Arrival

I have arrived and it feels glorious.

The majority of my flight to Hong Kong was spent propped up against the window, airplane pillow acting as a buffer, as I managed to take a handful of individual catnaps that somehow added up to nearly 10 hours worth of sleep. When I was not dreaming I was eating, watching episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm, playing games, and even managed to catch a movie, Be Kind Rewind. As I awoke from my final brief slumber, we were approaching Hong Kong International Airport, and the view from my window was stunning. The setting sun cast a bright orange tint over the sea, boats and junks of all sizes spread out in various directions, and skyscrapers loomed larger and brighter than I could have ever imagined. And then we touched down.

I cleared customs, called Dr. Hu (affectionately known as F.C. for the duration of this trip) and lugged my 80 pounds of luggage onto the airport express, where I would travel for 30 minutes to Hong Kong Island to meet F.C. and be escorted to my living quarters.

I am living in the Residential and Amenities Complex of Shue Yan University, a massive building less than 3 years old, which is situated on top of a hill in the North Point section of Hong Kong Island. My apartment is tiny, furnished with an undersized twin bed, dining room table, closet, television, desk, a few chairs, bathroom, a washer, small refrigerator, hot plate, microwave, and the most dazzling and breathtaking view I have ever encountered. My window overlooks part of Tai Tam Country Park, past Happy Valley, over Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Admiralty, Victoria Peak, Central, and all the way to Victoria Harbor. I can lay in bed and look at three of the tallest buildings in the world simultaneously. And every so often I will glance out of the window and make eye contact with some of Hong Kong Islands' most magnificent birds of prey, who soar and glide effortlessly, and reaffirm my altitude, in case I have forgotten just how high up I actually am.

And you wonder why I have a permanent smile on my face when gazing outward across the island?