Happy New Year

It's the last day of 2006 and this year has been full of surprises, mostly because of this exchange year - which is not over yet!

A lot of changes have been happening in my life, a lot of thinking this year, a lot of decisions to take, a lot of pain sometimes, but mostly a lot of excitement and a lot of happiness!!

Discovering another place, another culture, new people, unforgettable characters, missing people half way around the way the world...

Man, do I feel nostalgic right now... Also because I'm with my family and it's wonderful but it's funny how the persons I've considered my family while in Hong Kong are not gonna be with me this very special day... And we have had special times... very special times.... ahhh.....

2006, Year of the Dog has been a year I've grown up a lot, being more sure and more confident about things I have been doing...

Happy New Year everyone....

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all!!
From Hong Kong to all around the world to everybody, especially the ones I met this year and the ones I love...

I miss you so much!!

The girls on my floor

I think I am about to go through a breakdown... but soon, we are on holidays....



I've been wondering why most of the girls on my floor can't pick up their feet. Because man... this is annoying... In the corridor, day and night, all you hear is them sweeping the floor with their feet and whatever shoes they have on. Yeap, talk about vietnamese mud in their knees... ( Jon and Eric will get that one.... Laugh your head off )

I cannot stand it anymore... So yesterday, I left them a little note, to the girls I had seen walk like pinguins, if they could , PLEASE, pick up their feet...

They left the note back in my room, and they really do not care about what I think... I guess I'm just an exchange student hey... what have I gotta say?

That's when I decided I should really publish that note from weeks ago and this very special one. These guys .... geez.... thank God, I'm on holidays soon....

an article from last month...

I am SO sorry.... I should have posted that note earlier... but I am pissed off at this life here at uni... just because it's so close to be the Xmas break.... anyway....

The weather’s starting to cool down and exams are approaching, which makes you staying your room and study and work on projects a little bit, well, much more since, I won’t lie, being in an university is completely different from being at Toulouse Business School. You think it would give you more independence: it does for work life but having to stay on the campus changes your view about the whole university life here in Hong Kong. It made me think about it, I wrote about my life in Hong Kong, how I go out and party and how there are things to discover and do here, but what is life at this uni like?

It’s been 15 weeks since I’ve been here in Hong Kong, at Lingnan University.

And as far as it been, life in Hong Kong is really nice, wicked shops, good bargains, a real atmosphere that is overwhelming sometimes but definitely sticks to the image you have of China and even more of the Asian Continent. Mongkok for example is overcrowded, some streets smell really bad, like REALLY bad, you have this shops everywhere, Asian people everywhere and markets all the way.

Hong Kong Island is nice when you want a break from that kind of life, when you need to ‘westernize’ yourself a little bit, when you miss home a little bit. You go to CityU, which is a grocery store in Central at the IFC mall, and there what can you find? All you have ever wished for if you’re from Toulouse: magret de canard, confit de canard, foie gras… You go crazy and you don’t think life is as hard as it seems.

But as soon as you go back to the University, what do you find:

- noisy people that run in the corridors until 4 or 5 am

- dirty bathrooms, where can you have a shower since there’s not a girl that knows that you pick up the hair that’s fallen and you put it in the rubbish bin because if you leave there, it blocks everything …

- dirty toilets, because it seems like even if you’re girl and you don’t need to aim for the hole, the girls here just can’t get to aim properly and make everything dirty. They just won’t leave stuff clean.

So , once you have your ‘final destination’ for your exchange year: know that it really is your ‘Final Destination’, for the ones who saw the movie.

Bring along bleach, and invest in cleaning products because you might need to show these guys how to clean the toilets and the bathrooms.

Also, bring along good pillows and buy a good mattress, because these beds are as hard as hell, it feels like you’re sleeping on a wooden plank, you wake up and the next thing you know is that your back hurts and that you are 60 years older and you need a new hip since the one you used overnight is already damaged. The beds are bad. That’s all I can say about them.

