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From: Rusk, Angela [mailto:ar43@evansville.edu] Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 1:02 AM Subject: Hello:) Hello everyone:) How are you going? I am sorry I haven't been able to write lately, but this past month has been VERY BUSY! I have been to Hong Kong and returned, started back up with Uni classes, and moved to a new home. My trip to Hong Kong was an experience I will never forget. I was able to travel to Hong Kong with my previous housemate, Carol. Carol is originally from Hong Kong. I stayed with Carol in her families home so I was able to experience the true cultural experience of a young adult living in Hong Kong. Carol lives in a highrise apartment building just at the base of Leo Rock on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong. Hong Kong is referred to as the Kowloon side or Hong Kong side. I ate several home cooked meals, consisting of squid, whole fish, whole chickens (beak and all), beef belly lining, seafood, and several different kinds of vegetables. All main meals (lunch/dinner & supper) include rice. Carol had me start using chopsticks a couple times before I left for Hong Kong, so I at least had some practice. I have definitely improved my chopstick skills and by the time I left Hong Kong could eat most foods placed in front of me (including rice). The multiple kinds of fruits available were some of my favourite things to eat. Several desserts were made out of their lovely mangos and fresh fruit. Seseame seeds and coconut are also very popular. Carol also surprised me with a traditional Mango Pudding Cake for my birthday. Her family adopted me for the 2 weeks that I was there and made sure I saw as many sights in and around Hong Kong as I could. I went to Macau, an island about 1.5 hours boat ride away from Hong Kong. This island was highly influenced by Portugal and showed a Spanish influence. There we also went to a large lookout tower, which is comparable to the Eiffle Tour in height. I was in mainland China with Carol and her family for a weekend. There we went on tours of an Aloe Vera Plantation, Fruit Orchards, traditional Chinese Medicine and herbs businesses, and also to a country town. In Hong Kong, we went to several differnet street markets, including the famous Mong Kok Ladies Market. I went to the beach a couple of times and also to Stanley Market, which is a market town. While in Stanley, Carol's neice requested we go to McDonald's, so I even had a McDonald's chicken fillet; however, this was not just any chicken fillet as the bun was made soley out of rice. We went to Hong Kong Gardens on the Hong Kong side and also took a cable train from Peak Gardens, which is located on the side of Hong Kong mountain. Here you could see Victoria Harbour, the main harbour of Hong Kong. Carol's mass transpot railway station was also located next to a traditional temple. Although we went to several touristy places, I was also able to go into the everyday shopping markets to get food to eat, walk around her home area, and I saw her church. I was unfortunately not able to attend any Rotary meetings while in Hong Kong as my schedule was very full, but I feel that I have had many cultural experiences that I can take away with me for a lifetime. Since returning from Hong Kong I have started back up with my second semester of university courses and am currently in the process of finding clincial placements in Paediatric Physiotherapy centres and schools. I returned in time to attend my host clubs change over meeting, and was warmly greeted home and given a special introduction and thank you for attending the meeting. I have also packed up my first home and have moved into a new home. Carol, has now returned to Hong Kong for at least 5 months, so I also have a new housemate as well. Her name is Natalie. Natalie continued to look for housing while I was in Hong Kong and I found out the night I returned from Hong Kong that she had found a new home for us. We are now living at: 17 Golding Court I have now been in my new home for 1 week as of today. We do not yet have phone or internet connections available, so I have limited access to these facilities at this time. I am currently typing on the university computers so do not have access to my pictures at this time, but will send pictures when I get access to internet. I hope that all is going well. Cheers, Angela Rusk |