1. I took a hip hop class at Hong Kong University. I can now perform a routine to Chris Brown's "Shawty Get Loose" that features far too much cheerleader-esque arm punching to possibly qualify as actual hip hop. I also had the unique pleasure of watching the HKU hip hop group perform for me. They were actually GREAT. One guy performed an entire three-minute hip hop song on pointe.
2. We had high table dinner for our students, the co-fellows who support us, and the fellows (us, the teachers.) It was right out of Harry Potter, though the Oxbridge kids told me it was right out of Oxbridge. I guess both are accurate. We wore green robes and sat at long tables, and the fellows sat at the head table and got served first. It was a very formal occasion, during which we discussed cultural differences in education. Since many of the fellows just graduated from the Harvard Grad School of Education, we have a theoretical approach to international education policies, in addition to comparing experiences across the fellows in different schools.
Dinner, however, proved not to be the unrepeatable element of the night. Oh, no--that honor would have to go to the all-male punk-rock Lady Gaga cover band who offered the keynote performance in the hall after formal dinner. The lead singer was a large, fabulous Hong Kong guy who OWNED "Bad Romance" as I imagine Lady Gaga herself cannot. The entire hall was on its feet, screaming. It was one of the most surreal experiences of my entire life. I was so enthralled that I could not capture it on film, but hopefully I will have pictures or even video to post soon.
3. Today, we visited the Tian Tan Buddha, a major tourist attraction otherwise known as the "Big Buddha," on Lantau Island. We took a cable car up the mountain to the island for our journey of enlightenment (transport's words, not mine.)
The views were absolutely breathtaking. Mountains, ocean, wooden footpaths through the mountains:
Buddha was HUGE and looked pretty impressive, until I discovered that he was built during the 80s (that's the 1980s) and completed in 1993. The Po Lin Buddhist Monastery beside it is slightly older, from 1903--but as an American with a national history only 200+ years old, I consider China's appeal its ancient history. The 20th century does not quite qualify.
People leave offerings for the Buddha, including fruit they don't remove the barcodes from and saltines.
4. THE LITTLE PRINCE IS IN HONG KONG. This is not a joke. I travel around the world, and only my favorite and most inspirational book is COMING TO LIFE in my backyard!! I could not possibly be more excited.
5. I have been semi-adopted by the Oxbridge students on this trip, largely for my immediate and enthusiastic embrace of absurd British words such as "scrumpled." I never hung out with so many British people when I was actually in London!
6. A bonus picture, my favorite until I can illustrate number 2:
WHERE IS THE MARKET?
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