Now living in the dorms are like, if you’ve already lived by yourself and you have never thought of living in a residence where your curfew is 11 pm or 12 am depending on the hostel, this might be a nice change. You have to be in YOUR hostel and not in another one passed a certain time, if not, you get warnings: something like points are going to be deducted from something something, I don’t even know… Promise, I’m getting more info about this.

Also, please do not have naked guys in your room, romance is not allowed in the uni, unless you’re a local. If you are, you may be allowed to have showers with your partner and have him or her in your room no matter hostels’ rules and regulations. Some might say it is unfair, I am talking about cultural differences... Welcome to Hong Kong, welcome to Lingnan University, welcome back to kindergarten…

Halloween

If the carnival was overcrowded, now, Halloween had Lan Kwai Fong over overcrowded!! The atmosphere was unbelievable: great costumes, authenticity was standing out of each one of them, people were so involved in being their character , it was scary sometimes! But that's the spirit of Halloween...

Generally, when we get to Central MTR station, there's 5 minutes walk to LKF. This time, we had to use streets I had never used before, and it took us about 30 minutes to get there. And then, that's when the party started, music everywhere, crazy people... and mostly, photographs everywhere!!!!! As far as I'm concerned, there must have been at leat 60 pics taken of me. And I was only a pirate... But anyway, it was just an amazing place!!
It was really excellent, I'm all smiles thinking how much fun I had on that night. I hope that the next students who come to Hong Kong will definitely attend this event... Like we say in France, " c'est un truc de malade"!!!

Matheo tu me manques petit frere a moi que j'aime!!!

Get Your Own! | View Slideshow

Karaoke...2 drink minimum culture!

Ringo is a friend of mine from Hong Kong who left last Monday to Vancouver, Canada, to see his family. He's also going to school over there.

So as he left, we decided to have a farewell party and we were taken to a place Ringo loves: a karaoke bar. I thought I did not know how to sing, now I am sure that I do not sing: I scream... I'm so sorry for myself!!






Anyway, we were told to dress formal and we did try to make ourselves up and look pretty for this embarassing night. Actually it was excellent, I usually dont hold onto the mic during karaoke nights but here it definitely is a culture. Everyone sings. Well, Francois is the King of Karaoke!! Put on the Bee Gees or Take my Breath Away by Berlin and he's gone for sure! He's excellent!!

The karaoke bar is a culture unto itself: participatory, eclectic, convivial, habitual, and liberating. There is singing, drinking, camaraderie, and wish-fulfillment. Karaoke gives everyone a chance to be the star, if only for a night, if only for one song.
Did you actually know that Karaoke is a Japanese term meaning "empty orchestra, and is an import from Japan. In that country, karaoke bars are for both pleasure and business. Taking a client to a bar and singing for them can mean the difference between getting a contract or not; through karaoke you sing for your supper, literally. This particular nuance did not accompany karaoke from Japan.

Why has karaoke become so popular? The literature offers several reasons. One is that it fulfills a person's fantasy of being a rock star. One karaoke disc jockey has said that everyone sings in their car, in the shower, or maybe "The National Anthem" at a ball game, but karaoke gives them the chance to sing in front of an audience. For others, karaoke has corporeal benefits. Apparently some people have physical welfare after having sung here and there. So here I go, trying to make myself feel better at the Karaoke.

I had never noticed it but really, each song is accompanied by a video, which rarely has any direct relevance to the music's lyrics. The music videos are relatively cheap in quality, and appear to be turned out quickly. It is just THAT ridiculous. You see the videos and you start thinking to yourself that you can't be more ridiculous.



As the evening progresses, the atmosphere becomes less structured due in part, no doubt, to the cumulative effects of several drinks but also to the fact that patrons have grown more comfortable and inhibitions have been shed. Non-regulars sing more often, the songs become less predictable, and the singers hit their notes less often. The culture, likewise, becomes more participatory. Strangers will ask other strangers to join them for a song, much as a stranger will ask another to dance at a nightclub. You share a lot without sharing, you know what I mean: you meet people and have no inhibitions, sing together one hand holding the mic , the other one either holding onto your partner or your drink...


