Trip to the Buddha

Today was a very long day. I met the group from OMIP at 12:30 and then we took the bus to Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. On our way there we drove across the longest bridge in Hong Kong (which is a suspension bridge too). A local guy named Eugene sat next to me. He was kind of quirky but very talkative. He talked about classes and gpas a lot. He straight out asked me what my gpa was, which made me a little uncomfortable because in the U.S. we don't really talk about our gpas with each other.I've noticed here that people talk about grades openly. It feels weird to me because I don't want to sound like I am bragging or putting myself down.
I rode on the cable car with 6 other people: 3 from Mainland, 1 from London, and 1 local student. It was a long ride (about 20 minutes) but the view was pretty great and the air was fresh!

Tony and I

Eugene and I

We got to Ngong Ping Village and had some lunch. I saw a Subway and had a craving for a sandwich so I went there by myself. After getting some food, I sucked it up and sat with some people I knew go to Lingnan but who I had never talked to before. A boy and girl from Mexico and a guy from France. They were pretty friendly, but it was kind of awkward (or at least I thought so because I felt like I was intruding).

After that I kind of wandered around by myself and then ran into a guy who was on the cable car with me.
His name is Tony. He talks with a British accent because he studied in Singapore (I think that's the reason). We walked up a million steps to see the Giant Buddha up close. Then came back down and chatted until we saw some more people from our school. He asked me if I liked to read and what kind of books I liked to read. I mentioned Jane Austen and he opened his backpack and pulled out Pride and Prejudice. Boy was I shocked! Haha. Turns out he is reading it for one of his Translation classes. We met some other people from Lingnan and then walked to the monastery, which was nothing exciting for me because I've seen a lot of monasteries, but it was still very pretty.

Tony and I took the bus together and then the MTR to head back to school. However, I got off at an earlier stop in order to meet up with Trace so we could eat dinner together. She had been doing community service in Tsuen Wan so I met her at the station there. I waited a while there. I saw some young guys practicing breakdancing in the station. I would've stopped to watch, but I didn't want to be too weird (especially since I am a foreign girl). Trace showed up with ice cream in hand for me so we ate it and then decided to go to Yuen Long.

View of Tsuen Wan from the Station

Ice Cream Truck! (called Mobile Softee)

We did some shopping and Trace at some sushi, while I, the picky eater, just had some strawberry shaved ice (I wasn't thatttt hungry).

Part of Trace's Meal

Strawberry Ice!

Today homesickness hit me really hard. I miss being home where the places, food, and people are all familiar. I  hate having to depend on other people to find my way around, especially since I can't understand Cantonese. When I try and ask people questions if I'm lost sometimes they run away because they are afraid to use their English (afraid that I won't be able to understand them). I guess this is the experience of being abroad. But I do really wish I could be home. I just talked to a lot of my family at home. They said the weather is beautiful. I wish I could be home riding my horse. I will make the best out of my time here. I will defeat this homesickness.