Happy Birthday!

 

Today is Hong Kong’s “Dress Special Day”. The tagline is ‘show you care by what you wear’. The local Community Chest group (helps raise awareness for the underprivileged) markets this day for the general public to dress up and collect donations for street sleepers and cage residents. (Some of HK’s homeless reside in warehouses filled with cages, not far from looking like an animal shelter. Heartbreaking.)

It nicely coincides with today’s casual day and birthday party celebrating the student’s whose birthdays fall in August or September. I am writing from school, since the kid’s English class has been postponed in lieu of the celebration. I am embarrassed to say I rocked up in yoga capris and my trainers. I figured comfort over fashion. Apparently no one else did-- the other teachers look phenomenal. One of the more mature teachers has the coolest outfit on. She is way stylish. Skinny jeans and kitten heels under a tunic and cardigan. Will try to get a picture. Even my principal is looking great in cigarette pants and metallic flats.

Tomorrow is National Day. It’s a public holiday celebrating the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. If the weather cooperates, we are expecting the city to be in full carnival mode with lots of festivities, including fireworks and concerts. Should be a good time!

I just finished a thriller by Robert Ludlum, creator of the Jason Bourne series that I picked up in our local library. The action unfolds in Hong Kong and I couldn’t describe the city better: “Most skyscrapers in recent years had been built in Central and Admiralty, while new commercial development projects were under way west of Central. Across the narrowest neck of Victoria Harbour was a fourth section, teeming with activity and humanity- Kowloon, […] an oppressive blanket of heat and high humidity […] Walking into it was like hitting a wall of diesel fumes and saltwater air, spiced up with the stink of fried meats and fish. He was engulfed by the surging masses of people, cars, and buses.”

We had a great weekend going out Saturday night with our teacher friends, including our two new male teachers from the UK, and venturing to Sai Kung’s Half Moon Bay beach for the afternoon on Sunday. We rounded out the weekend with a stop in Times Square and California Pizza Kitchen (yummy hummus!!) in Causeway Bay that night.

Recap of Past 2 Weeks

Greetings, Friends, Family, and those who have randomly clicked through to our blog--

It's been about two weeks since I have let you in on what's going on over in my corner of the world! Here's a recap of some of the past days' events:

- Last Monday, September 14th was our anniversary! (I INTERRUPT THIS TO TELL YOU-- I just saw a pair of denim pants fall from the clothesline of another apartment and coming flying through the air! That was weird to see soaring pants!) Yes, it was our anniversary, and also the day Typhoon Koppu decided to wreak havoc in Hong Kong. Tripp and I went to this massive enclosed mall since the rest of the city was boarding up and shutting down. We went ice skating-- no small feat in this humidity-- and had a blast. Think of two giants wobbling on skates unable to control which way we were going and Asians having to race out of the way of our warpath. Unfortunately these memories are only in my head, as Tripp would not allow any pictures to be taken of this blessed event. After our Ice Capades, we went to an Italian place and split a yummy pizza with mushrooms and EVOO. So tasty! We had dessert at a coffeehouse inside this same mall, then ventured outside to find the city deserted. The wind was going nuts and our umbrellas flipped inside out. We waited for ages for a bus to come by, but to no avail. Once the rain started coming down, we were getting pretty nervous. I had never seen anything like it! The two lone cabs we hailed quoted us triple the regular price, and I was too stubborn (or cheap) to agree, so I got out. Luckily, a Cantonese guy heading our same direction hailed a third taxi, and talked him down to the normal rate. Then he surprised us by insisting on paying the fare, saying, "for my friends! my new friends!" To top it all off, the typhoon warning was up to a Level 8 the next morning, so everyone got the day off school! A Happy Anniversary indeed!

