So this morning I went to a church called The Vine, it's across in Hong Kong Island so it takes about an hour to get there including walking. That being said, I went by myself so I had two hours of thinking/listening to music to get some good thoughts in so I decided to share them with you all!
1) I've decided that when I return to the States some habits that I pick up are going to be considered very rude. For example, because there are sooo many people everywhere and places to be, it is very common to be run over, run into, pushed, etc. and no one really thinks anything of it or says excuse me. At first it may seem that people are rude, but really it's just part of the culture! If you need to get somewhere it is sort of every man for himself and you can't apologize to everyone you run into because you would spend all day saying "sorry". That being said, I have learned to fend for myself and push if I have to get on the subway, off the subway, but I'm going to have to be careful not to take these manners back home with me :) The second "bad" habit is not opening doors or greeting people. I think this sorta goes along with the first. There are so many people that you cannot greet them all! This ends up finding its way into situations where there are few people around. The biggest time I've learned to stay quiet is in the elevator. I live on the 10th floor so I have to take the elevator whenever I'm feeling too lazy to take the stairs and at first if there was only me and a few others there I would say hello and smile. For the most part all I received in return were blank stares or looks of confusion. haha Needless to say, I no longer greet everyone i see :) Hopefully I can lose that habit when I get home as well, especially in the South because everyone will think I'm very stuck up and rude!
2) What I've come to really love and appreciate is being a minority and constantly being around people from all over the world. At first, not fitting in (looks wise or actions wise) is what made me feel very uncomfortable and want to run back home to every place and person that was familiar to me. However, I really enjoy it now! A couple nights ago I was able to go to get a Thai dinner with 2 students from Finland, a student from Austria, a student from Germany, a student from Amsterdam, and 3 from the States! It was so cool to talk about our different homes and just learn a lot about other people from around the world. After church today a group of young adults went to get lunch and this included a girl from Canada, one from England, two from Hong Kong, and one from the States. I've realized what a blessing it is to have my mind opened up to what else is out there. It's so great to not just be on vacation but to know I will be here for awhile and REALLY get a feel for the Hong Kong/Chinese culture. It's especially neat during all of the New Year festivities! So anyway, although I do still miss everyone from home terribly, I'm also excited to get to know so many new people and places. I can only imagine what it will be like to get back to the US where everyone speaks my language and isn't Asian. haha I have no doubt that will be a culture shock in itself!
To expand on the church comment, I really enjoyed the church service and the people today! I'm excited to get more plugged in there and see all that God has to teach me. I have realized I have SO many things to learn and it's great to be halfway around the world but still meeting with a fellowship of believers and seeing the Spirit at work! Well ... hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday and will talk to you soon!
with love in Christ,
Deborah
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Photos and Chinese New Year!
Well, as for the upcoming week I have no excuse for not keeping you all posted on my life! Monday is Chinese New Year so we have the entire week off from classes! Many of the international students have decided to travel during this time and my friends and I looked into going to Beijing, Thailand, and the Phillipines, but none of the trips ended up really working out last minute. The good news is that we will be able to experience the new year here! I haven't really seen much yet in that regard but I will be sure to post photos and explanations of the interesting things I end up seeing :)
I tried to post a blog solely of pictures a couple days ago but it didn't work out so well. I am going to still put some pictures on here once I can get the internet to work more quickly but if you'd like to see ALL of the photos I've taken so far the link is http://picasaweb.google.com/dcarley06/MyTravelsInHongKong?authkey=vp5UyfJ3ouI&feat=directlink.
So Happy New Year everyone and I will be talking filling you in soon!
I tried to post a blog solely of pictures a couple days ago but it didn't work out so well. I am going to still put some pictures on here once I can get the internet to work more quickly but if you'd like to see ALL of the photos I've taken so far the link is http://picasaweb.google.com/dcarley06/MyTravelsInHongKong?authkey=vp5UyfJ3ouI&feat=directlink.
So Happy New Year everyone and I will be talking filling you in soon!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Week 2!
