Language
Classes in Hong Kong are all taught in English, except ones such as Chinese literature. Students and professors all speak English well. There is no real need for an American exchange student to learn Chinese, except out of curiosity. Most people I encountered in on the street also understand at least some level of English and Mandarin, but I could tell that some really prefer to converse in Cantonese. The younger generation tend to have a good/excellent grasp of English. There are English signs in most public places, so it is somewhat difficult for an English speaker to really get lost.
Food
Chinese food is common. Mostly of the southern variety it seems. But there are also restaurants of many different styles. And fast food such as McDonald's is easy to find. Food is really not something one should worry about in Hong Kong.
Shopping
Above the subway station near the hotel was a multistory mall. It looks just like an American mall, and things are priced similiarly as well (clothes, books, cds, eye glasses). There are also street markets. You basically walk from one end of a street to another (one or two blocks) through many vendors and other shoppers. You can walk in the center or on the sides, so one street is actually three tracks. Prices are much better than in the mall, although this is of course not where you would buy genuine brand name stuff. If you see a good book on haggling read it before you go to Hong Kong.
Transportation
The MTR subway impressed a lot of us. It is fast, inexpensive, and goes everywhere. The train itself is impressive too. Unlike the Chicago subway which has many connected sections, the MTR seems to be one long train, and you can see very far each way until the curvature of the train cuts off your eyesight. The announcements on the train are in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. Some one told me the same announcer does all three, and she has since became a celebrity in Hong Kong (can anyone confirm this?) There are also glass doors to prevent people on the platform from falling onto the tracks. The subway runs until 12:30 at night.
The buses are very narrow. Sitting in one felt kind of suffocating, at least on the bottom level of the bus. Maybe the top is better.
Taxi is everywhere and starts at 15 HKD (~2 USD). Going from where we stayed in Kowloon Tong to Hong Kong island cost around 100 HKD (<15 USD).
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Trip Home
My last day in Hong Kong was amazing, after we finished at City U, I went hiking up in the mountains. On my adventure, I came across a family of seven wild monkeys. I just stood in awe for like 30 minutes just watching them and marveling at their existence so close to a city of 7 million where the noise never seemed to go away. I felt very refreshed after returning to the hotel later that night and just enjoyed the relaxation that being in another country without any worries provided.
The first indication that this trip changed me came on the flight home. On the flight there, I saw the pecan cookie and thought, "not for me." I gave it away to someone who did want it. On the flight home, I ate the cookie without hesitation or second thought. It wasn't delicious, but it was edible and tasted all right. The sheer fact that I tried this relatively insignificant new thing without a second thought caused me to reflect about what other things had changed in me during this trip.
I didn't fully come to understand the answer to that question until I started talking to my friends back home this past week. A few noticed that I was more confident in myself and my decision making. Most of my friends noticed that I no longer have any fear of making a fool of myself. I have decided that fear(of being alone, not able to make it on my own) will no longer stop me from going on an adventure. This trip caused me to realize that the world really does have 6 billion people on it. They are all different, but friendship and collaboration go beyond differences. Other countries have amazing people in them also. I have returned from this trip an improved person. This trip is one of the greatest things that has happened to me in the last 18(soon to be 19) years of my life. Thank you IPENG.
The first indication that this trip changed me came on the flight home. On the flight there, I saw the pecan cookie and thought, "not for me." I gave it away to someone who did want it. On the flight home, I ate the cookie without hesitation or second thought. It wasn't delicious, but it was edible and tasted all right. The sheer fact that I tried this relatively insignificant new thing without a second thought caused me to reflect about what other things had changed in me during this trip.
I didn't fully come to understand the answer to that question until I started talking to my friends back home this past week. A few noticed that I was more confident in myself and my decision making. Most of my friends noticed that I no longer have any fear of making a fool of myself. I have decided that fear(of being alone, not able to make it on my own) will no longer stop me from going on an adventure. This trip caused me to realize that the world really does have 6 billion people on it. They are all different, but friendship and collaboration go beyond differences. Other countries have amazing people in them also. I have returned from this trip an improved person. This trip is one of the greatest things that has happened to me in the last 18(soon to be 19) years of my life. Thank you IPENG.
Monday, January 21, 2008
934 Meters Up
It was the last day in Hong Kong and the last day of our trip. We all got up and did the usual routine. We walked over to CityU and took a two hour course on Chinese Civilization. We watched a video that taught us a bit of Chinese history and culture. After a short break we gathered again to watch our instructor teach us how to properly prepare Chinese tea. I'm not sure I'd have the patience for that kind of preparation, but it was still cool to watch. Next, we had a musical performance by a professor at the university. She played a Qin I think. It was a seven stringed wooden instrument. It was cool to have her play some traditional Chinese music for us. They even brought a singer in to accompany the Qin player in a duet.
We got done early. It was probably only around noon when we finished the class, and the rest of the day was ours. On the way back we stopped at a bakery near the MTD subway station. It was delicious and really cheap. So we ate and quickly got ready to head out to the Big Buddha out on Lantau Island. A group of about seven of us, Jimmie, Greg, Mike, Stephan, Bogdan, Tim, and I, took the MTR to the gondolas that would then take us to the Island. The ride cost $88 HKD, but it was well worth it. The view was great. It was a nice day and you could see everything including the man-made Hong Kong airport, the ocean, and the city skyline. The ride took about twenty minutes.
When we got off the gondola and walked out of the building we could see the Big Buddha towering on top of the mountain. It was huge. We walked over to the stairs, climbed up all 1000 of them, and took some pictures by the giant statue. More important than the Buddha statue was the fact that there were at least two geocaches waiting nearby on the island, or at least we thought they were nearby.
Eventually we found a path that we figured must lead towards the cash, so four of us, Mike, Tim, Bogdan, and I, walked down it all the way to the foot of a mountain. Now, it was a pretty cloudy day so we weren't quite sure how high this mountain went, but it was probably a good idea we didn't know before we started. For a while we wrapped around the mountain on the dirt path and the GPS showed we were on the right track, getting closer. However, once we were about .16 miles away the GPS stopped showing us getting closer. We were still hiking, but going basically just up. It was a tough climb, but it felt so cool being that high in the sky, feeling the clouds mist, and seeing nothing but white all around. The climb took about an hour, just hiking up steep, stone steps. It seemed like the path never ended and you couldn't even see 20 feet in front of you. Finally, we reached the top. It was awesome, you couldn't see the ground, it was just white all around us. There was a temporary shelter at the top as well as a sign that read "Lantau Peak, 934 meters". It felt so good to make it all the way up. Still, we had to find the geocach. It took a good 15 minutes or so but we eventually found it in a crevice between two boulders. It had like three travel bugs inside as well as a China geocoin. We all signed the logbook, took a picture at the official peak, and took a short break on the mountain, but it was getting late so we needed to head down pretty quickly afterwards before it got dark.
We got down with pretty good time but missed our gondola ride home. We ended up just buying some Gatorade and oranges and took a bus home. We were really tired, but it was definitely worth it. It was probably one of the best experiences I had in Hong Kong, maybe even the entire trip. Moral of the story is to get out and find those geocaches because sometimes they'll take you to the coolest places around, especially in foreign countries.
We got done early. It was probably only around noon when we finished the class, and the rest of the day was ours. On the way back we stopped at a bakery near the MTD subway station. It was delicious and really cheap. So we ate and quickly got ready to head out to the Big Buddha out on Lantau Island. A group of about seven of us, Jimmie, Greg, Mike, Stephan, Bogdan, Tim, and I, took the MTR to the gondolas that would then take us to the Island. The ride cost $88 HKD, but it was well worth it. The view was great. It was a nice day and you could see everything including the man-made Hong Kong airport, the ocean, and the city skyline. The ride took about twenty minutes.
When we got off the gondola and walked out of the building we could see the Big Buddha towering on top of the mountain. It was huge. We walked over to the stairs, climbed up all 1000 of them, and took some pictures by the giant statue. More important than the Buddha statue was the fact that there were at least two geocaches waiting nearby on the island, or at least we thought they were nearby.
Eventually we found a path that we figured must lead towards the cash, so four of us, Mike, Tim, Bogdan, and I, walked down it all the way to the foot of a mountain. Now, it was a pretty cloudy day so we weren't quite sure how high this mountain went, but it was probably a good idea we didn't know before we started. For a while we wrapped around the mountain on the dirt path and the GPS showed we were on the right track, getting closer. However, once we were about .16 miles away the GPS stopped showing us getting closer. We were still hiking, but going basically just up. It was a tough climb, but it felt so cool being that high in the sky, feeling the clouds mist, and seeing nothing but white all around. The climb took about an hour, just hiking up steep, stone steps. It seemed like the path never ended and you couldn't even see 20 feet in front of you. Finally, we reached the top. It was awesome, you couldn't see the ground, it was just white all around us. There was a temporary shelter at the top as well as a sign that read "Lantau Peak, 934 meters". It felt so good to make it all the way up. Still, we had to find the geocach. It took a good 15 minutes or so but we eventually found it in a crevice between two boulders. It had like three travel bugs inside as well as a China geocoin. We all signed the logbook, took a picture at the official peak, and took a short break on the mountain, but it was getting late so we needed to head down pretty quickly afterwards before it got dark.
