Week 15 - Professional and Personal (05/05/12)

Handmade card from 4B.

It seems totally incomprehensible that we are in the final stages of our oriental adventure, writing our last blog and that nearly four months have passed since we first arrived in Hong Kong. Leading up to our departure from Ireland, I had no idea what to expect from this trip, from what I would experience culturally, personally or even professionally but it is safe to say that the experiences and opportunities I have received have completely surpassed any perceptions that I once possessed. However, it is quite hard to put into words the experiences that I have had in this fascinating place, as no words will ever do it any form of justice. 

Hong Kong really does live up to the slogan as a place where “East meets Wests”, as so many Western elements are fused with the Eastern traditional roots to provide what has been an unbelievably great adventure, as we have experienced things that we are familiar with alongside being introduced to so many new things. I have loved getting to know more about this Asian wonder, as we have made it top priority to see and do as many things as possible in order to experience the uniquely diverse culture that exists here. During our time here, we have tried a variety of different traditional Chinese foods, explored many tourist spots, as well as those less known to tourists, jumped off a building, taught in a Chinese school and most importantly met so many amazing people who have made this trip unforgettable. As we have engaged and immersed ourselves in the culture that is present in Hong Kong, I have found that it has increased my enthusiasm to see as many other countries around the world as possible and experience their culture and way of life, starting next week as we travel to the Philippines.

Unfortunately, this week marked the end of our teaching practice in the Jockey Club Primary School. Although we had only been in the school for three weeks, I felt incredibly sad to be leaving behind the classes that I had been teaching and the relationships that I had built up with the staff, the students and their families. It has been an invaluable experience to be part of this school and to engage with the education system that exists here in Hong Kong, as I have learnt so much. Teaching in an English as a Second Language (ESL) classroom has been more of a challenge than I previously thought it would have been but I am forever thankful for the opportunity, as I feel more prepared to face these challenges in other primary schools that I may come in contact with, as I have gained more motivational and strategical ideas in how to provide access for ESL children to an English speaking curriculum. 

My 4B class.

Some of my 5B class.

Throughout our entire stay in Hong Kong, we have received an overwhelming kindness from every person that we have met and this was particularly obvious when we were invited into some more of the homes of some of the families, whose children attend the primary school.  On Monday night, I had the opportunity to go to the Chung family home in Tai Po, where a total of seven children from different families joined us for dinner and games and then on Thursday night I travelled to Tai Wo, to spend the evening with the Leung household. Both experiences were extremely enjoyable, as I was able to get to know more about their individual family lives in Hong Kong and even receive a few Chinese lessons and quizzes of my own. It has been such a memorable experience to spend time with the families of the children I have taught, as these opportunities are not really gained at home but yet vital as they provide a way to connect and build a relationship with the parents, in order to work more effectively and efficiently as a team to develop the child’s learning.

Enjoying a traditional Chinese meal.

The Chung family plus some guests.

Through many discussions with my class teachers, the PTA and some of the parents whose homes I visited, I have been continuously made aware of the opportunities for Native English Teachers (NET) in Hong Kong and other parts of Asia. Before experiencing this international exchange, I never would have imagined a life and career in another country but I feel that this experience has showed me the vast range of opportunities available for English speaking teachers around the world and it has created a desire in me to at least explore some of them. This is also a big personal development for me, as I never would have felt strong or brave enough to even entertain the idea of teaching in a different country, away from all that is ‘normal’ and ‘safe’ after graduation.

It is so strange to think that semester two in HKIEd is drawing to an end but his has been made real as many of the international exchange students are starting to make plans to leave Hong Kong to return home or to continue their travels around Asia. With this in mind, the International Office organised a farewell party on Wednesday night, allowing all exchange students the opportunity to reflect on their whole experience of life in Hong Kong. It was interesting to hear our friends’ different expectations before they arrived in Hong Kong and the range of experiences that they have had, as well as how they have developed individually. It also provided opportunities for both Andrew and I to reflect on our time away, as well as a chance to say goodbye to the friends that have made this transition to life in Hong Kong so easy and so special.

HKIEd International Exchange Students of 2012 semester 2.

Studying in Hong Kong was never on the top of my priority list when it came to my third year of Stranmillis, as I felt I could gain a whole lot more by experiencing another teaching placement in a Northern Irish school but I honestly could not have been more wrong. As I reflect back on my international exchange so far, I know that in addition to gaining extended teaching knowledge and experience, I have also gained life knowledge and experience, which I will take into the classroom with me wherever that may be. This really has been a once in a lifetime opportunity and one that I do not regret a minute of! 

