December in Hong Kong

December has been a pretty amazing month for us, well - especially for me I think. First I had two classes that had to put on some kind of Christmas performance. Where to begin? I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't grow up in Sunday school and I hadn't ever participated in a Nativity play but here I was doing it. And the kids - they are 4 and 5 - what are they able to do? I gave it to God - it's His story and wow weren't those kids amazing! I wrote a script for the nativity play and taught the kids their parts. Thankfully they practiced a lot with their parents at home because when the time came they knew their stuff. I taught them three songs - a cute hip version of Joy to the World, Christmas is a Time (for Love) and Wasn't That a Mighty Day? I made up motions and taught them and they loved it. We practiced in small groups, whole groups and finally in the multi-purpose room. Luckily all the classes were sharing the set so I didn't have to worry much about that. And it was so great, those kids really shined and did beyond what I thought we were capable of. Isn't that how God works? And through the whole experience I gained an insight into this beloved Christmas story. It wasn't just a story but a revelation of love. Wow. That same week I had two concerts of my own. I joined the Hong Kong Community Wind Band just a month before and had a lot of catching up to do to be ready for these concerts but somehow it worked out. I am definitely rusty but it all came together and it was fun. I am posting videos but not on here. It take too long to upload and keeps failing. We are a volunteer band of teachers and a few people from the community led by Mike Ross who teaches band here at ICS. He's great. The first concert was here at our school. The second was at the Hong Kong Arts Center. They do outdoor concerts and we were the first to play that night. So cool. Don't mind Ernie's commentary or singing. :) We were in the middle of our cold snap that night and it was a little hard to play but fun nevertheless. We resume in February.

Ernie and I have been taking the opportunity to relax and explore a bit this week we've been off. We have seen so many neat things around our community. We took a looonnng walk the other night and saw a group of people singing karaoke and dancing by the water near this little park. Chinese country - I have no words to explain that. But some of the songs were good and the dancing was neat. Then we found this neat park with a waterfall and bridges and coy and goldfish. It was beautiful. We saw green astro turf shadows in another park - some art project. That was cool. The Christmas lights reflecting off the water was magical and the temperature was wonderful. We've discovered new restaurants and had fun shopping for various things. We went to the racetrack last night which is huge here. It was so fun to watch the beautiful horses run and the Asian people drink 10 cups of tea. LOL! Finding places is never easy here but somehow we always end up where we intended to go and we always get home so we count it all as good! There's always so much going on here. This morning Ernie saw ladies doing their Tai Chi group with fans when he went to the store. And tonight was the most special of all. We went to the Christmas Eve service at our church and it was packed! I made a new friend named Brittney who is from Texas and lives right by where I work! We exchanged numbers. I think she's a kindred spirit. Then we sang carols and partook in the Lord's Supper and then the lights went out and we lit candles and sang Silent Night and Oh Come All Ye Faithful all holding our candles up as lights in a dark world and it was so amazing! After the service we went out for a bite and there were all kinds of groups we saw gathered caroling and sharing on the way home. It was so awesome to see. And I'm not feeling homesick. Don't get me wrong - I miss my family and friends very much during this time when we always spend special time together but I feel peaceful. I've done everything that is important to me and we have two potluck Christmas dinners to go to with friends tomorrow on Christmas and the day after Christmas. We are not alone and we are in Hong Kong so that just makes it cool. The presents are wrapped and under the tree and we are ready. Happy Birthday Jesus and thank you for the most amazing gift of love - the best gift on this Christmas day. We wish everyone the Merriest of Christmases! We love you!

Our trip to Paradise

We left for Koh Samui, Thailand on Tuesday, November 23rd 2010. We walked down to the bus terminal on a sunny Hong Kong afternoon. It was so nice to be on vacation when normally we'd be working. We like our jobs but it's always nice to take a break! We took the Airport Express bus and it was pretty empty at that time so we had space. It was about a 45 minute ride to the airport from where we live. Then we arrived at the airport but our airline wasn't open until 4pm and it was somewhere around 3. So we wandered the airport and had some lunch and hung out until it was time to check in. Checking in was smooth and then we boarded our flight on Bangkok Airways - Asia's "Boutique" airline - whatever that means. I never thought I'd fly on Bangkok Airways - how cool. Security was slightly easier than when we flew last in the U.S. We still had to bag our liquids etc. but we didn't have to take our shoes off. The flight was smooth and they feed you well. It was an almost 3 hour flight to Koh Samui - direct. I read and journaled and just relaxed. When we flew into Koh Samui it was about 7:30 pm or so. They are a hour behind Hong Kong time so however it works out. It was dark so we couldn't see much but the airport was all outdoors in little grass covered hut buildings. I guess it's won awards. It was really neat to see it in the daytime when we left. Immigration was easy and our bag was ready and then our resort picked us up in a nice SUV. That's when the vacation really starts. We were given cold scented towels that smelled like lime sort of. The driver told us that we had about a 30 minute drive to the resort so we just settled in and looked around. My very first thought was I'm on the travel channel. You see, Koh Samui is a beautiful Island but areas are very poor and there was street food and stalls for selling to the tourists. We wound through what seemed like side streets. Not unlike Mexico but still different. A lot of people ride mo-peds there. But then we got on a nice two lane highway that twisted and curved for a bit. Shops and the like were a bit nicer at that point. Then we turned off on a side road and traveled that for a few minutes. Our resort - The Renaisssance Resort and Spa by Marriot - was quite tucked away.

When we arrived we were escorted in to the front desk and our bag was brought in (we brought just one of our really large luggage duffels). The lobby was just soooo beautiful I was in awe. We were given more towels, mini flower lei things and lemon tea on a tray with flowers. We checked in and were upgraded from our garden view deluxe room to an ocean view and given the "honeymoon" treatment. We were taken to our room and the nice lady showed us around. When we opened the door we were greeted by two swan towel animals that made a heart with scattered rose petals on them. It was beautiful. Our room had a very large beyond king size bed, and the a beautiful balcony and an outdoor jacuzzi tub and separate shower and bathroom stalls. There was scented oil burning throughout the resort and in our room. It was so beautiful and romantic and pampering. I cannot even begin to express how well we were treated from the moment we arrived. We were treated like royalty. And we did our best to show our appreciation. The lady that checked us in and who we saw throughout the week told Ernie as we checked out that we should come teach there because we were so nice. :)

We decided to explore a little after we got settled and so we walked down to the beach but it was so dark we couldn't see anything. Still it was exciting. All the paths seemed to have lots of plants and it seemed so confusing. We stopped at the bar and Ernie had a coke and I had a Perrier and we called it a night. We fell asleep to the sounds of the frogs in the little pond.


The next morning we woke up to the amazing view outside our sliding glass doors. We had two chairs and a little table/footrest on our balcony on the fourth floor and palm trees and flowering tropical vegetation and beyond that the ocean. It was so amazing to wake up every morning and see that. When I stepped outside it smelled like flowers. We threw on some clothes and went to check out the complimentary breakfast which was unbelievable! We had an ocean view table for two and they pull the chair out for you and put the napkin in your lap and then they took our orders for coffee and then we went inside and partook of the amazing buffet of food. Also there are two cooks who will make you fancy pancakes or eggs or whatever. It was so good! Fresh fruit juices like watermelon, pineapple etc. And the coffee was really, really good. We ate and played with our new camera. Then we headed back to the room where we waited out a quick rain shower. Everywhere we went people did the little head bow, hands like they are praying. It was so neat. Then it was sunny for a while so we hung out at the pool. The pool and beach are right there together so it's so amazing to just be. I had another cup of coffee and then put my swimsuit on. The air is such a perfect temperature that I was never cold at all and in fact it was quite hot in the direct sun. When the spa opened at 10 I made an appointment for a 90 minute massage at noon. :) They had a deal where if you bought $10,000 Thai Bahts in credit at the resort you actually got $15,000 to spend so that ended up being the best thing we could've done (keep in mind it's $28 Thai Bahts for every U.S. dollar approx). The only catch to that was if you didn't spend it all you didn't get it back but it worked perfectly for us. Some things we paid in cash but we could just sign room 409 and they deducted it from the credit and we could get a daily balance. It was so handy. We of course spent more then that on our vacation but it was mostly for the spa.