We got down with pretty good time but missed our gondola ride home. We ended up just buying some Gatorade and oranges and took a bus home. We were really tired, but it was definitely worth it. It was probably one of the best experiences I had in Hong Kong, maybe even the entire trip. Moral of the story is to get out and find those geocaches because sometimes they'll take you to the coolest places around, especially in foreign countries.
Tour of CityU Research and Academics
1/10/2008
We started the day with a tour of the Information Engineering Digital Computer Lab. The lab seemed very modern, with plenty of workstations, equipment for electrical engineering, and other interesting devices. The professor who showed us around and gave his department's presentation was very well spoken, and spoke very highly of their Cisco program for undergraduates, which specifically appealed to me, as getting my Cisco certification is one of my future goals. I particularly like how the certification training is built into their curriculum.
Next, we toured the Optoelectronics Lab, where we we shown basically all the uses of fiber optics (or so it seemed). The technology seems extremely promising and CityU seems to be in the forefront in terms of research. The comparison of the old wiring system compared to the same bandwidth over fiber optic cable particularly astounded me.
After that, we visited the Audiovisual Lab, which seemed to be a very topic-open research lab with a cool sound-isolating chamber that tested speakers. One could not hear a thing from the outside city of Hong Kong. Next, we went to the Power Electronics room where we were given a presentation on Chaos theory and allowed to play with a remote-controlled spider. The helicopter simulator was also amusing, although the software seemed archaic and we could not get it working by hand.
Then proceeded a short break in the University library, where some books were considerably more expensive (such as Harry Potter, which even had a different cover), while textbooks were cheaper than in the US, on top of which was the fact that they gave us a student discount.
We then toured the SMT Virtual Reality therapy room in the CS Department, which was used to give interactive therapy to children who were abused and/or suffered from other conditions. The progress they've made seemed significant, the the machine was very well designed. I would love to help out with their research as the technology behind the machine must be amazing. Definitely the place to go if one is looking into Virtual Reality.
Overall, I was very impressed with the research at CityU and it's integration into the academic system. Their research areas seem very promising and I think the university has done a great deal to fund it, and should continue.
We started the day with a tour of the Information Engineering Digital Computer Lab. The lab seemed very modern, with plenty of workstations, equipment for electrical engineering, and other interesting devices. The professor who showed us around and gave his department's presentation was very well spoken, and spoke very highly of their Cisco program for undergraduates, which specifically appealed to me, as getting my Cisco certification is one of my future goals. I particularly like how the certification training is built into their curriculum.
Next, we toured the Optoelectronics Lab, where we we shown basically all the uses of fiber optics (or so it seemed). The technology seems extremely promising and CityU seems to be in the forefront in terms of research. The comparison of the old wiring system compared to the same bandwidth over fiber optic cable particularly astounded me.
After that, we visited the Audiovisual Lab, which seemed to be a very topic-open research lab with a cool sound-isolating chamber that tested speakers. One could not hear a thing from the outside city of Hong Kong. Next, we went to the Power Electronics room where we were given a presentation on Chaos theory and allowed to play with a remote-controlled spider. The helicopter simulator was also amusing, although the software seemed archaic and we could not get it working by hand.
Then proceeded a short break in the University library, where some books were considerably more expensive (such as Harry Potter, which even had a different cover), while textbooks were cheaper than in the US, on top of which was the fact that they gave us a student discount.
We then toured the SMT Virtual Reality therapy room in the CS Department, which was used to give interactive therapy to children who were abused and/or suffered from other conditions. The progress they've made seemed significant, the the machine was very well designed. I would love to help out with their research as the technology behind the machine must be amazing. Definitely the place to go if one is looking into Virtual Reality.
Overall, I was very impressed with the research at CityU and it's integration into the academic system. Their research areas seem very promising and I think the university has done a great deal to fund it, and should continue.
Monday, January 14, 2008
City University of Hong Kong
Wednesday, January 9 - Friday, January 11
On Wednesday, we visited CityU and had a tour of their campus. We saw their residence halls and viewed a standard double room. We then enjoyed a lunch buffet at City Top Restauraunt and spent the rest of the afternoon touring the Wireless Communications Research Centre. On Thursday, we had a more specialized tour of the campus and separated into smaller groups according to major. With the ECE/CS group, we saw various research labs and viewed some very innovative student projects. We visited a lab which specialized in the developing of virtual reality simulations which was particularly interesting because of its application in rehabilitation of abused children. We then visisted the Center of Super Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF) where we were briefly introduced to the process of diamond making. On Friday, we attended a seminar on Chinese history and culture where we learned about the making of Chinese tea and enjoyed a traditional Chiense musical performance. From my experiences at City University, I can say that I was pretty impressed with the university and with the city of Hong Kong and would strongly consider a semester long or summer term stay.
On Wednesday, we visited CityU and had a tour of their campus. We saw their residence halls and viewed a standard double room. We then enjoyed a lunch buffet at City Top Restauraunt and spent the rest of the afternoon touring the Wireless Communications Research Centre. On Thursday, we had a more specialized tour of the campus and separated into smaller groups according to major. With the ECE/CS group, we saw various research labs and viewed some very innovative student projects. We visited a lab which specialized in the developing of virtual reality simulations which was particularly interesting because of its application in rehabilitation of abused children. We then visisted the Center of Super Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF) where we were briefly introduced to the process of diamond making. On Friday, we attended a seminar on Chinese history and culture where we learned about the making of Chinese tea and enjoyed a traditional Chiense musical performance. From my experiences at City University, I can say that I was pretty impressed with the university and with the city of Hong Kong and would strongly consider a semester long or summer term stay.
Days 3 through 7
Hong Kong Day 3-7
Day 3:
After our one day tour of Hong Kong, the group visited Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. It the top Engineering School in Hong Kong in most areas. The tour was typical of all of the school tours we have been on this trip. Every school shows us there most high tech and expensive equipment and labs. This tour did do something better than the others. Instead of just seeing the Electrical and Computer Engineering facilities, the school showed us labs and buildings in a wide variety of engineering disciplines. I volunteered to be in a test group to see if building motion because of wind would be distracting or uncomfortable. The test was boring because it consisted of 8 people sitting in room watching TV for 1.5 hours. I hope that my input helps in the development of future skyscrapers. We saw the dorms where we would be living if we came to school here. The dorms are right on the water and the scenery lends itself to me more like a beach resort than a college campus. I particularly enjoyed the mechanical engineering labs and the opportunity to go into a clean room, even though it has little to do with mechanical engineering. Everyone looked like space invaders with the “bunny suits” on. That night was also fun. We went to the harbor to see the light show. It is largest light show set to music in the world. The views were amazing!
Day 4:
We continued our campus tour today. We also got to see the machine shop where students and professionals work together to conduct research and make parts for the many mechanical devices on campus. We also got to see the award winning HKUST Robocon team. Each year students must design, build, and program a robot to autonomously complete a certain task. The robocon team was interesting because it was entirely made up of students. We also toured the engineering library, which also had an amazing view. After lunch, we journeyed to the main science park in Hong Kong. It was an area of concentrated engineering and manufacturing industry. It was similar to the science park we saw in Taiwan, but the campus looked more like a park than an industrial zone! This school was only 16 years old and all of the facilities was new and state-of-the-art. The school was also set back far enough away from the central district that it felt less crowded and fast paced. However a ten minute bus ride puts you back at a subway station that could take you anywhere in Hong Kong. That night was fun because I found a geocache with a group of friends on the trip. It brought us to an old airport. The cache was located on of the wall, but the best part about it was the view when you got there. The name of the cache was “The best view of Kowloon” and I can see why!
Day 5:
Today we visited City University of Hong Kong. It was located in Downtown Kowloon, and interestingly it was connected with a huge shopping mall. The school also is not very old, yet it boasts a large list of engineering accomplishments. However the school does have one major flaw; there is no mechanical engineering program. This basically eliminates this school from my choices of schools to study abroad at. We saw some of their biggest and best labs. Again another major complaint with this trip emerged, the level of understanding one needed was far beyond that of the freshman and sophomore level. This professor did do a better job of reducing the technical jargon. We finished around 3:00 pm, which opened the afternoon for fun activities. A group of us decided to go to one of the Islands that make up Hong Kong called Lamma Island. Even though we arrived at Lamma at dusk, we still decided to hike the trail trough the Island. We found a geocache along the way too. The best part about the trip was the dinner. Since we were on an Island, the specialty was seafood. The seafood was still alive before we ate it! I got to try a wide variety of seafood and got to enjoy an evening on a tropical island with my friends. The staff at the restaurant was very knowledgeable and welcoming; they even gave us the info about catching the restaurant’s personal ferry back to the mainland for free. This was truly I night I will not forget.
Day 6:
Today we got more personalized tours from the engineering departments. Since there is no mechanical engineering department, the mechanical engineers toured the Manufacturing engineering department. The department also had a mechatronics department that combined both mechanical and electrical engineering with an emphasis on robot building. The science they were doing was very cool and the integration of mechanical and electrical systems was impressive. The RFID lab had a mock up production line that showed the possibilities of using RFID tags in a production line. I also like the interactive virtual reality center. It was designed at a psychological tool to help in the treatment of abused children. I was skeptical at first, but after a demonstration I understood how this could help the patients. Furthermore, this was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to using technology in medicine. The evening was spent shopping in the Temple Street Night Market. It was a crowed place with vendors selling all types of goods. I purchased some souvenirs and haggled the vendors down to good prices.
