18.1.2018

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Today’s class focused on language in Hong Kong. Yu Laoshi explained to us the differences between a language vs. dialect vs. topolect vs. accent and the background of the Chinese government’s policy. Then, we talked about our two readings: “Not Like A Native Speaker” by Rey Chow and “Do You Realise this is a Chinese School?…” by Paul O’Connor and Julian M. Groves. It was very interesting to hear about the Hong Kong students’ experience in the education system and how different they may be.
We broke up to have our discussions, revolving around topics such as our native vs. first language, and some of us went to Tuen Mun town to talk over Shanghainese food. I talked to Harry a bit about what our project may be about before he had to go to class and I returned to campus.
I wanted to enjoy some more of the beautiful day, so I took the purple line to Tin Shui Wai and walked around to where Google Maps said the bus to Lau Fau Shan should be. The directions I had looked up said to take bus 33, but I could not find it anywhere. I asked a woman who was waiting nearby and even though we could not really speak to each other, she enthusiastically tried to help me and pointed across the road. I walked around the whole intersection, grabbing some egg tarts from a local bakery, but found no bus stop for the 33 line. Slightly disappointed, I decided to go back to the original bus stop and get on the next bus to arrive. I got on the K65 and eventually figured out that it went to Lau Fau Shan (luckily it hadn’t been the one that went to Shenzhen)! After getting off, I wandered around the little town and meandered through the market, full of dried fish and fresh oysters, before finding a comfy spot to read by the water. I stayed there and watched the sky change colors as the sun set and the lights in Shenzhen began to turn on.
I made my way back to campus, got dinner at Fu Tai shopping center, and then came back to the dorm for the night.