I am not going to go day by day but I will share the highlights. Every night we had a romantic candelight dinner. The first night we ate at the Banana Leaf restaurant at our resort that had all you can eat Thai food. It was so good. We had appetizers and Ernie got a rice dish served in a pineapple and my rice came wrapped in a banana leaf. So cool! I had some froofy cocktails which I'm convinced didn't have any alcohol in them anyway but were so good. Ernie tried a local beer called Singha. Or something like that. The second night we had dinner with a Greek couple from Athens that we met on our elephant trek (I'll get to that) and we went to the TawaNN restaurant at our resort. They had Angus beef night and I had a tenderloin cooked to perfection with bernaise sauce. Ernie had ribeye. It was soooooo good. They served free flowing wine from Africa. It was yummy with dinner and the company was great!!! Friday night we had Thai curry back at the Banana Leaf and I had a whole fried sea bass with red curry paste and because I didn't know which of the five rices to try they brought me a plate with a little of each. They were so nice!!! The final night :( we had dinner back at TawaNN for Phuket Lobster night. I had a lobster stir fry and Ernie had steak again. Every dinner was amazing and to sit outside near the ocean with candlelight and great service - sigh. Now I know how the other half lives.

I also had a spa treatment every day. The first day was the 90 min Aroma Fusion massage. The second day was a 60 min Island Fusion massage, the third day I had an after sun body wrap and a moisture surge facial and the last day I had the most amazing thing - I had an inroom bath. See you can order a bath (I ordered the dream bath) and then two women came to the room and prepared it. It took like 40 min. and I couldn't look. Then when I saw it - well pictures will speak more than my words. There was like this mineral stuff in the water that tingled and it was so relaxing. It was amazing that I could take baths outside and not be cold. Ernie also had a massage and some other treatments. I was a total regular! :) I LOVED it. Before your treatment they'd give you cold lemongrass tea with honey and a scented cold towel. After your treatment you'd get another towel and hot tea with dried mango to eat.




Okay, for wild adventures we had a few! I'll start with the most tame - our resort had kayaks and so we kayaked around our area a couple different times. The ocean was gentle and it was fun! On Thursday we decided to ride an elephant through the jungle. Why not right? It was CRAZY! At 9:00 this safari place picked us and the couple from Greece up and then a few more people and brought us to their "place." We chatted with the couple from Greece and that's how we met. The Safari place was crazy. They have all kinds of shows there - reptile shows and you can feed baby tigers and they have zip lines etc. We chose the elephant thing. You sit in a seat high up on the elephants back and there's a "driver." I have to say that riding an elephant that high up as it makes it's way down a slippery jungle trail by the water is pretty scary! But it was an amazing experience. Our elephant was named something that sounded like Sumchai or Somchoi. Something like that. He was 14 - so young. We bought bananas to feed him and he could smell them so every now and again he'd put his trunk back toward us to give him another. Both Ernie and I got to actually ride him sitting on his neck. We saw other animals along the way and a village too. It was so cool. The other crazy thing we did (okay well it was crazy for me) was rent a mo-ped for the day. It was only $7 U.S. for the whole day! For gas you stop at a stand and buy a glass bottle which is one gallon of gas and they put it in for you. It was crazy. So for about $10-11 for the day we had transportation all over the island. Ernie drove and I rode on back. He's done it before so I just hung on for dear life! There's about a million other people riding mo-peds and cars and trucks and huge potholes. I was pretty terrified at first and then I settled into a calmer acceptance. We found a Starbucks and I just had to laugh. No matter where I go there it is! My stomach was in no position to consume anything though! Then we went to the fishermans wharf and the big buddha. That was crazy. From an artistic standpoint it was amazing. From a spiritual standpoint it was sad for me. All these people spending so much money on "religious supplies" (they had all sorts of stands) and trying to earn their way to heaven by doing all these weird rituals was a bit unnerving and all these weird monk guys too. It reminded me of the golden calf in the bible. Anyway, it was interesting to see I guess. Then we decided to head back. We went to the big Lamai beach and walked around. Different crowd then our resort. I loved our resort. It had everything we needed and every inch of it was a work of art and landscaping. I loved how it smelled, how the people treated us and how amazing everything was. We got back and ordered room service and took a nap!

We did spend our share of time at the beach/pool. We had fantastic weather - clear, sunny and hot. I layed on the cushiony adjustable beach chairs sometimes in the sun and sometimes in the shade and read my books and swam in the ocean or the pool and just relaxed. Ernie and I built a sandcastle and I built a face and then we watched the tide take them. We got pizza served to us right there on the beach and anything we wanted to drink. Mostly we did that for lunch or room service before a nap.

At night we'd get little packets of different kinds of dried fruit with our turndown service as we were enjoying leisurely 2-3 hour candelight dinners. In the daytime we saw turquoise water and green coconut palms and white beaches. Are you jealous yet? Seriously I'm jealous of myself! Usually on a vacation when it's time to go I'm ready. But not this time. I wanted to stay so bad!!!It rained the morning we left a few times and that helped a tiny bit. It was the most relaxing, pampering vacation I've ever had. It really didn't cost very much either - even though it seemed like it should have.
Now I'm back in Hong Kong trying to make the adjustment from a total summer feeling to Christmas. It's weird. I would recommend that resort to anyone in the future and I hope to go back someday. I will post a photo album hopefully in the next few days because we have more even cooler pictures. Thanks for reading!

Drag Queens, Pole Dancing and Eyelashes...

I bet that title made you curious to read more! I'd say only in Hong Kong but I'm sure there's many other places to see these things! The Saturday before Halloween Jen, Cath and I went out to a club called The Fringe to see the ICS (that's our school) jazz band play. They were the "opening act" for the Saturday night jazz band that plays there. It's about 45-1 hour by train to get down to Central on Hong Kong Island. We get about halfway there and we're waiting for the next train and we see these towering 7 foot beings in knee high platforms and mini skirts. Yes, they were drag queens. The most unbelievable drag queens I've ever seen! In light of it being Halloween weekend we entertained the idea that they were costumes but upon further inspection we could tell that they were way too comfortable and well done up for it to be a seasonal thing. We decided we needed a picture so on the train we positioned ourselves to covertly take a picture of them when lo and behold they asked to be in the picture! It was so funny because the other Asian people avoided them like the plague!

Then we arrived in Central and proceeded to look for the club. While we were walking we quickly realized that it was the night for the Halloween festivities. It kind of resembled what I think Mardi Gras might be like. Open top trams went by full of costumed people yelling at the people on the street. Streets were blocked off and it was generally crazy. We decided to take a taxi to our destination so as to avoid any further confusion in all the madness. We get to The Fringe and it was a tiny bar/lounge place and there are all the ICS kids playing on the little stage area. In a bar - with alcohol! Call me old school but that was so weird to me! That would never fly in the states. But it was all good here! Huh. I think the drinking age here is loosely 18 but I'm not sure. Not that the kids were allowed to drink but still...weird. Then we stayed to watch the professional jazz band. They were awesome and played older jazz tunes. Then the singer came out and they did a beautiful rendition of "Over the Rainbow." Harriet - if you're reading this - I said out loud "this is for Harriet!" and then I teared up. Then our feet were hurting because we couldn't get seats and we wanted to get home before the trains stopped running so we left. On our way to the station (we walked) we saw lines and lines of cops patrolling the streets and plenty of revelers all around. We narrowly missed stepping in vomit and then I saw someones fake eyelash on the ground. It was so weird that random eyelash...

Then we finally get on the train and Cath strikes up a conversation with a young, sort of nerdy looking Asian. He wasn't holding on to anything and she was holding the pole so she was talking about balancing and such and then he asked her if she'd pole dance for him! I said "Cath, did that guy just ask you to pole dance?" I couldn't believe it. Finally, after a long journey in painful shoes (pain is beauty right?) we made it home. What a night!