Day 7:
The morning consisted of a short program about Chinese civilization along with some demonstrations of a traditional Chinese instrument and Chinese song. We were finished by 12:00, so several of us decided to go to Lantau Island to see the Big Buddha and explore the island. We first traveled on a 20 minute cable car ride which was amazing. The views were breath taking. After we arrived, we climbed the massive staircase to reach the giant Buddha. After taking many pictures, four of us decided to attempt to get a geocache from the Lantau Mountain. Little did we know that it entailed climbing to the summit. It took us over one hour to climb 948 meters to the summit. The climb was difficult, but the reward was great. Even though there was no view from the top, the fact that we were inside a cloud was a testament to how high up we really were! When we finally reached the bottom, I purchased a Gatorade and concluded that it was the best tasting Gatorade ever because when climbed with little water and we all we dehydrated. This was one of the best excursions of the trip.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Hong Kong Recap
I have just flown back from Hong Kong the jetlag has totally messed up my sleeping schedule. Anyway, Hong Kong is a very magnificent city, it is so built up, there are high rises and skyscrapers everywhere you look. The infrastructure of the city is all very new, for example there subway* system has glass sliding doors on the entry ramps to the train to prevent people from falling onto the tracks.
A little side note here, in Hong Kong there subway system is called the metro. They use the term subway to describe an underground tunnel for people to use walk under to cross streets.
The food seemed much more westernized in Hong Kong than in Taiwan. Unfortunately, we were not provided with such a large amount of meals as we were in Taiwan. This is where I spent a lot of my money on the trip. Hong Kong is a very expensive city. I did get the chance to by my food at some authentic restaurants, but I also had the chance to go to McDonalds a lot (about 4 times in one week). I probably went there so often because I was starting to miss western food and also because I was sort of getting sick of eating Chinese food. But, all the food on this trip was pretty good my top three favorites being:
1. Bacon wrapped strawberries (In Taiwan near the strawberry fields)
2. Fried Calamari (In Hong Kong at Lamma island)
3. Lettuce wraps (In Taiwan at the restaurant we ate dinner with the president of NCTU)
Moving back to Hong Kong, much more people speak English there than they do in Taiwan. Pretty much all of the signs are also in English, so it is pretty easy to get around (although it is sometimes easy to get lost in one of the many malls of Hong Kong, the mall called Festive Walk had about 10 stories {another side note about that mall is that CityU connects directly into that mall via underground tunnel, which seems kind of crazy to me, I guess it makes things a little to convenient})
There are lots of malls in Hong Kong, in addition to the multiple marketplaces on the streets. Hong Kong is a very capitalist city, even more capitalist than a few American cities. If there was any city in the world which would change China from a communist society to a capitalist society, it would definitely be Hong Kong. It will be interesting to see how mainland China and Hong Kong affect each other in the fifty years until the eventual turnover of the city to China. Will China change Hong Kong or will it be the other way around?
The universities in Hong Kong are very nice. Both of them have beneficial locations. You can have the calm atmosphere of HKUST whish is sort of secluded from the city at a very scenic location on the hills overlooking the bay (this university had the nicest looking campus, as well as the best view from the dormitories). You can also have the convenience of CityU, which is right in the middle of the city, allowing you to just walk a few steps to get to the subway to get anywhere or anything you need in just a few minutes.
Comparing the two colleges, I think HKUST may offer more classes in English and have newer facilities, while CityU is larger and is a bit more convenient. But other than that, the two universities are pretty much the same, you can get a good education not matter which one you choose to go to.
Here’s a few last things about Hong Kong: The night markets are not as crowded as Taiwan. The Big Buddha and the gondola ride is a very spectacular site. Lamma island is a fun place to go, but go during the day, and don’t go to the Rainbow Restaurant (they cost to much), go to Tai Yuen Sharksfin Seafood Restaurant. When at Victoria peak, you may think that it is fog in the distance, but it is actually smog,…cough…cough…
Total trip statistics
28 AA Batteries used
741 Pictures taken
4 Trips to McDonalds
+30 hours ridding on planes
$198 spent on souvenirs and food
2 very fun weeks in Taiwan and Hong Kong
A little side note here, in Hong Kong there subway system is called the metro. They use the term subway to describe an underground tunnel for people to use walk under to cross streets.
The food seemed much more westernized in Hong Kong than in Taiwan. Unfortunately, we were not provided with such a large amount of meals as we were in Taiwan. This is where I spent a lot of my money on the trip. Hong Kong is a very expensive city. I did get the chance to by my food at some authentic restaurants, but I also had the chance to go to McDonalds a lot (about 4 times in one week). I probably went there so often because I was starting to miss western food and also because I was sort of getting sick of eating Chinese food. But, all the food on this trip was pretty good my top three favorites being:
1. Bacon wrapped strawberries (In Taiwan near the strawberry fields)
2. Fried Calamari (In Hong Kong at Lamma island)
3. Lettuce wraps (In Taiwan at the restaurant we ate dinner with the president of NCTU)
Moving back to Hong Kong, much more people speak English there than they do in Taiwan. Pretty much all of the signs are also in English, so it is pretty easy to get around (although it is sometimes easy to get lost in one of the many malls of Hong Kong, the mall called Festive Walk had about 10 stories {another side note about that mall is that CityU connects directly into that mall via underground tunnel, which seems kind of crazy to me, I guess it makes things a little to convenient})
There are lots of malls in Hong Kong, in addition to the multiple marketplaces on the streets. Hong Kong is a very capitalist city, even more capitalist than a few American cities. If there was any city in the world which would change China from a communist society to a capitalist society, it would definitely be Hong Kong. It will be interesting to see how mainland China and Hong Kong affect each other in the fifty years until the eventual turnover of the city to China. Will China change Hong Kong or will it be the other way around?
The universities in Hong Kong are very nice. Both of them have beneficial locations. You can have the calm atmosphere of HKUST whish is sort of secluded from the city at a very scenic location on the hills overlooking the bay (this university had the nicest looking campus, as well as the best view from the dormitories). You can also have the convenience of CityU, which is right in the middle of the city, allowing you to just walk a few steps to get to the subway to get anywhere or anything you need in just a few minutes.
Comparing the two colleges, I think HKUST may offer more classes in English and have newer facilities, while CityU is larger and is a bit more convenient. But other than that, the two universities are pretty much the same, you can get a good education not matter which one you choose to go to.
Here’s a few last things about Hong Kong: The night markets are not as crowded as Taiwan. The Big Buddha and the gondola ride is a very spectacular site. Lamma island is a fun place to go, but go during the day, and don’t go to the Rainbow Restaurant (they cost to much), go to Tai Yuen Sharksfin Seafood Restaurant. When at Victoria peak, you may think that it is fog in the distance, but it is actually smog,…cough…cough…
Total trip statistics
28 AA Batteries used
741 Pictures taken
4 Trips to McDonalds
+30 hours ridding on planes
$198 spent on souvenirs and food
2 very fun weeks in Taiwan and Hong Kong
Friday, January 11, 2008
再見
We're down to our last hour before hitting the airport (hopefully for a smooth check-in), and it's hard to believe we're already leaving. We've done so much in the last two weeks, to the point where it's almost unbelievable.
Our last week in Hong Kong has been really interesting, and I actually think there's a good chance that I would study here. I'm not exactly sure which one, but CityU has an incentive for me, since the dean said a UIUC student would get free housing, and if you have a good GPA, a small stipend (enough for some small pocketmoney) as well. Both seem to have strong programs, but I think if I did study at CityU I would try to get in on the labs working on Chinese medicine. However, I'm sure that the other three universities we've seen have something similar. CityU was just the only one who showed the lab to us.
However, CityU's biology and chem program seem to be very agriculturally based, but it was interesting, since they also are doing work in trying to save the horseshoe crab from extinction. ^^ They had a few older ones (50-60 years old!) to very tiny 3-month old ones.
One thing about HKUST I like though is how quiet it is, and how beautiful the campus is, along with their strong program. The city here is amazing, but deep down inside I'm still a small town girl. I like how HKUST is really close to the city, but also is disconnected at the same time. NTU was like that as well, but was actually in the city, yet was amazingly quiet.
Well, I have to do more packing now, and hopefully won't get charged with an excess weight fee. I bought a lot of small gifts, and also those college brochures weigh a lot...
Our last week in Hong Kong has been really interesting, and I actually think there's a good chance that I would study here. I'm not exactly sure which one, but CityU has an incentive for me, since the dean said a UIUC student would get free housing, and if you have a good GPA, a small stipend (enough for some small pocketmoney) as well. Both seem to have strong programs, but I think if I did study at CityU I would try to get in on the labs working on Chinese medicine. However, I'm sure that the other three universities we've seen have something similar. CityU was just the only one who showed the lab to us.
However, CityU's biology and chem program seem to be very agriculturally based, but it was interesting, since they also are doing work in trying to save the horseshoe crab from extinction. ^^ They had a few older ones (50-60 years old!) to very tiny 3-month old ones.
One thing about HKUST I like though is how quiet it is, and how beautiful the campus is, along with their strong program. The city here is amazing, but deep down inside I'm still a small town girl. I like how HKUST is really close to the city, but also is disconnected at the same time. NTU was like that as well, but was actually in the city, yet was amazingly quiet.
Well, I have to do more packing now, and hopefully won't get charged with an excess weight fee. I bought a lot of small gifts, and also those college brochures weigh a lot...
