Cultural Etiquette

• Request your bill by making a writing motion with your hand.
• To beckon someone, extend your arm, palm down, and make a scratching motion with your fingers.
• Never point with your index finger. This is used only for animals. Point with your hand open.
  

This will be a difficult gesture for me to get used to!

• Tea is the customary beverage for all occasions. Your teacup will be refilled continually. Leave your cup full if you are finished.

They don't appreciate putting sugar and cream! I need my sugar and cream!

• It is bad manners for a host not to keep a guest's plate full, and it is even worse for a guest not to continue eating as long as the plate is full. Always leave some food on your dish after you are finished with each course. Otherwise the host will continue refilling your plate or bowl.

No problem with this one! I have always left a bite or two on my plate.

• The Chinese find belching, slurping, clanging utensils and making loud noises at the dinner table acceptable, sometimes even complimentary.
• Wear a good watch. It will be noticed.

Gotta get me a nice rowlex!

• Gift giving is a tradition in Hong Kong that communicates respect and friendship. Be prepared to present a small gift at the first meeting, such as high-quality cognac, brandy, candy or pens. Unlike other Asian countries, Scotch whiskey is not special in Hong Kong.

I plan on getting some Georgetown College pens to give to people. This will be my gift to those who are meeting me at the airport! BROWNIE POINTS!

• Never go to a Chinese home without a gift.
• The Chinese are famous for communicating by "Saying it without saying it." You will have to learn to read between the lines.

Their own way of doing things!

MEETING AND GREETING

.The handshake is commonly used when greeting westerners.
.The Hong Kong Chinese handshake is rather light.
.During the greeting, many Hong Kong Chinese lower their eyes as a sign of respect.
.There is no need for you to emulate this gesture, although prolonged eye contact should be avoided during the greeting.
.If you are at a large function, you may introduce yourself to other guests.
.At smaller functions, it is polite to wait for your host or hostess to introduce you.
.The Chinese traditionally have 3 names: The surname, or family name is first and is followed by two personal names. The first personal name is their father's name and the second personal name is their own name.
.Address the person by an honorific title and their surname.
.If they want to move to a first name basis, they will advise you which name to use.
.Some Chinese adopt more western names and may ask you to call them by that name.

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE AND PROTOCOL

.They are quite familiar and comfortable with people from other countries.
.The Hong Kong Chinese take a long-term view of business relationships.
.Business cards are exchanged after the initial introductions.
.Have one side of your business card translated into Chinese, with the Chinese characters printed in gold, since it is an auspicious color.
.Business cards are exchanged using both hands.
.Hand your card so the typeface faces the recipient.

I've already made my own business card, however after researching I found out I should put Chinese on the other side!All information found from kwintessential

Communicating with HongKongers

• What do you think will be especially difficult for you to adjust to in your host country?

Learning Mandarin in class, yet hearing Cantonese from all over this crazy city will make communication VERY difficult for me. I pray that I will be able to quickly learn basic conversation and grammar concepts enough to jump start my ability to speak Cantonese with those I meet off campus. Of course, one of the main reasons for my exchange to Hong Kong is in fact to learn how to speak a Chinese dialect. It will be interesting because Hong Kong actually declared themselves "triliteral/bilingual". I am confident that I will be able to figure things out quickly.

• What would you want to know about the culture in which you will be living in order to help guide your response?

How best to converse with peers, and how I should change my style of conversation with elders or officials. Should I be direct, attached, or over-expressive? Knowing this will help me begin to understand important parts of HongKong's cultural differences from my own.

• What might be some positive aspects of being in your host country, and how might these help compensate or ease some of the difficulties?

I have always struggled in my own culture with being to honest in my speech or quick to speak. I feel that being in a class setting in HongKong shall be interesting. From what I hear, students don't raise their hand or make comments - they listen to the professor's lecture and that's it. However, this will be good for me because I feel that I will be able to humble myself a bit and know how it feels to just listen and not be so flippant with comments. I am sure that there will be instances where I will show my personality though and this may be good for Chinese students to experience something diverse, who knows!