We had our Fall Festival two Saturdays ago. It went really well. Our booth was Towering Blox for R2 and our theme was recycling so you had to stack tissue boxes and whoever made it fall over lost and the other person won. It was very popular.
We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary here at ICS among nearly 20 friends that we've made here in Hong Kong. It was an amazing night. We ordered 10 pizza's, my friend Kate made two cakes and Ernie surprised me with a gorgeous bouquet he'd had specially made and a silver engraved plate. And of course I found out our trip is to Koh Samui Thailand! He also wrote me vows that were amazing and read them in front of everyone. Very special! Then we went downstairs to the theater and saw the ICS show choir perform. It's like Glee and they did several Glee songs but then it had a Christian twist at the end. It was fun and at the end the gave us a shout out and spotlighted us and we had to stand up. That was neat.

We leave for Thailand in 9 days!!! I'm praying for nice weather there. Looks like it should be. White sand, warm blue water, spa massages and plenty of tropical flowers and romantic dinners. It's a resort that tailors to romantic getaways so it should be good. I will need a break after this coming week. We have a field trip to Outback Steakhouse for our restaurant theme. I take both my morning and afternoon classes together at once. Each kid has a parent going though so I just facilitate but still I'm a bit anxious. Then Friday I have twenty conferences from 8am to 8pm. All I can say about that is if the Lord brought me to it He'll get me through it because that seems impossible. Then I have 8 more on Saturday from 8-1pm. Then I work that next Monday and Tuesday - Sunday (23rd-28th) I am in Thailand. Phew! Then it's on to Christmas! Wow - time is beyond flying for me. I think I'm getting past the adjustment stage onto the living here stage. I have routines now and I've got some other things I'm looking to get involved in but I'll save that for another blog as things develop. All in all I feel blessed and for now, quite happy!
God bless and peace out!

Life in R2 (Kindergarten sort of)

So every three weeks or so we do a new theme unit. Remember - these are 4 and 5 year-olds. We just started a new unit this week called "Firehouse." This week we are learning about firefighters and their gear and equipment (not exclusively - we do other things too). They are very enthusiastic about this particular theme. Because they are are all ESL (English as a second language) one of our primary goals is to increase their language and vocabulary through activities in our themes. After spending time making a theme web on the board, reading some books, doing a science experiment using a candle and a bottle and water to show how fire needs air and looking at posters of their equipment my kids were totally into it. After theme/center time we all line up and go to the bathroom (but it's called a washroom here). The boys all go into the boys bathroom and the girls into the girls bathroom. I have the T.A. during that time so she goes with the girls and the janitor goes with the boys. I wait outside between the two bathrooms so that I can keep an eye on the kids who come out. Well, one little boy comes out of the bathroom and says to me "Mrs. Davis, we were pretending our wee wee's were hoses and we were putting out fires in the toilets!" Well, that's practical application right? I don't think I can use that as a valid assessment though! I had to turn away because I was laughing so much. Too funny! I guess that's boys for you!

Things are going better for me - I'm getting into the groove of teaching at this school and I am able to start implementing more things that I want to do. I have a set schedule for every day and my first formal observation went very well. It was a hard road at first. There were too many new things being thrown at me. New country and people, new modes of transportation to cope with to and from work. It was (and still is) hard to find the right store to get what I needed, all new classroom to set up, new teachers to learn about and work with, new material to teach, new way to do things, new paperwork and 30 new kids who don't all speak English very well. It wasn't just starting a whole new job, it was a whole new way of life. I'll admit - I had some bad days. But I trusted that God brought me here and He would work it out and He is. I feel much more comfortable now and I was extra conscious of it all because I'm teaching the kids how God loves us and takes care of us and living it at the same time.

Now about finding what I need - okay I hate Walmart. Not because of what they sell but because of the people in there. It always seemed crowded and chaotic with long lines. But I have a whole new appreciation for Walmart now. You don't know what you're missing until you don't have it. Talk about crowded and chaotic - that's about every mall here. And the fact that I have to go to a mall or a certain "street" to find various stores and things is a bit of a hassle. It would be nice to go to one store where I could get milk, some eye makeup remover, a laundry basket, and fabric softener, a measuring cup, a sports bra etc. all in one stop. Here I have to first figure out where to get what and then plan my trip. It could literally take me all day to track all of that down here. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying...it's different. If you've lived here all your life you're used to it but for me it's kind of crazy. But we're doing okay.

Now on to Super Typhoon Megi. Yeah - super typhoon! It goes Typhoon, Severe Typhoon and Super Typhoon. Must be because I complained too much about the last one whimping out. Now nature is going to show me! Everything is getting taped up and sealed up here and some parents were telling me today to stock up on food because everything will close if it's bad. Huh. My first "major" weather. I guess they say now it might be the worse in 40 years not 20 years. Dear Megi - I know you want to show off, but really - you don't have to - I believe you. Love, me.
Well, more about it later granted all our windows and electronics survive the weekend. :)
God bless and peace out!

I am a Friend of God

We sang the song "I am a friend of God" this morning in service - one that I have sang a dozen times, but today it struck me differently. What does this have to do with Hong Kong you might say? Well, I started thinking how much more of a friend God is to me now then He was even back in Phoenix. Not necessarily that I need Him more, or that He's blessed us more, though He certainly has. It has to do with teaching the children His stories.
Yeah, as a kid I had a passing knowledge of stories like Adam and Eve and Noah's Ark. But they were like the Easter Bunny to me. I didn't know the heart behind the stories. But now I am responsible for teaching the students these biblical stories and not just telling the story but delving into the meaning and the lesson God wants us to know from them. The bible is so full of instructions for us to be safe, healthy, happy and whole. And that is what is evident to me now in ways it wasn't before. God is my friend and He loves me. We heard in church today that love is wanting what's best for someone - be it friend or enemy. And God wants what's best for me and for you. He teaches us that we should tell the truth and be good to each other, and not seek revenge and to be obedient. It's only through obedience that we can be truly free. And I can see that so clearly when I apply that to the classroom. We talked about the rules in the classroom and how when Mrs. Davis tells you to use walking feet it's not to be mean but to keep you safe. Or how you have to raise your hand before you speak so that everyone gets a chance to be heard and that you listen when other's are speaking. We talk about these rules, we colored a page illustrating these rules and we review these rules. Am I being hard on them? Too strict? No - if they are obedient they will be happier as a result and the classroom a pleasant, safe place to be. As the teacher I know that and they - as the children - don't. So it's my job to help them through that. That is how God is. He's not oppressing me - He's freeing me by giving me boundaries. We are His children.

These lessons bring me closer to His nature. We stay on one story for a week. We pray together and we learn together. I can see how God was sad when people made bad choices. Just like I am sad when a student hits another student in anger or something like that. I want to say - but you know better! Why did you do it? Now we have this issue we have to deal with. But that's how we all are isn't it? The Pastor today talked about how - even as adults - when someone wrongs us we have that "playground reaction." But really, that's not the way we should respond. Mature faith requires us to pray for our enemies and that is hard. But when all is said and done it's what's really right. I am the teacher but I think God is using this situation to teach ME. If we would just listen to Him like I want my students to listen to me then all would be well. I don't mean that everything will be perfect in your life - things still happen in the classroom even if we do follow all the rules - but when those things do happen we know how to best respond and handle it. Some verses I think apply:

Genesis 6:5-6 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.

Matthew 18:3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:14 Jesus however said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for it is to those who are childlike that the Kingdom of the Heavens belongs.

Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.

I've heard people say that being a Christian is too strict and that God is a tyrant and so on...but when you love God back (because He already loves you) then you want what He wants for you. You want to be obedient because you see that it is out of love that He asks us to do certain things. Not that we always do - sometimes what we want to do and what we do are two different things. But that's a whole other path I could go down...Ernie found this book in the giveaway pile in the breakroom and it's called "None of these Diseases" by Dr. S.I. McMillen and it was written in 1968. I started reading it and it brought revelation to me as well. God gives instructions in the Old Testament that are law for the Jewish people so you might say why follow some of that as a Christian - Jesus frees us from the law (again - a whole other path I could go down but I won't right now) but it talks about thing like how the bible gives instructions to Moses on cleansing the hands after dealing with the dead or infected but for so long Doctors and students in hospitals would do autopsies and then go perform surgery and wonder why the mortality rate was so high. I quote "At long last, in the year 1960, man finally muddled through. He learned, after centuries and at a frightful cost, what God gave to Moses as inspiration." There's MANY other instances like that and I'm only 3 chapters in. I believe God created us and therefore knows what is best for us. Plain and simple. So through all of this - when we sang "I am a friend of God" I truly understood it this morning.