Hong Kong, City of Spectacular Height
These were my first impressions of Hong Kong: so many tall buildings! and so many people! The city boasts (only) two of the world's tallest skyscrapers, yet so many of the buildings are dozens of stories tall. Hong Kong Island is the most developed and has an incredible nighttime skyline, complemented well by nightly "symphony of lights" light/laser shows that are a real treat on a clear night!
The other major section of Hong Kong is Kowloon, and we have been staying here in the district called Kowloon Tong. Kowloon is not built quite as high since this is the former site of the city's airport. Due to the small capacity of the previous airport and its dangerous landing location between buildings and mountains, the airport has been moved out to reclaimed land further away from the city.
Land reclamation is actually a very profitable venture for the city, because, as they did for the airport, they will often dump landfill dirt into harbor waters to create new land--land being Hong Kong's greatest scarcity--and then sell this property at a premium. Of course that's simply too bad for the guy who bought an expensive oceanfront condo last year, because he will not only be missing out on his once-spectacular waterside view, his landscape will probably be blocked by a new, even taller high rise!
This tycoon-like attitude of the city, however, is merely a reflection of many who live within its boundaries. I have never seen a non-European city with so many luxury foreign cars roaming its streets. Mercedes Benz after Mercedes Benz after BMW after Mercedes Benz race down the left lane of these British-style streets, separated only by the hundreds of red Toyota Crown Comfort taxi cabs.
Speaking of cars, I also noticed a few interesting vanity license plates, and I learned something interesting about these--instead of just applying privately for what you would like to write on your plate, you must submit your suggestion to a public list, and then pay the highest price in an auction... for what was your original idea. Only in Hong Kong!
So many people... there are about 6,000 people per square km in Hong Kong, and the population continues to grow rapidly. Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region--SAR--of China, yet you must pass through immigration with proper identification to pass between its border. One reason for this is to help limit the number of people who try to enter Hong Kong to find their fortune.
It truly is a city of dollar signs, but the economy has slowed a bit over the last few years. Hong Kong is a port city, and their economy relies almost entirely on trading. Fishing was at one time very popular in the area, but a depletion in the fish supply and a losing interest among the new generation has largely reduced this industry. Since this highly modern city has pushed all its resources away, trading goods by ship, investing abroad, or building intellectual property are examples of how Hong Kong depends on the state of the world economy.
Hong Kong is comfortable, but in exchange for this this it has lost much of it's culture. I'm sure I'll be back here again someday--maybe sooner than I think--but I will be more earnestly seeking a city for study abroad that can offer more culture and less of the western life I've already experienced. Thank you IPENG for this incredible opportunity, visiting Taiwan and Hong Kong has opened my eyes once again! :)
The other major section of Hong Kong is Kowloon, and we have been staying here in the district called Kowloon Tong. Kowloon is not built quite as high since this is the former site of the city's airport. Due to the small capacity of the previous airport and its dangerous landing location between buildings and mountains, the airport has been moved out to reclaimed land further away from the city.
Land reclamation is actually a very profitable venture for the city, because, as they did for the airport, they will often dump landfill dirt into harbor waters to create new land--land being Hong Kong's greatest scarcity--and then sell this property at a premium. Of course that's simply too bad for the guy who bought an expensive oceanfront condo last year, because he will not only be missing out on his once-spectacular waterside view, his landscape will probably be blocked by a new, even taller high rise!
This tycoon-like attitude of the city, however, is merely a reflection of many who live within its boundaries. I have never seen a non-European city with so many luxury foreign cars roaming its streets. Mercedes Benz after Mercedes Benz after BMW after Mercedes Benz race down the left lane of these British-style streets, separated only by the hundreds of red Toyota Crown Comfort taxi cabs.
Speaking of cars, I also noticed a few interesting vanity license plates, and I learned something interesting about these--instead of just applying privately for what you would like to write on your plate, you must submit your suggestion to a public list, and then pay the highest price in an auction... for what was your original idea. Only in Hong Kong!
So many people... there are about 6,000 people per square km in Hong Kong, and the population continues to grow rapidly. Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region--SAR--of China, yet you must pass through immigration with proper identification to pass between its border. One reason for this is to help limit the number of people who try to enter Hong Kong to find their fortune.
It truly is a city of dollar signs, but the economy has slowed a bit over the last few years. Hong Kong is a port city, and their economy relies almost entirely on trading. Fishing was at one time very popular in the area, but a depletion in the fish supply and a losing interest among the new generation has largely reduced this industry. Since this highly modern city has pushed all its resources away, trading goods by ship, investing abroad, or building intellectual property are examples of how Hong Kong depends on the state of the world economy.
Hong Kong is comfortable, but in exchange for this this it has lost much of it's culture. I'm sure I'll be back here again someday--maybe sooner than I think--but I will be more earnestly seeking a city for study abroad that can offer more culture and less of the western life I've already experienced. Thank you IPENG for this incredible opportunity, visiting Taiwan and Hong Kong has opened my eyes once again! :)
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Hong Kong
After spending a few days in Hong Kong it is hard to fit the city into a specific category. Hong Kong is clearly in its own class, a city struck by fashion, situated in a cosmopolitan mecca. Transportation between the Kowloon Peninsula and Hong Kong Island is very efficient and affordable using the MTR, which is HK's name of its mass transit subway. However it is really hard to deny the mode of transportation that gives one of best views in Hong Kong comes from the Star Ferry which crosses Victoria Harbour, which is one of the world's natural deep sea channels. The skyline is quite stunning, when looking from the ferry or standing on the shoreline on either side. In ways the skyline is a mark of Hong Kong's brilliance as a world class city. At the same time the skyline is a reminder of how expensive and limited land is in the territory. A sad reminder of how scarce land is in Hong Kong is daily land-reclamation projects at the base of Hong Kong Island, and the Kowloon Peninsula. Today, I went to Lamma Island which is accessible by a 31 minute ferry ride. On Lamma Island, cars are not permitted, and the few houses are owned by locals that run business on the island, are reminiscent of fishing villages found in the mid-20th century. The hiking trail was amazing, it took us two hours to transverse the island from east to west, across a mountain. One of the most stunning features of Lamma Island is the ability to go from a packed city to the wilderness in just a short ferry ride. Personally I like traveling and going out doors when I have the time. As an engineering student you spend so much time in labs, and in the library solving differential equations, or trying to identify radar back scatter. Many of students forget from time to time theres more to the world than just numbers. So I encourage people to go out and explore the outdoors whether that be Lamma Island in the South China Sea, or the great American West. Next I plan to visit some of the "New Territories" served by the MTR lines.
Hong Kong Days 1 and 2
After arriving in Hong Kong around 12:00 pm, the group took a bus to the guest house where we would be staying for the duration of our stay in Hong Kong, we several students from the City University. They showed us where the MTR station was and most people got an octopus card. It is a card that you load money on to and use it to quickly access the rail system. Furthermore, it saves you 20% on the rail cost. The first thing I did was explore the shopping district. There are so many people here that cars have a hard time moving down the streets where there are alot of shops. I ate dinner at the most upscale pizza hut that I have every been to; they even had escargo on the menu! After that, a group of us wandered the streets and the shops looking for deals and bargains. I got some souvenirs for my friends. We took the super efficient and cheap train back to the international house after we all had enough of shopping.
Day two was our tour day. The first stop was a very old Taoist temple in the center of H0ng Kong. The second stop was the scenic Victoria Peak. We rode a 100 year old Tram car to the top of it. The view was great, but somewhat obstructed by the heavy pollution in the city. I was also disappointed that the top was basically one big shopping mall. After that, we journeyed to a super rich section of Hong Kong. Land cost 10,000-22,000 HKD per square foot! We also learned the importance of Fung Sheew in building design. Lunch was a traditional dim sum (dumpling) meal. I took a nap next to the ocean before we departed for the old Aberdeen Fishing Village. We took a boat tour around the harbor to see the traditional boats and homes of fisherman living and working in the Hong Kong area. After that we visited a prominent jewelry factory in the quickly shrinking Industrial district in Hong Kong. Overall, the tour was fun, but it was center more around shopping than leaning about the Hong Kong. At night, three of us went down town to see the light show. However one member "got lost" going to the bathroom and never came back. Two of us crossed the harbor looking for him and ended up not seeing the complete light show over Victoria Harbor. My atm card was retained when I tried to take money out, and we got lost in the train station on the way back and ended up wandering around for an hour before we found our way home. It was one of the most disappointing and frustrating days on the trip, but it was still better than being at school!
Day two was our tour day. The first stop was a very old Taoist temple in the center of H0ng Kong. The second stop was the scenic Victoria Peak. We rode a 100 year old Tram car to the top of it. The view was great, but somewhat obstructed by the heavy pollution in the city. I was also disappointed that the top was basically one big shopping mall. After that, we journeyed to a super rich section of Hong Kong. Land cost 10,000-22,000 HKD per square foot! We also learned the importance of Fung Sheew in building design. Lunch was a traditional dim sum (dumpling) meal. I took a nap next to the ocean before we departed for the old Aberdeen Fishing Village. We took a boat tour around the harbor to see the traditional boats and homes of fisherman living and working in the Hong Kong area. After that we visited a prominent jewelry factory in the quickly shrinking Industrial district in Hong Kong. Overall, the tour was fun, but it was center more around shopping than leaning about the Hong Kong. At night, three of us went down town to see the light show. However one member "got lost" going to the bathroom and never came back. Two of us crossed the harbor looking for him and ended up not seeing the complete light show over Victoria Harbor. My atm card was retained when I tried to take money out, and we got lost in the train station on the way back and ended up wandering around for an hour before we found our way home. It was one of the most disappointing and frustrating days on the trip, but it was still better than being at school!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen...Taiwan
NCTU
The campus is beautiful and they seem to have a very strong science and engineering program. In my opinion, the biggest plus about NCTU is probably the access the students have to the Hsinchu science park. The ITRI research center we visited in the science park was unexpectedly very impressive. I rather liked how the science park incorporates both research centers as well as the companies that actually make the products. We often talk about going into research versus going into industry and the science park offers both pieces of the pie.