Week 14 - Professional (28/04/12)

This week has been another thoroughly enjoyable one, as we have continued our placement in the Jockey Club Primary School. 

My Year 5 class have been studying the different aspects of figurative language, such as similes and metaphors, trying to gain an understanding of what they are, how to recognize them and the benefit of using them in their writing. As I have observed and taught this topic of English language to my class, I believe I have gained a lot which will benefit me professionally. Not only is it an advantage that I am gaining access to a variety of different teaching resources and methods but also, I am experiencing the act of and the importance of making sure that every aspect of a topic, regardless of how small or insignificant it may seem to me, is covered in great detail in order to provide greater clarity for the students. I think that this is an important quality that every teacher has to develop but one that might not be truly obvious unless a period of teaching children with English as a Second Language (ESL) is experienced. My Year 4 class are currently taking part in a newly introduced reading scheme that is being externally inspected. This particular scheme has given me the opportunity to develop a series of lessons that aim to promote a desire for reading, as well as develop the skills of reading. 

We also met the Chairperson of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) this week and from several conversations, their passion and determination to provide the children of the Jockey Club Primary School with as many opportunities as possible to develop their English proficiency, has been tangibly obvious. As a result, the PTA organised several events, to make the most of having English speaking student teachers in their school, which have included several visits to the homes of some students and a tour of Tai Po, which is the local town. I believe that it is extremely important to develop strong social relationships with the pupils that you are teaching and their families, in order to gain a better understanding of the child and their learning needs, as well as how to include the families and work as a team for the benefit of the child’s holistic development. 

On Thursday evening I was very kindly invited to dinner at Jasmine’s home, a pupil from Andrew’s Year 5 class. During the evening, we enjoyed a family meal made by their Filipino maid, as well as many conversations and family games. Through this opportunity, I was able to gain an insight into what home life is like for children in Hong Kong and attain an understanding from a parent’s perspective the reasons behind their eagerness for their children to achieve an education and master the English language. 

Jasmine and her family.

Finishing off her important homework.

Jasmine teaching me how to play piano.

The other event arranged for us involved being taking around Tai Po by a group of 8 children and some of their parents. We visited the Old Tai Po Market Railway Station Museum, Man Mo Temple and finally Tai Po’s Wet Market, where fresh foods can be bought, the emphasis being on fresh as all of the food was killed in front of you, before all gathering to eat Dim Sum. The whole experience was thoroughly enjoyable, as not only did Andrew and I get the chance to see spots of Tai Po that we had missed but we were also able to develop and cement deeper relationships with the children and their parents. It was very rewarding to see the pupils’ confidence in their own ability to use their English knowledge increase throughout the day, as they participated in conversations in a neutral environment.

Tai Po Market Railway Station Museum.

Enjoying the museum.

Outside Man Mo Temple.

The aftermath of flying fish.

Enjoying some Dim Sum.

The Jockey Club’s English Drama Society took part in a production of ‘Shakespeare: A worldwide classroom’, at the weekend and Andrew and I had the immense privilege of being involved. ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ was the particular Shakespearean play that was brought to life on stage, through the efforts of four different primary schools and one secondary school. The students had been participating in a total of 10 workshops over the past three months in preparation for the final performance in front of an audience of 600 people. I was unbelievably proud of the children who I have been getting to know through several different activities in school and extensively amazed at their ability not only to do a play in their second or third language but to do a Shakespearean play, involving old English, in their second or third language. Professionally, I feel that this experience has given me a great insight into the use of theatre to develop many personal qualities and many aspects of the English language for every child, especially ESL learners, through an enjoyable, relaxed and rewarding medium. I have also gained a taste of how investing time in activities like these can benefit the working partnerships directly between staff members, as well as with parents. 

No nerves for these professionals.

Getting ready backstage.

Final performance.

It is after experiences like this week, both in and outside of school that make me want to fulfil the role of a teacher, as I can be involved not only in the educational aspect of a child’s life but in the deliverance and development of a variety of life skills.

Week 13 - Professional and Personal (21/04/12)

Macau Tower.

Our thirteenth week in Hong Kong, has been spent largely in trying to get to grips with life in the Jockey Club Primary School, as Andrew and I began our teaching placement this week. Initially, the routine of a typical school day felt completely foreign, as it is over a year since our last block teaching placement but it did not take long before the estranged familiarities started to kick in.

