Culture Shock Lite

In the last week or so I've begun to feel the first mild touches of homesickness, a generalized sense of ho hum. The thrill I first felt in school has worn off a bit; we've now moved beyond introductions to the brass tacks of the legal subjects and I find myself drifting into reverie more often than I'd like in class. I miss family and friends. I miss living with my sister. I also, surprisingly, miss the full nature of my schedule in D.C. There is such a thing as too much spare time (I can only exercise or read for so many hours a day). All of this has translated into several solitary afternoons spent puttering around my apartment or the city, in search of some unspecified thing, all tinged with a mild melancholy.

As I was taught as a PCV in China (where my culture shock persisted for several miserable months), culture shock sets in after the initial novelty and euphoria of a new place wears away, and often traces a rollercoaster, or "w" curve. The best tool for fighting the mental malady is to enter an experience with low expectations. Armed with this knowledge, and the confidence that I'd already survived and thrived in China once, I came to Hong Kong expecting pretty mild treatment.

Indeed, though I hoped I wouldn't be bothered, it has happened. I've been bit by the culture shock bug, even in Western, English-speaking, friendly Hong Kong. Granted, the most "shocking" thing about Hong Kong is trying to override my hardwired instinct to look left-right-left before crossing the street - here I must do the opposite as cars drive on the left, British-style, and to avoid being struck on a nearly daily basis, I end up looking left...right-left-right-left! It is nonetheless a new place, I suppose, and so the loneliness for the close networks I have in the other places I have called home is not unusual and shouldn't be surprising.

In an effort to fill productively my time (I have class three days a week and a much lighter workload than school at home), I've considered several options. I don't have a work visa, so unless I want to waitress at a bar as an illegal employee, gainful employment is kind of out of the question. I've inquired about volunteering, but have only turned up dog-walking type opportunities, and with apologies to all you dog-lovers out there, that prospect has not thrilled me. I'm still looking for a suitable Mandarin tutor, and may just break down and take a Berlitz course soon.

I took a Thai kick-boxing class last week with three female friends, and had such a good time and got such an intense workout that I bought a package deal. Kicking and punching a bag, under the instruction of a fiery, wiry Thai instructor is a nice way to blow off steam (see video below) and the group of girls I go with is fun. We go out for lunch afterward, all freshly-showered and lady-like. I enjoy the duality.

On the bright side, I think I am already feeling better (note that I did not blog for two weeks; I think that was also symptomatic). Some major bright spots on my horizon - I have finally successfully managed to get into phone contact with several key people at home. I am also traveling next week back to the Mainland, in a two-part trip to northern Sichuan province first, then to Kunming in Yunnan for a long weekend. My friend Casey (also a veteran of life in Chongqing) and a classmate from school (a Mainland-novice) will be my travel companions. The prospect of returning to the land of green misty mountains, la jiao, Xuehua beer, and Sichuan hua is amazing to me, and I expect the trip to be a bit nostalgic. I can't wait.







Even though I look ridiculous in this picture, I post it for your amusement. You're welcome.