As for the visiting experience, the students and faculty who took us around were spectacular. We had awesome tours around Hsinchu and other parts of Taiwan and saw just about everything you're supposed to see. Not to mention, we had an abundant amount of food and food's always good.
NTU
If you love the city life, NTU is the place to be. Taipei is always full of life and the school is located right in the city with easy access to the subway system. Yet the campus has enough land that you still get the campus feel without feeling the hustle and bustle of the city when you're trying to get your study on. If checking out the rankings floats your boat, NTU is the #1 school in Taiwan--it's your Harvard, it's your Yale. Their electrical engineering program seems to be particularly strong, while many, if not most of their other engineering departments are also ranked 1st in the country.
We visited a nightmarket while in Taipei and while very hectic, the energy is awesome. It was very exciting to experience the culture of nightmarket shopping and to try the different foods offered by the street vendors.
The campus is beautiful and they seem to have a very strong science and engineering program. In my opinion, the biggest plus about NCTU is probably the access the students have to the Hsinchu science park. The ITRI research center we visited in the science park was unexpectedly very impressive. I rather liked how the science park incorporates both research centers as well as the companies that actually make the products. We often talk about going into research versus going into industry and the science park offers both pieces of the pie.
As for the visiting experience, the students and faculty who took us around were spectacular. We had awesome tours around Hsinchu and other parts of Taiwan and saw just about everything you're supposed to see. Not to mention, we had an abundant amount of food and food's always good.
NTU
If you love the city life, NTU is the place to be. Taipei is always full of life and the school is located right in the city with easy access to the subway system. Yet the campus has enough land that you still get the campus feel without feeling the hustle and bustle of the city when you're trying to get your study on. If checking out the rankings floats your boat, NTU is the #1 school in Taiwan--it's your Harvard, it's your Yale. Their electrical engineering program seems to be particularly strong, while many, if not most of their other engineering departments are also ranked 1st in the country.
We visited a nightmarket while in Taipei and while very hectic, the energy is awesome. It was very exciting to experience the culture of nightmarket shopping and to try the different foods offered by the street vendors.
Looking Back on Taiwan
So we’re in Hong Kong with a new city to explore and plenty of new geocashes to find, but we did leave a lot of cool things in Taiwan. Taiwan is a small island compared to the US, but to a tourist its still a pretty big place with lots of diverse areas. The first two days we got to just tour parts of the country with our tour guide, Allen. He was a cool guy and I’m glad he was with us, him as well as the rest of the NCTU students. Having them all there made our stay not only much easier but also a lot more enjoyable. They were all fun to be with and I can’t wait for them to come to U of I.
Touring the city as well as the countryside was really cool. It’s interesting seeing how different the people live. The geography and climate of the country forces the people to build their homes and cities in much different ways than what we see in the states. The mountains make Taiwan completely different from U of I. It was awesome to see them everywhere, to climb them up to the temples, and to enjoy their hot springs. The city life, especially in Taipei, was amazing. You might think well we have Chicago, but the cities are nothing alike. The bright signs, mopeds, and street vendors create a completely different atmosphere. The night market was really cool. I wish we could have haggled prices down some more, or some places just at all, but oh well.
As for the universities, choosing between NCTU and NTU would be tough. NCTU is a nice, small, technical university. It’s engineering program is excellent, and from the students we met, they seem really fun. The guaranteed internship at the Hsinchu Science Park or ITRI is a huge advantage to attending NCTU and a big factor when deciding between the two. However, NCTU seems like its missing a lot of the regular university college life that NTU does have. Some of the students say that many kids go home on the weekends to see their families. The social scene in general may be lacking a bit more there than at NTU and especially compared to U of I. The campus is still very nice and many of the buildings are better than a lot of U of I’s.
NTU had a really nice campus. Parts of it you are amazed that you’re even in a city because it’s so green and away from the traffic and city buildings. Their library is really nice, but then again so is NCTU’s. The benefit of NTU is that it’s not just a technical university. It has everyone and every major. That diversity alone makes the campus life much more interesting. Also, they are right in Taipei in the middle of the city. There are disadvantages to that of course, but in general I think it would be pretty awesome to have the city right there. The nice thing about Taiwan is that the subway system works great, and the High Speed Rail could get you from NCTU to Taipei in like 15 minutes, so even in Hsinchu, Taipei is only a short ride away. At NTU their engineering programs seem strong, but they aren’t ranked quite as high as NCTU’s engineering. Unfortunately, NTU does not guarantee an internship, which can be a big deal.
Overall, I like NTU’s campus and campus life much more and I think I would really enjoy spending time there. However, academically I think NCTU may be better especially considering the internships, and NCTU seems to really want us there. It’s a tough choice. Taiwan in general is a really cool place. Aside from the food (which is alright – it just gets old) I think I could spend a semester in the country. Now we’ll just have to see how Hong Kong goes.
So long to Taiwan we are finally in Hong Kong the last destination of our trip. This trip being my first experience out of the country is amazing, I have done more stuff than I could ever dream. This dream has been culturally enriching and jam-packed with new experiences, but I also was informed of some sweet opportunities for study and careers. Most of the jobs in Taiwan were specifically for Electrical Engineering majors but there were possible opportunities for the other types of engineering majors in the science parks and at the research centers. I think Taiwan would be a great place to study because of all the opportunities for internships and work students have at some of the leading manufacturing companies in the world. There is also tons to do in your free time in the city and in the countryside. Taiwan was awesome and I was looking forward to Hong Kong.
On the first night in Hong Kong we had free time to explore the city on our own, and I really think the city is awesome. There were many tall buildings and loads of people. That night my group went to a market, similar to the night markets of Taiwan where we practiced our bargaining skills with the local street vendors. It was a cool experience but most of the time the vendors didn't like the bargains . We only walked around the market and some parts of the city but I think the Hong Kong experience was achieved. Getting around on the subway and finding the various stores also contributed in the Hong Kong experience. I'm pretty sure that before we leave I would have done much more but after the first day I was satisfied and can't wait for what is coming.
On the first night in Hong Kong we had free time to explore the city on our own, and I really think the city is awesome. There were many tall buildings and loads of people. That night my group went to a market, similar to the night markets of Taiwan where we practiced our bargaining skills with the local street vendors. It was a cool experience but most of the time the vendors didn't like the bargains . We only walked around the market and some parts of the city but I think the Hong Kong experience was achieved. Getting around on the subway and finding the various stores also contributed in the Hong Kong experience. I'm pretty sure that before we leave I would have done much more but after the first day I was satisfied and can't wait for what is coming.
Goodbye Taiwan
Traveling in Taiwan was quite an experience; I can only imagine what studying abroad there would be like. Our first stop was Hsinchu, where National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) is located. NCTU is particularly strong in Electrical Engineering and they have an impressive research facility, National Nano Device Laboratories. Their campus seemed industrial— the dormitories could easily be compared in appearance to office buildings. The students we met were very friendly and they will be studying at UIUC next semester. I would not be surprised to find that the friendships we formed with them turn out to be long lasting. When we were not exploring Hsinchu, attending classes, or going on tours, we stayed in the nearby Guest House; the accommodations were simple but comfortable.
After spending a few days at NCTU, we traveled to Taiwan’s capital city— Taipei. We visited the nearby National Taiwan University (NTU), which has a reputation as the best university in Taiwan. Their Electrical Engineering is also very strong and they are ranked first in many areas of engineering. NTU’s campus is surprisingly quiet for being so deep into Taipei and there seems like there is a lot to do. The buildings at NTU are much older than those at NCTU since NTU is over one hundred years old. It is unfortunate that we did not have more time to get to know the NTU students; we did not have that much time to spend with them.
My impressions of both universities were good. One thing that appeals about NCTU is that it is located in a Science Park, which is a grouping of many companies. A study abroad program to NCTU second semester would lead into an internship at one of those companies over the summer; I think the internship would be both a unique and valuable experience.
The most memorable moments I have from Taiwan took place in the night markets. As I understand it, there are several night markets in the Taipei area. A night market in Taiwan consists of alleyways filled with vendors peddling their goods, small restaurants, and hundreds of customers. The first night we went was January 1st, which is a national holiday in Taiwan. Consequently, the night market was packed. A few other students and I made our way through the crowd, stopping several times to buy some of the local specialties from food carts. I spent around one US dollar for more food than I could eat. It is incredible to see so many people in one place. What was more surprising was how good the food was; I felt like I was experiencing an important part of Taiwanese culture.
