Just when you feel as though you are getting to know a place, when you start to feel at home in a strange environment, something grabs you and forces the question “Where the hell am I?”  These are just a few observations from the past few weeks that served as little personal culture clashes while spending the summer in Hong Kong.

A day at the beach
I was feeling relaxed and was perfectly positioned for an afternoon of sunning when a loud announcement filled my ears – first in Cantonese and then in British English. “No spitting on the beach.  Make sure to properly warm-up before swimming and if you are full or hungry make sure to not go swimming.”  Serious.

A rainy day
A day in HK is always somewhat cloudy but this morning was something unlike I have ever experienced.  I had a feeling that it might rain a little, so I wore my rain jacket and brought along an umbrella.  There are men that stand inside buildings and hand you a plastic bag to put your soaking umbrella into – genius, really. I felt as though I was on a ship out at sea and massive swells were pouring over the front of the boat.  And there are constant announcements on loud speakers reminding everyone that it may be slippery and to watch your step.  They like loudspeakers.

Seat belt checkpoints in HK
They have an official standing in the middle of the street serving as a human roadblock.  The uniformed man peers into the window of every car to see if people are wearing their seatbelts.

Yoga in HK
First of all, yoga ain’t cheap here.  The facilities are ridiculously nice and they even lay down Manduka mats (the Prada of yoga mats) for everyone before they enter the studio.  Plus, you have access to endless fresh towels and water bottles. Oh yes, and everyone is wearing Lululemon.

HK ways
Everyone has what seems like four maids to help with daily duties. Must be nice.  They get them from the Philippines and pay them next to nothing.  Sunday is the one day that these maids get off and since they have no where to go, they picnic on sidewalks and in parks all over the city

And lastly, my job here.
The 40th floor newsroom is actually a lot quieter than I ever expected, but the views are breathtaking.  Add to that diverse and friendly staff, and I am definitely enjoying my experience at CNN International.

There are few other interns; Bei, who is from China and goes to Columbia; and Denise, who is from Toronto and goes to Hong Kong University.  I have become good friends with Sarita Hariela, the editorial producer and undergrad classmate of mine (coincidental).

I sit at a desk amongst the entire staff – I am currently working with the features team. We produce the weekend show, Talk Asia.  Viewers in more than 128 countries can join host Anjali Rao every weekend for CNN’s half-hour chat show, which explores the personalities of influential people in the fields of arts, politics, sports and business as they share their views on issues concerning the Asia Pacific region.

No one goes out for lunch – they either have lunch delivered or they walk down and get something and bring it back to their desk.  Combination of workaholism and breaking-news vigilance.

Basically, my duties are to investigate interesting people to be profiled and to find a location that offers a nice background for the filming of the interview. We are constantly looking for influential people who are passing through the China/Hong Kong area.  I have been working on four different interviews, one that actually aired over the weekend with Sachin Tendulkar.  Tendulkar is one of the most famous cricket players and accomplished batsman of all time. He currently plays for the Mumbai Indians.

My second project was to find a location for our interview with Janice Ho, a singer and actress from Hong Kong. She’s the daughter of the famous entrepreneur Stanley Ho and has been involved in numerous movies, TV commercials, TV dramas, and singing performances.  For the location, I’m thinking either the UV City Center Cinema, Taikoo Shing, or in her band’s room.  I went to the cinema today with a cameraman to check out the lighting.  In order to find the perfect location, I have to research the subject as though I were writing a profile.  The location must be interesting, relate to the person being interviewed and have minimal ambient noise.  It must also be accessible to CNN – and free of charge.

Third is Prof. Timothy Flannery, an Australian paleontologist and global warming activist who is visiting China during Green Week in mid-June. CNN’s Talk Asia plans to interview him when he passes through Hong Kong. Flannery was named Australian of the Year in 2007. His controversial views on shutting down conventional coal fired power stations for electricity generation in the medium term are frequently cited in the media (so says Wikipedia).  I’m thinking something environmental – a rocky coastline or a harbor so he can talk about rising water levels.

Fourth is Bobby Chinn, one of the most renowned chefs in Vietnam, and the owner of Hanoi’s Bobby Chinn restaurant.  He calls himself an “ethnic mutt” – half Egyptian, half Chinese, born in New Zealand, educated primarily in England, with most of his lifetime spent in San Francisco. I am looking into getting a kitchen for him to cook his favorite entrée for the interview.  Most likely the Shanghai Kitchen in Stanley.

And if there is nothing for me to do, well, there’s transcription to be done. But not just any random interview, this is one with the Dali Lama.  Unparalleled lifetime credentials aside, it’s hard as hell to transcribe a non-native English speaker.  But no complaints.  It’s the Dali Lama.  The interview is two hours long and I am only 16 minutes deep – so this is going to take some time.  Unfortunately, the interview will not be released at this time because a CNN reporter in the U.S. is working on a documentary about the Dali Lama and she does not want this interview to steal her thunder, but I’ll keep typing away.

Hmmm, story for the intern to pursue?  Maybe next week.

Keli Moore is a broadcast major in the graduate program at Annenberg.

Tags: bobby chinn, dalai lama, hong kong, janice ho, sachin tendulkar, taikoo shing, timothy flannery