School Starts Tomorrow!

This one is going to be quick because I have a intro to the gym class tonight. I tried to sign up for the gym/pool combo in our apartment complex last week, but in typical bureaucratic fashion I have to prove I know my way around a gym safely before they will grant me a smartcard pass-- they are charging me HK$80 in addition to the gym fee for the course (did not charge my teacher friend Scott!) AND I had to pay to use the pool the other day since I was not an official member yet! Oh well! The pool itself is gorgeous... an oasis in the middle of the city. It's pretty ironic that the other times I have tried to go to swim laps there always happens to be a thunderstorm warning issued and they close the pool. Regardless it will be nice to have those facilities at my disposal after work!

Well we had another orientation this morning for school. We watched videos of other students in the classroom to get ideas of games and lessons we could use. We also had to sign an official contract and hand over a hefty deposit. I got really worked up and stressed out thinking that this whole adventure has not even begun, and I feel like I have already been here for ages!

I am worried about the first week of class! I hope to establish a good rapport with the kids, get a feeling of how much the students know, and make the correct bus and metro on time! It is such a weird feeling of the unknown, starting a new job. Will let you know how it goes tomorrow! Wish us luck!

5th Post

Hey everyone, we've had an awesome last couple of days. First, I had a really great experience while playing a game of basketball. I really have wanted to meet some new people, so I decided to wander down the public basketball court. I was the tallest, whitest, most awkward looking guy out there. Also, I obviously didn't speak the language. I was immediately greeted by an elderly man who spoke very good English. He introduced himself and asked the locals to allow me to play in their game. He negotiated the terms of my being there, and then I was allowed to join the game.
The atmosphere around the courts was really interesting; young men were playing and old men from the community sat around and socialized. The entire area was such a cool cultural experience. Due to the small size of most homes, men tend to congregate in the local parks to watch basketball and various sports and spend time with their friends. Anyway, the games were great and everyone was very kind towards me. Later I asked the older man who helped me what he did for a living and why he spoke English so well. He said he had been to America and that he had been a professor at UCLA.
Three days later, Becca, SB, and I went to McDonald's for a late night treat and we met my friend again. Although this time, we realized that he was not a teacher, rather he was homeless.... This man had helped me for absolutely no reason. I actually had asked him to watch my things while I played. After the game he gave me pointers on my jumper and he didn't want anything from me other than the promise that I would return to play. I cannot believe that a man of such great need had been so open and willing to help me when he recognized that I needed a guiding hand. I think that this is such a cool story and I wanted to share it with you.
We were lucky to have a friend-of-a-friend take us around the local "TST" area (Tsim Sha Tsui is the surrounding neighborhood) on Friday night. Vanessa was born in Hong Kong, went to boarding school in the UK, did her undergrad at Penn State and married an American she met while working in Chicago. Work has brought her back to Hong Kong, so she was able to show us some great "hotspots" on the Kowloon side of the city. She led us down Temple Street and showed us the local markets and outdoor restaurants-- wish we could show you the huge LIVE prawns (still squirming!) they were serving! Then she took us to a swanky skyscraper spot--Aqua. The panoramic views of the city were amazing and the atmosphere inside was very posh and modern.
Well the past two days have been really tough... We've explored a few new local beaches! SB and I were stressed because we couldn't decide if we should head for the local shore or an outlying island. We decided to head to a local place called 'Shek O' beach. The beach is a little local coastal village. The setting was gorgeous. Rolling mountains drifted right into the ocean, which made for an amazing backdrop for the afternoon sun set.The best part was that the beach is only about 45 min from our house.
Well this week is a big one; school starts Tuesday. Finally we will have a routine and get a chance to really settle down. So we will tell yall how it goes!

Phyllis and Napping on the South China Sea

Hi Yall!

Fantastic news on the communication front! You can now call me at (803) 454-9649, and it will forward to my Chinese phone for the cost of a local South Carolina call! Mr. Rush, I am getting you set up with a local Hong Kong number next time we chat. To reach Tripp, try (803) 317-2317! This technology makes it so easy to communicate with people back home-- It was great taking the metro to my school this morning to pick up my school uniform and getting a call from both Rebecca and little David, and then hearing from Katie tonight after dinner! It makes me feel like I am home!

Every day has gotten better and better, although we are essentially on vacation until school starts September 1st. I am sure the shock of the "real world" will hit once full time work comes! I worked on lesson plans for the upcoming week-- did not realize my K-1's will not be able to speak their own name! It will be an interesting challenge being the English teacher at my new school!

I met new friends today! Phyllis (in no way resembles Phyllis from The Office!) is a tiny fashionable banker from Singapore working in the financial district across the harbor in Central (the cool part of town). We met waiting for the elevator (have I mentioned the stifling humidity when you open the apartment door?? Our apartment complex saves money by not using air conditioning in the hallways. Yesterday's heat index was 106) and she speaks excellent English! I am really excited because she invited me to her church this Sunday! I am pumped because we were wanting to go to a church but did not know we would be able to find an English service on our side of town!