Karaoke is fun! Even more in Hong Kong!!

Lam Kwai Fong Carnival

Wicked experience... it was like 2 weeks before Halloween, Lam Kwai Fong has its own carnival with capoeira performers, salseros, bands and brazilian chicks everywhere... Gentlemen, you will love it!

I guess I have been pretty busy lately doing some stuff here and there but I have not forgotten about my blog. Actually I like the fact that updates have been requested, it means people are actually reading my articles hehe.

Anyway, visitors may discover why little pockets of Hong Kong like Lan Kwai Fong have become famous for their fun dining by checking out the annual Lan Kwai Fong Street Carnival. Leading outlets in the other major food districts of Hillwood SoHo, Knutsford Terrace and Knutsford Steps and Stanley will provide special offers on seasonal food and beverages for visitors to enjoy during that time. All I know is that it was the first time I had a doner kebab here in Hong Kong... and it felt good!

Having fun in HK

Hong Kong Island - Causeway Bay and Victoria's Peak

When I was trying to decide whether I was going to Hong Kong or not for my exchange year, my International Contracts professor told me " You'll see, New York is just a farm compared to Hong Kong". And THAT just completely thrilled me. I have never been to New York or the USA actually but, I was going to see something even more big and crowded and alive than what I'd knew from New York that I'd seen on TV.

On Hong Kong Island, you'll see the major buildings in Central, Admiralty, Wanchai, Causeway Bay. It's always overcrowded and Hong Kong sure is a busy place. Buildings are amazing, And even though this place is amazingly urban, it is always very cleaned - also there is a lot of pollution, I breathe and I've smoked a pack of cigarettes already - they also construct new buildings, new roads, new whatever, as long as it keeps people busy.

Here is what you can almost see everywhere in HK:

Victoria's Peak is a place to go. That's where you can see Kowloon from a hilltop across the harbor. The view, at the right spot, is breathtaking and looks just like what you see on postcards. It's right in the middle of Central but it is just so quiet.... so enjoyable... Go there by tram, it's great...

My boyfriend and I went there and we walked down and were amazed by the calm and so many people walking there with their dogs... Peaceful place in stressful Hong Kong City...

They won't let you sleep...!!

Ok... Sorry I am not writing about my boyfriend.

I have to talk and warn you about certain things happening here at Lingnan, oh well, in Hong Kong I guess...

The Chinese never let you sleep…

They say they only sleep so late and it is so true. They are either always on their computers, or listening to music, or playing mah jong, or playing Playstation, watching TV really loud, or mostly always being on the phone… and mostly, running everywhere in the corridors and shouting… just, no wait a minute, … screaming!

And they do that thing too: the Happy Corner, where a couple of guys carry another one and push him into a corner his legs wide open. And thank you for the private parts and the guy’s futures children… I mean, wow, I never thought it would be that fun, hurting that kind of places!!!


But the thing is, Happy corner is definitely a thing going on. I was surprised about it as well as the other exchange students actually. And this guy tells me, a local student , that he is very surprised that we keep asking him what the hell do the local students do the happy corner for?

Happy Corner, also known as Aluba (or "hitting the tree") in Taiwan is a ritual that is popular among Asian male students, especially those in higher education institutes such as universities, as well as among adolescent males in middle and high school.

Even worse, it has also been reported as a favorite hazing ritual amongst military personnel in Taiwan. It is also known in Norwegian primary and secondary schools, where it is known as stolping (literally: poling, derived from the word pole) or gjelling (literally: gelding).