After our initial introduction to the both the staff and the entire student population through an interview during assembly, Andrew and I immediately felt welcomed and part of the school. Instantly, we were back in the classroom again with the mindset to extract as much information from our teachers about the class, the school policies, the different teaching styles and the available resources, in order to prepare ourselves for the task ahead, so that we could make the most of this placement. In previous teaching periods (in Northern Ireland), the information gathered from these different aspects has been generally the same but I have been intensely challenged this week as I have taught or assisted in lessons, as many things are completely different. The most obvious difference being that every child in the classroom is an English as a Second Language (ESL) learner, which presents many challenges in itself, involving communicational difficulties, as my accent often distorts the sounds of the words leaving the children either confused or in hysterics at my pronunciation. 

Year 4 eager to start some lessons.

At times throughout the week, I have often been frustrated at the lack of attention or motivation to answer during lessons but I am having to continually remind myself that these pupils are learning in a language that is not their mother tongue, which of course would be extremely difficult. Therefore it is my responsibility to provide the children with opportunities of clear understanding and enjoyable learning experiences.This of course is a wonderful professional opportunity to gain experience and to learn strategies and skills that can be implemented in the classrooms in Northern Ireland, as the number of ESL learners continues to grow, in order to provide every child with access to a broad and balanced curriculum. In Northern Ireland the majority of classes, even mobile ones contain interactive boards and other resources, which aim to provide fun and meaningful learning experiences. As Hong Kong exists as one of the leading technologically developed places in the world, I automatically assumed that this would stretch into the primary education sector and even contain a futuristic element but this week’s lessons have been taking place on the chalkboard. Although this presents a challenge in providing opportunities for individual children to engage in interactive lessons or to develop independently, I believe that this will equip me with the experience of focused planning, in order to present adequate opportunities for these skills to be developed, instead of always relying on technology.

Working on some problems.

A few letters received to find out some more information.

This week we also had cause to personally celebrate, as the other Stranmillis students and now close friends, Dani, Sophie, Keith and Dan joined us in Hong Kong to celebrate Sophie’s 21st birthday. Their time here was jammed packed full of amazing things to do, such as travelling to Macau, which is the other administrative region of the people’s Republic of China but which is completely different from Hong Kong, still displaying a vast amount of signs from it’s past, as a former Portuguese colony. During our time together, it has become clear how sharing this amazing experience has united us and the importance of friendship in every aspect of life. Also whilst in Macau, Dan, Andrew, Sophie and I bravely (although some might say foolishly) decided to throw ourselves off the highest bungee jump in the world, a colossal 233 metres. This was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget or regret and just one more opportunity to make the most out of every situation, which thanks to this exchange programme has become my attitude to life. 

Portuguese roots still showing through the streets and buildings.

All strapped in and ready to jump.

To finish off what had already been a great weekend, the six of us decided to make the most of the sun and in true British style, we headed straight to the beach. As we enjoyed the scenic views and the holiday atmosphere that was present at Repulse Bay, it was interesting to see the different reactions of the Stranmillis group to the diverse crowd that gathered there. This particular coast line of Hong Kong Island is known to be extremely concentrated with many tourists or foreign workers, including a vast amount of white people, which we now take completely for granted but which was continuously surprising to the four who are studying in China. Both Andrew and I have been able to witness just how quickly people can become acclimatized to their surroundings and I feel that this is a great quality to have personally developed, as a result of studying and living abroad, as it is important to be able to adapt to any situation or environment that may arise.  

Sun, sea and sand on Repulse Bay.

Week 12 - Personal (14/04/12)

As we reach the three month point it is hard to believe how fast time is going and the realization of how little time actually remains has began to dawn on both Andrew and I, especially as the next fews weeks will be entirely focused on completing our teaching placement. With this in mind and with the arrival of my boyfriend, Mark, we decided to spend the rest of our Easter holiday visiting the various must-see tourist attractions that remained on our list of things that we wanted to do whilst in Hong Kong.

At the start of the week, we returned to the Peak in the hope of a clear view without the obstruction of fog. Fortunately, it was fog-free and we were pleasantly surprised with an outstanding panorama of the illuminated city and Victoria Harbor. Another world famous scene that we witnessed was that of the Tin Tan Buddha, also know as the Big Buddha, which is located at Ngong ping on Lantau Island. Although the impressive bronze statue was only completed in 1993, it has attracted a vast amount of locals, as it exists as a major centre of Buddhism, as well as a popular attraction to many tourists. Whilst this was a very interesting and informative experience, the highlight of the trip for me was the journey to and from the Ngong Ping Village on the Crystal Cable car, which offered an expansive, 360 degree view over Lantau Island.  