Well, that's all my ramblings for now. Good for you if you made it all the way through - I know it's long. God bless!

My Experience at the Doctors in Hong Kong

I thought this was blog-worthy just because healthcare is always such a hot button issue AND with things being so crowded here I expected a nightmare and not feeling well I put it off. However, I knew I had a sinus infection and had no energy and felt miserable so I finally gave in at the gentle urgings of my co-workers. I was going to take today off to go to the doctors so I was typing up sub plans when Cora, the Amin Assistant at our kindergarten gave me a card to a doctors office open until 7pm. I called and they spoke English and set me up with an appointment for 6:10. I called Ernie and he sweetly suggested to meet me at the train/minibus area so we could go together. I took him up on his offer and finished my sub plans quickly and left. We found it fairly easy - it was on the 13th floor of a place called Grand Central Plaza. I went in and it was a small room with sort of built in benches on either wall and a counter to check in. I filled out a minimal amount of paperwork and then waited. They brought me my patient number so if I need to return I have that. Then a few minutes later I went back to the doctor who was in a room behind the counter. She was very nice, spoke English and listened to me. I explained how I'd been sick twice in a month and my previous sinus issues and how I was prone to sinus infections. She checked me out in the normal way and determined that yes, I did have an infection. We discussed antibiotics (me being pretty knowledgeable about them at this point). Then I sat in the waiting room for a few more minutes and I was kind of worried because with our insurance you pay first and then they reimburse you later. I didn't have a whole lot of cash on me. So then I was called up to the counter and given my medications right there. No taking a prescription to Walgreens and waiting another 30 minutes. Then came the bill. It came to - altogether - $30 American dollars. Wow - that's all? I couldn't believe it! That was my co-pay for urgent care back home. And I got my meds, three different ones - And it wasn't busy - And they were very nice. Not a bad deal. God totally took care of me. And I got a doctors note for staying home to rest today and boy I needed it. I put it off because going to the doctors back home was always such a hassle. Long waits - 30-40 minutes past appt time and then you were finally seen and then you leave and have to drive to Walgreens, turn in your prescription and sit there for 30 minutes when all you want to do is crawl into bed. I didn't have to drive - the bus was right there when we were done and home I went. Such a blessing. Which is a good thing because the doctor told me that in the winter the winds change and blow from China, bringing all the pollution from the unregulated factories and I guess it gets REALLY bad here. Like so bad you can see the air around you. She told me to wear a mask or I'd have a hard time. Nice. I guess it can't be ALL good here can it? Well, that's all for now. Blessings!

It's time for my (Ernie's) perspective

What an amazing place, Hong Kong! In some respects Americans are very lucky to have what we do: Average size house/apt is about 1000 sqft. In HK is it maybe 400 tops, and they often live with multiple generations, (grandma, grandpa, etc). NOBODY owns a house! Everybody lives in a 50 story housing unit, EVERYBODY! Very FEW people own a car, I would say about 95% of HK's do not own a car, they take public transportation: Train, Bus, mini bus, walk, taxi… Including Veronica and myself!
I feel very safe here, as opposed to let’s say, some parts of Thailand or the Philippines or Phoenix for that matter. I would have no problem allowing Veronica to take off for the day adventuring into downtown HK by herself.

The Gorgeous Veronica!



Not to dump on American youngsters, I once was one, but HK is still an adult run country. The media has not taken over the rearing or development of the children here in HK. In the US MTV, Lady Gaga and Paris Hilton are more important to American youngsters in general than their parents; here in HK children as a whole have great deference for adults. This city is very clean, even though it is packed. Even on Sunday afternoon while jogging, I can stop to use a public restroom and find a worker inside cleaning. Although people are not paid very much, they are working! People live within or below their means, not above.
Our school is amazing and we have about 1100 students. This is the biggest shocker of all: Out of 1100 students I have seen, 2 are overweight! In the US I would easily say about 1/3 of any class is overweight. A big difference is when given the choice of ice cream, candy or other junk food, children in HK would most often select dried, shredded, cuddle fish!











Also, the cafeteria at our school is furnished with fresh local produce each day, and they cook everything from scratch! There is usually a fish option, but always noodles, rice and vegies.






Travel Section: We already went to Macau, a 1 hour hydrofoil ride from HK. Macau is a nice, small Portuguese country/SEC or special economic country/zone set up by China (or something like that).


Next we are going to a secret location for our 10 year anniversary. Veronica knows we are going somewhere, but I can’t post where because it is going to be a surprise! It will have a large white sandy beach, between HK and Australia and between the Maldives and Guam. That is all I am going to say!



Until next time: Go Cowboys!
PS: Just talked with Greg Collins in Australia, he and Natasha may be coming over for a visit soon!

More Adventures...and random stuff

So it's been a while since I wrote on here. That's because I've been busy doing so no time to write about it. Tonight I have time so here goes. I have lots of little thoughts and random events to string together so I hope I don't lose anyone.

As I sit here on my couch I have realized some new traits in me that make me more like a local. I tried the whole polite excuse me thing for a while but when you're on the train and the doors are about to close and you have to get off and you say excuse me and no-one moves you have to physically push people out of your way. I know - sucks - but that's the way here sometimes. Believe me those doors are unforgiving. They aren't like the elevator door where if you stick something in the way they will open back up. Nope...they will close on you or whatever you stick in there and stay shut and the train will start moving...how do I know that? Well...one day a lady stuck her newspaper in the door. It shut and she was able to yank it out as the train pulled away but barely. Then a woman stuck her bag in the door. The doors closed and her bag was stuck in the door as the train started to go. We all reached to help get it for her but then the train guy noticed and the train stopped with a halt almost knocking us all on our fannys. It was actually pretty comical. I took a picture. I'll try and post it. Don't get in the way of train doors - they are merciless...

The next trait is my ability to weave through large crowds at a fast pace. I am improving. Always on my toes here. It's almost like a video game sometimes and the more I "play" the better I get. People are always shopping here. Always. Bizarre.

The next thing I noticed was my after work snack was dried seaweed and these soy and seaweed flavored rice cake snacks. Huh. And I like it. I had sushi from the grocery store for lunch Sunday. It's much different here. I had some kind of roll with flying fish roe on it. Ernie made faces at me but it was really good. A little strong on the wasabi though. A bit painful for my nasal passages. Eric - I thought of you. I do eat my American food when I can find it though. Last night we had burgers from this place called Triple O's - I guess it's a Canadian chain. Oh - it was sooooo good. So don't worry too much.

I have become a great navigator. I managed to map out my whole trip to Wan Chai on the main Island to get some art supplies. Then Ernie said can you find a Subway (the sandwich place) and I found that too and mapped it out and off we went and we didn't even get lost. I love the trains here - they are so easy to use.

I am picking up some words too. I don't know how to spell them but hiyah, hiyah means yeah or yes, Hi-itsa (sounds like that) means the next station is, djo san (sounds like that) means good morning. My daan means check please and mmm goi means excuse me or thank you. I recognize other sounds but don't know them as words yet. But that's pretty good for two months.

Other random stuff - Asian women shouldn't dye their hair lighter - it turns orange. My hair is destined to be frizzy and gross here no matter what I put in it so I give up. Older people here are always exercising or doing some sort of movement on the walking/biking path. It's neat. I think they are on to something here...they really don't have the same deodorant here but not too many people smell...when the wind blows from China it's really smoggy here. When the wind blows from the sea it's nice. I like walking so much most days. I don't mind the rain here because it's never usually for that long. It's not easy to run a few quick errands. You have to go to the malls mostly for stuff and that's always a process. Or there is a "street" like kitchen street or sneaker street with shops all of that nature. But that's okay. There are deals to be found.

My classes are sweet and adorable and we are having a lot of fun together. They have started bringing me pictures most every day. I love praying with them and teaching them about life. It is a blessing. And I am humbled and honored that God would choose me to do such an important job as teach these little ones about Him. He has blessed us and provided for us so well to be able to do this.