The guys keep pretending they have fun but it did led to :
"Part of its controversy stems from the fact that some students hazed other students not familiar with the practice, or hazed the other gender, as an act of simulated sexual intercourse. Students who refused to participate in such activity were described as being "uncooperative", and were labelled the black sheep of the party.
There are reported cases in which students only participated because of peer pressure, which caused emotional abuse. A study also said that this activity may render the victims INFERTILE.
Some have also criticized the Happy Corner subculture for contributing to an openness in attitude in sexual relationships among students.
Owing to potential danger and the implicit sexual nature of the act, the ROC (Taiwan) Ministry of Education has issued a notice that requires all schools to ban this activity. " It is also banned in the military personnel of Taiwan now.

So can somebody who practises it tell me now what is the fun in doing this? I really do not understand this kind of sadomasochism...

Hong Kong Gold Coast

You'll never guess? Take the bus and pay 0.37 euros and you get to go to the Goldcoast beach located 15 minutes away from the Uni. It's so convenient, imagine how the weather is just so hot here: when you arrive in August, temperatures are around 30 Celsius degrees and humidity rate reches 87%.

The Hong Kong Gold Coast is one of the major tourist attractions in Hong Kong, and is the only 5-star beach resort and conference centre in Hong Kong. It features not only a world-class hotel but also a convention centre, a shopping mall, marina club, a 480m long Promenade and the Golden Beach. It might be that high class look alike but the rooms are not expensive if you are thinking of getting away for the week end but not too far from the Uni.

The Golden Beach is the largest beach in Tuen Mun and the first artificial beach in Hong Kong.

Shopping and women in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is said to be the most materialistic place in the world. Clothes, accessories, Hong Kong is the place for shopping, it is really a shoppers’ paradise. Whatever you will be looking for, you will find it. From the big markets such as Mongkok’s Ladies Market and Temple Street Market to the outlet stores and luxury malls where Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci attracts thousand of people, shoppers can find it all, whatever their style is.

If you are a shopaholic, too bad for you, this is not going to help.

Each single person that owns a ‘shop’ is a seller, and a very aggressive seller. So it’s either you surrender and buy directly or you leave because you are annoyed, OR you have a massive pleasure of negotiating. And let me tell you that negotiating here can lead you to great bargains when you are in markets. The stands’ owners are very loud and it is almost like they beg you to buy what they have. The competition is extremely high; they all sell practically the same items because they know exactly what is fashionable and what the latest trend is here.

What are the items that are mostly displayed and that people promote? Bags, watches, sunglasses… all fake and copies of luxurious brands such as Dolce and Gabanna, Fendi, Burberry…
Why? There is a certain image that is promoted to Hong Kong girls. I mean, if you just have a look around in the streets, you’ll think they all look the same. Not meaning to be rude or anything but they all are fashion victims and rare are the girls that do not wear or own a famous brand item. And the more occidental the brand is, the better. Europe is just that chic and countries such as France or Italy are the perfect image of high class… which I do not always agree with… but anyway…


Girls here are not slim… They are skinny, be a size 34 and you are amazingly well proportionate. Your hair is straight? Have it permed. Everybody else has it permed. Do not have a couple of curls here and there, either have it permed or perfectly straight. And most important, the whiter you are, the better. We could compare it with the Japanese culture. When in France or other countries in the West, people would die for a tan and go to UV sessions and invest in tanning lotions, here the girls walk in the street with an umbrella so they stay as white as possible. The best sold items in the make-up sector are very likely to be whitening foundations. No wonder why Michael Jackson had such success in Asia! Just kidding…



Girls here are very aware of their appearance, it is just funny how sometimes so many girls stand in front of little surface of mirror in the streets to arrange their hair and make up.

Marketers here are very aware of the consumer purchase decision process.
1- Purchase task – reason, gift, more fancy, more expensive
2- Social surroundings-who buys with you? who influences you while you buy?
3- Physical surroundings – décor, music, store atmosphere
4- Temporal effects – time
5- Antecedent states – mood, money on hand, except compulsive shoppers that will just need to buy no matter how much money they have


So if you want to know how to market, how to , how to purchase…Hong Kong is really one of the best places…

Visit Lantau Island

You have to go onto this island.

