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