Wong's Weblog

Nihao

So this is my first blog ever and I am speaking to you from the future, kind of, not really. Well its Monday April 14 from where I’m at and I am 15 hours ahead (future haha, I am so lame).

So I’m guessing some of you are wondering What? China? Why? When did this come about? Huh? Well its kind of a complex answer. One of the big reasons, go to learn Mandarin so the next 8 months are for the next 20 years of business. That was a big reason but so many more come into play. Leaving Scottsdale. I’ve been a Scottsdale boy my entire life, definitely needed a change. I wanted to test myself, my character, my faith. Who am I when I am stripped away from all the comforts of my life? Who will I choose to be when the people that know me are half way across the world? This is a trip of growth, discovery and adventure. One of the true inspirations for this trip was from a book “Barbarian Way” by Erwin McManus. In the book, he told of a story of when he and his wife were out doing yard work when their son appeared standing outside the second story window of their house. He asked his dad if he should jump. Erwin said “Go for it,” the wife says “are you crazy?” As a child you have such a sense of fearlessness, innocence and need for adventure. Society tames that wildness away as we grow up. Risks become harder to take. Life becomes a routine and easy. So, there I was on the second story window and here I am jumping off to see what this adventure will bring…

We had a long day of traveling, which started on Saturday April 12 at 4 am, flew to LAX where I have a 4-5 hour layover (WHY do I have a layover for that long in LA??), get on a 747 and finally get into Hong Kong after a 15 hour flight. Before we left LAX, they asked for 20 people to give up their seats for the flight and in return would offer a upgrade to business class, $500 in future plane tickets and free hotel for the night in LA. FYI, if you’re ever taking a flight to Hong Kong and this offer comes up, take it. Let me tell ya, 15 hours in coach is not exactly the most comfortable of arrangements and no Britt, seating on this plane was nothing like the Holiday. They played some pretty good movies during the flight. First up was Enchanted. I was skeptical at first because come on, have you seen previews for this movie?? Princesses, Princes, talking squirrels in New York City…Well I walked away (figuratively) from the movie thinking ahhh that was cute. Next movie up, August Rush. I’ve been wanting to see it for a while but never got the chance. It was a good one, made me want to play the piano again but lets face it, that’s not going to happen while I’m gone. Movie #3, National Treasure, which also turned out to be another movie that I wanted to see. This was a fun movie with all the puzzles and such and lets not forget the amazing acting of good ol’ Nick Cage. Guess it’s not really that hard to be amused when you’re sitting in a prison for 10 hours. Now this is the point of the flight when tears started rolling down the face for 10 minutes. Not because of National Treasure, but because I say to myself, saying 8 months is sure easier than actually have to live it, man I’m going to miss home L So what I’m learning right now is “live one day at a time”. Now for Movie #4 was The Great Debaters. Wonderful movie that I’ve seen before and highly recommend. Unfortunately I feel asleep because being up for 30 something hours straight takes a little toll on the body. So I guess the point is, there was pretty good entertainment on the flight. So the flight seemed to drag on forever even with the movies and all. We land and the last thing our pilot said to us was “Well, we got here no where close to on time but…at least we’re here.” Haha that’s funny… NOT.

Leaving the airport we take about a 40 minute drive to Kowloon where my Aunt and Uncle live. Driving through the city, I forget the grandness of this urban utopia from my last trip here 5 years ago. There are amazing freeways, mass light rail transit (Yes, I am a strong supporter of this in Phoenix), ridiculous architecture all over the place, crazy cool lighting that shines up the bridge just because it looks sweet, buildings that change color top to bottom, 30+ story high rises all over the place, I mean this place is pretty fantastic. I’m very excited to go around and explore everything.

Here is where I will be living for the next couple of months (i’m figuring out the picture thing so if it doesn’t work too bad). A 10^th floor, 850 square foot flat with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, office, kitchen, dining room and living room, I bet you can’t do that in Phoenix. Oh ya, I forgot to mention that this sells for about $750,000 today. $500/ft at Optima doesn’t sound too bad now does it? Woke up early this morning to a true Urban lifestyle. Woke up, didn’t even change from my baller shorts and Dodgers shirt, didn’t do my hair, didn’t, looking like a total scrub I walked down stairs around the block to get breakfast (and yes I think people looked at me funny). My mom, grandma, sister and myself had a hearty breakfast of rice porridge for under $10 US. Not too bad. Then we went to the grocery store a few stores down got some food and walked back up to the flat. I’m telling you, this is a fun lifestyle and I am glad that I get to experience this over Suburbia over the next few months.

I’ll try to post as much as I can when I get free time and a select few of you know who to call to get me out of you know where if I don’t post at least once every other week J My friends, I love you all and miss you. Take super good care of yourself until we speak we again.