This is where the airport is: to get there, use the Westrail from Siu Hong - 5 minutes away from the Uni - to Lai King and there change to another railway to Tun Chung. There take a bus and pay about 3 euros for unlimited transport in the day so you can just explore the island!

The Big Buddha is one of the most distinctive landmarks on Hong Kong's largest island, Lantau. The Tian Tan Buddha (or "Giant Buddha") is an 85-foot-high bronze and 220 tonnes Buddha statue, and there are various monastery buildings. Of course, a vegetarian restaurant can be found. Walkers can ascend from Tung Chung to the monastery in two hours.

The best known of the monasteries is Po Lin, which is on a high plateau - Ngong Ping - ringed by hills. Grand and gaudy today, Po Lin stands where three monks set up a meditation retreat in 1905. They built stone huts, other recluses joined them, and the monastery was officially inaugurated in 1927. The building was simple, and was surely peaceful as there was no road, just the Pilgrim's Path from the fishing village of Tai O to the west. It is called Hong Kong's Venice.

fun @ Uni

If not, there is always some way to have fun on campus, I mean, most of the hostels do not welcome non residents of the hostels after 11 or midnight... even if they are not that strict with the Chinese students, because they know how to talk to the guards haha, we don't so we can't take risks...

There are common rooms in each hostels but a couple of people can also meet in one small room!

Meeting the other Exchange students

It's just fun to meet new people. Besides, we were the first ones to arrive so we got to meet each other before the Chinese students arrived. And before they came, we had another week off. So of course, that is really the bright side of the exchange year, you get to go out and visit...


... and party of course in Lam Kwai Fong! This place is in Central, on Hong Kong Island and like Soho, is the place where everyone meets after work with restaurants, pubs, clubs, it is just awesome. And there are many people from around the world! Go out on thursdays girls, it's ladies night and you get to meet heaps of other students!!

Hostels, rooms and beds...

There are 6 hostels divided into Northern and Southern Hostels. I am in the Northern hostels… the higuer, the better!! I am in hostel F and when I got here, on August 18th, I was the very first exchange student to arrive at the Uni!!

The rooms have to be shared with a local student, but even though it’s not quite big, the only thing to pay apart from a very cheap campus price, is the air con.

Gosh, the mattresses though are pretty tough, really, invest in a mattress and a pillow because if not, you will break your back. I’m telling you, I was kinda surprised: maybe it does help my back and my posture now. I might be getting used to it since I didn’t get a mattress but have put my winter blanket on top of it. It helps and I can deal with this… for now…!

Lingnan University

Lingnan University, formerly Lingnan College, is the youngest university in the territory, yet with the longest-established tradition among the local institutions of higher education. The University was incorporated on 30 July 1999 following the enactment of the Lingnan University Ordinance. Its history, however, dates back to 1888, when its forerunner, the prestigious Lingnan University in Guangzhou (Canton) was founded.

In 1995, Lingnan moved to its present location in Tuen Mun, which incorporates hostel accommodation for 1,500 students out of its 2,000 total enrolment. This high proportion of residential students enables them to receive more personalised attention from faculty and staff, and prepares them better for subsequent career.

Besides the international orientation in the study programmes, the University seeks to promote interaction and exchange with other institutions of higher learning throughout the world. The University has entered into agreements for student exchange programme with higher educational institutions in many parts of the world, such as the Chinese Mainland, South Korea, Thailand, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, the United States - there are so many....!! - and Canada, and this year France represented by us at Toulouse Business School.

All exchange students are required to stay on the campus for at least one semester. It’s not so bad… We are 5 students this year, I am the only third year, and we live in 5 different hostels. I will have to write about these hostels in another article!

But yeah, that’s a brief presentation of the school…