Tracy and Amy (both teacher friends from New Zealand), Tripp, Liza, and I ventured to Stanley Beach today for a budget-friendly adventure that felt like a vacation! All it took was a metro ride then a short bus trip! We had margherita pizza at the Beach Club overlooking the South China Sea for lunch and spent the day at the beach! Tripp and I kept saying how lucky we are to be from South Carolina-- the beaches we saw today couldn't hold a candle to Sullivan's! Anyways, once we got past the rubbish floating in the surf, we swam out to these floating pads, fell asleep sunbathing, and met our other new friends-- a couple from Finland! They had spent the last two weeks in Thailand and Hong Kong. We ran into them again while browsing the Stanley Market, one of the activities a customer from Pink Sorbet recommended to me! We stopped at Haagen-Daaz in the market for a sample and found they are reducing their carbon footprint-- they were sticking used sample spoons back into the same container customers pull "new" ones out of! Would you like swine flu with that single scoop?

The bus ride back made me carsick and added to my dehydration and general unhappiness with my lack of fresh fruits, veggies, and lean proteins in my diet this week. By the time I was finally feeling better, I was amazed to find Tripp had dinner waiting for Liza and I--teriyaki grilled chicken with honey and garlic shrimp over sticky rice with steamed spinach and fresh peppers! It was a wonderful gesture and such a delicious meal! I felt a thousand times better afterwards. (And it only cost $13 USD for all three of us!) Thanks, Tripp!

For those that had asked about our addresses, we can recieve mail:

Sara Beth Baxley
Flat H 17/F, Block 4
Phase 1, Metro Harbour View
8 Fuk Lee Street
Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon
Hong Kong

Tripp Rush
Flat A 9/F, Block 2
Phase 1, Metro Harbour View
8 Fuk Lee Street
Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon
Hong Kong

Love hearing from everyone! Thanks for the e-mails and phone calls; it means more than you know! xox, Sara Beth

Week 2 Begins

Well we had a major break through today. SB and I have been feeling quite stressed lately. Until today we really couldnt put our finger on it. Relief came from the most unusual, yet simple place. The grocery store! I can hear you now Mom making a joke... But, SB found her much needed hummus and I found my PB & J. The grocery store is call "TASTE," and its tailored to Western customers. What does this mean? well first of all, no live animals, legible items, and a taste of home that gave us the boost we needed. We have been very concerned about the food situation, and thanks to our newly found grocery store, we're gonna make it! Just knowing that we have access to the foods we know and depend on is a great relief. Hong Kong is an Asian city in every aspect, which means our lives are too, but a grilled 'kraft' cheese can make all the difference.
On another note, we seem to have grasped a handle on the subway. But, the bus system is a whole other ball game. Thankfully, the local people are very helpful when trying to find a bus. Just today we were trying to find a flower market. SB saw a man holding a potted plant; so she asked how we could get to where he bought it. We couldnt understand his response, but it was obvious we were walking AWAY from the market. Our inabilty to understand his response frustrated him. He then proceeded to lead us FOUR blocks in the other direction so we could find our destination. He understood little of what we said, but SBs laughing and smiling made him very proud to show us his city! This man literally walked us to the flower market. It was one of the most selfless things things Ive seen. It made us feel great.
Well, tomorrow we head to the Hong Kong beach, so we'll post pictures and let you know how it goes.

The First Week!

Greetings, family and friends! I have now been in Hong Kong since Tuesday afternoon (it's Sunday night) and I apologize for not blogging sooner! Tripp and I hit the ground running the minute our boss Maggie and her husband Sash picked us up at the airport with another teacher and fast friend, Rebecca from London. Since then we have been running all over the city, setting up camp in one of the most populated cities in the world! Tonight is the first time I have really been able to sit down in my extremely cramped apartment to fill yall in on what is sure to be the adventure of a lifetime!

First off, my cell phone!! Most of you know until now I have resisted converting to the wildly popular PDA type smart phone, as the cell phone my friend Trent got me works great in the States. For the moment at least, our purchasing power is pretty strong over here. We are paying less for goods and services than we would back home, and the exchange rate is currently running about $1 USD to 7.7 HKD. With the incredible difference in the price of electronics in the street market and Maggie's Cantonese haggling skills, I am the proud new owner of a "Phone"-- it's the Chinese rip-off of the iPhone-- with all the capability of the brand new iPhone3GS, complete with a Clemson orange hard case-- for US $57!! Can you believe?! In fact, all the teachers here have purchased them with reloadable SIM cards. Wonder if these bad boys would work in the US... if so, might be a great Christmas for yall! :)

Speaking of calling, Dad has done some "G-2ing" as he would say, and discovered two fabulous features of the already amazing Skype! The first is call forwarding, which will bounce your call (Skype or otherwise) to my Chinese cell phone if I am not at my laptop. The other involves me purchasing a local US number that you can call and will charge you only as a local number but will ring my cell here in Hong Kong! Incredible! Am still working on getting that number and will post as soon as I test it out! If you haven't joined Skype, I highly encourage it as a way to cut down on local phone bills, as well as give you and I a way to talk for free! Go to skype.com and become a believer today!