View from the Crystal Cable car.

Enjoying the sun before our trek up to the Big Buddha.

In attempts to expose Mark to the diverse culture that exists within Hong Kong, in which Andrew and I have become acclimatized too, we ensured that the places we went would show the extent of difference in all aspects, such as the natural terrain of mountainous land mixed with vast seas, which are often separated by the large concrete communities of skyscrapers. Other major elements of Hong Kong’s culture included visiting Central and Tsim Sha Tsui to explore the designer fashion scene, as well as developing our abilities to barter in the hundreds of stalls at Ladies Market. Religion forms a huge part of any culture and although Hong Kong exists as a majorly non religious nation, an extensive amount of temples and places of worship are widespread across the entire region. Therefore, we thought it only appropriate to spend some time in these special places, such as the Tung Chung Hau Wong and Tin Hau temples. Towards the end of Mark’s stay we visited the world’s longest road-rail suspension bridge, Tsing Ma Bridge and spent a relaxing day in Stanley, a small town located on a peninsula of the southeastern part of Hong Kong Island. 

After shopping in Ladies Market in Mong Kok.

Mark enjoying the view of the Tsing Ma Bridge.

Andrew and Mark at Stanley Pier.

After an eventful week filled with many of Hong Kong’s treasured sites, which signifies the beginning of the countdown to our travels across the Asian continent, I can only be thankful for the reminder of what an experience it is to be in such an excitingly vibrant and diverse place and to continue to make the most of everything that comes our way. Throughout the time that I have spent away from home, I have been on a continuous journey of development in many aspects of my life, such as a knowledge and thirst to see more of the world and how different people go about their daily lives, increasing independence and confidence in myself, as well as an ever growing appreciation and fondness of the green land that we call home.

Week 11 - Cultural and Professional (07/04/12)

Some Easter treats arrived in the post.

This week marks the celebrations of one of the major festivals in the Christian calendar, as Christians around the world remember the death and resurrection of Jesus, throughout the Easter holiday. Although 64% of the residents of Hong Kong affirm no religious affiliation and only 8-9% claim to practice Christianity, Good Friday and Easter Monday remain as public holidays. This week has been particularly interesting as a result of these celebrations, as we have been able to witness two vastly different festivals that are important to the culture that makes up Hong Kong. Ching Ming Festival, also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, is the other tradition that is practiced during the Easter period by Chinese people. This festival involves visiting the graves or burial grounds of people’s ancestors in order to remember and honour them. Chinese people of all ages pray before their ancestors, sweep the tombs and then offer a burnt sacrifice of incense, their favorite food, tea and wine, along with paper to resemble money in the hope that the deceased do not lack any food or wealth. Interestingly, the latest development in technology has also been influencing this historic tradition, as images of iPhones and iPads are being burnt in order to keep ancestors up-to-date. 

Burnt offerings of food and incense being made while the tombs are swept.

Apple products being burnt as an offering to ancestors.

Also this week, Andrew and I were given the opportunity for a guided tour around the Jockey Club Primary School, which is located on our university campus and where we shall be completing our teaching placement after the Easter break. We also met with our class teachers and were provided with some information regarding the classes and topics that we will be teaching. The school educates around 500 pupils with 3 classes per year and employs around 30 teachers. On first impressions, there are some differences that exist between primary schools in Northern Ireland and in Hong Kong. Firstly, there are different teachers for different subjects, much like our secondary school composition, however it is the teacher that moves classroom and not the children. This is quite a foreign concept to me and initially it proposes some concerns about how much time we will actually get to spend with the children, in order to get to know them and understand their specific learning needs and the impact that this will have on preparing lessons for them. Another difference that I am aware of is the structural layout of the school building, as the Jockey Club Primary School has a total of 7 floors and is very open-plan, providing outside access for all classrooms. Professionally, I believe that these differences will provide many opportunities for development with regards to the approaches that I implement in the classroom, to ensure each learner achieves their full potential and that the environmental resources are effectively incorporated into their learning experiences. 

Open-plan structure of the Jockey Club Primary School.

