Three cheers for the refrigerator!
Today I went with some hallmates to apply for a student Octopus. It costs a little extra (less than $3 US) than the adult Octopus, which costs nothing (you pay a deposit, but it's returned when you return the card). And the cheaper rates I'll enjoy on several of the MTR lines makes it worth it.
First we went to Fu Tai so I could get ID photos taken (student Octopuses are personalized) but the store didn't open until 11:30. So we went to the grocery store instead, which I was told sold cheap soy milk. It did, so I bought some, but I realize now I'll need to buy a glass before I can actually drink some. I also bought the MOST DELICIOUS pears. Round and pale yellow--Asian pears? That would make sense; the store gave them a different name though. Anyway, pears have now climbed several steps on my list of favorite fruits.
Since we had so much extra time we decided to return to campus and return to Fu Tai at 11:30. Then we ate lunch while waiting for the photos. I had sweet and sour pork that tasted very similar to/exactly the same as American Chinese food. Probably the translated portion of their menu consists of the foods most familiar to Westerners. Oh well. Next time I'll just randomly point at something. Actually, we chose the same restaurant where I ate the fabulous dinner I loved, so probably anything is good. Except the tea I drank with lunch. Very bitter.
And again people were amazed that I could use chopsticks. I'm really not particularly skilled.
Oh, and I learned about cumpolsory military training in China, which I didn't know existed before. The topic came up because one of the hall camp teams entered the restaurant. For the past few days a huge orientation-type event involving running, screaming, and competitions has been going on for the freshman. They've been stampeding around campus in colorful T-shirts and shouting cheers about their hostel. No one understands how they can find the energy in this heat. Anyway, so I was told that in Mainland China they have to attend military camp for three weeks before entering university. It's like orientation in that everyone gets to know each other. It's unlike orientation in its absence of fun. Instead of water balloon fights, they stand out in the sun until the sweat goes "drip drip drip" from their foreheads.
The guidebook also mentioned that it's considered rude to finish all your food, because it shows you weren't fully satisfied, and it's true I haven't seen an empty plate yet.
After picking up the photos we walked to the Siu Hong station to turn in the applications. The cards will be ready in two weeks, so I'll turn in my old Octopus then. Ah! These cards are so amazing. Really. I just can't get over them.
Inside the station there's also a bakery with pumpkin-shaped pumpkin bread. I'll be back.
Back on campus we went to the library and I figured out how to use the Octopus to print out my class schedule. There are a lot of different classrooms to memorize, because nearly all of my courses are divided into a lecture and a tutorial section taking place on different days in different rooms. Nearly all my classes are on the same floor of the same building. Good, because there'll be a high probability of my being in the right general location. Bad, because if I'm not paying close attention I'll think it's time for the classroom next door or across the hall.
Oh, and also while in the library I saw a keyboard with maybe two or three Chinese characters per key, in addition to all the usual letters and numbers. I'm not quite sure how it works because clearly a few thousand are missing.
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