Mmmgoi

We have been working really hard on our project all week, that's why I haven't updated...NOT.

Monday afternoon several of us headed to the market at Kwai Fong as suggested by our classmate. We hit the jackpot for inexpensive clothes! The only problem was the stores would not let you try clothes on. They said they wanted to keep the clothes clean...so am I dirty? I ignored their protests and tried things on over my clothes anyway. I know, I'm such a rebel. But honestly, who is going to buy something if they can't try it on first? We all got some really cute things that we would never be able to find in the US. The other girls tried on their purchases when we got home and of course, several things didn't fit. Somehow, trying on clothes led to a Carrie and Faith fashion show. I won't post all of the pictures but they are hilarious.

Tuesday we had another agency visit. We went to Ogilvy and Mather's regional office in downtown Hong Kong. I doubt many of my readers know who David Ogilvy is but he was one of the first and most famous advertisers of all time. His advertising agency has been a worldwide and award winning agency for almost 70 years now. His most well-known campaigns include "don't leave home without it" for American Express and "at 60 mph the loudest noise in this new Rolls Royce is the electric clock" for Rolls Royce. I haven't had an advertising class at UT without his name mentioned. So, we were all really excited to see the agency and view some of the work.

It was everything I imagined and more. I was blown away at the technology used in the office. We got a tour of both floors (23rd and 25th). One floor was entirely the creative department. Campaign ideas were lying everywhere so we were not allowed to take photos. The department felt like such a fun place to hang out. They had beanbag chairs, blow up palm trees, a pool table, and tons of snacks and wine.

At the entrance of the agency there is an area for clients to see different types of media Ogilvy is currently experimenting with.  I got my first experience with a 3D TV that did not require glasses to see. Everything was so interactive.

the building where Ogilvy & Mather HK is located

me as a Transformer

me and Ashley

Tuesday night Krizto, one of the Chinese students in my class, invited our entire group over for a home-made meal. While we waited for dinner to be served everyone played with the family's Xbox Kinect. We had a blast trying to dance like Lady Gaga and Shakira. Her aunt and grandmother made Chinese dim sum and some American dishes for us. It was so delicious.

Krizto! 

more of the crew

Today was dedicated to the project. We got everything completed! I was in charge of writing the ten-page report. Here is the link if you want to check it out! This is the first draft so don't make fun of any typos...

Presentations are tomorrow then NO MORE CLASS! I still can't believe I'm coming home in three days.  Time has gone by so fast!

Love in an Elevator

Yesterday Faith and I went on a little adventure in Mong Kok for our project.  We had a really difficult time finding people willing to be filmed for an interview about NIKE.  I think we got all of the footage we need for our project.  We wandered through a small shopping mall, I bought a fedora (finally) and a Chinese cat.

looking like a tourist on the MTR

Well, I got stuck in the elevator on the way to class this morning.  Completely my fault of course.  There was an out of order sign on the doors but the door opened so I decided it must be fixed and hopped right in.  It moved about six inches and stopped, all of the lights turned off and I just about freaked!  Luckily some of my classmates were on the other side.  Dan and Carrie helped pry the doors open so I could escape.  Exciting start to the morning.

We had a guest speaker in class today.  He does freelance work here in Hong Kong and is a TexasEx!

This afternoon some of the girls and I are going to do some street shopping that one of the Chinese students in our class suggested. I'm excited about getting some fun, trendy Hong Kong-er clothes.  If we have time we want to go to the Big Buddha statue but that may be an activity for tomorrow.

Erin started organizing all of her goodies to take back to the US.  May the force be with you...

Checked it off the bucket list

Dinner was amazing last night! I didn't mind going back to that Italian restaurant at all because it was so delicious the first time. I had some gnocchi with tomato sauce and cheese. Yum! Faith made fun of me because I totally don't know how to pronounce my food...it's a work in progress. I just know it tastes delicious okay?

After dinner Faith, Carrie, and myself headed back to the Ladies Market in Mong Kok to grab the last of our souvenirs. Faith hasn't been buying much this whole trip but she got into the groove of bargaining in Mong Kok. Carrie and Faith both wanted the same pair of sunglasses from one of the stands. They had priced them at another stand already and were trying to bargain down to a cheaper price. This Chinese woman wayyyy over quoted what a plastic pair of sunglasses should cost so Carrie was working her pretty hard trying to get the price she wanted. Carrie finally gave up and left the stand empty handed. Faith wanted to go back and just pay full price for her sunglasses because she really wanted them. To Faith's surprise when she went back to buy them, the saleswoman shooed her out of the stand and cursed at her pretty heavily in English. Faith was very distraught by this incident, I found it quite hilarious to be honest. Faith had not said anything to this woman, Carrie had been pestering her. Faith was so shocked by her reaction. I was dying laughing. It started pouring again so we went back to the dorms.

My Neighbor Totoro

I slept in this morning, it was so nice. Erin, Faith and I got ready and made our way to the Peninsula for high tea. We really wanted to do this because it was on the top ten things to do in Hong Kong before you die. Now, it's checked off the bucket list. Oh how I have missed that place. I've officially been spoiled, I want to stay at the Peninsula forever. The lobby is beautiful and the small orchestra playing music in the background was perfect. We each go the traditional high tea food and drinks. I had raspberry tea, it was perfect. Everything that they put in front of me I ate and loved it! I must say, we really stuck out at high tea. We were the only American and non-Asian people in attendance. Since this was our first (and only) meal of the day we decided to also order a hot dog and milkshakes after tea time was over. Ordering all of the American food did not help us blend in more. I didn't really care, it was so good!

good thing I didn't wear my plastic shoes...

my raspberry tea

how good does that look?