Okay, trips we've done - we went to Central and to Soho and had Mexican. It's really neat there and we barely explored it. We took the world's longest escalator - the mid-level travelator. It was cool. We took the ferry across the harbor. We took a special boat to the Island of Macau. It's actually a separate SAR (Special Administrative Region) and so our passports got stamped. We had dinner at an amazing Portuguese restaurant called Fernandos that's famous. I took pictures. We had fun, we got lost, we found our way and it was interesting. We had Japanese curry, we went to the fire dragon parade for mid-autumn festival which is a big holiday here. It's almost like Thanksgiving for us where families get together and have a feast. The children brought me mooncakes and we had a lantern parade. Again - I took pictures.

We've just been living every moment we can with lots planned for the future. We will have to see what tomorrow brings. :) I cannot believe this week will be October 1st. We have been here 2 months and 3 days already. Wow - time is flying. Well, until next time...much love to you all.
Veronica

Another Update from Hong Kong

Right after I posted the last blog entry I came down with a horrible head cold. That's all it was but it kicked my butt! I was down for a good four days and missed two days of school. My first Hong Kong bug! I've been told I'm in for a lot more. Bummer - my immunity was finally pretty strong last school year and I only suffered from allergies...well after the experience of living out here I ought to be pretty tough!

I was on my way to school today and it hit me - I'm living in Hong Kong! It's been such a whirlwind that sometimes you just have to step back and see the experience for what it is. I've always wanted to experience another culture and not just as a tourist. And here I am. And I was thinking - it's so different to live here then to just visit and how cool is that?

We had dinner last night at the apartment of another couple from our school ICS. They are originally from California. He teaches middle school science and math and she taught the grade above me but has two kids and stays home now. Ernie coaches track with him. They've been here five years. It was our first experience in a true Hong Kong apartment. Up until now we've been bouncing around the 7th floor here and we all have basically the same apartments. This couple lives on the 35th floor of their building! That's higher then the tallest building in Phoenix which I believe has only 32 floors and they weren't at the top. I thought it was so cool but Ernie wasn't so fond of being up that high. Their views were amazing but apartments here are tiny! Tiny!!! It makes our school apartment feel so spacious! Mostly it's the kitchens. They don't really have built in ovens - they don't do that here. It's all counter top convection ovens. But I guess they don't really bake much so it's all good for them. We Americans struggle with that...there are plenty of bakery's around though. :)

The weeks are going fast here - we are always so busy! There are plenty of things to do and see when we aren't working. And Hong Kong people keep long hours. They work late and do stuff after - we are the lame ones who go to bed too early. It's a crazy, exciting place. I am looking forward to our long four day weekend in two weeks though - I feel like I've been working since I got here and need more then two days off. So that will be good. It's fall festival or something like that. It's all about the mooncakes right now. That's really interesting. There are several stories that go with them and who knows what the right one really is. It's kind of like mythology. Anyway, they are filled with sesame or lotus paste and some have chocolate but not like a chocolate cake. It's an interesting texture. I like the lotus paste ones a lot and my co-workers were surprised and said I like so many things that I must have Asian somewhere in me! I didn't care much for the sesame one - I don't much like sesame. I guess most Westerners don't like mooncakes at all. But everywhere kiosks and shops have opened up selling them. Hagen Daaz even does them here. It's huge. So that's neat to experience.

Well, that's all I can think of for now. I'll try and take more videos or something soon! Thanks for reading.

A Day of Exploring

Ernie and I decided to find a beach today since I really wanted to see some water. So we set out on an adventure. We took the train a few stops to Wu Kai Sha. We saw some beautiful scenery on the way. Then we got off the train and walked on what looked like a seldomly used path and then down a random road. There were signs that said Whitehead Golf Club or something like that. But we just wanted to get to the water. Then Ernie peeked through the trees and other foliage on the side of the road and saw a little beachy area. So we climbed down and we had a beautiful little area all to ourselves! It was so peaceful and relaxing and beautiful. We stayed a while and then we made our way back to the train station and took it back one stop to Ma On Shan. There are two malls there. We were hungry but the issue is that a lot of the local places are in Cantonese and the people speak Cantonese so ordering is hard for us. But I had our little cheat sheet and we were able to get a seat and actually order our food. That was fun! We got some Dim Sum items and also a noodle dish. I had fresh carrot and apple juice and Ernie had a coke and we drank jasmine tea. We ate with chop sticks although they offered us "American's" forks. I was pretty proud of our ability to do that. Then we went home and by the time we got off the train it was raining, so we had a light jog in the rain. It was so fun! We got home just in time - then it started pouring buckets of water.

To see what today looked like I'm sharing a link to photos on Picasa. I think I'm doing this right - who knows!

http://picasaweb.google.com/111125336105726794698?authkey=Gv1sRgCMWlldW1x-mkHQ

I think you can go to this link to see. You may have to highlight it - copy and paste it. It worked for me.

Ironing

I chose to title this entry ironing because that is what stage we are at right now. The wrinkles are ironing themselves out. Let me explain...

When we moved into our apartment things seemed fine although a bit strange. However we just assumed that's how it was. I mean the light switches are on the outside of the room and you have to flip the switch for the water heater for the bathroom and the kitchen and separately. So any deviation from the norm seemed normal. But over time we started to notice some things getting worse. For example, our shower. If you turned it on hot and ran it, it got nice and hot. But as soon as you turned the faucet toward the middle for a not so scalding temperature it would go ice cold. So then you'd turn it back to hot. Usually you'd get a decent temperature for a minute or two. Then it progressively got worse and it was either very hot or very cold and very hard for us to actually be under the water. Problem two, our toilet started leaking. It has a little pipe out the side of the base (overflow or something I guess) and there's a little drain on the floor. I think it's a precaution so your bathroom never floods. Except ours was - little by little the water creeped until more of the floor was wet...well, finally this week they replaced some part and now it's bone dry there (yay) and my principal Tim (Mr. Hong Kong as he's otherwise known because he knows so much about here) said why don't you run your sink on hot just barely while you shower and that should keep the hot water running in the shower. See, it's a unit that flash heats the water - not a tank. So something is awry with the pressure and sensing. They are still trying to figure out a solution but at least in the meantime we can be clean! So those are two very big reliefs to us.

It seems that plumbing problems follow Ernie and I like the plague. When we moved to Chandler from Tucson we lived in a brand spanking new apartment but the first time we used the new washer it flooded. Then we moved to our San Juan address in Phoenix. The master bedroom toilet just kept running one morning and we found ourselves ankle deep in water - that was a fun process drying all that out. Then in our last place the toilet handle had to be jimmied and the fixtures were from the 1920's. The sink in the kitchen had separate spigots. While charming it was a bit unpractical. So I figured here we'd be home free. But I read that scripture the other day that says "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33 Boy isn't that the truth - but it's okay because there's something bigger going on and I'm not gonna let a little plumbing get me down. Instead I'm gonna do some ironing!

Video of my classroom in Hong Kong

We found a new church!

So every Sunday since I got here (except the one I arrived on) has been sad for me because I was missing Faith Assembly. The first Sunday we went to ICA (International Christian Assembly) and it was okay. It seemed more like a concert or show then a church though. Then last Sunday we were wanting to go to a different church and that morning we set out to figure out how to get there and we couldn't and we missed the other service and didn't end up going anywhere which really bummed me out. For some reason I really felt this was an important church to check out. So then, I asked my principal if he could tell us how to get there because it's the church he and his family attend. So he said they'd meet us at the train station at the stop near the church and drive us over so that's what we did. We got there and went in and it was a very small sanctuary with wooden pews and the front was similar to Faith Assembly - a cross over the baptismal. I liked the look and feel of it. Worship was awesome - I knew all the songs. The pastor was American (not that it matters but it was nice to see someone from my country) and his message was great. Then they sang another worship song at the end and had offering and closed with a worship song. Then leaving we waited to meet the pastor and someone little came up behind me and hugged my legs - it was a student! How neat! My principal introduced us to the Pastor and he said "New teachers" and greeted us warmly and said he'd love to talk with us sometime soon. The middle school principal and his family attend there as well as several other ICS teachers so there were familiar faces and greetings. That was nice. Overall I was so happy and cheerful and full of God that it was a welcome relief! The church is called KIBC - Kowloon International Baptist Church. Yes, it's a Baptist church but honestly I don't know the difference. It was just good. I guess the 11:00 service is more traditional - they have a choir but I don't know what that means. I liked it there. Oh and they announced they were starting their Christmas Choir soon. :) It was a cozy church - hard to find here. I don't want to go to a church and sit in an overflow room. Anyway, then we walked back to the train station (the MTR) and had lunch and went grocery shopping.

