ANDREA HOVERSLAND

Last weekend a group of 12 international students (including me, of course) went to the Island of Macau, located about an hour West of Hong Kong by Ferry. We booked a couple hotel rooms in Tapei to crash in and headed over to discover the sites of the former Portuguese colony!

Here is most of the group at the starting point of our "journey". It looks very colonial, and what you don't see on the picture is the huge shopping district all around the ruins. It was fun to see the colonial remains, but only a small percentage of the population speaks Portuguese, which was no big surprise.

Macau is known for its wide array of gambling opportunities. We stopped by the Wynn Casino for a couple rounds of blackjack. The Portuguese food that we tried for many of our meals was soooo delicious. Also, some of us ordered some more exotic things such as roasted Quail and the like. It was so yummy. . . . . .. but this time I'll spare you from viewing the picture . . . You're welcome!

Finally, here is a picture of Alice and I on the "Avenue of the Stars" in Tsim Sha Tsui, where you can look across at Hong Kong Island. We are comparing our handprints to those of Mr. Jackie Chan. I think he may have broken some fingers because his were pretty crooked.

This weekend I need to read for my classes and catch up on some homework. Today (Friday) I went with my friends Jamie and Grace to pick up Jamie's Chinese Visa from a travel agency, but I need to go to the Chinese Visa office to get my visa since I have a U.S. passport. I'll save that for next week. We went to an area just a few train stops down (there is a train station on campus, did i mention that?) called Mong Kok to the market tonight where I picked up some cheap sunglasses for my travels. Also, we got some some "bubble" tea with tapioca balls in it and lots of food on a stick for dinner! I think I talk about the new kinds of food far too much but everything is so much fun to try.

A tourist was asking the saleswoman in the stall at Mong kok if the Prada sunglasses she was trying to sell for USD $20 were "real." Haha. . . . you just have to laugh at some people.

I am keeping up with my friends back at Saint Peter's College as best I can, although I believe I am forming a very bad habit. Due to the 13 hour time difference ( I thought it was less, I was wrong!) I usually talk to them on AIM at about 2 or 3 AM. This is really messing with my sleep so. . . . Facebook here I come! Anyway, I miss my good ol' SPC but I'm so glad I have the opportunity to study in Hong Kong.

Next weekend I believe I'm headed for a big trip. . . but I'll keep you updated on my travels. Until next time, Goodbye!