Wednesday, February 7th, 2024
Greetings, everyone! The group's spirits were high with enthusiastic responses of "Great!" as they ventured towards the Green Choir Bazaar. Opting for a scenic route, they gathered by a nearby pond.
An exciting announcement for the next day, February 8th, piqued their interest: a special event featuring singers performing Chinese songs and engaging in role play. The announcer questioned, "Do you speak Chinese or Cantonese?" Shadow confidently replied yes, understanding Chinese, while Rio admitted to only grasping Chinese, not Cantonese. The rest of the group, including Joseph, Diego, and friends, only spoke English and were unfamiliar with any Chinese dialects.
The announcer proposed a quick Chinese language lesson, initially met with reluctance. Yet, upon reducing the challenge to just ten words, the group acquiesced:
1. 福 (Fú): Happiness
2. 思 (Sī): Grace
3. 爱 (Ài): Love
4. 智 (Zhì): Wisdom
5. 德 (Dé): Virtue
6. 和 (Hé): Harmony
7. 神 (Shén): Spirit
8. 信 (Xìn): Devotion
9. 志 (Zhì): Ambition
10. 平 (Píng): Peace
Memorization proved difficult, leading to frustration among the group. The announcer persisted, emphasizing the importance of mastery to participate in the music jazz show.
Shifting focus, they decided to decorate and cook noodles—a simple yet delightful task involving:
1. Noodles
2. Boiled eggs
3. Assorted vegetables
4. Sesame seeds
5. Sesame oil
The result was a delicious meal that symbolized happiness and longevity, thoroughly enjoyed by all.
The day concluded with an exploration from the underground to the playground, involving a surprising encounter with rising water levels. At precisely 23:55, Shadow and Rio ventured into the basement, only to find themselves in complete darkness. Suddenly, Nian and Gaya appeared, leading to an unexpected confrontation. Frozen in place, Shadow and Rio faced a dire situation but were ultimately reincarnated, returning safely to their rooms.
This day was a blend of cultural learning, culinary delights, and mystical challenges, marking another memorable chapter in their Hong Kong adventure.
