Time Travel - Episode 5

July 29, 2005
The trip I took to Macau on Friday, July 29, was very interesting and exciting. I left the apartment, in which I was staying for my vacation, around 7:00am. From there I took the subway, called the MTR, to the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal on Hong Kong Island. There, I had quite an ordeal getting my ticket, going through customs, missing my ferry, waiting for the next ferry, and finally sitting down for the hour-long ferry trip and catching my breath! Whew! The trip there was quite nice, as we passed the outlying islands of Hong Kong and then those of Macau. As we approached the ferry dock in Macau, the casinos lined the waterfront, as the sign for even the “Sands” casino prominently flashed before our eyes. What a tragedy it was to see such an historical place marred by these icons of what are far too often used for manipulation, greed, and corruption! However, my sights were set on other more pleasant spots on the island, as I began my journey from the terminal and into the unknown, winding streets of Macau.

My first stop was Guia Hill with its quaint little lighthouse and chapel. I took a small cable car to the top of the hill and walked to the traditional structures. From there, I was able to see Macau spread out against the backdrop of dark rain clouds waiting to unleash their fury upon the city at any moment. I met an Austrian man up there, and I had a nice conversation with him later that morning, as I coincidentally met up with him again at another place on the island. One interesting location I had the privilege of experiencing was St. Paul’s Ruins, as you can see in the picture above. What a reflective and thought provoking experience this was as I took in the ruins of this traditional structure’s façade, appreciated the artwork displayed in the museum, and grieved over the bones on display in the crypt. It is quite intriguing to see such a strong Roman Catholic influence in this Chinese area. The rest of the day was spent experiencing various facets of life in Macau; figuring out some of the local bus system, eating lunch at the “Galo” Portuguese restaurant, visiting various old church buildings, taking in the mix of colloquial Portuguese and Chinese architecture and culture, finding my way around the narrow roads and winding streets, literally running up and down hills as I went to and from various sites while the rain storms rolled through, challenging my map reading abilities and urban navigational ingenuity as I raced to as many sights as possible before dark and led some other foreign tourists in finding their way, and meeting Chinese, Portuguese, Norwegian, Italian, English, and Filipina people resulted in quite a learning experience. The end of this most memorable day was spent trying some Portuguese food in the Tai Pa village at the “O Infante” restaurant, talking with the Filipina waitresses, and meeting a wonderful Portuguese cook. That excursion to Macau was quite an experience, as I did not arrive back at my apartment until about 1:00am. I hope I am able to return to Macau again some day and get to know some of those people I met. You never know where you’ll go or who you’ll meet, as life is always worthwhile and always an adventure.

Time Travel - Episode 4

July 14, 2005
As you can see above in this candid photo, I am learning to eat in the Burmese style, as one of my ethnically Chinese friends from Myanmar so graciously welcomed me and some other friends into her home for some delicious Burmese food. The people of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, traditionally eat with their fingers, which I found to be quite enjoyable and actually very practical as well, as it means fewer dishes to wash! You can also see that I have a shirt displaying the Burmese alphabet, which was a gift from this Burmese friend. It has been fun learning about various cultures here in Hong Kong, as I have met people from England, Myanmar, Colombia, and the Philippines. As I travel to different parts of the world, I continue to learn that it is much smaller and more interconnected than I ever imagined. What opportunities we have for education, cultural exchange, and friendships! Let’s take advantage of those opportunities and learn from others!

Time Travel - Episode 3

July 6, 2005
Learning is a never ending process that involves all areas of life, especially those parts we often overlook... A friend of mine, his grandson, who is half-seen in the picture, and I went to a market to get some lunch from this shop owner. Later that day, we came back through the same market, and the shop owner wanted us to take some pictures together. He got out one of his extra aprons and handed me a duck. It was a real honor to be included in such an integral part of Chinese life. The markets are really bustling places here in Hong Kong, and you can get everything you need for very low prices. It is fun exploring new places, meeting new people, practicing my Mandarin, which a growing number of people understand and speak quite well, and learning about everyday life. My time here in Hong Kong is turning out to be more meaningful than I would have ever thought or imagined.

Time Travel - Episode 2

June 22, 2005
Although it was a cloudy and rainy day, my first trip to Hong Kong Island was very interesting and exciting. My studies had been very busy, but this first major day-outing on my own was very refreshing and insightful. I met a new friend, and we had fun sharing with each other about our different cultures and life backgrounds. I wonder if I will ever see him again... This was one of the first views of the beautiful Hong Kong skyline I was privileged to see. This is such a fascinating metropolis. Unfortunately, I will not have enough time while I am here to explore its seemingly endless distinctiveness, but then again, how could anyone, even in a lifetime?

Time Travel - Episode 1

June 11, 2005
As my plane cruises over China, I can only think of all the exciting adventures I will have in this wonderful land of opportunity. China is amazing! I can't wait to explore the beauty of the land and get to know the nature of the people! I love how this picture, which I took from the back of the plane, shows not only the vastness of China but also how it puts this land of immensity in perspective, as the curvature of the earth shows that we are all neighbors in this global dwelling place and that this world really isn't as big as we think it is, while it is larger than we can ever imagine. This is going to be an amazing experience...

Beginning the Journey

As I write this first post, I have now officially been here in Hong Kong for over 2 months. It has been an exciting journey, as I have learned about meeting the needs of others. As a student, I am continually learning to respect the people who teach me. From the lessons I learn about life from my students to the instruction I have received from experienced teachers, I continue to learn and grow in my understanding of life. As a teacher, I am learning to grow and implement a variety of teaching techniques as I seek to impart knowledge and wisdom to my students. Sheung Shui, in the North District, has been my place of residence and work for the last 2 weeks. Teaching English has filled up most of my time, as I have taught at least one class everyday this past week (including Saturday and Sunday), but I have had some opportunities for recreation, as the above picture, taken at the Tuen Mun beach here in Hong Kong, attests. This "Student Teaching Portfolio" will be a continuing journal as I recount some of my experiences, as I learn from others as a student and as I have opportunities to teach in a variety of ways. I hope you enjoy these accounts! Peace.