http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Hong-Kong-Fulbrighter/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Hong Kong Fulbrighter en-us Sun, 29 Nov 2009 07:01:45 +0000 Sun, 29 Nov 2009 07:01:45 +0000 While I was in China in early August I met a woman from Thailand named Ai Ling at a Bible study. We connected deeply as Christian women. When our mutual friend came back from collecting research data in the Chinese city of Xiamen pronounced sha men she brought me a chopstick from Ai Ling. The chopstick has an elephant bangle with some beads on it and is meant for holding up long hair. Our mutu http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-94585.html While Irsquom blogging Irsquoll update you on life in general for me in Hong Kong. As is usually the case when I stay abroad for more than six months Irsquom finally settling in quite well. Irsquove got a lovely circle of friends and acquaintances at the University of Hong Kong and at Emmanuel Church in Pokfulam. Irsquom kept busy working on coding data for my dissertation lecturing t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-94582.html Since the last time I have posted to my blog so much has happened. I took a twoweek trip to China. Irsquove moved on to the data analysis stage of my dissertation. Irsquom making preparations for my trip home in December and Irsquom helping teach three courses this fall at the University of Hong Kong. But the purpose of this blog entry is to share some pictures and memories from a night http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-87411.html Now itrsquos time to relay the happenings of the Chinese New Year Thanks to Dr. Lian and Alison from the Centre on Advancement in Special Education CASE I had places to go and food to eat during the Chinese New Year The meals normally delivered to me from the Asia Pacific restaurant on campus were not available during the holiday. Saturday night I went out with Dr. Lian and his daughter Ku http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-40042.html Irsquod like to post about a few reflections Irsquove been dwelling on lately and to catch my loyal blog readers up about my plans over the next month or so. So enjoy the next bits about adapting to culture and life in Hong Kong. Then Irsquoll tell you of my impending trip to Fujien a province in China. No so strange anymoreAs I was walking home from my office the other evening I smelle http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-78769.html Note to my readers The person who usually assisting in my post has been gone so please for give the long delay in updates about my aventuresAdventures in Ngong PingI had an exclusive opportunity to go to Ngong Ping Village on Lantau Island in Hong Kong about a month ago. The Secondary 2 class from the httpwww.ebenezer.org.hkEbenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired in Hong Kong http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Lantau-Island/blog-78080.html Monday was my last full day in Singapore and I spent it at Sentosa Island with Sarah and her parents Cindy and Robert. Sentosa Island was formerly a British military installation. During World War II Singapore was captured by the Japanese. Apparently the personnel charged to guard Singapore from attack were focused on threats from the sea. When the Japanese occupied Singapore they did so b http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Singapore/Sentosa-Island/blog-72455.html Several reasons coalesced which have brought me to Singapore. My dear Chinese friend Sally will be visiting Singapore for three days. After my trip to Southern China during which I was treated so rudely by some members of the public I decided that I would shy away from venturing to new places in Asia alone. But when Sally invited me to come to Singapore with her I just couldn't resist Furth http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Singapore/blog-72454.html Irsquove been involved with so many exciting people and events since my last blog. I will relate a few of them here. But for those of you who I will visit when coming home be assured that I have many more to tell should you be interested. I hope that some of the joy Irsquove experienced resonates with you as you share my stories with me.Someone to Talk toA few weeks ago I had lunch with an http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-69566.html I am recovering from an allergy attack which was caused by eating a mango. I tell this story with chagrin as I should have learned my lesson the last time I ate a mango and had an allergic reaction albeit less severe than the current one. I had hoped that the previous time I had merely ate the wrong type of mango. I now know differently. So one of my great pleasures in Hong Kong where I eat ve http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-63491.html Irsquove been back in Hong Kong for over a week after my trip to Guangzhou China. But Irsquove delayed updating my blog. My experiences both incredible and disturbingly painful have been so raw and emotionladen that Irsquove hesitated to write about them lest I write something that I later might regret. But after talking them over with several friends and family members I now feel re http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Guangdong/Guangzhou/blog-61757.html A warm greeting and a chagrinfilled acknowledgement that it has been many weeks since I last posted on this blog. The only excuse that I can offer is that I have been busy researching and living in this beautiful city Hong Kong. Before I update you on what has been going on in my life lately Irsquod like to share my thoughts about several situations that Irsquove encountered related to my d http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-60030.html Hello to my blog family Irsquove been meaning to update the blog with all of my recent goingson but life has become rather busy. So without further ado allow me to give you a glimpse of what Irsquove been up to Read on for itrsquos all quite excitingWell Irsquove prayed that God would facilitate me making more friends here and SheHe has answered my prayers abundantly Friday Sa http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-52169.html Several events have occurred in the past week that Irsquod like to share with my blog readers. On the 24th of March I was asked to participate in the quarterly meeting of the Disability Action Committee of the University of Hong Kong. After the committee members learned a little about me as I introduced myself I was appointed for the entirety of my stay in Hong Kong to the Committee. This appoi http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-50613.html I hear that the early flowers in Illinois are blooming and that predictions of severe blizzards were thwarted by other nature. I do miss the heady joy that sweeps through me at the heralding of spring when I live in a climatological zone that has four distinct seasons. Having the opportunity to live in the tropics for almost a year fills me with wonder too. Irsquod like to describe it for you.Th http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-49821.html Irsquove now had the opportunity to ride the bus three times in Hong Kong by myself. Although the first ride was quite traumatic the second and third ones were without incident Irsquom happy to say. In order to represent both sides of this issue Irsquoll start with the positives Irsquove discovered thus far.I have committed to volunteering to teach English at the Ebenezer School and Hom http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-49816.html In late February the Fulbright grantees including those just having completed bachelor degrees doctoral students and senior scholars from the Peoplersquos Republic of China Taiwan and Hong Kong congregated at my host university The University of Hong Kong for a 3.5 day conference and an optional trip to Macao. The conference was a very emotional experience for me. As was my time in Ger http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-49810.html Itrsquos been a while since Irsquove posted to this blog. So many things have happened that I hardly know where to start. But as this blog is particularly designed to reflect upon my disability in relation to my time in Hong Kong I offer the following.Since my last blog Irsquove had the opportunity to participate in several meetings some sponsored by people from Hong Kong others by off http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-49808.html Instead of being productive and transcribing audio files from data collected for my dissertation I thought Irsquod write a little about the delicious tea and coffee drinks Irsquom enjoying in Hong Kong. And if you like to listen to audio files Irsquove recorded an English version of the local weather forecast. For those in the U.S. yoursquoll have to convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-42415.html I should be either transcribing audio files of interviews with students with disabilities into Word documents or writing up fieldnotes. But Irsquom just missing my guide dog terribly right now. So I thought I would write about it.As those of you who have been reading my posts since the beginning know I decided to leave Jill my Seeing Eye German Shepherd at my dadrsquos house while I came http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-40230.html