This past week was an absolute whirlwind of an interesting mix of three activities. I finished my finals, played tour guide to my mom and unfortunately had to say a few too many goodbyes to some of the dearest friends I have made here.
- Finishing finals was an amazing feeling. As much as I love HK, I am really excited to go back to UCF to finish my studies. SHTM is not the school for me at all! I love PolyU but the class style and teaching style and TEST TAKING style is just not my thing. Also, finishing finals officially makes me a COLLEGE SENIOR (where does the time go?)!
- It was so interesting to see HK from the tourist perspective again. I have become so accustomed to every little view that I was not used to all of the picture taking and questions. I definitely felt like a local and a city girl taking my mom all around HK. I did discover that I have gotten good with directions. I was navigating new streets like a professional and taking my mom to all of the local places and tourist attractions. I also got to check out some new places, which was nice. I still haven't done everything on the bucket list, but I am certainly getting close!
- One of the most interesting and meaningful parts of my mom's trip happened when I returned to Victoria's Peak to show my mom my beautiful city at night. I first went to the Peak on my second night in HK. I remember looking over the unknown city of HK all lit up at night and thinking "This is where I am going to live. This is going to be my new home for four months." Going back to the Peak with my mom, I once again looked over on the beautiful city. The view looked exactly the same. I have pictures from both times I went and literally nothing had changed. However, this time I looked over the city that I had grown to love with my whole heart, the city that had changed my entire life and was just felt so happy and grateful. I truly cannot believe how much has happened in the past four months and I felt so lucky to look down at the city and thank it.
Here are just a few views from Victoria's Peak at different times of the day (just so everyone can fully understand my obsession with the Peak, the skyline and HK).
“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” – Tim Cahill
I have had food poisoning, colds, bruises, cuts, and spells of homesickness during my time in HK. But by far the worst feelings here were all associated with saying goodbye to some of the greatest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I still have a month here, but my friends have begun to pack up and fly across the world to whatever journey awaits them. This whole past week felt like a mixture of surrealism and denial. The exchange students packed dinners, nights out, parties and photo shoots in between halfheartedly glancing at our notes for finals. I spent hours with my close friends here just sitting on beds and telling jokes, avoiding the inevitable goodbyes. We talked about the memories and goofed around as the suitcases were packed. It feels like just yesterday I was stepping off the plane, praying that I would make friends while I was here.
I know that every year and every semester the exchange student think that their group of exchange are the best in world. Well...I think ours was. I met so many different people, even from my own university, that I wouldn't have been friends with otherwise. Travel opens your eyes to new cultures and new people. You see things and people in a new light and I hope I never lose that. This wonderful group has changed my life. They teased me, encouraged me, laughed with me (and at me), took trips with me and enjoyed every moment of this incredible journey. I have made lifelong friends in every place in the world.
It's sad leaving and not knowing when you will see your closest friends again. Even the ones I go to school with or live in America with know that this chapter of our friendship is ending. But there is still a whole book that we are going to write and one day, I know I will be travelling alongside these people again (once my bank account can handle it). Our goodbyes were accompanied by some tears and the affirmative "I'll see you again soon." I have no idea where life will take us all, but I do know that I will never forget these people, our memories and the way we ran this city.
I know that every year and every semester the exchange student think that their group of exchange are the best in world. Well...I think ours was. I met so many different people, even from my own university, that I wouldn't have been friends with otherwise. Travel opens your eyes to new cultures and new people. You see things and people in a new light and I hope I never lose that. This wonderful group has changed my life. They teased me, encouraged me, laughed with me (and at me), took trips with me and enjoyed every moment of this incredible journey. I have made lifelong friends in every place in the world.
It's sad leaving and not knowing when you will see your closest friends again. Even the ones I go to school with or live in America with know that this chapter of our friendship is ending. But there is still a whole book that we are going to write and one day, I know I will be travelling alongside these people again (once my bank account can handle it). Our goodbyes were accompanied by some tears and the affirmative "I'll see you again soon." I have no idea where life will take us all, but I do know that I will never forget these people, our memories and the way we ran this city.