That is about all for Taiwan. Now we are in Hong Kong and we will visit the first of two universities here tomorrow.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
The Final Days in Taiwan
The last days in Taiwan were very fun. The last day in Hsinchu, we toured the Hsinchu science park. We saw several cool companies. First we saw ITRI, the largest government research facility in Taiwan. They produced many major spin off companies that are the foundation of Taiwan's silicon industry. Another company we visited was AUO. It produces over 20% of the world's LCD displays. The company representative was very knowledgeable and I could have spent all afternoon asking him questions. We also toured the Hsinchu Science Park visitor center and learned about some of the important technical innovations that came about through research at the science park. The group had another great Chinese table meal and it was time to day good bye to our friends at NCTU.
The two days at National Taiwan University were very similar because each day involved a series of campus tours and classes in many different engineering departments. However, the hotel we stayed at in Taipei was significantly nicer than the one in Hsinchu! Some of the memorable sights included the electron microscopes and the antenna testing room. The city of Taipei gave a great back drop to the university. The night markets were very fun
and crowded places. Interesting foods and great bargains were plentiful. The last night in Taipei was particularly fun. A group of several of us went to a large electronics store. It was similar to a best-buy, but it was many small vendors competing in a large space. The group then found a geocache (I am sure everyone else will talk about this in detaik). Then we took the Taiwan High speed rail for two stops. We made it up to 161 mph in just an eight minute trip! (I got the photo of my GPS at 158 mph). When we were going to take the metro back to the hotel, we missed the correct train twice and had to take a taxi back to the hotel. We got back late, but the experience was worth it! On to Hong Kong.
The two days at National Taiwan University were very similar because each day involved a series of campus tours and classes in many different engineering departments. However, the hotel we stayed at in Taipei was significantly nicer than the one in Hsinchu! Some of the memorable sights included the electron microscopes and the antenna testing room. The city of Taipei gave a great back drop to the university. The night markets were very fun
and crowded places. Interesting foods and great bargains were plentiful. The last night in Taipei was particularly fun. A group of several of us went to a large electronics store. It was similar to a best-buy, but it was many small vendors competing in a large space. The group then found a geocache (I am sure everyone else will talk about this in detaik). Then we took the Taiwan High speed rail for two stops. We made it up to 161 mph in just an eight minute trip! (I got the photo of my GPS at 158 mph). When we were going to take the metro back to the hotel, we missed the correct train twice and had to take a taxi back to the hotel. We got back late, but the experience was worth it! On to Hong Kong.
Friday, January 4, 2008
A Mountainous Run (Through the Mountains)
What I remember most from NCTU (and from the whole trip thus far, for that matter), is my run with David on the morning of the 2nd, or this Wednesday. We had discussed running earlier once I found out it was one of his interests, and we decided to go for a run the next morning. I was excited at the prospect of seeing more of Taiwan on a run through the mountains on their training route. While waking up at 6am was unpleasant, feeling the cool breeze as I stepped outside and breathing the fresh air were inviting contrasts to the earliness.
We took off in a light jog towards the NCTU track, talking more about the university and student life. While he was proud of his school, David also recognized some of the shortcomings that were (conveniently) not mentioned in all the university presentations and glossy handouts and packets. A lot of what I take for granted in the US, as I'm sure most of us do, was made more clear to me in our consistent conversation throughout the run. When we got to the track, we stretched and prepared for the run.
As we took off a moderate pace through the neighboring university, David mentioned the attempted education reform aimed at broadening perspectives and bringing about positive change, which, in his opinion, resulted in failure because of the unwillingness of middle school and high school teachers to change. Most Taiwanese students, in his opinion, never questioned the life around them, from asking questions in class to asking questions of the world around them. He mentioned how he strives to be open to new opinions, embraces change, and constantly questions everything. It was this kind of thinking that I completely agree with, but, according to him, could get one in trouble in the conservative education system he went through. Another thing we discussed was the importance of tests in their curriculum, and how they seemed to either make or break a student in Taiwan much more so than in the US. Academics and test-taking are the number one priority that is taught from a young age, in contrast to the ever-growing notion of well-roundedness that I have witnessed in the US. I have always taken for granted the emphasis on extracurricular activities at my high school and at UIUC, and was astonished that so many more students at NCTU seemed to focus more on academics. Our conversation continued on the advantages and disadvantages of being well rounded. Should one manage his or her time to pursue more interests at the expense of taking away one's ability to strongly commit oneself to specialization? The answer is obviously in a gray area, and it was interesting to contrast life at NCTU and in Taiwan with life at UIUC and how the majority of students in each location seem to make this decision, willingly or not.
As we started ascending the mountain on the narrow, asphalt path, I noticed a considerable amount of other people out and about like us. Most walked, although we did come across a few runners, and everyone seemed happy and content. Our conversation continued towards what he could expect to find in the US, quirky customs in both cultures, government, tai-chi (is that is?), and running theory. It helped me get through the challenging uphill gradient and really gave me a better idea of Taiwanese culture and school in this country. It really amazed me how another student's thoughts can be so valuable and I think everyone needs to have a real conversation with a student before applying/studying at a university.
After finally reaching the half-way mark (kinda... the route was complicated), we started heading back, appreciating the ease of the descent. This led to more conversation about work ethic and trade-offs, along with some stomach problems on my behalf, which then led to quick bathroom stop and then (yes, this is a run-on) conversation about food (this conversation took a while, and, yes, I am adding to the run-on sentence). This somehow turned into discussion about relationships, and then the study of foreign languages. Getting back was both a relief (wow, the run was tough), and an unwanted end to good conversation. We unfortunately did not have time for another "traditional Chinese breakfast" at a place he knew, but we both looked forward to the boxed pastry breakfasts (which I don't think we got that day :D).
In hindsight, I cannot believe how much was discussed, not to mention how much harder the run would have been without it. In about an hour and a half (with a few side-stops at interesting places), I had learned so much and accomplished my goal of making a really good friend while traveling abroad on this trip (other than in the group, which I knew for sure would happen). I am really looking forward to studying abroad in Asia as a result of it and am so much more aware of the culture, mentality, advantages, disadvantages, etc. Following in Colleen's footsteps, I love Taiwan (more).
We took off in a light jog towards the NCTU track, talking more about the university and student life. While he was proud of his school, David also recognized some of the shortcomings that were (conveniently) not mentioned in all the university presentations and glossy handouts and packets. A lot of what I take for granted in the US, as I'm sure most of us do, was made more clear to me in our consistent conversation throughout the run. When we got to the track, we stretched and prepared for the run.
As we took off a moderate pace through the neighboring university, David mentioned the attempted education reform aimed at broadening perspectives and bringing about positive change, which, in his opinion, resulted in failure because of the unwillingness of middle school and high school teachers to change. Most Taiwanese students, in his opinion, never questioned the life around them, from asking questions in class to asking questions of the world around them. He mentioned how he strives to be open to new opinions, embraces change, and constantly questions everything. It was this kind of thinking that I completely agree with, but, according to him, could get one in trouble in the conservative education system he went through. Another thing we discussed was the importance of tests in their curriculum, and how they seemed to either make or break a student in Taiwan much more so than in the US. Academics and test-taking are the number one priority that is taught from a young age, in contrast to the ever-growing notion of well-roundedness that I have witnessed in the US. I have always taken for granted the emphasis on extracurricular activities at my high school and at UIUC, and was astonished that so many more students at NCTU seemed to focus more on academics. Our conversation continued on the advantages and disadvantages of being well rounded. Should one manage his or her time to pursue more interests at the expense of taking away one's ability to strongly commit oneself to specialization? The answer is obviously in a gray area, and it was interesting to contrast life at NCTU and in Taiwan with life at UIUC and how the majority of students in each location seem to make this decision, willingly or not.
As we started ascending the mountain on the narrow, asphalt path, I noticed a considerable amount of other people out and about like us. Most walked, although we did come across a few runners, and everyone seemed happy and content. Our conversation continued towards what he could expect to find in the US, quirky customs in both cultures, government, tai-chi (is that is?), and running theory. It helped me get through the challenging uphill gradient and really gave me a better idea of Taiwanese culture and school in this country. It really amazed me how another student's thoughts can be so valuable and I think everyone needs to have a real conversation with a student before applying/studying at a university.
After finally reaching the half-way mark (kinda... the route was complicated), we started heading back, appreciating the ease of the descent. This led to more conversation about work ethic and trade-offs, along with some stomach problems on my behalf, which then led to quick bathroom stop and then (yes, this is a run-on) conversation about food (this conversation took a while, and, yes, I am adding to the run-on sentence). This somehow turned into discussion about relationships, and then the study of foreign languages. Getting back was both a relief (wow, the run was tough), and an unwanted end to good conversation. We unfortunately did not have time for another "traditional Chinese breakfast" at a place he knew, but we both looked forward to the boxed pastry breakfasts (which I don't think we got that day :D).
In hindsight, I cannot believe how much was discussed, not to mention how much harder the run would have been without it. In about an hour and a half (with a few side-stops at interesting places), I had learned so much and accomplished my goal of making a really good friend while traveling abroad on this trip (other than in the group, which I knew for sure would happen). I am really looking forward to studying abroad in Asia as a result of it and am so much more aware of the culture, mentality, advantages, disadvantages, etc. Following in Colleen's footsteps, I love Taiwan (more).