Tripp was not exaggerating the size of our apartments, but Liza is a great roommate and I am so glad she and Tripp are here! The three of us went to dinner last night after our teaching orientation at a Japanese sushi place where the chefs place rolls on a conveyer belt that circles around the bar. You just pick off it what you want to eat and price is determined according to the color of the plate! We enjoyed the works of a large meal with drinks and appetizers at a beautiful place that only set us back the cost of one California roll back home.

We have easily bonded with the other teachers here and have been spending time in our new group. Today we went via ferry to Macau, now a part of China but previously under Portuguese rule, to leave Hong Kong and re-enter in order to validate our working visas. We wandered the sprawling casino at the Venetian and loved the gondolas that floated down the rivers inside the resort. Maggie and Sash treated us to a traditional Portuguese lunch at the well known Restorante Fernando. After wading in the ocean then sweating through the crowded downtown streets to see the historic ruins of St. Paul's, we went to the top of the Macau Tower for a breathtaking view of the island and of the adrenaline junkies swan-diving off the top for the highest bungy jump in the world!

There have been so many interesting and challenging situations already this week, and I will do my best to keep you updated on them! Tomorrow early morning, we are applying for Hong Kong Resident ID's, which will grant us coverage for the heavily subsidized government insurance, and grant us the same privileges residents have. Should be exciting!

Look forward to catching up with everyone! Skype me anytime (sara.beth.baxley) and email me: sara.beth.baxley@gmail.com if you can't find me on there (I had to edit my settings to keep only known friends on my contact list) or just to say hi! xoxox Sara Beth

The First Few Days

Hey Y'all. We finally got our blog up and running sorry it took a few days. Its about 7:00am friday morning here and im having coffee and watching a group of 100+ perform 'ti che'. Well let me fill everyone in on our first few days.
We arrived tuesday afternoon and hit the ground running. Maggie (our boss) met us at the airport and took us straight to our apartment. The apartments themselves are about 500 sq. feet, so we better like our roommates b/c theres no hiding in this place. But really, there quite nice. Our apartment building is 45 floors high and there are 9 buildings. The main floor is 5 floors off street level and you have to use a key card to enter and leave. Security here is great, so no worries there. Below the apartments are a grocery store, mall, and medical center. Which has provided us with every thing we need, while also giving us that much needed sense of home. Also included in the apartments are a pool (its huge and beautiful), clubhouse, gym, and workout facilities. The clubhouse provides community activities such as ti che, pottery, dance, and others. But those are the ones SB and I want to do... SO all said, the apartments are just fine.
The city itself is amazing and a bit overwhelming. The public transportation system, called the 'octopus' is fantastic. Although for newcomers like us, it is not easy to navigate so we are having to learn by trial and error. The transit system itself is clean, well lit at night, and very safe. Also, due to fear of swine flu, cleanliness is a major issue, therefore all transit vehicles are cleaned EVERY hour. So that's a relief. SB and I quickly learned though, that their sense of cleanliness applies to all aspects of life. Our initial impression is that the people are very orderly and disciplined. I think it comes from living in these fun sized apartments!
The other people in our group are alot of fun. Our initial fears of meeting/making new friends were quickly squashed. We have now made friends from London, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. Meeting these people greatly helped SB and I overcome the initial culture shock and homesickness. The first day we were a mess, but now we've got the hang of things and we're doing all right.
Now that we've settled in, we have begun to notice some really interesting aspects of Chinese life. For example, at local restaurants, hot tea is provided to each customer upon arrival. As we quickly learned this is not to drink, rather; the hot tea is used to clean silverware, and table dishes. So as you can imagine, we were completely grossed out. Thankfully, this is a custom, and not really a sanitary technique. They believe that because the waitress handled all of your dishes, you should wash away impurities with the hot tea! We have also noticed that the local people are warm and hospitable. We have yet to experience the stares and gawks that we initially thought we would get. Instead, we seem to receive kind smiles. Yesterday SB and another girl were asked to be in a picture. A family asked the girls to join their children in a pic!

SO, if there had to be negatives at this point we'd have to say the food. Maggie has been very kind and has taken us out to eat the last three nights. Each time we go to a local restaurant and enjoy, food so spicy that it 'wonderfully numbs the mouth.' That's how they describe the sensation. But, thanks to our grocery store, we're good to go. The smells of the city are at times harsh. Locals still buy meat and seafood from street markets. These items are left to sit in the city heat all day, so the smell is a bit rough.
Well sorry this one was long but we needed to catch everyone up. Please save this blog to your favorites and follow our experience through it! hope the name is not not to corny but i thought it was catchy.... go to www.theorientexperience.blogspot.com

but im going to invite you all to join so you should receive easy-to-access news up dates from us
Love, Tripp and SB
ps. sorry for any misspellings