nick’s (n)-line life

Hello to all from Sunny Hong Kong!
man have you ever tried wearing a suit in weather hot enough to melt a cat? (hum something seems to have gone wrong with that metaphor, I seem to be feeling a tad random today…) anyway, I’m trying to say “it’s hot damn hot” :p

Anyway, as you might have gathered I’m in Hong Kong on my law vac scheme. I’ve been here since Saturday and it’s been pretty cool thus far.

The first night I slapped down my bodies winging about jet lag (pah!) and went off to find a bar. I hit one that I’d been to last time I was in HK. Funnily enough one of the staff Knew from last time I was in country. Had a nice catch-up chat with her and then bumped into a really cool Indian guy called Nick (yes we both thought it was quite amusing too after a few beers). He invited me back to his place where I met his lovely [Chinese] wife and we talked into the early hours over a large pile of beer and wine. When I eventually got to bed I realised that this was a pretty fab way to start a month in Hong Kong (and almost compensated me for the obscene 30 hours door to door long haul flight!).

After my 4am finish the next day was rather slow [mainly because I didn't get up until late afternoon!] although I was extremely pleased to be present at the Migrant Workers Protest concert in Statue square in the evening (photos to follow when back in UK).

The work induction was also good and covered lots of points of interests. In the evening I went to Soho with one of the other scheme students from China and her friend, both very chilled and the girlie slightly crazy [in a nice way... fun and bouncy rather than in an augh-axe-murderer!]

So yes, I’m the only English intern although no surprises there… think when I talked about this last time I as told that last one was 8 years ago and that was because of residency links. On the plus side one of my friends from Cambridge is providing me with moral support by only speaking some Cantonese and no Mandarin, however)

Hum… wonder if I’ll ever be any good at Mandarin…. if not it’s not for lack of textbook buying!

I think you’re really expected to work hard here. Not surprising seeing as it represents a 1/4 of a NR’s seat. hum… also not too sure I’m gonna do financially very well out of this little venture after costs, but still, very interesting work… you learn so many interesting things on these schemes but then you can’t tell anyone, pesky confidentiality agreements :)

Oh yes, on the MRT home I had something of a revelation (well, maybe just stopped being dumb) and realized that the film One Night in Mongkok is probably set in the Mongkok area (there’s a train stop there…)

Ok ok, can’t write more, gotta go collect my phone from the fixers…. then should be able to use it with my HK sim card…) [yes, subtle non-verbal clue for friends to txt me :) ]

… I’m off to play with my Octopus (card)…