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Big Buildings
Day 4:
After a fun new years eve with some students from NCTU, we went to Taipei city today, the capital city of Taiwan! It was an amazing experience. The city was very modern and busy. The first stop was the residence of Chiang Kai-Shek, the first president of Taiwan. Both he and his wife loved nature, which was seen through the compound's many gardens. I particularly enjoyed the orchid temple! The next stop was the national palace museum. It contained many beautiful works of Chinese and oriental art, both old and new. My favorite piece was an ivory ball with 17 separate layers. We braked for lunch after this and ate some Mongolian stir fry.
After lunch we visited the Taiwan Democracy Park. The park was surrounded by theaters and a large memorial for Chiang Kai-Shek. The next stop of the tour of Taipei city "topped" them all. The Taipei 101 is currently the tallest building in the world. It also has the fastest elevators in the world. The top is amazing. Our tour guide, Alan, said that this kind of view is rare because view is usually obstructed by clouds or haze. The building is not at full capacity because the rent is so expensive. I think that the building is not as much for functional purpose, but more a symbol of the rising power of "silicon island". Dinner was very cool because we were to find dinner in the largest night market in Taiwan. It was such a cool place. The number and variety of shops selling both food and clothes was spectacular! It was another great day in Taiwan!
After a fun new years eve with some students from NCTU, we went to Taipei city today, the capital city of Taiwan! It was an amazing experience. The city was very modern and busy. The first stop was the residence of Chiang Kai-Shek, the first president of Taiwan. Both he and his wife loved nature, which was seen through the compound's many gardens. I particularly enjoyed the orchid temple! The next stop was the national palace museum. It contained many beautiful works of Chinese and oriental art, both old and new. My favorite piece was an ivory ball with 17 separate layers. We braked for lunch after this and ate some Mongolian stir fry.
After lunch we visited the Taiwan Democracy Park. The park was surrounded by theaters and a large memorial for Chiang Kai-Shek. The next stop of the tour of Taipei city "topped" them all. The Taipei 101 is currently the tallest building in the world. It also has the fastest elevators in the world. The top is amazing. Our tour guide, Alan, said that this kind of view is rare because view is usually obstructed by clouds or haze. The building is not at full capacity because the rent is so expensive. I think that the building is not as much for functional purpose, but more a symbol of the rising power of "silicon island". Dinner was very cool because we were to find dinner in the largest night market in Taiwan. It was such a cool place. The number and variety of shops selling both food and clothes was spectacular! It was another great day in Taiwan!
NCTU to NTU
We left the NSRRC Guest House this morning at 8:30. Some of our NCTU friends came to see us off. I feel very attached to this group, and I believe we have all become quite close friends in the five days we have spent together. They've made our stay in Hsinchu absolutely amazing with their happy, fun companionship. I'm so happy to know that this is not a final farewell because we will meet them again in Champaign when they come study for the spring semester!
We arrived in Tapei and dropped off our luggage at the Leader Hotel before going to visit NTU. We were given an introduction to EE at NTU and then toured the labs at NTU. Next, we had lunch with NTU undergraudates in EE. We were also given a presentation of some of the activities that they have including music and dancing.
Afterwards, we took a look around an art gallery and we were also given a small tech demo. Then we were given a tour of the campus. We also happened to bump into a UIUC alumnus from a long, long time ago!
Today was the first day that dinner was not included in the schedule, and we were free to do as we liked. The night market is right across the street from the hotel, so finding food and something to do was not a problem.
We arrived in Tapei and dropped off our luggage at the Leader Hotel before going to visit NTU. We were given an introduction to EE at NTU and then toured the labs at NTU. Next, we had lunch with NTU undergraudates in EE. We were also given a presentation of some of the activities that they have including music and dancing.
Afterwards, we took a look around an art gallery and we were also given a small tech demo. Then we were given a tour of the campus. We also happened to bump into a UIUC alumnus from a long, long time ago!Today was the first day that dinner was not included in the schedule, and we were free to do as we liked. The night market is right across the street from the hotel, so finding food and something to do was not a problem.
NTU
Today we left our amazing friends at NCTU and drove to the city of Taipei to see NTU. Once we arrived, we immediately went to a conference room and were greeted by Dean Pei and Chairman Hwu. After the opening speeches, we saw labs that were spread out throughout the department of Electrical Engineering. We were given tours that dealt with communication, electromagnetic waves, electro-optical engineering, and nanoelectronics. After we had all of these mini tours, we had lunch. Previously we all had been very good about eating classic chinese food throughout the trip, however, when we were given the option of eating Pizza Hut and KFC, everyone immediately went for that food and by-passed the other food that they had prepared for us. After lunch, we were given the opportunity to see the Barry Lam Gallery. This was an art gallery where all of this beautiful artwork was completed by this alumni. We then moved onto the Technology Exhibition Center, where students gave us demonstrations about their latest innovations. 
We had to wait around for a few minutes (some students spent the time playing wii baseball) while we waited for the tour of the campus to begin, and then we met up with the tour guide and walked around the campus. On the way, we ran into this 72 year old Taiwanese man that had graduated from U of I. He was absolutely hilarious and it proved that there are certainly a lot of U of I alumni and students here in Taiwan. We continued on the tour where we saw very old buildings (many of which had been built by Japan during WWII), and many new engineering buildings as well. Out of all the buildings though, the best one was the girls dorm. While this may sound unusual, once I explain the setup of the dorm, you will understand. The dorm was surrounded by a 10 foot cement wall and above that is a barbed wire fence. But the thing that tops it off are the jagged pieces of glass that sit atop the wall! Yet it still gets better, there are cannons (left over from the Japanese occupation) that are aimed at the dorm from a surrounding building. This is definitely a building that I would want to live in! After thouroughly analyzing this building, we continued on to this pond where there were these incredible ducks. The ducks were eating chocolate out of our hands. However, in all seriousness, the campus was gorgeous. After the tour, we were able to go eat dinner wherever we wanted. Most of us chose to go to the nightmarket that was across the street from the campus. While this market was no where near as big as the Shinli one, it still had a ton of stores and food. The night ended with a group meeting where we re-capped everything that we had done previously. I love Taiwan.
The end.
We had to wait around for a few minutes (some students spent the time playing wii baseball) while we waited for the tour of the campus to begin, and then we met up with the tour guide and walked around the campus. On the way, we ran into this 72 year old Taiwanese man that had graduated from U of I. He was absolutely hilarious and it proved that there are certainly a lot of U of I alumni and students here in Taiwan. We continued on the tour where we saw very old buildings (many of which had been built by Japan during WWII), and many new engineering buildings as well. Out of all the buildings though, the best one was the girls dorm. While this may sound unusual, once I explain the setup of the dorm, you will understand. The dorm was surrounded by a 10 foot cement wall and above that is a barbed wire fence. But the thing that tops it off are the jagged pieces of glass that sit atop the wall! Yet it still gets better, there are cannons (left over from the Japanese occupation) that are aimed at the dorm from a surrounding building. This is definitely a building that I would want to live in! After thouroughly analyzing this building, we continued on to this pond where there were these incredible ducks. The ducks were eating chocolate out of our hands. However, in all seriousness, the campus was gorgeous. After the tour, we were able to go eat dinner wherever we wanted. Most of us chose to go to the nightmarket that was across the street from the campus. While this market was no where near as big as the Shinli one, it still had a ton of stores and food. The night ended with a group meeting where we re-capped everything that we had done previously. I love Taiwan.The end.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
The First Three Days
It has been a very busy and exciting three days so far! Saturday morning the group left the NCTU Guest House at 8:30 am on our big green tour bus for downtown Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Aboard the bus we met our awesome tour guide, Alan--full of energy and excellent English. We have also been accompanied by 8 or 10 NCTU students on all of our excursions; they are incredibly friendly, helpful, and speak great English too--true ambassadors to Taiwan! We ate boxed breakfast as we began our drive through the Hsinchu Science Park, very close to the NCTU campus. This is the equivalent of Taiwan's Silicon Valley, and many of the chip manufacturers are located here. Taiwan is modern, but not without it's culture. The streets are busy with mopeds weaving inbetween traffic, but the city is surprisingly quiet--I am told they quit honking their horns long ago since people don't heed this sound.
We had our first "traditional Taiwanese cuisine" meal for lunch at a restaurant--they weren't afraid to give us the works right away; raw squid, cold duck and chicken, bamboo, chicken feet, and much more I can't remember, all served atop the lazy susan and enjoyed with chopsticks :) This 4th floor special dining room is also used for karaoke... they made me sing the one Chinese song I learned from class at U of I, haha.
Then in the afternoon we took the bus into the countryside, the Hakka area (Hakka is also a dialect). As we drive into the country, I am reminded so much of Ecuador. If you ignore the Chinese characters written on street signs and billboards, the similarity is striking--the same cool weather, the same lush mountainside, traveling along in the same big diesel buses, even the old villagers have the same dark, weathered look. One difference to note, though, is Taiwan seems to be more well off... there appear to be less poor (at least in this part), where even the countryside houses that look substandard to us might have a new Toyota or BMW parked in the garage! We went partway up the mountains to see some temples... actually we've seen about half a dozen temples the last few days, I don't hope to see more soon.