I apologize for it taking me so long to make another entry into the blog! I can honestly say that just about everyday I think “I really need to update my blog” but somehow it doesn’t happen! As you can imagine, many things have happened now that I have been here for about 2 ½ weeks. I can’t believe it’s been that long already! I have to admit that when I first got here and told everyone I’d be here 4 ½ months, it seemed like an eternity. Everyone told me it would go quickly and I didn’t believe them but I do now. Now that classes have begun and friends have been made, the time goes much more quickly and the homesickness is more few and far between.
It took me quite a while but I finally have my classes under control. Although I’ll be getting credit for them, not one will count towards my major! Haha Oh well, I’m excited though because I really enjoy all of them and am already learning so much. My schedule includes International Business, Introduction to Mandarin for Non-Chinese speakers, Modern Chinese Society, and Hong Kong and the River Delta Survey (a class where we get to take some field trips!). The classes are formatted a little differently here and the grades are basically made upon an individual paper/presentation, a group paper/presentation, and a final exam. The final is 40, 50, or 60% of the final grade in each of my classes so I will definitely have to take them seriously :) I look forward to being able to speak to you all in Mandarin when I get home! Haha
I’ve gotten to get some cool stuff since being here as well. Two weekends ago I went on a hike of Lion’s peak a couple subway stops from the campus on Saturday with some friends. Then on Sunday I got to do the same hike but further with my dad. I’ve also just enjoyed meeting some of my dad’s business friends. Last weekend my dad and I went to dinner with his friend Ivan, his wife, and son up on Victoria’s peak which is on Hong Kong island (actually a separate island from where I live on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong). It was beautiful looking over at all of the buildings in Kowloon and also across the bay at the ships and boats at night. Two days ago I also got to go out on my dad’s friend Tian’s yacht into the China Sea! It was absolutely incredible to be surrounded by all of the mountains and islands out in the ocean! Tian even let me drive the boat a little although it scared me to death haha and my dad and I did a little skiing. (Well, I did a little skiing and my dad did a lot :). Last night was actually the last night I get to spend with my dad before he heads back to the US! It is sad but it’s been a blessing to have him here for a bit and to get to make some memories together in Asia.
Apart from the incredible experiences, meeting some great new friends, and starting class, a big thing that’s been going on involves my relationship with God. In the past couple months I have struggled some with God being very real in my life. I felt like I was seeking His face a lot and His will for my life but He always seemed very distant and it’s been a big test of my faith! I know that having me come to Asia alone and completely out of my comfort zone has definitely been in His plan. Since being here I’ve discovered how He really should be my only dependency in life. There was nothing no one and nothing here to make me feel better at 1am when I felt completely alone and homesick in my dorm room … except my Savior. He truly has comforted me though and given me strength through some tough times. He’s also completely broken me to the point that I’ve seen how everything in this life is completely meaningless if not for Him! The mountains and beautiful views I see mean nothing if I can’t see His work and love behind them and my relationships here have no meaning if not to share God’s love with others. Everything in this world will eventually pass away. I am really striving to learn to make God my everything and my strength everyday! I praise the Lord for how much he has already taught me and I am looking forward to what will come in the next few months! I thank you all for your prayers and support and miss you very much! Don’t forget to also let me know how your lives are going :)
“Turn my heart toward your statues and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; Preserve my life according to your word” Psalm 119:36-37
With Love in Christ, Deborah
ps. I am going to put photos on soon, i promise! I just need to get them on my computer first!
