Victoria Harbour

Today, our (by 'our' I mean all exchange students) day started out by a briefing session by the Student Affairs Office and the OCIO (responsible for all technical stuff, like printing etc), nothing too exciting. Then we had a library tour. It's quite impressive. The library is spread over 6 floors, has a lot of computers, sitting areas, group rooms, private study rooms and a huge variety in books and DVDs, most for school but also a lot for fun. After that, we got an introduction to all sports teams and facilities and courses that are offered. They have a big offer: Swimming, Badminton, Trampoline, Tennis, Squash, Aerobic Gymnastic, Cross-Country, Dance, Athletic, Basketball, Fencing, HANDBALL, Karatedo, Soccer, Table Tennis (duh! :P), Tackle Rugby, Taekwondo, Dragon, Boat, Dodgeball, Judo, Korfball, Netball, Rope-skipping, Tchoukball (asian sport, if I understood right, you have a board in a 45° angle and one of your teammates has to throw against that board and another one in your team has to catch it. It's very similar to handball, you also have 7 players in each team, you have a cycle that you are not allowed to step in but can jump towards the board and the ball is the same, I think), Touch Rugby, Volleyball, Woodball, Archery, Chinese Shuttlecock, Softball and Baseball. I will try out for the handball team, but if you get into the team, you get sweatsuit, training shirt, and the jersey is sponsored. They take it very serious and the competition is high and I think it's hard for exchange students to get in because we are only here for a limited time. Also, I don't know how it will work with my foot, I will have to try out with my leg brace still on (and yes I am just starting to make excuses in case it doesn't work :P) If it doesn't work, I'll go running, swimming and to the gym so it will be fine! ;)
(I'm not sorry you just had to read such a long text with no pictures :P)
Next was lunch, I ate rice (again) lemon chicken wings and vitnamese ham.
And then finally the first assembly. All students had to wear their gowns and meet in a big hall that could not fit all students, so the ceremony was live broadcasted to another room. It was very official and very fancy. We all had to rise when the official people came in, we heard the national anthem, a few speeches and the IEd choir sang. They were verrryyy good. One speech from the student representative was in Cantonese so obviously we didn't understand one word but she was very passionate and later we found out it was about fighting for democracy.
There was also a tea party after the ceremony, where we got tea, cake and muffins.

After the assembly we had free time again. So some of us decided to go to Victoria Harbour. This time I went with a Czech guy, 4 Korean girl, 2 German girls, 1 Australian Girl, 1 Dutch guy, Jokhan (the guy from Fontys, orginally from Kazakhstan) and 2 Buddies from Hongkong (not all are on the picture below)

It was very impressive to see everything, the harbour in the dark with all the lights and also the Avenue of Stars and everything else there. I obviously also met a nice guy <- picture.














We then also went to dinner in another typical hongkong restaurant with local food

Mom AND Cheri: I think you should be really proud of me for trying so many things, I even drank tea with this, because we got that for free. And my chopstick skills are improving :P
(mama: hab schon ein paar gute shopping malls gefunden, wenn ihr dann kommt ;))



We took the last shuttle bus home, now off to dreamland!