I apologize in advance my disconnected thoughts and verbal hyperventilation, because I've had quite a day (or an indefinite period of mornings turning into evenings without me even noticing that another day has passed). I'm writing this from my new room on the 18th floor with a mountain view.
Where should I start? Let's look back to four days from now; farewell party with the most important ones, life fitted into one luggage and that life waiting to be released from almost being choked of the thrill over what's waiting across the border.
Apart from all the regular items on "how to pack your life in one bag"-lists, the most important and most sought-after things you can find in my bag are:
1. My manual drip brewer - this sweetness has its roots all the way in California, which I'm sure makes the coffee taste even better.
2. Vibram Five Fingers for running, hiking, walking, gymming, swimming, chilling... Try them on once and you'll fall in love. Need to try how big a fashion error this shows to be in this city, which is chic all over.
3. Pictures of my loved one and of my little brother, who is soon-to-be chased by every woman his age in town. Yes, pictures on the dorm walls are always good conversation starters. (Btw, did I tell you that I live on the 18th floor now?).
4. Sleeping bag. Because I still have that little girl scout in me, who loves to crawl inside her very own sleeping bag and draw the zipper all the way up after a tough day. Okay, to be honest, I hate sleeping in a sleeping bag. But if nothing else, I find this item practical.
Well, then things that I noticed I didn't find in my bag and spent my first day in the town looking for:
5. An ethernet-thunderbolt adapter for my laptop.
6. A blanket, because who would want to sleep in a sleeping bag for 5 months?
***
When I then managed to come to the point when I say goodbye to my orchids and to my avocado tree and to my duvet - and step into the taxi taking me to the airport, it all started to feel so unreal. Even though I spent my whole summer working in Amsterdam, away from family and friends and boyfriend, this feeling of flying 7827 kilometers away felt both more exciting and more threatening than ever.
This confused feeling apparently abide in me the whole flight and even after, since I somehow stepped into the wrong bus from the airport, although I double-checked twice the number and gate of the bus. At this point, in the northwest part of Hong Kong, I realized there must be something wrong and asked the driver of advice. Note to self; asking when unsure is worth the effort, not most of the times, but always.
Okay, now you're wondering; "Why in the world did I not consult the driver until I'd reached the far end of the red MTR line?" The answer is simple. The bus was comfortable. The views were amazing. The thought of getting off the bus into the unknown made me anxious - not because I was scared but because I was lazy. Some confiding voice inside me kept saying "this is just the weird Hong Kong bus system, it will, in the end, reach Hung Hom". But, as you at this point already know, it didn't. So, at the very furthest of the red MTR line, I stepped on the metro and navigated to the campus - this time with success and few more amazing views in my mind richer.
What else about the first day in the city of lights?
This probably gonna be my new favourite spot.
This HUGE, delicious bowl of egg noodles and fried tofu cost me 33HKD, how could I not love this city? Enjoyed together with my beautiful, cheerful shopping buddy :)
How could I not love this city?
