Week Eight - Personal

Two months done....how time flies! This week marks the halfway point of my trip and when I reflect on the experiences I have had and the people I have met, I know that if I had to leave Hong Kong tomorrow, I would leave a very happy man! I have had the incredible opportunity to experience a new way of life and culture unlike anything I have come across before, and the amazing thing is I still have another two months of it to enjoy! I can honestly say that Hong Kong is a fantastic place full of opportunity, charisma and beauty, and I am so happy and grateful to have had the opportunity to study here.

My Birthday Cake!

My table for the dinner!

This week was the Robert Black Halls Spring Dinner and everyone got dressed up for a meal at a restaurant in Tai Po. The whole evening was great and I was able to try some more new and interesting Chinese cuisine – sometimes I find it is better not to ask what is being put on your plate! I had my first taste of shark fin soup which is traditionally served at weddings in Asian countries. However as the number of sharks has drastically decreased over the last number of years, shark fin soup is becoming an expensive restaurant dish, so I was happy to be able to say I have tried it!

The Halls Spring Dinner

Some friends from halls - it's the year of the rabbit so that explains the ears!

I am a very sporty person as many of you will know, and I like to try my hand at anything. Basketball is a sport which isn’t widely followed in Northern Ireland and I have to admit I had never really had much of an interest in it. Basketball is the most popular sport here in Hong Kong and wherever you go you are almost certain to see basketball courts filled with eager teenagers. I have now attended two basketball games which the IEd university were playing in and I have to say, basketball is an extremely exciting sport. The university have come close on both occasions; losing narrowly a couple of weeks ago but winning in extra time by 1 point on Saturday evening! Sport is a great way to meet and build relationships with people and I have enjoyed experiencing and taking part in new sports such as sevens rugby and basketball. I came to Hong Kong with the mentality that I would get involved in as many activities as I possibly could, as sport allows me to feel part of the university here, whether I am watching IEd play basketball or going to sevens rugby training.

I celebrated my birthday on Wednesday of last week and it was great to get some presents and cards from home! I even received some flake meal biscuits which I have been craving since day one! Needless to say all the sweets and chocolate have been eaten and I will be sending a request home soon for more to be sent out!

7 seconds left and this was to make it 49-49! What happened next....?

An exciting finale ends in a win for HKIEd!

Plans are starting to take shape for my teaching placement in Hong Kong. I hope to be teaching at the end of April and into the month of May in the Jockey Club Primary School, located on the university campus. Hopefully over the next few weeks I will meet with my class teachers to determine what they would like me to teach over the course of the month.