The first few days here composed of trying to get your head around A LOT of things! What, where and how were common questions - we tended to travel everywhere in big groups in the hope that at least one amongst us would be able to find the correct mtr exit, or a suitable place to find food, or internet!
However overwhelming though, the thoroughness, care and support provided by Chatteris over that I initial period was the main reason for me feeling as at home as I have done so early on. They provided information about how to get a Hong Kong I.D. cards (in a nutshell, a labyrinth of queues and waiting), they had people from a local Hong Kong bank come to where we had been taken for lunch so we could set it up there!, flat hunting advice, and just general smiles and heaps of information about everything we would need in order to get us settled in Hong Kong as quickly as possible – thank you to Kristy, grace, Hannah, Margaret, Scarlet, Gladys, Adam, Roxanne, Chris, Amanda and Irene.
The second evening, we all were taken to Tsim Sha Tsui Harbour on the edge of Kowloon, to watch the infamous light and sound show named the largest light and sound show in the world by the Guinness book of world records. It is staged at 8pm every night and is a must see for anyone and everyone visiting Hong Kong – Postcards do not do the scene of the harbour filled with skyscrapers and lights justice. To top it all off, a few of us took the Star Ferry across the harbour which is also in itself a magical experience to have supper on the Island.
After our initial orientation day at the Chatteris office, we were all taken to Hong Kong Baptist Assembly Camp in the new Territories www.camphkba.org where we stayed until Friday. Bearing in mind we had only met each other for about 36 hours, this was a real bonding experience, having to sleep in dorms and not being able to get anywhere. Oh and the RAIN! The continual, unceasing rain that came, from the moment we arrived until the moment we left which left us sheltering in buildings and in covered walkways. Many of the activities planned had to be remodelled, but in true Chatteris style, the whole thing ran seamlessly and we were treated to a programme of team games, entertainment and more information.
We were all placed in mentor groups. Our project manager is called Margaret, and she has been working for Chatteris for four years. She graduated from the University of British Colombia in Vancouver and is super lovely. Over the few days, we were treated to many things like picking up tic tacs with chopsticks, a mini Chinese funfair complete with traditional Chinese games and crafts like paper cutting, and Chinese treats and snacks - egg rolls (the name does not do them justice believe me!), aeroplane ludo (which I think is called something more Chinese than that!) mask making etc! Also, we had our introduction to Cantonese lessons. Cantonese has 9 tones and is incredibly complicated as a language! For example, the word for four, ‘say’ is unlucky – many flats do not have floors 4 or 13 because the same word said in a different tone means death. Interestingly, there are also different hand signals for the different numbers, much more interesting than ours! (find!). The final night consisted of an incredible BBQ for which we were treated to the western delights of toasted marshmallows, corn on the cob, a huge range of meats, tomato ketchup etc! (especially appreciated after not being too fond of the food served at the camp, the tuck shop I think turned over quite a profit over those few days from us!) and then all performed in the Chatteris Talent Show. The acts included a huge ring of hokey pokey (complete with a couple of Cantonese words for body parts!) a hilarious skit about yoga, human pile on (just as it sounds!) and a Chatteris rap! It was a great bonding experience, despite some of the food and the weather!
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