Scholarships, shopping and whatever else.

These first few days at the institute have been pretty great. I have nearly completed the first go at the experiment, we will repeat it two more times in order to get significant data, whatever that may show, but from now on I will be working on it alone.
Friday night was fun, we went to a seminar on main campus and afterward I was invited to a bar by the director of the marine station (the institute). We went to the professors' club where we met up with a few other professors, including Dr. Rajan who I work for, and discussed Hong Kong and how I liked it there, among other things. It was nice talking to them, it seemed like they had just arrived in Hong Kong because they were all eager to give their opinions on what I would have though were pretty day to day occurences, but they'd all been in HK for over 9 years.
That meeting was fun, talking to old British guys, they love to talk. Later I spoke with Rajan concerning my stay here, and he asked me if it was ok to submit my name for another fellowship. I am one person away from getting the first one I applied for, it depends on whether he can make it to HK in time or not, but if it doesn't work out there is this second one that Rajan says I am first in line for if I want it. He says there isn't as much prestige in this one, although the money is the same.
Lots to think about. I like it here. I want to study here, but can I make it four years without too many problems. Oh wait, there is a solution. Twice a year in order to encourage international exchange they pay students to study for 6 months to a year at another approved marine lab, one of which is the one in Charleston, OR. So, I study here for four years. One year of which can be spent in Oregon. I don't have to go to Oregon though, I can go pretty much anywhere in the Pacific; Hawai'i, Saigon I think, another place on Mainland China, somewhere in Australia, and many others I am sure.
I have made no commitments, but this is sounding better and better.
In the mean time I have been having fun. This weekend was relaxed, wandering around a local town, exploring the local trails, having a wild boar scare the living daylights out of me. I also worked about 5 hours both Saturday and Sunday. Rajan is a hard worker, and he expects the same out of everybody in his lab. I can understand, projects run on their own schedules.
I have been working straight from thursday till today.
But today has been excellent. I went shopping for electronics. Electronics in China. I was taken to the 'computer center' by a coworker. It is a three story mall crammed with little shops. Everyshop is bursting with all kinds of electronics. Lots of knock off brands, and lots of real brands, and it is even easy to tell the difference. I feel like I could buy a computer for 100 dollars. New digital cameras are about half off what I would expect to pay normally. too tempting. although the return policies are not quite up to par, the products are new from the makers. I wonder what is up. I guess there is a reason Hong Kong is renowned for its shopping. Something about taxes i think.
I am back at the lab now, we must prepare for an open house on Friday, the day we get approved for money. Dress to impress. I think it is a given that it will go ok, but everybody is stressed and I have to be ready to break down what our lab is doing for all the important visitors. Afterward is a lab party, I think that will be fun since I haven't had a chance to get to know many of the people here because they are always working or sleeping. Never around wanting to talk.
So that is all for now, quick and ugly, but I haven't updated any of you for too long.
PS, I will get a web cam so soon we can video conference.