Hong Kong: Making New Friends Abroad

Jeannie Gagné is an Associate Professor of Voice at Berklee. International Programs at Berklee recently helped Jeannie plan a trip to Hong Kong where she is teaching and performing. Here she recounts her experiences while traveling abroad. You can read other posts about her trip here.

 

Second Full Day, May 15 2014

I’ve settled into my hotel room with a view of a huge building and a little bit of Victoria Harbour that separates where I’m staying in Wanchai, on Hong Kong Island, from Kowloon across the way. Hong Kong is tall buildings everywhere! And I’m from New York City, but even so, here in Hong Kong everything seems very tall and UP.

My host, Berklee student and Hong Kong resident Kelvin Lau, is a fantastic guide. He took me to an authentic Chinese restaurant my first night here. I had delicious vegetarian-gluten-free soup that was just what the doctor ordered.

It’s a long trip from Boston, altogether about 24 hours. I had my preparations: special wrap-around inflatable pillow, eye mask, noise-canceling headphones, melatonin to help me sleep on the plane. Did manage to sleep, some. Saw a movie, listened to great music. I recommend Cathay Pacific Airways, the flight staff is very accommodating. They kept filling my water bottle, even fed me an Indian vegetarian meal.

Yesterday we did some sight seeing in Hong Kong, taking the ferry across the harbor. Walked through the Hong Kong Cultural Centre where I’ll be on stage with the Hong Kong Treble Choir next week. For dinner we were invited over to visit a family who are good friends of Kelvin’s. They graciously served us dinner in their home, and we played their beautiful Kawai grand piano, practicing some songs I’ll be performing before hundreds of students during this trip. I kinda fell in love with Lauren and Amanda, the two precious daughters. Such sweethearts.

Tomorrow I begin the full schedule, teaching private lessons all day, and then dinner with Rex Chan and Kelvin. Rex runs a singing school here in Hong Kong I’ll be leading a master class later this week.

This morning, I have a chance to walk around Wanchai a little, and get in a work-out at the hotel. Life is good.

-Jeannie