Hong Kong Observed

As I’ve spent the last three weeks in Hong Kong, I have seen alot. I think every member of my team has experienced a few moments of over stimulation at times when there is way too much going on for our brains to comprehend. Despite the sensory overload, there have been a few meaningful observations that have stuck in my head that I wanted to share. 

Lesson One~Willingly Revise Associations

In other words, sometime slimy, chewy, and puke green foods are still viewed as perfectly edible options. Gross right? 

This one was a hard lesson to learn. Sometimes there is a combination of rubbery slime on the menu…now that was hard to swallow, literally! At one point I was presented with duck intestine, cow lung, and chicken testicles within a 10-minute period and I’m proud to say I partook in all that was added to my plate. One thing that I have to say that has been especially awesome about my Hong Kong students and new friends are that they never ever “expect” me to eat everything. They always ask first. They don’t assume that I’m used to eating cow tongue or oyster guts. Still, I do feel an obligation to at least take one bite before chugging a couple cans of 7Up to get rid of the unpalatable taste I’ve just encountered.

Although it may be cliché to share adventurous food stories from Asia, I do believe there is a more important lesson I am encountering beyond simply becoming a pro at eating oyster dumplings with chopsticks and smiling through the not-so-delicious menu choices. If all I remember after I leave Hong Kong is how well I “endured” its culture, then I’ve missed the point. 

My goal is not to merely experience, but to understand the Hong Kong lifestyle. I may not LOVE everything I see, hear, and touch, but I should still be engaged in whatever cultural phenomenon I encounter. No matter what places my world-wide travels take me during my life I want to learn to love what the natives love and attempt to find the beauty and good “flavors” in everything I am willing to try. 

Lesson Two~ Say What You Mean to Say

      If you’re tired-sometimes its ok to say I’m tired. When you need help or have an opinion-share it.

If you value another person’s contributions tell them why. If you want someone to know how you feel…then say it. My students have taught me that life it too short to paraphrase one’s real opinion. They are so blunt. If they think I look not so great in that picture…they will tell me If they didn’t think I explained a lesson very well-they let me know what I did wrong. But they also will turn around and tell me how beautiful they think I am. I never take a compliment at face value, but my students are so honest that they really do mean what they say. The moment they are bored they make sure to vocalize it. On the same note, if they are really enjoying the lesson they also want to share why. They don’t hold back.

I actually believe nearly everything that comes out of my student’s mouth. It’s sort of a crazy concept to grasp. I actually trust their opinion. I don’t necessarily take it as timeless words of wisdom (these are 15 and 16 year old young adults we’re talking about), but they do speak with authenticity, which is more than I can often claim. 

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      Lesson Three-Always Be Present in the Present

My mind runs a million miles an hour. I’m always thinking ahead. This lifestyle definitely has its perks, but I do have a tendency to miss the important things that are right in front of me. In Hong Kong your mind should be present always on the now. You are here and you should be respectful and show honor to all those who are also with you at that moment. It’s a lot of pressure. The moment I seem disinterested or preoccupied I get a “Are you bored?” or “You tired?” question thrown my away and I’m immediately embarrassed to be caught pondering on things other than what’s next on the lunch menu. 

I hope to learn much more before I get on my flight back to the mainland, but these are a few of the cool and really valuable lessons I have been learning over the past couple of weeks. Next week, I hope to share a few more pictures of my team and show you more pictures of all my students and the city the call home!