This big city is also a lot different than the big cities in China, notably Beijing and Shanghai. Hong Kong seems to be more like its Western counterparts, with more Western norms and manners. People actually wait for those getting off the subway before they get on. Lines are straight and orderly for the most part. People don’t clear their throat and spit on the streets. Waitresses are more outwardly friendly and smile. Today, when I was eating dinner, the owner even insisted on giving me more rice for free when she didn’t even have to bother. I also went to the Hong Kong Museum of History today. I spent 3 hours there and wish I could have spent more time there. It was fascinating to learn about the whole history of Hong Kong, from old British trading ports, to the Opium War, to the Japanese occupation, to the handing back of power to China. I had these bits and pieces of history in my head before, but today it finally came together and made me realize how truly unique Hong Kong is and how different it is from Mainland China. Spending a week here has also made me appreciate how lucky I am to experience simplicity in a rural area in a world where technology and modernization is quickly dominating every aspect of life. I think that rural areas of China even though may be a little more backwards and less "civilized," life there offers a chance to build friendships on a more genuine basis, to see how strong the human heart and spirit are, and to understand how truly important our environment is to mankind.

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