Things I Miss About Hong Kong

A year ago today, I came back to America after four wonderful, magical months in Hong Kong. To commemorate, here are a few thing I miss about that Special Administrative Region I called home.

The Jungle

As a Arizonan desert-dweller, I loved living in the middle of a lush, GREEN jungle.

Adorable Baby Asians

I can't explain but, to me, Asian babies are xx% cuter than any other babies. Maybe it's the chubby cheeks or the 100% Hello Kitty outfits...

Weird McDonald's Items

Yes, the McCurry may have wreaked havoc on my fragile American digestive system, but it was really fun trying all the unique McDonald's items.

Mangoes

Sometimes I weep over the fact that there are no good mangoes in America. In HK, I would eat mangoes all day every day.

Being Pampered

This applies to Asia in general. I never had to throw away my lunch tray. I could get my hair washed and styled for less than $7 (in Mainland, it was ridiculously cheap! $3). I could get my laundry hand washed and pressed. I never had to clean the bathroom. When I returned to America, I had forgotten which way the toilet paper goes. I was spoiled.

7-11

Life pretty much revolved around the 7-11 in Hong Kong. It was where you paid your bills, added money to your octopus card, and grabbed an icecream and fresh bowl of ramen. What more could you need?

Dumplings

I dream about dumplings. I would probably kill for a chance to go back to my favorite Taiwanese dumpling place at the local mall. I need to make a trip to LA soon to go get some xiaolongbao at Din Tai Fung.

Public Transportation

There was zero need for a car in Hong Kong. Through buses, mini-buses, and the MTR you could get anywhere, even isolated mountain trails. If only BART was as efficient as the MTR...

Student Exchange Program: The Road Less Travelled

I am a strong believer that every student should go on a study abroad. And the BYU Study abroad program is really cool. But there’s another option in the Marriott School that a lot of people don’t know about. It’s the Student Exchange Program. Basically, you will get to take business classes for credit at another university.

Here are some of the differences between the SEP and a regular BYU Study Abroad.

Study Abroad

•      You are with a group of other BYU students
•        Lots of traveling involved (bounce from city to city, continent to continent)
•        Led by BYU professors
•       Stay in hotels or with local families
•        Pretty expensive- term: $6000, semester: $10,000

SEP

•       Enroll as an exchange student at another university
•       Few if any other BYU students (only one other BYU student on my program)
•       You plan your own travel
•       Stay in dormitories or local families
•      You choose how much you spend through budgeting

They are both great programs so you need to decide which one is right for you.

Going to Hong Kong through SEP was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I got to have a more local experience. I made friends from all over the world that I still keep in touch with. I traveled to amazing places like Thailand, Taiwan, and mainland China. I had a taste of international business (because it’s way different than American business).

So check the SEP website out! And if you decide SEP is something you want to do, I’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. 

A Glimpse into Another World: Muir Woods

I am always amazed by the beauty and variety of nature. Some places even feel other worldly. When I was in Yangshuo last year, I honestly felt like I was on the set for Avatar. The jagged hills covered in fog looked so alien.

But yesterday at Muir Woods, I felt more like I was on the planet Endor in Star Wars.*

Muir Woods is a national monument north of San Francisco in a redwood forest. Redwoods are the tallest trees in the world reaching almost 400 ft in height. It's a nice break from the craziness of the city and the Bay Area. 

The time to go is right when the park opens at 8 AM. My friends and I got there around 8:15 and were able to get a parking spot in the lot closest to the entrance. Win! And there was only one group of tourists there so we just sped past them and were able to have a semi-private walk around the park. And because there were so few people, we could really listen to the sounds of the forest around us.

Muir Woods was one of the most beautiful forests I've ever been in. Hundreds upon hundreds of clovers dotted the forest floor. Moss covered the low branches. The redwoods shot to the sky. 

Making a pit stop at Muir Woods was totally worth it.

*Actually, the scenes on Endor were filmed in a redwood grove near Muir Woods so I was kind of was on the planet Endor! #nerdmoment

Napa It Up!

I am in love with California.

You know what Jane Austen says, “What are men to rocks and mountains.” And although any Austen reference usually inspires an eye-roll, there’s a bit of truth in that statement. Rocks and mountains are pretty awesome. But hills and grapes are even more awesome.

My roommate and I headed up to Napa on Saturday. I did not really know what to expect. I mean, I’ve heard about Napa my whole life. I mean, what 20 something girl hasn’t seen The Parent Trap (Lohan version) and The Wedding Planner? And I had been to the French version of Napa in Burgundy, France. But what really is Napa? Was it as beautiful as everyone says?

The answer is yes. The valley filled with rows upon rows of grapes. The green hills covered in trees, framing the valley. The train tracks on the side of the highway. The beautiful buildings.

We started in Yountville, where we went to the famous Bouchon bakery. And oh my gracious the food was DIVINE!! I could eat the whole selection (and consequently gain 100 pounds) because it all looked amazing! But I settled on a pain au chocolate, a lemon tart, and a French baguette. And each one was phenomenal. It’s probably a good thing I don’t live anywhere near Yountville or I would eat there every day.

We then continued down Highway 29, stopping at the occasional beautiful winery and trying the free food. We explored gardens, crashed Kentucky Derby parties, and took lots of pictures. We headed back to Napa, the city, and ate lunch at Gott’s Diner, which was featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. I got the blue cheese burger and it was definitely intriguing. We also stopped by Oxbow Public Market, basically a warehouse (a really fancy one) jammed with little restaurants and stores selling incredible delicious top of the line food.

So basically, Napa’s just jumped up to one of my favorite places to go visit. So if anyone wants to go to Napa, I’m game.