Something I have been having fun with is keeping a mental list of is what's different in HK than America...so here we go:
1. The environment is VERY important (when you have 7.5 million people you have to be careful, although we should be as well...) This is evidenced my many things, for example:
-the kid who was so distressed when asked to change his mask (worn because of the H1N1 virus- but will explain that in a bit) because it pollutes this earth. Totally distressed. Refusing to wear the mask required by the school because he is so distraught. Would you rather... have swine flu or pollute the earth? He has made his choice obviously.
-the fact that my plastic cup at this coffee shop is "made of corn" and is sustainable. I do not lie: clear plastic cup. Made of corn.
-Recycling bins galore- divided down to paper, plastic, cardboard, cd's, inkjet cartridges and more
-The stores charge 50 cents per plastic bag to encourage you to use reuseable bags. Good idea i think. And the hold more/are stronger than plastic ones. I am for this for sure.
-NO straw day at McDonalds. What better way to save the environment.
2. Looking right THEN left when you cross the street. This is because they drive on the left side like Europe. I still feel like I'm gonna get hit when I'm crossing and having to look the way I am not used to. (And you don't know you do it until you are in this other place with taxis and busses driving at breakneck speed.)
3. The supreme importance of disease control. Temperatures are taken at schools each morning, masks worn, we got a "special 7 day extended culture time" in HK before we could have contact with the kids, and many people wear masks anyway. It's not uncommon. After the SARS epidemic you can't be too careful, especially when you have 7.5 million neighbors. It's also become a way to sell a product: my clorox wipes have an ad: Protect agains h1n1. Hm. And I have also notices exponentially more antibacterial handgel dispensers, and most elevator buttons are covered in plastic that is sanitized every 2 hours at least. Wow. No one is sick yet, thankfully.
4. If you shop a lot at a place you get stickers to collect so you win a toy. I find that the Chinese LOVE toys. Some think it's because they have studied so much their young lives that they got deprived of playing toys. I can understand that. Part of me would LOVE to receive a Barbie for my birthday too. They even have turned toys into competition- I wish I had a video camera- there was definitely a RUBIX CUBE RACE in the bottom of the mall I was in today. It was an entire tournament. Young and old were clicking those things at an extreme pace. Wow again.
5. H E A T !!!! No lie I have never felt heat and humidity like this. This summer especially, I am often soaked! Hopefully it will cool off when we have our...
6. TYPHOON!! Tomorrow it's possible that we will have a level 8/10. Kinda like a Hurricane for those of you in the southeast. I am just glad it might help cool the place and wash away some pollution so my asthma will calm down. (Asthma that I think I developed here last year... oops. Don't worry Mom, it's really ok. I just say this for dramatic effect.)
I am sure there are many more things I could share, and I can't wait to tell you more!
I hope this whets your appetite to visit this fun city. Can't wait to see you here!
