Newsstand - Jordan, HK

Magazines and newspapers - mostly in Chinese - can be purchased at any one of these small newsstands around HK. Some of the stands in touristed areas even offer the local English dailies like the South China Morning Post, International Herald and Financial Times Asia. Larger stands will also sell canned and bottled drinks as well as cigarettes (such as this one) for the local commuters.

Chinese herb and spice shop - Yau Ma Tei, HK

The smell of dried fish and kelb is overwhelming to a passerby. Shops like these that sell everything from Chinese herbs and spices to dried foods, fruits and teas are abundant on the Kowloon peninsula of Hong Kong. Some of these spices have medicinal properties, such as crushed deer antlers which are said to increase male fertility. It's like Bambi Viagra...

The Kong Show

Well, I've been safe in HK for the last week as new Maryknoll vols rolled in. Now, they are busy with orientation (learning about China, teaching in China and the Catholic Church in China.... in China) and, on the days that I don't help out with, I've got the days to myself. Landing at the HK airport felt really good. It was familiar and effortless to get back to Maryknoll and begin my second year abroad.

Already I've had a great time. I'm really connecting well with the new vols and will remain close with the returning ones as well. Having a position of leadership - or at least seniority - is also great because I truely like talking about my experience. Thank you to all the probing minds back in MN who peppered me with those tough-to-answer questions of value, purpose and novelty. With your help, I've been able to reflect deeply on my experience and extend my enthusiasm onto future volunteers.

My month in MN was wonderful, but too short. I hardly got to see the Solar House guys and I would have liked to spend more time with my grandma in Duluth. A month was too short... In all, it was a truely great Homecoming. Hopefully those who didn't get to visit me last year will come out for a visit to HK, Zhongshan and the Great Wall!

much love,
paul.

Down with Faceprint Global Solutions (FCPG)!!!!

I am outraged. If you will kindly take the time to view the comments attached to my last post "The Day After" you will see that FCPG is, in fact, trying to sell its stock through my blog. As a security company, they see their stocks rising after the 7/7 attacks and are trying to get others to make money off fear and terrorist attacks.

Used... that's how I feel. My previous post was supposed to extend words of solidarity and sorrow to the people of London, not pitch some security company who likes chasing ambulances.