The Glorified PRT

Right now I am sitting in “Pacific Coffee” in the “ifc Mall”. This is my first coffee shop outing in Hong Kong. Like all malls in Hong Kong, the “ifc Mall” is extremely elaborate, with three phases and at least three floors. I am enjoying a Caramel Latte and Blueberry Muffin, a brief escape from the constant hustle and bustle of Hong Kong.

The ifc Mall is midway between campus and “The Island Church”. The Island Church is an English speaking church that I attended for the first time today. The Island has three services on Sunday and around 1,700 members. The Island Church is about an hour and a half away from campus, an hour of which is spent riding the MTR. The MTR is the transit system here. Think of the MTR as a glorified PRT that extends throughout Hong Kong. The MTR is about 100 times bigger and more confusing than the beloved West Virginia University PRT, but with the same public transportation concept.

Since Lingnan University is about an hour MTR ride to anywhere in Hong Kong, some of my new exchange friends and I estimated that we’ll spend at least 5 days combined on the MTR over our 4 month stay here! That’s 120 hours of quality MTR time!  

Church was so refreshing and encouraging! I expected to walk down the street to see a lone church building, but after 3 weeks in Hong Kong I should really know better! No, like everything else in Hong Kong, the Island Church was part of a multi-floor, high rise building. The Island Church service was held on the second floor. If you ever wonder how Hong Kong fits 7 MILLION people in such a small area, it’s because Hong Kong has built itself UP! Unlike in America, where the majority of homes, businesses, and establishments have their own land and building, Hong Kong shares everything! Millions and millions of people reside, work, and meet, in high rise, multistory buildings!

I’ll travel another 45 minutes by the MTR and walk at least another 15 minutes to go back to campus tonight. It would also be ridiculous to find out how much I walk here! So now you can see why everything I do is such an adventure, because there is no easy “ten minute drive in my own car” to church or the grocery store or anywhere! I never know what the next day, or the next mode of transportation will have in store!