I have been paired up with two teachers, Ms Priscilia Ko and Ms Amy Kwok, who teach 5B and 4B respectively, which translates to a primary 6 and primary 5 class in Northern Irish terms. Both of these classes have approximately 25 students in them, which is a relatively small number compared to the increasing number of children in primary classrooms in Northern Ireland. I am very much looking forward to meeting both classes and taking this opportunity of placement to really learn from the different teaching styles and curriculum objectives that exist in the Hong Kong Education System.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the week and have learnt a lot about the importance of tradition in the make-up of a specific country’s culture. Hong Kong is thoroughly fascinating as it has so many ethnic, religious and political influences, yet all are incorporated no matter how much they differ. I am hoping that throughout our teaching placement, I will have the opportunity to experience how the education system embraces the range of backgrounds that the children originate from and how individual schools prepare their students for citizenship in a multicultural, globalised nation. 

Week 10 - Personal (31/03/12)

This tenth week marks our halfway point in Andrew and I’s international exchange experience. It’s so hard to believe that we have been here for two and a half months already, but the well known phrase ‘time flies when you’re having fun’ definitely applies to our trip. This week alone has sped past so quickly, as we have tried to complete work on our assignments, which are due just after the Easter holidays, as well as enjoying the celebrations of my twenty first birthday.

Before Andrew and I arrived in Hong Kong, we were made aware of the intensity of workload that faces the students of HKIEd and how many of them make use of the 24 hour library service everyday, in order to manage the numerous assignments and examinations. This has been true for us this week, as we have spent a lot of time meeting up with groups, researching information and constructing essays. One of the modules in particular, required us to select a group and a topic relevant to the multicultural societies that we live in and present our findings to our class. For this assignment, we were grouped with two Korean girls, Semi and Kim and the topic of conflict within a multicultural society, such as Korea and Northern Ireland, was chosen. As a result of all the preparation for this presentation, I was given the opportunity to hear, discuss and attempt to understand some of the controversial issues in Korea that cause conflict, i.e. North Korean immigrants etc. I was also able to gain a lot more information on the conflict that exists within Northern Ireland and discuss how this has affected our home nation. I believe that this period of international study so far, has been instrumental in broadening my horizons on the range of approaches towards different aspects of life in many countries, whether it is politics, education or religion etc. This is an invaluable gift, as I am learning so much about the world from so many different people with so many different experiences.

Andrew, Kim, Semi and I working hard on the presentation.

On Thursday, Andrew and I went to Ocean Park, which is a combination of marine mammal, animal theme and amusement park, situated in the southern district of Hong Kong. At the beginning of our international exchange, a few of our buddies informed us that you can gain free entry into Ocean Park on your birthday, so we decided to save my birthday as the optimum time to go. Unfortunately, after traveling to the park, we were told that this benefit was reserved for Hong Kong residents only. Although we felt slightly cheated, we were determined not to let it ruin the rest of the day and forked over the money. This proved to be a good thing, as Ocean Park has achieved the recognition of the seventh most popular amusement park in the world and it definitely lived up to this expectation. 

Unlike any of the other theme parks I have been in, the amusements are built on either side of a mountain and so to access both areas you have to either take a cable car, which provides beautiful scenic views of the south of Hong Kong Island, or the Ocean Express funicular railway, which offers an underwater submarine simulation experience. The theme park currently consists of nineteen rides and houses eleven animal exhibits, including dolphins, giant pandas, jellyfish and other marine life. Both Andrew and I enjoyed our time there immensely and although we are both now twenty one, we had a great time re-experiencing how theme parks and scary rides can make you feel like a young child again.

Amazing views from the cable car.

Andrew enjoying the views.

The Ocean Theatre Dolphin Show.

Later that evening we ventured into Soho, which is an pulsating entertainment zone located in Central, in order to celebrate over a birthday meal. The name Soho is interestingly derived from it’s location, as it is situated on the south of Hollywood Road. Many areas named Soho exist around the world, such as in London and New York and I perceive them to be very similar in many ways, by drawing a vast crowd of tourists or Western business men and women. Whilst it is necessary and enjoyable to experience places like Soho, I feel completely privileged to be able to experience life in the more rural side of Hong Kong as well, as we have been able to gain much more than a tourist’s perspective of life in Hong Kong.

In Northern Ireland and many other countries, there is always a huge emphasis and importance placed on turning twenty one or the ‘coming of age’. Although only a few legal effects actually exist, since the majority are implemented when an individual turns 18, there are often many extravagant celebrations. This is somewhat different from the historic Confucian coming of age ceremony that predominantly use to exist in China, as twenty is the more important year, when the individual will obtain a Chinese style name to use as a symbol of transitioning to adulthood. Personally, I don’t really believe that your transition to adulthood is held in a particular age, but rather it is the life experiences that you gain in those years that help you grow and develop as a person. As a result of my time here in Hong Kong so far, I feel I have been given so many opportunities to gain vital life experiences, which will indeed aid my development as a well rounded person.