• In order to ease the transition and adapt to life overseas, you may need to make some temporary, yet fundamental concessions. What adjustments or changes are you willing to make?

I'm willing to not be so picky on what I eat. Here I really get choosy on what I want to eat for my meal. Although I am sure HongKong has a great selection, I will be in situations where I will have to stretch my taste buds. Instead of refusing, I will just have to go ahead and eat whatever is available. I'm also willing to embarass myself in order to practice speaking and learning how to live as they do.

• What personal qualities do you think are important for adjusting to life abroad? Do you have these qualities?

Humble. Kind. Considerate. Understanding. Cautious. Aware. I feel that I have these qualities and will do my best to improve any weaker qualities that I may have as well. I definitely need to be controlled in some instances like convincing myself that I am capable to find my way around. I need to be more humble in many ways. This main characteristic will make or break how I adjust to living in HongKong.

Prep Course 1: Key Recognitions

Anticipation and Expectation Exercise

A. What are the five things that I am most looking forward to about studying abroad?

1. Exploring a whole new cultural environment
   
2. Learning and speaking Mandarin and Cantonese
   
3. Meeting new people on campus and off campus
   
4. Getting involved with basketball and tennis and Kowloon International Baptist Church
   
5. Gaining so much experience and having a credible global perspective
   

B. What are the five things that currently worry me most about going overseas?

1. Finances - not having a job and being on a limited budget
   
2. Not having an accountability partner to help encourage me in my walk with Christ
   
3. Knowing that my family is probably worried about me
   
4. Struggling to make good grades in class
   
5. Being persecuted for my faith as a Christian
   

C. What are the five things (people, places, activities, etc.) I believe I will miss most from home when abroad?

1. Family and friends
2. Georgetown College
   
3. Fudge (my dog)
   
4. Food selection
   
5. Having a comfortable home
   

D. What are the five things (people, places, activities, etc.) I believe I will miss least from home when abroad?

1. Working full time
2. Paying for gas
   
3. Telling people about my study abroad plans!
4. The English language
   
5. Going through the motions
   

E. My greatest single challenge overseas will be: patience and perseverance

Prep Course 1: Why Study Abroad?

Top Eleven Reasons

1. It's my calling - Matthew 28: 19-20 Jesus says, "Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

2. Studying abroad is a life-altering experience!
Studying and living in a different culture will help me see the world from a completely different perspective. It's an amazing experience that will change my life. I hope to change the lives of others as well through my experience.

3. Learn a language in the country where it is spoken.
The only way for me to truly become fluent in Mandarin or Cantonese is to be immersed in it. If I study a language for several years and want to gain fluency, study abroad.

4. Learn about myself and gain independence.
Studying abroad is a chance to challenge myself with situations that will test my abilities to adapt and learn. I feel that this year will finally break me free from depending on my parents for practically everything.

5. Step out of my comfort zone and reap the benefits.
Studying abroad is a chance for me to step outside of the ordinary and experience a culture completely different from America.

6. Resume builder.
In today's global economy, studying abroad can be a vital element in a college education. Many companies increasingly desire leaders who can live successfully in a variety of countries and work with staff from different cultural backgrounds. I know attending this baptist university will make me one step closer to God's career calling for my life as an international missionary.

7. If it's free, it's me!
Praise the Lord! The tuition for HKBU is half the price of Georgetown College. Even better, I still get to use my scholarship money from Georgetown and account it all for HKBU! I don't even have to pay for my plain ticket or books! I couldn't say no to this amazing offer.

8. Living out the life of a Global Scholar
Studying abroad offers me the opportunity to live out my expectations as a Global Sholar. How can I go on representing a program as one who desires for globalization to occur, when I haven't even lived abroad? I can't wait to boost the program on my return by sharing my testimony with younger scholars and make them aware of the opportunity they have as a Global Scholar.