U.S.A. 

macaroons with the check (coffee, chocolate, and strawberry)

We shopped around in the Peninsula mall and all of the other shops in the area. Faith bought some really cute earrings and fun clothes. All three of us made more purchases at Zara. I LOVE that store! By the time we had checked out at the last store, it was about time to head home. I really enjoyed today. We had a really nice time just us three divas shopping in the big city!

don't worry parents 1: no credit card 2: they basically laughed when I asked for a 42...

larger than life chopsticks, soup spoon, and dumpling

sweet glasses Erin

Quick update~

Erin and I went on a little adventure in Shatin today and found a cute little Italian restaurant. She was craving chicken Caesar salad, I was craving pizza. We got exactly what we wanted! I think that was the best meal I've had in Hong Kong. We are going back there with Faith and Carrie tonight for dinner. I'm so excited and will probably get the exact same thing.

the water has fleur-de-lis on it!

We visited our first agency today! MEC media agency had us in for a couple of presentations about what they do for advertising in Hong Kong. It was very informative and will definitely help for our NIKE campaign project next week. I understood a lot about what our presenter was saying because of the classes I have taken for TXMedia. This made me think I would be really good at working for an international agency overseas. Their office was located on the 37th floor of the PCCW building in downtown Hong Kong. From the conference room we had an amazing view of the rest of downtown and the harbor.

Carrie, Faith, and Melissa at the agency

the group in the conference room with a harbor view

paying close attention to the lecture

SO TALL!

Karaoke, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong Jockey Club

Sorry I haven't updated in a few days! This week has just flown by. I've been trying to squeeze in as many activities as possible the last few days I'm here. I fly back to America in 9 days now!

I finally got some money from my mom! I found my way to the Western Union near campus. The process was relatively pain-free except for having to call my mom to add my middle name to the form. Chinese people put a lot of emphasis on the middle name and refused to give me my money because the money transfer order didn't say "Nicole". Anyways, I'm so glad that I don't have to borrow money from people anymore!

CUHK campus

On Tuesday night Krizto, one of the Chinese students in my class reserved us a room at one of the nicest karaoke bars in Hong Kong. This karaoke bar included a buffet-style dinner and karaoke all night long. I was shocked when we got to our private karaoke room. It was in the "CEO suite", complete with a perfect view of the harbor and Hong Kong skyline, chandeliers, leather couches, and flat-screen TVs. Almost everyone in my group joined in for karaoke night. Many of the songs were in English but the Chinese students in my class got together every now and then for a Chinese pop song. The music videos for these songs were really different from traditional American videos. We didn't stay all night because we had class early the next morning. I feel like we all got closer as a group after singing Spice Girls and Queen at the top of our lungs for several hours.

Me, Ashley, and Erin with the view

Carrie, Erin, and Faith with Krizto, our hostess 

our AWESOME karaoke room

waiting in line for the famous hot chocolate pudding

preparation

so worth the 30 minute wait!

On Wednesday, a few of us headed to Shenzhen in mainland China to go to the market. Because I knew we would be doing a lot of shopping, I didn't take my camera. Faith was a little hesitant about going because of of the Chinese students in our class convinced her she would lose a kidney or be sold into slavery if she went. That statement was a little overdramatic, but Faith was scared to go into China for a purse market. This market is famous for its high quality designer knock-offs, everything from shoes and purses to clothes and electronics. It was not nearly as sketchy as the fake purse shopping in New York City. There were no hidden rooms or dark alleys to walk into. We sat in well lit stores and pointed to pictures in a catalog. Erin and I did some damage shopping...again. I got exactly what I wanted and some more goodies for my all my blog followers! I ran out of money or I definitely would have bought more, probably a good thing that I didn't.

Wednesday evening we met up with the rest of our group after dinner at the horse races. This racetrack was so nice! All of the men were wearing suits and all of the women had on dresses and heels. The arena was huge and the track had pretty green grass instead of dirt like other racecourses I've seen. We stood in the free public area. The rest of the concourse was for the "Hong Kong Jockey Club" or "Member Only". There were so many tourists! I saw people from Ireland, Australia, England, etc. It was nice to be with others speaking fluent English. We got a little lost on the way so we only made it for the last two races of the evening. Carrie and I did a little bit of gambling, neither of our horses won.

Me and Erin waiting for the train to take us to the racecourse

I'm so much taller than EVERYONE in my group!

"Hogwarts Express" train outside of the MTR station advertising the HP7 movie (coming to Hong Kong on July 14th) 

the suites at Happy Valley Racecourse

workers pruning the grass in between races

Today it is POURING RAIN! We all got soaked walking to class this morning, even with umbrellas and rain jackets. I think I may stay home and work on my project until it lets up. We have been lucky to not have to deal with much rain in Hong Kong because it is the rainy season. I had prepared to deal with downpour the whole trip and have been pleasantly surprised with all of the sunshine.

not sure if you can tell, but IT'S POURING!