- I have never truly understood the meaning of the word 'crowded' until now.
- When approaching someone to ask for help in a foreign country, it's better to just come straight out with, "Do you speak English?" rather than asking your question, looking like a fool when they don't understand you, and then trying to make the situation less awkward by continuing to talk when really, you should just walk away because - yep - they can't understand you.
- Politeness gets you nowhere. If you see something, you must claim it. Namely bathroom cubicles because those busy Chinese women will have none of this 'waiting in line' business.
- If you want to survive here, you need to do everything fast and with purpose. In the few hours I have been here, I have received several 'get out of my way' glances from those on a mission whilst I browse leisurely. I have never felt like more of an oaf.
- If you want to get a seat in the food court, you have to shamelessly and obviously lurk so that the people sitting - and your foe competitors for said seat - know you are on the prowl for their seat.
- Caucasians share an unspoken bond here. We understand one another.
- It is socially acceptable to sleep in a fully horizontal position on the terminal floor whilst there are people around.
- Don't follow the crowd. You actually have to know where you are going, otherwise you will end up on a random train and there will be no turning back (almost happened to me).
- Airport book stores are apparently nesting grounds for people who want to read a book but can't commit to buying it, so they will just stand in the middle of the shop - in clumps - and block everyone's way. (Seriously, I actually said 'what even' aloud when I saw this for the first time.)
- Know your Hong Kong dollars, because they all exchange money over the counter so fast that if you don't have an understanding of the coins/notes, you will be that awkward Australian girl who slows the line down. (Regardless, chances are you will be the awkward Australian girl anyway.)
Just a few observations from my brief 7 hours spent in this awesome country! Hong Kong really is a fast-moving, never-sleeping city (the airport confirms all I have heard on this) and even though it is incredibly different from Australia in more ways than one, it has been nonetheless refreshing to visit! Keen to come back on my way home in December ^.^ <------ I can officially do cheesy Asian faces like that without copping judgement from you now.
Signed (almost!) in Seoul,
Kristin.
Kristin is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia-Korea Foundation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