Ernie and I did well navigating this weekend and that was cool. There's just so much to see and do and it doesn't even cost any money - just going around and seeing things is fun. I hated window shopping and malls unless I was out to get something specific before in the U.S. but now every store and every mall is different and it's just amazing. Can't wait to get paid and maybe do some real shopping.

Tomorrow night we're having tacos at Jens apartment across the hall and Friday night the 7th floor is having a potluck. Should be fun. And we have a snowman stalking our floor. Hee hee! I got back from the somewhere yesterday and there was a stuffed snowman at our door. I think it's from the storage unit where our washers and dryers are. So we put it in front of someone else's door and it keeps being moved around. It's so funny to come home and see! Well that's all for now. I'll try to post a video. I'm learning...

Live in Hong Kong goes on...

Almost 3 weeks in - I can't believe it! I feel like I have learned soooo much in the last three weeks - more then I've had to learn in the last three years combined. But I can do it. We got our official Hong Kong ID cards. They are serious here! It has a chip in it and they digitally take your thumbprints and that's on the chip. It's crazy.
I can live here and function as I would in the U.S. however it's so different too. It's so hard to explain. I live here and work here and am experiencing everyday life not just as a tourist. But I am still aware of all the differences. Like when my kids are eating snack sometimes I just don't know what they are eating. I ask them and they don't know how to explain it. Or in our breakroom there are candies and cookies and different snacks - some by companies I've heard of like Nestle but the actual product is something I've never seen in the U.S. or it will be something totally different for me like these rice crackers with seaweed flakes that we ate yesterday or sugar cane juice in a juice box or chrysanthemum tea in a juice box. So different. Also, I'm starting to recognize cantonese words. I have no idea what I'm hearing but I'm am picking up a pattern. It's probably like if you heard the word "the" in English over and over in conversations. You might think - oh, that's familar - but you have no idea what it means. I really would love to really learn another language. I'm goingt to make an effort.

I'm really liking my school and my team. They are kind and helpful to me and it's a bonding thing to do devotions and pray together every morning. For that I am so thankful. Our principal Tim did the devotion this morning and it so hit home I wanted to start crying right there.

I definitely like my afternoon class more then my morning class right now. I have some very high maintenance boys in my morning class. They are managable but they drain all my energy! I have some super cuties too. They are just such sweet children and the fact that I get to share Jesus with them just fills my heart in ways I couldn't imagine. We pray before snack each day and yesterday I prayed and they just clasped their little hands and bowed their little heads and they prayed so ferverently with me it was almost heartbreaking to see. Then today I asked for a prayer helper to prayer and to hear their little voices say "dear God please bless this food and keep us healthy..." and then they all say "amen" together was just the highlight of my day. I know I'm in the right place and I've had to do a fair amount of "extra" praying these few days so I was able to share with my kids about when you're scared or in trouble you can just pray "Jesus help me" and He will because He sure has given me peace and strength these past few days and weeks.
Academically I can't believe how much higher these kids are then all the kindergartners I've taught in the U.S. even my high level kids. These kids can already do things that are in the curriculum for kindergarten in the U.S. They can write their numbers, they know their numbers, they know their colors, they can all write their names, they know their days of the week, they know their shapes. I've been doing some informal assessment type activities and games and that's what I've determined. Some might be a bit better then others but in general they are much more advanced. They also listen better (mostly - not all). It's still a busy and tiring day but I can see so much potential for the year.
Ernie is also enjoying his job. He says his students are eager for the help he gives them and he seems to be enjoying his team. He got to experience the high school and middle school opening day praise and worship sessions. He says it was awesome. We are going to grow alot this year leading devotions and participating in chapel.
Well, that's all for now. Hopefully I can get into a routine now and feel a bit settled. Up until now every day has been different. Then I can go exploring some more. :) Love to you all!

An Amazing Experience

This is bound to be an interesting blog post. I'm speaking for Ernie and I here. Yesterday (Friday for us) our school took us to a place called Crossroads for a team building activity. Okay, whatever we think. But it was so much more then we expected. First we were told to dress comfortably so we did. Then someone told us to leave all our jewelry at home, so we did. Half the staff went in the morning session and half in the afternoon (elementary and kinder and some student services - like Ernie's team - went in the morning). We loaded coach buses and had a lovely drive somewhere. I could see the ocean and bridges and trees and mountains and it was so pretty. Then we turned in to Crossroads. Crossroads is a charitable institution in which we have some sort of relationship with I think due to community outreach. They get shipments of items from hotels, offices, hospitals, anywhere really of things that are replaced or upgraded but are still good. They do global supplying to countries in need. It's really quite involved all that they do. I'm sure you could google them if you want to know more. They also do these simulations for various groups. They've had CEO's of Gucci and UN people and all sorts of famous people partake in them. One is slum survivor where you have to build your own shack and live like people in 3rd world countries do for 24 hours. Our task for the morning was to learn about refugee camps. But first we got to shop in the free trade store and we bought some yummy chocolate and coffee and I got some earrings and some little chinese slippers - like an ornament. Then it really began.

We were brought up to a room with cushions and told to sit. We were giving some background on the simulation we were about to partake in. We were from Afghanistan and we were given some history and culture awareness so we could get into our "roles." Then we were given ID cards with a new age and identity. I was Alike Murr, 10 years old, with no money suffering from malnutrition. Ernie was a middle aged man, engaged and with money. Us women had to wear scarves to cover our hair at all times and we were not allowed to talk to men not in our families. Then we were told to have a minute of silence to think about the situation. Then the simulation began. We were led out of the room and someone was yelling at us to hurry, hurry. We were shuffled to a room and a "man" was telling us that war has broken out and we have to flee but we can find safety if we go with him but then the lights went out and soldiers with gun came in and began "shooting" and telling us to keep our heads on the floor. It's amazing how immediately you are a different person. They were tapping people on the shoulder and yelling "You, man" or "You woman go" and you had to go through a door. I kept peeking and they'd yell "Head on the floor - don't move!" Then I got tapped and hurried into the next room which had landmines (I think they were balloons under the straw but it was very real) and you had to be extra careful where you walked. Then you got ushered into another place where you had to show your ID and the guards took every possession you had. Then you got sent into the "camp." We had to fill out forms and then we were told to try and find our "family." You had to find someone with your last name on the ID card. Of course I didn't so we were told to make groups of 7. Me, 5 other women and Fabian made a family. We were given a piece of canvas cloth and sent to make a tent out of it. The soldiers were everywhere yelling at us and we had to drape the canvas over a wire, secure it down with bricks and then it was lights out (meaning nighttime). The soldiers yelled at us to get in our tents and you couldn't talk. There was only room to huddle. Imagine if that was real. I was 10, alone, no money and I couldn't lay down or get up to go to the bathroom. It was very scary. They yelled at you if your hair showed and all that. Then the lights went on and it was morning. The soldiers yelled to get up and line up. Then if you needed the hospital you got in one line, food another, school another. I went to get food but I had no money. You had to have money to buy a bowl for water and food so the guy told me if I had jewelry I could get a bowl. Basically I had to go around and beg. Think if that were real. I tried but I couldn't get food then that was the end of the first "day." I went to bed hungry. Then in the "middle of the night" they yelled alarm and made us all get out and line up. Someone had a weapon in camp. They made us put our hands on our heads and shined their flashlights in our faces and tried to get someone to confess. Then they "found" the weapon and dragged the guilty party away. Some people lost their shoes. People were pawning their watches and bracelets for food. Fabian got us a water bowl the second day but they wouldn't give us water unless we had a food dish too. I tried to go to the hospital but they told me to go eat. I explained I couldn't and they told me not to talk. Fabian teamed up with another family and so we could get some bread and water. We all only got a bite. That was the second day. That night there was fighting in camp and someone got taken away. The third "day" a rich visitor came. We were told to smile and act happy. He asked some of us refugees if we got the blankets he sent and the medicine. The head "guy" "translated" for us and it was amazing how corrupt it was. The rich man would ask if we got the blankets and the head guy would translate did we have tents. So then we'd nod yes and the rich guy assumed we were saying yes about the blankets but we had no blankets. Course it was all in english and make believe but eye opening. That day I went to school. Then the simulation was over. All said it took 40 minutes. Then we talked about it.

