Occupy Central

It's been all over the news. I've heard CNN is here, even BuzzFeed has a story on it. Occupy Central, or the umbrella movement. It goes by several names, but they are all about the same protests. I have been asked by family, friends, and coworkers what it is like here, and I thought I would write about how the strikes are.

They started last Monday, but as a student lead protests, the numbers weren't as big as they are currently. I've been told by local students as well as read, and seen on campus, that the protests really picked up this Saturday. Mostly because there wasn't any school to stop students from going, but school hasn't stopped them today. I haven't been to Central yet, so I haven't seen any of the true protests in person, but friends have gone, and I'll probably be in the area later this week, so I will have more information later (but no worries, I won't be joining in. Though I agree with the reasoning, this isn't my fight to be a part of).

What I have seen, however, are the protesters here at school. This too picked up this weekend. Starting on Saturday, students covered the campus in posters. Most are in Cantonese or Mandarin so I cant read them, but others have pictures (including what I assume is a Chinese government official with devil horns) and some are even in English. The English posters consist mainly of quotes like "If not now, when. If not you, who?" or "Control your own destiny, or someone else will." There are some posters that move for action, asking teachers to join- saying that it is there job to help teach and help create a better future for their students. Others shame the police, since this weekend the protests turned into something like riots, from what I have heard, and police took force with tear gas, rubber bullets and possibly hoses. The posters are covering every pillar, and wall. There are painted sheet posters hanging and students tying yellow ribbons (a symbol of the movement)  around every pole and handing them out for people to  wear around. But It doesn't end with the posters.

Today, the movement moved to a school walkway. What felt like hundreds of students in black, stood around on this bridge, holding posters, recruiting members, and passing out more ribbons. Students have stood up at the close of lectures to ask for help. I've received messages to join over group chats. Even now, as I sit in my room writing this, I can hear students over loud speakers raising awareness (I assume- they aren't chanting it in English) and singing songs like The Song Of Angry Men from Le Mes. Nearly every local student, and even some exchange students have donned black shirts and ribbons for the occasion. It is a powerful thing to watch. The number of people who care so deeply, who are so actively fighting for their rights, is an incredible thing to witness. I hope they get a happy end, because they sure have enough people fighting for the cause!

A US friend of mine here, Izzy, has a friend teaching English in China, so I have also heard about the fight from that view, as well. According to him- as well as BuzzFeed- China has blocked all access to Instagram. This caused the friend in China to contact Izzy about what is going on. Apparently, he was told by the government that this is a small protest- though it is by no means small! This was a fact that I was only mildly shocked by, I mean it is China, but to down play this event so much and to block their people from being able to see what is going on was something I didn't really expect.

Though I have received several "be safe" messages from people back home, I'm glad to be here during this. It is so cool to be able to see it unfold, and to see the strength a group of people can hold when they put their minds to it.

Here is the link to the BuzzFeed story:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/alisonvingiano/hong-kong-protests#524gfn

The Happiest Place on Earth

 I finally made it! I finally saw Hong Kong Disneyland! It was as magical as ever!

The magic started with the train ride there. As we boarded the Disney train to take us to the park, Mickey was everywhere. From the Windows:

to the handles for standing passengers:

even to the train decor, with statues of Disney characters placed around the train:

it was a magical start to an incredibly magical day (and nice to sit on padded benches before a long day of walking).

After disembarking from the train, you walk up to the ever important, Disney entrance sign- the one that proves the park you went to!

see, it says Hong Kong, I have photographic proof I didn't just go to Cali or something.

After the entrance you walk down an avenue bordered with greenery and bamboo that leads to a massive fountain featuring Mickey surfboarding on the water of a whale-it makes more sense if you see it:

Then, finally, you reach the gates to the park. We got there about 25 minutes early, so we had to wait in line to get in, and boy was it hot!! Thank goodness some of us came prepared an brought umbrellas- though meant for rain they are incredibly helpful in the sun, since when we stood under it the temperature dropped ten degrees (or at least it felt like it)! I will never forget an umbrella again. While standing in line, we were behind the Disney Main Street Train Station, with a cool Mickey garden:

When the park finally opened, everyone rushed in- us included- only for us to travel back home to Main Street USA! The US Flag was even flown on top of a few buildings. We started our day scoping out possible souvenirs as we waited for a few people to join us at the park. When they finally arrived- the magic truly began!! 

Main Street USA:

you can see the US flag at the top!

Main Street leads right up to the famous castle- gracing this park is that of Sleeping Beauty. Though much, much smaller than Cinderella's Castle in Florida, it was still beautiful:

From there we started our journey to the rides and we couldn't have picked a better day to go to Disney! Not a single line was over a 10 minute wait! From the Space Mountain roller coaster (which I rode 4 times!!) to the Teacups- even the shows like Mickeys Golden Ticket or the Philharmagic we really never waited! We managed to see everything we wanted to see in the park (partly because there was no wait, partly because it was small) and then some! It was fantastic!! There were some rides that were the same as the US parks, like Space Mountain- but there were also new things- like an entire Toy Story Land!! Which was so cool! Everything was made out of Lincoln Logs and Kenects, plus it was on a massive scale,so you got to feel like a toy!! 

(the pictures below are very out of order and fixing that on this site is hard so I'm leaving it, sorry:))

Toy Story Land:

Tomorrow Land:

Fantasy Land:

 Mickeys golden ticket show- an award show type of thing with all the favorite songs performed 

trying to pull the sword out!

(more)Toy Story Land:

 Mystic Point:

meant to show the power of illusion, this photo is taken from the side view

and this one is taken from the designated looking point

side view

designated looking point

Adventure Land

Tarzan's  tree house

Beyond the shows singing childhood memories in the way of Disney songs, and the rides that brought out my inner 5 year old, we finally got to have some good American food! For lunch, everyone in my group ate a cheeseburger and fries. Everyone. And it was just what we all wanted- tasted like home for the Americans in the group! We joked that we would buy a Disney ticket just so we could come get this food. Then, for dinner, I got a roasted turkey leg, which while I don't think it was smoked as usual, was just as delicious! For dessert a few of us bought Disney character cup cakes, we all got Maleficent, not only was she a chocolate cupcake, but she was also cheaper (probably because she's evil and who wants to eat an evil person? Its probably bad for your soul). Over all, if nothing else, Disney was awesome for the food (but of course it was AMAZING for a lot of other reasons)!

my maleficent cupcake

Then, in true Disney fashion the day ended in an incredible blaze of fireworks!

This day was so perfect, I would love to go back! (if only my bank account could afford that- and there weren't about a thousand other things I would love to see) It was a day truly filled with magic!