Week 9 - Cultural (24/03/12)

This week Andrew and I had the opportunity to travel to Guangzhou, which is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People’s Republic of China. It is also the third largest city in China and is home to around 12.78 million people, including four fellow Stranmillis students, Keith, Dan, Dani and Sophie. Our main agenda for our trip to Guangzhou was to spend some time with the guys and see how they have settled in, as well as experience life in Mainland China, in order to see the similarities or differences between it and Hong Kong and discover why the principle "one country, two systems" exists. 

Although we have lived in Hong Kong for over two months, which is part of the People’s Republic of China, we were still very unaware of what to expect from our visit due to the principle above and so I was a little apprehensive towards the start of our journey. This apprehension was greatly increased with our first encounter with mainland China, as I was stopped at immigrations, trying to explain why we were crossing the border to an officer who spoke little English, while Andrew was ushered on through. Thankfully, after a few confused and then sympathetic looks, I was allowed to enter Mainland China to officially begin our adventure - definitely a little more complex than crossing the border at home. We then boarded a train to Guangzhou East, where we had agreed to meet the guys, as they very kindly offered to share their university accommodation with us for the five days that we planned to stay. 

On board the Pearl River Cruise.

My first impressions of Guangzhou, were completely opposite to how I had first perceived a place in Mainland China would be. Quite naively I was expecting many rice fields and little wooden huts, however Guangzhou is very similar in many ways to Hong Kong. There are many colossal skyscrapers, a huge variety of shops and the train systems are equally as developed. I was also unaware that the variety of western food would be on similar standards with that which we experience in Hong Kong, as every few metres there was a McDonalds or a Starbucks. On the Saturday night, I was especially surprised as we were taken to one of the largest all-you-can-eat buffets in China, which housed food from countries all over the world. It’s safe to say that we definitely were not peckish after our meal. 

Our Motor-taxi transport to the buffet.

Although, we only stayed for five days, it was also obvious that there are many contrasting elements of these two regions. One of the biggest differences between Hong Kong and Guangzhou would be the composition of the multicultural population. In Hong Kong, it is not surprising to come across a large number of people from a variety of different national backgrounds, however it was obvious from the number of people stopping their daily lives to take photographs and videos on their cameras and even approach us for autographs. This to me was very surreal and even though the other Stranmillis students had warned us what to expect, at times I still felt very uncomfortable, unlike Andrew who was gladly soaking up the additional public attention. 

Another difference that became clear to us nearly as soon as we got off the train in Guangzhou East, was the contrast in the general cleanliness of the streets. Everyday, Hong Kong employs around 3800 men and women to keep the streets and surrounding areas clean, which both Andrew and I completely took for granted, as the conditions of the streets here are impeccable. 

An additional factor, which I especially took for granted was the western toilet that you can so frequently find in Hong Kong. This was definitely not the case in Guangzhou, as traditionally Chinese women prefer to use a squat style toilet so that they won’t come in contact with any germs that may exist on toilet seats, even to the extent that they may choose to stand on a western toilet seat and squat.

Common Chinese squat style toilet.

Sign found in many toilets.

These past number of days spent in China, have given both Andrew and I a sense of what the other Stranmillis students are experiencing everyday and it has been so interesting to encounter the cultural similarities and differences between Mainland China and Hong Kong. Although there are many similarities, it is clear to see that the principal “one country, two systems” definitely applies to our adventure in China, even in relation to the language that is most frequently used. On our final day in Guangzhou, we were able to join the guys as they attended their language class, in which they learn how to speak Mandarin and write in Chinese. After the three hour long class, it became apparent to both Andrew and I that we actually could speak more Mandarin than Cantonese, the official Chinese language used in Hong Kong. This is something we hope to change, as we become more and more culturally immersed in our surroundings, which is Hong Kong.

Practicing some Chinese symbols.

On a more personal note, we absolutely loved spending time with Sophie, Dani, Keith and Dan, as we got to celebrate the boys 21st birthday, enjoy loads of great food, thrills at a theme park and on the back of a motor-taxi, as well as relaxing with a foot massage and squeezing in some time for sunbathing...the perfect weekend and we are very much looking forward to the next, as they visit Hong Kong in April. 

Andrew and Dan enjoying their massage.

Enjoying the rides at Chimelong Paradise Theme Park.

21st birthday celebrations with the locals.