9. See the world (or at least a part of it).
Most people travel for a week or two each year if they're lucky! I get to dive in to one of the largest cities in the world! I can hardly wait to start memorizing the area and knowing what restaurants have the best food and what stores have the best souvenirs. The list goes on in this neverending city.

10. Make connections that can last a lifetime.
I can't wait to network with fellow students, teachers, host families, professionals, churches, and missionaries. It's not what ya know, it's WHO ya know!

11. International travel and study are fun and exciting.
Merely stating the obvious! I am going to have a blast in Hong Kong. No doubt about that!

Prep Course 1: My profile

Profile Information

• Previous study or living abroad/travel experiences: I traveled to Tokyo, Japan for two weeks when I was a senior in high school.
  
• My major(s)/minor(s): Commerce, Language, & Culture
  
• My school and/or study abroad program(s): Hong Kong Baptist University
• My host country(ies): Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
• Languages I speak (other than English): Spanish (not fluent)
• My fears or concerns about being abroad: Finances
• Characteristics that might affect my experience abroad, and that other students might find useful for discussion (ethnicity, religion, dietary restrictions, sexual preference, etc.): Discipleship training
• What I hope to gain from this course: knowing what is expected of me to best represent America; assuring myself that I am ready to live abroad for my career
  

Hong Kong Baptist University

Yesterday the FedEx guy left me an obvious important document. I knew it was from Hong Kong Baptist University, and I was so excited to open it! Inside was my visa and student handbook! I know it doesn't sound very exciting to you, but oh my gosh I have a visa to live on the other side of the world as a student for 10 months!!! Not much else excites me more than that.

Anyway, I have a lot of reading up to do and sadly more papers to fill out before it's all said and done. I'd love to inform my few readers of what I know of HKBU so far. They are obviously flourishing with Christianity - I know this because they have many, muchos churches surrounding them and the handbook has an insert of the churches close by and encourages us to get involved. That I have! God's business involves relationships, in other words - connections. In the early stage of my decision to study here a few months back, I talked with a dear missionary friend of mine. She hooked me up with someone she knew attending one of the churches near HKBU, which just so happens to be one of the churches listed in the handbook. I have already contacted them about my desire to find a church to serve at and they are looking forward to meeting me and have welcomed me to worship God with them! I am so thankful that God has once again placed someone in my path. He is always taking care of me and is always faithful.

Now to more nitty and gritty information about Hong Kong. The population is 7 million and 95% are Chinese. Surprisingly much of Hong Kong is conserved parkland. 10% are Christians - this is possible in Hong Kong because their government is a limited democracy. Their legal system is based on English common law. Their executive leader is President Hu Jintao. Their economy is heavily correlated with mainland China. HKBU has about 8000 students. I will be staying in one of the many 21 floor dormitories. My means of transportation will be bicycle and bus most of the time. And I will be roomates with a Chinese student whom I do not know exactly yet. If you have any other questions about the university or whatever else please ask. I have much to learn and your questions will force me to find answers!

Global Scholar

Preparing for studying abroad is no walk in the park. There is much to do! I really wish I had a personal tutor for learning the Chinese language! But thanks to Amy I can at least make myself feel better by taking prep courses offered by this neat website globalscholar.us...check it out! Also I got my new hat today with our Global Scholar logo embroidered on it - it looks pretty sweet. I can't wait to start packing for Hong Kong!!! I can hardly wait and all of this preparation is making me even more anxious!

There's a first time for everything...

Hey, so this is my first post to my own personal blog. I have mixed feelings...but really my reasoning for having this is to keep those who are interested in how my life is going in Hong Kong. However, the truth is I don't actually leave until August 21st. Oh well, I'm a firm believer in taking care of business beforehand.
Please please please amuse me with comments and please please please pray for me as I endeavor into one of the biggest cities in the world without knowing a soul. This verse is near and dear to my heart and is definitely worthy to be on my first post:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight." - Proverbs 3:5