We had a snack at a special tea house, where we were served spices that we had to grind by hand, and then combined these with a sweet ginger "soup" to make the tea... quite tasty actually. By now dusk had fallen on the Hakka area, and we walked from the tea house to a small restaurant where we had "traditional Hakka cuisine"... another assortment of unidentified food, not terribly tasty, but good conversation :)
Sunday morning we left the house at 9 am for Dahu, which is in the countryside. This time of year they have the strawberries in season... fields and fields of strawberries. We went to a strawberry museum, then to a field to pick strawberries, on to eat strawberry sausages, and finally we ate a "fruit-themed" meal at a local restaurant, complete with strawberries wrapped in bacon. I certainly had enough strawberries for a few weeks! In the afternoon we rode to a hot spring.
We had 2 hours there, it was at a nice hotel and it was extremely relaxing. Back to Hsinchu again for a meal in the evening. The meals have been more than I expected, Alan has everything arranged so that we walk into the restaurant, and they begin serving immediately (no ordering involved), and then they continue serving plate after plate of interesting dish as they become ready from the kitchen. Sunday night we met up with our friend, David, from U of I. He's Taiwanese and was staying at his parents' place in Taipei, so he came by and stayed with us for the night. We walked around downtown Hsinchu, ate shaved ice and drank bubble tea.
Monday was not a tour day, so Alan was not with us but our Taiwanese friends were along. It was quite cool and very windy, Hsinchu is known for being the "windy city" in Taiwan! The day was full of activities on the NCTU campus--a welcome ceremony, a 2-hour sample lecture on probability taught by one of their Swiss professors, a catered lunch, a Chinese character calligraphy lesson, a tour of campus, and a tour of the NDL lab. Here at the Nanotechnology Devices Laboratory they do cutting-edge research in the nanotech field, with a focus on superconductors.. a monumental advancement of the Electrical and Computer Engineering field.
Finally last evening we had what I thought was the most amazing meal I've had thus far, hosted by the president of the university. The food was truly spectacular, and quite erased all of my doubts about having to survive Chinese/Taiwanese food! Last night some went into downtown Hsinchu to celebrate the New Year, while others celebrated from bed. Thus far this trip has been far more than I expected, and I'm looking forward to our upcoming adventures!
Aboard the bus we met our awesome tour guide, Alan--full of energy and excellent English. We have also been accompanied by 8 or 10 NCTU students on all of our excursions; they are incredibly friendly, helpful, and speak great English too--true ambassadors to Taiwan! We ate boxed breakfast as we began our drive through the Hsinchu Science Park, very close to the NCTU campus. This is the equivalent of Taiwan's Silicon Valley, and many of the chip manufacturers are located here. Taiwan is modern, but not without it's culture. The streets are busy with mopeds weaving inbetween traffic, but the city is surprisingly quiet--I am told they quit honking their horns long ago since people don't heed this sound.
We had our first "traditional Taiwanese cuisine" meal for lunch at a restaurant--they weren't afraid to give us the works right away; raw squid, cold duck and chicken, bamboo, chicken feet, and much more I can't remember, all served atop the lazy susan and enjoyed with chopsticks :) This 4th floor special dining room is also used for karaoke... they made me sing the one Chinese song I learned from class at U of I, haha.Then in the afternoon we took the bus into the countryside, the Hakka area (Hakka is also a dialect). As we drive into the country, I am reminded so much of Ecuador. If you ignore the Chinese characters written on street signs and billboards, the similarity is striking--the same cool weather, the same lush mountainside, traveling along in the same big diesel buses, even the old villagers have the same dark, weathered look. One difference to note, though, is Taiwan seems to be more well off... there appear to be less poor (at least in this part), where even the countryside houses that look substandard to us might have a new Toyota or BMW parked in the garage! We went partway up the mountains to see some temples... actually we've seen about half a dozen temples the last few days, I don't hope to see more soon.
We had a snack at a special tea house, where we were served spices that we had to grind by hand, and then combined these with a sweet ginger "soup" to make the tea... quite tasty actually. By now dusk had fallen on the Hakka area, and we walked from the tea house to a small restaurant where we had "traditional Hakka cuisine"... another assortment of unidentified food, not terribly tasty, but good conversation :)
Sunday morning we left the house at 9 am for Dahu, which is in the countryside. This time of year they have the strawberries in season... fields and fields of strawberries. We went to a strawberry museum, then to a field to pick strawberries, on to eat strawberry sausages, and finally we ate a "fruit-themed" meal at a local restaurant, complete with strawberries wrapped in bacon. I certainly had enough strawberries for a few weeks! In the afternoon we rode to a hot spring.
We had 2 hours there, it was at a nice hotel and it was extremely relaxing. Back to Hsinchu again for a meal in the evening. The meals have been more than I expected, Alan has everything arranged so that we walk into the restaurant, and they begin serving immediately (no ordering involved), and then they continue serving plate after plate of interesting dish as they become ready from the kitchen. Sunday night we met up with our friend, David, from U of I. He's Taiwanese and was staying at his parents' place in Taipei, so he came by and stayed with us for the night. We walked around downtown Hsinchu, ate shaved ice and drank bubble tea.Monday was not a tour day, so Alan was not with us but our Taiwanese friends were along. It was quite cool and very windy, Hsinchu is known for being the "windy city" in Taiwan! The day was full of activities on the NCTU campus--a welcome ceremony, a 2-hour sample lecture on probability taught by one of their Swiss professors, a catered lunch, a Chinese character calligraphy lesson, a tour of campus, and a tour of the NDL lab. Here at the Nanotechnology Devices Laboratory they do cutting-edge research in the nanotech field, with a focus on superconductors.. a monumental advancement of the Electrical and Computer Engineering field.
Finally last evening we had what I thought was the most amazing meal I've had thus far, hosted by the president of the university. The food was truly spectacular, and quite erased all of my doubts about having to survive Chinese/Taiwanese food! Last night some went into downtown Hsinchu to celebrate the New Year, while others celebrated from bed. Thus far this trip has been far more than I expected, and I'm looking forward to our upcoming adventures!
From Strawberrys to Semiconductors
Day 2:
After a fun first day in Hsinchu, it was time to journey away from the busy city and into the countryside. The group visited the strawberry picking region about 45 min away from Hsinchu. We happened to come at the right time because there was a strawberry festival going on then. We went to a strawberry museum, picked strawberries, and drank strawberry wine. After we enjoyed the strawberry activities, we went to have a fruit themed lunch. After lunch, we went to the visitor center for Sheipa National Park visitor center. I learned a lot about the natural beauty of Taiwan and it gave me another reason why I should return here. After the quick walk around the visitor center, the group ascended the mountains again to bathe in soothing hot springs. There were several different pools that offered a variety of pools and jets to relax your body. It was interesting that the locals switch back and forth from hot to cold to hot pools. We all tried this and it was invigorating. After the hot springs, the group went to eat a traditional Chinese dinner.
Day 3:
Unlike days 1 and 2, Days three was a tour of NCTU and not of the surrounding area. The students greeted us as usual and we went to the University to have breakfast and hear information from various professors and deans from the engineering colleges. The rest of the day included various on campus activities such as a probability class, and calligraphy class, and a tour of a semiconductor research center. We ended the day by having a fine meal with the president of NCTU. The day was not as busy as the others, but it gave me a more complete overview of what attending NCTU would be like if I chose to attend it.
After a fun first day in Hsinchu, it was time to journey away from the busy city and into the countryside. The group visited the strawberry picking region about 45 min away from Hsinchu. We happened to come at the right time because there was a strawberry festival going on then. We went to a strawberry museum, picked strawberries, and drank strawberry wine. After we enjoyed the strawberry activities, we went to have a fruit themed lunch. After lunch, we went to the visitor center for Sheipa National Park visitor center. I learned a lot about the natural beauty of Taiwan and it gave me another reason why I should return here. After the quick walk around the visitor center, the group ascended the mountains again to bathe in soothing hot springs. There were several different pools that offered a variety of pools and jets to relax your body. It was interesting that the locals switch back and forth from hot to cold to hot pools. We all tried this and it was invigorating. After the hot springs, the group went to eat a traditional Chinese dinner.Day 3:
Unlike days 1 and 2, Days three was a tour of NCTU and not of the surrounding area. The students greeted us as usual and we went to the University to have breakfast and hear information from various professors and deans from the engineering colleges. The rest of the day included various on campus activities such as a probability class, and calligraphy class, and a tour of a semiconductor research center. We ended the day by having a fine meal with the president of NCTU. The day was not as busy as the others, but it gave me a more complete overview of what attending NCTU would be like if I chose to attend it.
Amazing dinner with the President
So the last blog covered most of what happened on New Years Eve. I feel a few points need elaboration though. While they were just in the presence of the President of the University, I was sitting next to the guy. I don't think I have ever heard a man laugh more than he did during that meal. He barely ate anything because he spent all of his time laughing at/with us and making jokes. It was by far my favorite company for a meal that I have had in a long time. I was very scared when I first realized that the last seat at the table was to the President of NCTU's left. I assumed that I was going to have to be very proper, watch what I say, and be on my best behavior.About 5 minutes into the meal, he is being a most accommodating host, and laughing and telling stories about his time spent teaching at the University of Illinois. Barely 5 minutes later, I am laughing so hard that I missed the pork going around for like the 3rd time, but I didn't care because I was enjoying the meal so much. I was incredibly lucky being able to sit next to this amazing man. After 2 hours of gut-busting fun, we called it a night and I had my picture taken with him, just me and him.
If I don't remember anything else from the trip but this dinner, I will have been satisfied with going on the trip. Luckily for me, there have been so many other amazing times so far that other people have talked about that this trip has been incredibly satisfying.
Thank you IPENG!
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