. Each policeman only received one room regardless of how many children they had. They had a communal kitchen and restroom, which provided for a lot of socialization between neighbors.

Inside St. John’s Cathedral.

Stairs from the old police quarter.

We later met up with the other group that toured Kowloon and it was so exhilarating to hear about their tour. I was extremely excited for our next activity which was the Cha Chaan Teng Discovery. Franky greeted us with a warm welcome and quickly got us to our traditional tea restaurant. We were first served their version of westernized eating cakes. The first was a sweet pineapple bun served with butter. It was so  warm and delicious that I could not pass up the next snack which was scrambled eggs served on toast. One dish looked a lot like tofu but it was french toast. My favorite was the toast served with condensed milk and butter. I finally got to try a mixture of milk tea and coffee with red beans. It was so refreshing to drink after a long morning of exploring the Central District.

Cha Chaa Teng

All in all, our fourth day was a success and I can’t wait for my turn to explore Kowloon tomorrow!

By Frankie

Three days into our study abroad trip and it cannot get any more amazing. Today was a very busy day. Our day began at 8:45 AM as we all met in the lobby of the residence hall. As a group, we walked to the train station and headed towards Austin MTR station. For breakfast we started very light. Just a small breakfast at Shun De Kung Dim Sum. Okay it was not a light breakfast when we started seeing all these dishes pile up on our table. One after another, both tables were served with over 40 dishes.

Does not look like a very light breakfast does it? The table was covered with delicious food.

Artistic photo credit: Kathleen

Before eating, our tour guide Franky went a little into detail in terms of what is common to do before eating. It is common to use hot water to clean our plates before being served. It does not necessarily mean that the dishes are dirty, but it is something that is a tradition to do. There is a set of communal ‘serving’ chopsticks, which are used to serve yourself or others at the table from the food that is available in the middle. While waiting for the food to be served, you will see people reading the local newspaper to be up to date in terms of what goes on in Hong Kong. While eating, it is polite to tap the table gently with two fingers as a sign of saying thank you when someone else serves food on your plate or pours drinks in your cup. In addition, it is respectful to serve other people before serving yourself. As a side note, it is common to drink green tea, especially among the elderly.

Here are photos of cultural exchange between Frankie and Ringo. Another photo of Frankie and Alina along with Ringo and his wife who were eating at Shun De Kung Dim Sum.

Later in our day, Dr. Li Meng talked about the Confucius Institute of Hong Kong. This program at Poly University is a recognized place for people to learn Chinese Language, understand Chinese culture and know about China. The mission for this program is to support China’s cultural construction, enhance local education of Chinese language and culture, and promote international understanding of Chinese language.

Dr. Li Meng and other staff members welcomed our group with delicious pastries.

Group at Confusious Institute of HK

Following our religion and cultural lecture from Dr. Li Meng, the class had the privilege of meeting the Head of the School of Nursing, Prof. Alex Molasiotis or “Alex.” Alex was eager to meet our class as much as it was an honor to meet him. We all sat in a classroom where all students gave a brief introduction and afterwards asked Alex plenty of questions regarding education, his journey to Hong Kong, and perspectives of life as a student at Poly University. It was amazing how engaged everyone was because Alex was very sincere and honest with his responses. Alex Molasiotis is from Greece. His first five years in Hong Kong consisted of being a backpacker. One of his cultural norms is family connection, which he believes it is something that the Western countries lack. One of the most difficult obstacles in his life was leaving his family. Towards the end, Alex mentioned that one of his dreams is to give every student the opportunity to travel outside of Hong Kong. He believes that as global citizens, it is important to value and appreciate other places around the world. Nowadays, technology has decreased communication. At the very end, Alex was willing to hang out with the class, which was a surprise to al of us knowing how important and busy of a man he is and was still willing to spend time with us. However, the class was dismissed and was the last event for the day as a group.

SJSU group with Prof. Alex Molasiotis, Head of School of Nursing at PolyU.

Late in the night, students are given free time to do what they desire. Some students go shopping, while others go around Hong Kong appreciating new places.

This is another picture with some of the students from the program who got lost getting to the Lady’s Market, but getting lost was a beautiful ending. We came across this site and plan to go again to take more pictures.

Overall, today (6/14 HK time) was a day where the entire class had the opportunity to try Dim Sum, learn more about religion and culture, spend time with Dr. Alex Molasiotis, and end the night with individual adventures.

By Marin

On the first official day of instruction with the FLP group, we were given a tour of the Innovation Building of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, which was newly built and a beautiful sight to see, inside and out. After admiring the beauty of the campus for a period of time, we had the opportunity to meet a few 4th-year students from the mental health nursing program, followed by three engaging and fascinating lectures, including one on Traditional Chinese Medicine. In one of the lectures, we were enlightened on the topic of Yin and Yang in regards to its application in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Everyone asked challenging and interesting questions, some of which required the lecturer to step outside of his field of expertise. This made the lecture an eye-opening experience, since we have been primarily exposed to Western Medicine at San Jose State University.

PolyU Campus – Innovation Tower in distance.

PolyU Integrative Health Clinic – Traditional Chinese medicine herb mini-greenhouse.

After the lectures, we were led by a staff member to the school “canteen” or dining facility, where we ate amazingly tasty food that some of us felt we could only eat at restaurants back home in California. Once the meal time concluded, we received an orientation that elaborated on the PolyU nursing program which is a 5-year curriculum. During that time, we met some more nursing students who gave us some direct insight as to what it’s like to be a student in Hong Kong and what is expected out of the program’s curriculum; like the 1,000 hospital hours they have to complete prior to graduation!

