EAP Aftermath

I can honestly say, it was a sad day when I finally have to leave Asia. I miss Hong Kong. I miss the lifestyle in Asia even more. There's just always something to do at any hour of the day. I never had to try to have fun because fun is just a subway/bus ride away. It's true that Asia is really crowded everywhere, but that's also what makes Asia a really fun place because if there's more people then there's more stuff, like on the streets. 7 elevens, family mart, cake pastry shops, snack places, street food, malls, street vendor, dim sum in the AM, more 7 elevens and so many restaurants that are open readily available from where you are standing, 24 hr McDonald's delivery, Asia was too much fun, it throughly pleased my visual sensory system. The closest thing that America has that can compare is maybe NYC. Maybe.

I definitely miss it, the exchange experience was nice and really really fun. Back to reality is...well let's just say I need some time to readjust to the life style of Berkeley, from the fast space to very chilled slow pace. I get a little weirded out when I see people lounging grass reading books or sitting on the street sipping coffee. But slowly it's sinking into me...berkeley has lost some of its novelty after being here for a long time. Hopefully this semester I can explore the city more, I just wish BART was more efficient...

Picture Break Time - Misc

Thailand Can Do Part II, Shall we?

View from my hotel in Pattaya, unreal

Lol.

I'm pretty sure that's doesn't say Alan, but it doesn't matter cuz I'm coming back THAILAND

Mochi is so cuteee

Every Sunday is national holiday for the filipinos maids in Hong Kong.

Finding a moment of zen away from the city

Starting from the right, baby rats, snakes, and dont want to know - HK

Still in Macau

That square in Macau, what is it called again?

Macau was cool - don't gamble it's bad...

Shit got real at HK Disneyland, these guys have cool hair

Above it all - Ocean Park

You aint know nothing about crowdedness unless u in HK - Ocean Park Halloween

Unusual sunset - roof of my hall.

Authentic experience eating/drinking with locals - Tai O

On top of the smog also in GuangZhou

On a boat in GuangZhou

DO NOT GET HAIR CUTS IN HONG KONG.

The end is near

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, be grateful to the people love you and thankful of all things you own. So today marks the end of last week of instruction and I got a final on monday. I'm glad it's all coming to an end because I can honestly say I'm ready to go home to my friends, family, and my girlfriend. I miss all you guys. Over the month of Nov I learned a great deal about How NOT asian I am compare to these real asians here in HK. I always thought my identity as "asian" when I'm in America, but here I realize that I'm more American than I thought. Asia is a place that makes you realize things, things I never realized before about life, identity and my future. I thought it'd be appropriate to take a moment here (since it's thxgiving) just give thanks to all da ppl that made my life meaningful, don't be shy here you know who you are.

Asians study so hard...well because they have to, you think your future career opportunities are shrinking in America? well, you better think again cuz the competition here is much greater and people are under much more pressure...that's why Hong Kong people are always rushing. Being in Asia observing harsh realities sometimes allowed me to have a deeper understanding for my parents, ironically when I had to turn in my EAP statement, I BSed some lines about how this experience would bridge the generational gap between me and my parents, well it actually did (kind of). I sometimes wonder why I chose Hong Kong but actually it doesn't matter where I picked and the fact I experienced some hard times here (I know hard to believe right? exchange? hard times? come on quit being a pussy go out and get drunk!) made it necessary for me to grow up.

A few words about Hong Kong Society: is Hong Kong more asian now that it belongs to China or is Hong Kong more western? I don't feel like I learned a thing about "real" Hong Kong culture per se, but I can certainly tell that Hong Kong people make clear distinction from mainland China. Hell, Hong Kong is even competing against China in the Asian games. Shit it's 4AM again, I better go sleep.

But I will certainly miss the time here with my exchange life coming to a wrap.

Suck a D

Mark Yudof puts 8% UC tuition hike to regents vote

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/09/MN1U1G8V8L.DTL#ixzz14nuwGSF3

Hey I have an idea, how about for every % increase in UC tuition, we take it out of you and your butt buddie's paychecks?

Vote? A "democratic" tool used to hide corruption? Who give you the right to vote on whether or not YOU can increase our fees? Go fuck yourselves.

couple things

Classes are officially over on the 30th, I'm wondering about how to spend the rest of my time here? Well, I'll just make a list maybe it will trigger my subconscious computer.

-explore hk, come on...not all hong kong ppl are assholes only the ones in the financial district...

-travel to some parts of China that has real culture and hopefully learn something.

-get on top and over my shit.

-spend $ frugally, which basically means not going out.

-find out what is meaningful to me.

-I need a revelation or maybe realizing that I need a revelation is already a revelation.

-maybe a backpacking trip somewhere? any suggestions?

-make global connections.

-make a mix for Taiwan, can't wait to see you baby!

Taking a little break from HK tomorrow...heading to Macau, time to ball out with my stack of 20s.

check point

I have been on exchange for exactly 2 months, the partying had slow down and I've got bunch of bullshit work that I don't care about. I'm really starting to care about how to spend the rest of my time here. I want to explore Hong Kong as I observe that all UC people go to the same places repeating the same activities while hanging out in large groups. But I'd hate to leave Hong Kong knowing places that offer the same activities that I can do back in America. So for the next two month I will make an attempt to explore some rural areas, areas that aren't in the lonely planet guide books...get off the beaten tracks...Time is ticking, new experiences are waiting, in the end the destination never matter as much as the journey. Wish me luck, and fuck school work that has no educational values, Asia's #1 you should teach people how to think not how to do work.