arrived safely in hong kong (read: did not die in a fiery plane crash)

I'm currently in my Yi-poh (grand-aunt)'s apartment eating chau siu bao (roast pork bun) and drinking Vita soy milk. I'm living out my greatest Hong Kong fantasies, you guys. (The sad part is that I'm not being sarcastic. I am really looking forward to eating Chinese pastries and drinking soy milk for the next four months, especially since the chau siu bao I'm savoring is the best I've ever had. )

My flight was by far the smoothest flying experience I've had; we departed on time, arrived early, and I didn't have any issue getting through the TSA or going through Immigration.  I'm inclined to believe that my ridiculous headband helped. Nothing anyone can say will convince me otherwise.

My biu yi (aunt) met me at Chek Lap Kok (Hong Kong International Airport). This woman is insanely insanely gorgeous. No, seriously, I need to go through this woman's medicine cabinet or check under her bed to make sure she didn't stashed a portrait under there to age for her. I am very biased and will proudly say that I think the mom is the most beautiful woman I know, but let's just say that mom would have some competition (they're about the same age - I am praying that I will get their genes!).

Anyway, biu-yi treated me to sushi and I think Hong Kong airport sushi is on par with regular restaurant sushi in the States. That's kind of sad. The fish is so unbelievably fresh and tender... if I'm not careful, I may have to rename this blog to "How Stacy Ate Her Way Through Hong Kong: The Pearl of the Orient". I'm going to gain like, twenty pounds, you guys. Thank god there's a fitness center nearby and I have to walk everywhere.

Biu-yi and I took the Airport Express to Lantau Island and then took a cab to Pok Fu Lam road to my Yi-poh (grand-aunt)'s friend's apartment where I'll be staying. It's right across the street from the HKU campus and I think it's quite near Lady Ho Tung Hall. Biu-yi took me me to a supermarket to grab milk and cereal for breakfast and I spent most of last night trying to cram what seems like my entire wardrobe into a rather tiny amount of closet space.

My mom, while trying to be helpful, shoved a bunch of clothes that aren't mine/never wore and never will/hadn't planned on taking with me into my suitcase. I'm now trying to decide what to do with them...

I think Yi-poh's friend - I'll be referring her to "Auntie" from now on to avoid confusion- and I will get along very nicely.  She's a very elegant/classy-looking lady. (What is it with women in this city and their ability to age so ridiculously well?) She's very sweet and likes classical music and Chinese calligraphy.

After breakfast, I'm going to HSBC to set up a bank account and change some money. Then hopefully I'll be able to set up internet at Yi-poh's friend's home and figure out an old cell phone Biu-yi lent me. It's an Anycall Samsung phone and I don't understand how anything works.

I'm starting to think that the Phone Book/Contacts list is possessed because I'll save numbers and they'll vanish, never to appear again in this space and time. Awesome.

So far, everyone's been exceedingly kind to me. They're nice enough not to tell me to stop gawking at all the bright neon signs, city lights, and the breath-taking gorgeous Hong Kong harbor (I get a view of the water from my room!) and they keep telling me that my Cantonese and Mandarin are good. Like I said, they're being exceedingly polite and kind.