It took me quite a while but I finally have my classes under control. Although I’ll be getting credit for them, not one will count towards my major! Haha Oh well, I’m excited though because I really enjoy all of them and am already learning so much. My schedule includes International Business, Introduction to Mandarin for Non-Chinese speakers, Modern Chinese Society, and Hong Kong and the River Delta Survey (a class where we get to take some field trips!). The classes are formatted a little differently here and the grades are basically made upon an individual paper/presentation, a group paper/presentation, and a final exam. The final is 40, 50, or 60% of the final grade in each of my classes so I will definitely have to take them seriously :) I look forward to being able to speak to you all in Mandarin when I get home! Haha
I’ve gotten to get some cool stuff since being here as well. Two weekends ago I went on a hike of Lion’s peak a couple subway stops from the campus on Saturday with some friends. Then on Sunday I got to do the same hike but further with my dad. I’ve also just enjoyed meeting some of my dad’s business friends. Last weekend my dad and I went to dinner with his friend Ivan, his wife, and son up on Victoria’s peak which is on Hong Kong island (actually a separate island from where I live on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong). It was beautiful looking over at all of the buildings in Kowloon and also across the bay at the ships and boats at night. Two days ago I also got to go out on my dad’s friend Tian’s yacht into the China Sea! It was absolutely incredible to be surrounded by all of the mountains and islands out in the ocean! Tian even let me drive the boat a little although it scared me to death haha and my dad and I did a little skiing. (Well, I did a little skiing and my dad did a lot :). Last night was actually the last night I get to spend with my dad before he heads back to the US! It is sad but it’s been a blessing to have him here for a bit and to get to make some memories together in Asia.
Apart from the incredible experiences, meeting some great new friends, and starting class, a big thing that’s been going on involves my relationship with God. In the past couple months I have struggled some with God being very real in my life. I felt like I was seeking His face a lot and His will for my life but He always seemed very distant and it’s been a big test of my faith! I know that having me come to Asia alone and completely out of my comfort zone has definitely been in His plan. Since being here I’ve discovered how He really should be my only dependency in life. There was nothing no one and nothing here to make me feel better at 1am when I felt completely alone and homesick in my dorm room … except my Savior. He truly has comforted me though and given me strength through some tough times. He’s also completely broken me to the point that I’ve seen how everything in this life is completely meaningless if not for Him! The mountains and beautiful views I see mean nothing if I can’t see His work and love behind them and my relationships here have no meaning if not to share God’s love with others. Everything in this world will eventually pass away. I am really striving to learn to make God my everything and my strength everyday! I praise the Lord for how much he has already taught me and I am looking forward to what will come in the next few months! I thank you all for your prayers and support and miss you very much! Don’t forget to also let me know how your lives are going :)
“Turn my heart toward your statues and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; Preserve my life according to your word” Psalm 119:36-37
With Love in Christ, Deborah
ps. I am going to put photos on soon, i promise! I just need to get them on my computer first!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Hello and my address in Hong Kong!
I don't have a whole lot of time right now but I wanted to just send out a quick first post! I am safely in Hong Kong and am on my third day of dorm life over here. Most importantly, I am finally getting over jet lag! It's amazing how much worse life seems when you're really tired and disoriented :) haha I finally feel that I can sypathize with my sister when she studied in Spain and had a hard time at first. I'm happy to say though that I am starting to feel much more comfortable here than I was at first.
I also wanted to put my address on here because I had a lot of people ask me to send it as soon as I was able to. So here it is!
Room 1002 R North Tower
The Hong Kong Bank Foundation Building
Student Residence Halls
Hong Kong Baptist University
5 Baptist University Road
Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
And yes, that is the longest address ever :) Feel free to send me fun things whenever haha. Now I just have to figure out how I go about retrieving my mail ...
I also wanted to encourage anyone who is able to or wants to be able to talk to get skype! It is a free program you can download online and it allows two people who are both signed in to be able to talk and also video chat for free. The best times to talk to me would be early in the morning or late at night. During your afternoon I am fast asleep over here! Also, email me at any time! I'd love to hear from you all! dcarley06@gmail.com Well I've got to get to dinner but I am hoping to make a longer post this weekend, especially because we will be doing a Hong Kong tour tomorrow as part of our orientation so I'm sure i will see some great things!
Also, the picture uploaded is of the view outside my dorm window ... pretty amazing isn't it!? Sure beats both Mahomet and Macon :) haha
With love in Him,
Deborah
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