Ernie's "family" got asked if they wanted to escape and they said no. Another group said yes, because they reasoned it would be better then there but they got sold into human trafficking. Ernie had money so he could buy food. His experience was quite different. I was lost, alone, scared and couldn't get food. In reality I would have died there or would have had to sell my body to get food through the soldiers. That's the reality. It's amazing how quickly you become compliant and submissive and tried not to bring attention to yourself. There was no justice there, no rights. The "head guy" said that was our only hope for safety and we had to make the best of a hard ground in a crowded space under a canvas drape. And that was a good circumstance. An african man who had played a soldier in the simulation talked about his experience in a refugee camp in Africa several years back. I recalled how members from the African church spoke at our church on the fourth of July about their time in camps. I never knew that's how it was. You can see pictures, you can hear about it but this experience was amazingly eye opening. 42 million I think was the number of displaced people groups. And there aren't any countries that are really throwing their arms open wide to welcome them. And if you have war in your country and you finally leave the camp and go home, what will you find? If your house is habitable then maybe someone else will be living there. Then what? We weren't asked for money or to do anything but think about it. It was life changing. And I kept thinking thank you God for this experience. I feel so blessed to have had it and so blessed to not be in that position. But the only thing separating them from me is circumstance. Natural disasters, war - none of us is immune. So next time you meet a refugee be welcoming. Smile, engage in a conversation. I'm sure there will be more to follow this up but that's for another time.

For lunch we were served a "slum" meal.Lentils and Daal over rice. We had to eat with our hands in the "slum village" on the campus at Crossroads. We had to wash our hands in buckets with soap, one with disinfectant and one with water. Then we drank soda out of plastic bags with straws. Craziness! But it was really good.

On another note - I found my "spot to go." At Ma On Shan - 3 stops on the train, very easy to get to. It has two great supermarkets, two malls (and when I say mall I mean any kind of store you could need - not like the U.S. there aren't any Targets or Walmarts) and a movie theater. I can get everything and anything I might need on a regular basis there. So that's good. My friend Jennifer and I spent the morning checking it out and then grocery shopped. Having to carry everything back on the train makes you think twice about what you buy so that's good! I have some meals planned so we'll see how that goes. Tuesday is when I meet my students and then they are mine on Wednesday. Please pray for a smooth beginning. As I am every year, I'm a bit nervous. Especially being in another country. Well, that's all for now!

Our first video posting

I figured out how to upload our first movie to this blog. I hope it works. Please leave a comment if it did. Thanks!

It's Friday - end of week 1

Wow, what a week! The last two days have been pretty meeting intensive and we haven't gotten out as much. However I've enjoyed some bonding time with ladies on my floor and attempted public transportation semi-alone. This afternoon my principal drove me over to the kindergarten campus and I met with the head teacher and my buddy/mentor Tina Wong. We had a great session and she answered the million questions I threw at her and of course I have a million more but I feel so much better. Then I had to get home so we took the train together but she let me lead and I did okay and then I had to get off by myself and walk home and of course I did just fine! Funny too but I ran into several other new teachers as soon as I crossed the street all in front of the Park n Shop. That was cool. We are already forming a community.

Living in a big city is a change. Living on the 7th floor of a building is a big change. Living in a school is so weird and cool. I can't even explain it. But I'm feeling more confident every day in the basics. I have also discovered that my previous school/district prepared me really well for the meetings and things on writing objectives and differentiated instruction and 6 traits writing. I think Ernie felt similarly that we were well prepared. So thank you Madison! And thanks most of all to the Lord. It's amazing when you can see each step that you have taken has meaning towards something bigger.

We practiced Cantonese phrases today. I know my bus stop. I know please/thank you/excuse me - Mm Goi. I kinda know how to say 7th floor. I'm learning fast. It's sooo cool! Ernie too and he's brave enough to use it. I said Mm Goi to the janitor lady today and she started talking to me in Cantonese and I had to say I don't know it! :) I really like the language. It's so interesting. Everything is so thrilling. And there's hand sanitizer everywhere here! What a clean and germ concious city!

Well, I don't really have much more to say. We have an ice cream social on our floor in about an hour. Tomorrow is Saturday and we get a day to ourselves. Not sure what we'll do yet. But we get our memory foam mattress pads - hurray! I don't think I've look forward to bedding more in my life! Then we'll attend church on Sunday at a church called ICA - Internation Christian Assembly and it's my birthday so maybe brunch. Then the cable/internet installer comes between two and three. Then it's back to work! Anyway, I'll post video after they install the internet and I can get on my personal laptop. I'm in the computer lab right now. Well, much love to you all and we're doing just fine.

Our Trip to Hong Kong and Life thereafter...

Day 2
As I write this I have no idea when I will be able to get on wireless to post this. But I wanted to write down my experiences before they slip my mind. We arrived on Sunday evening about 6:30 pm Hong Kong time. Our flight was 12 hours and 52 minutes exactly and it was a great flight. Smooth, hardly any turbulence and we each had our own screen on the seat in front of us with movies, music and games galore that kept us pretty entertained. We dozed on and off and got up on and off. They served a delicious lunch soon after we took off - I had penne pasta and Ernie had beef in a tomato sauce. We had yummy cheesecake and cookie too. A few hours before we landed we had dinner. Our flight attendent was very nice. We felt very spoiled! But as the end of our flight neared I was anxious to get off!

We arrived at the Hong Kong International airport and had to go through customs. I thought it was very thrilling to have my passport and visa stamped saying I was allowed to stay for employment! Then we went to get our bags - which thankfully arrived and no damage! While getting our bags we spotted the couple we'd been communicating with on facebook - Brad and Emily. So then the four of us walked out and there was our school waiting for us. Phew! They were great and collected us and our bags. We had to wait for one more couple to arrive so we went upstairs and hung out and drank water and got to know each other a bit. Then the other couple arrived so we journeyed out to the bus that was waiting for us and got loaded up. Then we took the drive from Lantau Island to the New Territories where our school is. It was so weird that the driver was on the wrong side! The freeway looked not unlike AZ in the dark only you could tell there were different plants. Then you began to notice water on both sides. That was when we went over our first major bridge - all lit up and looming as we approached it. It was so cool! There was a giant shipyard on the left and on the right we began to get our first glimpse of Hong Kong Island - all lit up just like on TV! We drove over another bridge and through several shiny new tunnels on our way to the school. As tired as we were it was fascinating!

We noticed there were no houses anywhere. Just high rise after high rise of what appears to be apartments. And no Walmarts, CVS, Walgreens, Blockbusters on every corner. Really the stores are tucked away and not easy to see. It's neat. Then we were there! Our new home! Down in the parking garage we were assigned our keys and then taken to our apartments. Our apartment is great! We ended up with a mountain view which also gave us a huge kitchen! Our kitchen and bathroom are both bigger then the one we had in our house in the U.S. believe it or not! They are off the short hallway once you enter the apartment. Then we have our dining/living area with a fake leather sofa bed couch and cute TV stand with small flat screen and cubby shelves (it's totally Ikea). Also a nice table and four chairs and a desk with a rolling chair (where I'm sitting now enjoying a cup of coffee). Everything is clean cut and new and nice. We have a fridge that is not quite full size and a convection oven and range top in our kitchen. Plenty of counter space and cupboards too! More then we could ever use. In the bedroom we have a queen bed with drawers and a small dresser and a large wardrobe with a full length mirror and PLENTY of storage. Across the whole end of the apartment is a large balcony patio that looks over the freeway and to the mountain. When we woke up yesterday we went outside as the sun was rising and the sounds of the little rainforest came alive. All the plants are so green and foreign looking to me. It's so neat!