Marin’s lunch from PolyU Student canteen.

Frankie and Marin with PolyU Nursing students.

Then in the afternoon, we crossed the street from campus to enter and explore the Hong Kong History Museum. I don’t really visit museums on my own time at home, but the HK History Museum is definitely worth going back to. As I have had a strong fascination with Chinese culture and history, it was a great privilege to see the amount of history presented in regards to food, music, celebration, architecture, weapons for hunting, and much more. The “Special Exhibit” had an elaborate display and context of ancient Roman history, and the occurrence of the famous but tragic natural disaster that killed the people of Pompeii when Mt. Vesuvius engulfed the city in flames and ashes.

HK Museum of History Special Exhibit – lobby banner.

Courtney adding her wish to the Wishing Tree at the HK Museum of History.

Once nightfall came, a few classmates and I went to Ladies’ Market in Mong Kok again, a city just one train stop Easy of Hung Hom where the university is located. A couple of us had the chance to experience negotiation with vendors for the first time. It was interesting to see how persistent the vendors are as they try hard to convince passerby folks to purchase their products. The few of us who negotiated purchases tonight did so rather smoothly, but for others who took long to negotiate or change their minds at the last minute, sometimes ended up receiving an irritated outburst from some of the vendors that were approached. It was a hot and humid evening that was well worth the travel.

SJSU and PolyU students and faculty/staff.

By Kathleen

We’re finally in Hong Kong! We’ve been eagerly waiting for this moment since the beginning of Spring 2016 semester and now that the time has come, it feels incredible.

Getting to Hong Kong, however, felt like forever.

Most students departed from the states earlier to get a feel of the country or to visit relatives. I traveled with Emily, Lina and Frankie from SFO as we planned to arrive in Hong Kong on the first day of the program. We had a layover in Haneda-Tokyo International Airport for 10 hours after flying for a little over 10 hours across the Pacific. The layover itself was an experience. I tried to make myself sleep but ended up taking an hour-long nap and continued to be restless (I was excited!). So instead of trying to force myself to sleep, I took some pictures of an empty terminal.

The sun started to rise around 3:30AM in Tokyo and it was already high up in the sky an hour later. This happened in-between that time.

After the longest 10 hours of just staying in the terminal and never wandering too far from our gate, we finally boarded on to the plane to HK. It was a slow start and we experienced several turbulences during the flight due to the thunderstorms around the area, which also meant our arrival got delayed by an hour late. Stepping out of the plane, I already felt the humidity seeping through the walkway. Here’s one thing that popped in my mind as well after I stepped out of the plane: why does walking from the plane to immigration always feel like the longest power-walking trip? Immigration lines were packed but moved efficiently with airport workers directing people to make the wait almost non-existent. Then some of us had to reclaim our luggage. Everything seemed to go in order, until we had to figure out how to get to the PolyU Residence Halls. Several classmates and Professor Mauldin offered tips and suggestions through WhatsApp on how to get to the dorms. Taxi, bus, or train? So many options and all of them seemed confusing. Where was the bus stop? Do we just hail a taxi? What about the possibilities of different fees? The four of us met up with another classmate, Brenda, and we decided to take the train and then take free airport shuttle that would stop a few minutes away for walking distance from the residency halls. Thinking about it now, I don’t know why we contemplated so much about deciding which form of transportation to take.

It was exhilarating to sit in a fast-paced train (that’s much quieter and has lesser stops than BART) and see parts of Hong Kong before our eyes. The big hills were lush with different shades of green and light fog barely settled above them. High-rise buildings were paralleled along each other and each unit had at least one window AC unit sticking out, which I found to be a common theme and a blessing in Hong Kong. Some parts, like this picture below, reminded me of the port of Oakland because of its “dinosaur” cranes and had stacks upon stacks of freight containers as well as a bridge just a little further on that also reminded me of the Bay Bridge.

From airport to residence halls

Even riding on the shuttle bus was very different for us because no car on the road (not even the bus itself!) would stop and wait for the car in front of it to move. They would be centimeters away and they would both still move together. It’s incredible how there weren’t any small car accidents.

Finally, we had to walk to the residency halls. We got a little bit lost and confused with the directions but we finally made it after asking for help by different people (a tour guide at a kiosk, a guard post in one of the dorms, and a PolyU student) and after sweating so much because the humidity here is no joke.

We settled into our assigned dorms and met up for dinner. During dinner, we shared our experiences getting to Hong Kong and discussed about the book we had to read before coming here, Hong Kong Nights. As a class, we haven’t met each other since our last in-class meeting several weeks ago and finally seeing each other again in Hong Kong feels really good.

FLP Group in residence hall dining room

To end our first night in Hong Kong together as a class, we ventured to Ladies Market, a bargaining market that goes on for three to four blocks. There were shops lined around this narrow and crowded market, along with karaoke and dancing happening in the next street over. It was bustling and what more perfect way to be exposed to Hong Kong culture on the first night.

Mong Kok

Ladies at the Ladies Market in Mong Kok

Dr. Mauldin showed some of her students and Alaric an awesome deal she got at the market – cute pop-up cards!

First day of FLP Hong Kong was a success and I feel like the rest of this experience will be heartfelt and without a doubt an eye-opener for all of us.