Now let me tell you about the air conditioning. It puts Arizona so entirely to shame. They are these small panasonic wall units - one in the living room and one in the bedroom with vents throughout. They blow the coldest air I have ever felt! No air was on when we arrived so Ernie turned it way down and within a short time I was shivering! They are so quiet they sound like fans on low and our apartment says cool and doesn't feel too damp. It is definitely moist here but I think I'm adapting well. I don't think it feels that hot. We were out all day yesterday and it was sunny and I was fine. It's in the 80's and there is a hint of a cooler breeze that makes all the difference.

After arriving at the apartment we were given our temporary cell phones, our relocation allowance part in cash and part in check and our badges and all our check in and orientation forms in a folder. So organized! Then we partially unpacked and started to determine what we needed. Yes, there were sheets and pillowcases and two pillows but no blankets! Anyone that knows me knows I need a real blanket! Luckily I had my fleece one I took on the plane. We realized we needed things like dish soap, laundry detergent, garbage bags, cleaners, bath mats etc. I felt a little freaked out knowing I couldn't just jump in the car and run to Walmart but that was easily remedied the first day. We went to bed about 11pm and woke up about 5 am. Not too bad. Then we got ready,explored our campus a bit and then we met the headmaster in the parking garage. What a neat guy! He asked what I thought of the bed. I said it was too hard and couldn't wait to go get a mattress pad. Turns out now the guy in charge of facilities is getting us all one! We soon discovered where the Park n Shop was (but it was like 7:30 so it was closed) and we wandered a bit and then came back for breakfast at 8:15. That's where I had another neat experience. We were served eggs and english muffins and sausage and there there was a bowl of fruit with what literally looked like dice in it. Little white squares with black dots. I was like Whoa! It was dragonfruit. I guess that's common here and hard to get in the U.S. So cool! It was cut up with kiwi, watermelon and served with a yogurt sauce. We ate and mingled and I got to meet my principal. Then they had a leadership retreat. Gostick, our HR guru who is so awesome, had on the board our itinerary for the day. We had to go get our Hong Kong Identity cards, then lunch and then set up our bank accounts. That sounds simple but it took all day.

Okay, for new teachers there are: Me and Ernie, Brad and Emily, Melanie and Russ, Jennifer and Joshua (they have two small children). Then there's Kath from New Zealand, Fabien and Rinata. Along with Cathy - a veteran teacher along to help us out and Ada and Gostick from HR we set out. Everyone is in their 20's and 30's - it' so neat! We were soon a bonded group as we navigated the New Territories. We first went to the Jubilee Shopping Court which is where we got our indentity cards. It's also where my campus is. First half of us got our I.D.s. It's just like going to the motor vehicle dept. We were walked through the process, fingerprinted, photographed and given a temporary paper I.D. In September we can pick up our card. I thought that was just thrilling! Then I got to go upstairs and see the kindergarten which is on the 7th floor!!! In between are shops and restaurants - so cool! I got to peek at my classroom but a summer program was going on in there. Then I got to watch the 4 and 5 year old class in summer school do an activity while waiting. They are SO CUTE! I met some of the personnel and they were SO NICE! We had lunch together. After everyone was done we went and ate dim sum in this large chinese restaurant. We had two large tables in our own room with the thing that spins in the middle. I tried everything and it was soooo delicious. Everything had great flavor and nothing was bad. Even Ernie was trying everything. It was just pork and chicken and beef and shrimp and vegetable stuff. Gostick chose the dishes and kept it fairly safe!

After lunch we took the train (the MTR) and got to use our Octopus card. It has a chip so you can just scan your purse and go. We jumped on and jumped off. It's so true, there are taxi's, mini buses and the train right there were we are that will take us anywhere! We got off at this HUGE mall and half the group went to the bank to start their accounts and the rest of us looked at cell phone plans and went to a drugstore in the mall. But it's really nothing like our malls. A little crazy really. I found a nail place but yes, much more expensive! EVERYONE is asian. I know that seems like an obvious statement but in AZ we see so much diversity that seeing such a homogenous culture is noticeable. And after having a little girl gawk at me I realized I look different! Again, seems obvious, but it wasn't. Cathy was our guide and it was good because she's American so she could advise us and see things from our point of view.

Then it was our turn to open the bank accounts. That took forever! We just got simple accounts that our paychecks can be direct-deposited into and we got atm cards to take cash out. In 3 months we can upgrade. So how cool! In one day I got an I.D. and bank account. I felt so - I don't know - ready to go! Then we spotted a Starbucks in the mall and we had to go. You know, I'm all about having new experiences but when you are somewhere where everything is so different a touch of home is nice. Then we decided we had to go to Ikea. We just needed stuff and that was the place to go so Cathy got us there and then told us how to get home and left. So we made a plan to meet up at 5:30 (that was in an hour) and we began shopping. Course we all ran into each other all over the place. We got a quilt and a duvet cover and bath mats, pillows, and dish rags and stuff like that. We also priced a few other things. Then we checked out and five of us took our first taxi cab home and split it. That was cool. It was very clean and nice. Then we checked out each other's apartments and went to the Park n Shop to get cleaning supplies and some food. It's funny, I told Ernie everything is just a little funky. There's all the same stuff but it's a little different. Does that make sense? Then we all set about cleaning and setting up our places for the rest of the night.

Some observations: It was a crazy, busy, fast paced day. I kept smelling this awful smell and I asked what it was. It was Durien fruit. Any of you watch Andrew Zimmern or Anthony Bourdain? Heard of that fruit that's supposed to stink so bad but people love it? Yeah, it smells like the worst garbage. I was thrilled to finally know - as weird as that sounds. Hong Kong just has it's own smell. It's humid, smoggy, breezy, balmy, sweet and slighly like mothballs. But I don't mind it. I have been pleased with how smoothly everything has gone so far. We feel confident enough to at least take care of our basic needs so far. I think today we are going to go to City One which is about a 10 minute walk and go to the "Target-like" store for a DVD player, a fan and a coffee pot after our meetings all day. We have to make sure we can carry whatever we buy. That's different but so far it's been okay. We put our bags in the trunk of the taxi which is not called a trunk but a boot. The elevator is called a lift and the bathroom is called the toilet. Everything is in English and Chinese so we managed just fine. Everyone who lives there says it's very safe - not that I am going to be any less careful or aware but it WAS different. We didn't see any police when we were out and about but lots of security. In the airport the police walked around with berets and machine guns. That was crazy! Well, I guess that is all for now. We have a full day of meetings today and tomorrow we spend the day touring Hong Kong and we get to go up Victoria's Peak and have lunch at the Bubba Gump restaurant! So cool! I am already starting to understand Hong Kong dollars and centigrade. Amazing what happens when you have to! Also Mm goi sai is thank you! Well, that's all for now. I know it's alot but the first few days there is so much to share! If you stuck with me to the end of this right on! Until next time....

Day 4
Well, yesterday was a day of meetings, IT, procedures, stuff like that. We had lunch with our principals and then spent the afternoon with them. I have a great boss. They treat you like the professional you are here. Everyone is so nice and understanding and I am excited about this job. It was a long day and I kind of hit the wall yesterday night. I didn't want to eat or anything. I just zoned and then went to sleep. I'm better today. Everything has been an adjustment but my worst complaint is the bed. On Saturday we get the mattress pads. Hallelujah! My body is sore from that bed! But other then that things are moving right along. Ernie seems to be figuring out his job here and is diving right in.

It rained yesterday and we learned how it is to walk somewhere in the pouring wind and rain. Tip - don't wear jeans! It's been WET since yesterday. We had some great thunderstorms this morning. I haven't seen rain in so long that I don't mind it right now. We had to buy umbrellas yesterday. Hee hee! Big giant ones

Ernie found a DVD player that plays CD's as well through the TV so we are loving that because until next week we only get a few channels and they are mostly in chinese. But Joyce Meyer does come on the world channel at 6:30 so that's been nice. Being able to play our movies and CD's has helped a lot. It's the coolest looking machine and for what it does it was cheap. Most of the cheap shopping is across the border in China. It's pretty comparable here to the U.S. for the most part. We have to get Visa's to go to China so we'll work on that.

We're learning our way around this giant building and that's good. I've never seen such an amazing school! Well, I've got to go if I'm going to post this!