Other things worth mentioning:
- We had a great time visiting St. Andrew's Church with Phyllis, our friend from Singapore. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming!
- Last week the teachers were eating sweet potatoes as part of their lunch. When I was offered some, I readily accepted, and then found not only do they serve the regular orange ones, but also a true purple color! Talk about a bowl of Clemson goodness! Would make great tailgate food in the form of purple and orange sweet potato fries!
- We have been so blessed to have people all around extending the hand of friendship. Jamie, a great girl we met through Tripp's Aunt Betsy and Uncle Doug, invited us to dinner last Sunday night and we really enjoyed getting to know her! Tripp has been making all kinds of friends, and is excelling in the South China Men's Basketball League. We have met some great people through that, as well.
- There is a stereotype that Asians have a high level of respect for their teachers. One example of this-- when the whole class is walking somewhere and spot me in the hallway, they all freeze and turn my direction, then bow deep and chant slowly, "Goooood afternooooon, Miss Sarrrraaaa". Too cute.
- Liza stepped on a chicken head. Middle of the sidewalk, no big deal. Beak and all.
- I have been sick this week-- went to a doctor's office they have converted to a flu clinic to deal with the masses getting H1N1. Got tested and am waiting on results to see whether its swine flu or not. Regardless, I am currently on my third sick day off of work-- and I only get three for the whole year! Better get well soon!! Fingers crossed those around me will stay healthy.
- Last but not least, a huge congratulations to Caroline and Geoff who got married on Saturday! Hate I could not be there for your big day!!

Love yall! SB

quick story

Hey Y'all. I want to share a quick story with everyone . I thought this was very interesting. In Hong Kong, as well as in many other Asian countries, there exists a strict system of respect towards elders. Especially towards ones, parents. There is a teacher at school whose name is Ms.Chui, she recently lost her father. He pasted away several weeks ago, even before my arrival to Hong Kong. Her attitude at school has been very cold, and i found her to be the most difficult teacher to interact with.
Normally when i arrive, all of the teachers will smile and warmly greet me. But, not her. Today was different, she spoke... She apologized for her cold demeanor towards me, and the other teachers. I had asked the another teacher, whom I'm close with, about this woman's cold attitude. I received no real explanation. . . As it turns out, Ms. Chui has been following a very old, well respected, Chinese tradition. She is in mourning. In her culture, which is common here in Hong Kong, when a loved on passes away, the family will become quite and behave in a very introverted manor. This time, is supposed to be for peace, and give those who have lost a loved one a chance to reflect on their own lives. Ms. Chui will remain to be 'quite' for the next week, then the family will celebrate, and their normal personalities may come back out.

I was astounded at this level of discipline, and i wanted to share that with everyone. As she put it, "ill be normal soon"

In other news, ice skating was awesome, i DID NOT fall, and SB displayed her Rockbridge talents on an international stage. Love Yall

Can you believe it... 6 years!

Hello everyone, can you believe that SB and started dating this day 6 years ago. That’s awesome. Look at us now, living in Hong Kong, makin it through, yet another of our adventures! Tonight, im taking SB ice skating, and then on to a really nice dinner at KFC. No not really, the place we’re going is called “the patio” and its an Italian restaurant that over looks Hong Kong’s beautiful harbor skyline. A teachers salary probably cant afford this place, so im gonna see if they any dish washers afterward…. SB said she needed to work on her Spanish anyway…..


We had a great weekend, so I’ve got some good stories for ya. Unfortunately, the typhoons have been small, and have yet to give us a day off school. Although, we only just started, who doesn’t love a rainy day off.
Friday after noon, we did what me and Sara Beth do best, lounge at the pool. I wish yall could see this thing, it’s huge. Saturday was a day of museums, which Sara Beth loved. I wanted to go to the Space Museum and Liza and SＢ　wanted the Art museum. SO naturally, we chose the space exhibits… or not. The art museum was really cool, and we saw some pottery that dated to 2000 bc. Afterwards it was back to the pool. Saturday night, we found an awesome sushi place. $43 Hong Kong Dollars ($6 US) and we had an all you can eat dinner. The menu had 39 items on it, and we tried just about all of them. Although, some were pretty funky. I ordered a fried fish roll, and I received two large sushi rolls with WHOLE FRIED baby fish ontop. I can eat just about anything, but not that. We had to pass. It was great though, this place was not touristy which meant we were the only white folks in there. So we made quite and entrance. I think everyone turned and stared as SB and I who are both VERY quite natured people gabbed our way through the restaurant. After dinner, we decided to wander one of the markets, but again we were a minority, but amongst a very shady group of folks. SB was unwilling to street fight with me, so we chose a new spot. We found what is known as the Temple street night market, where we bought, DVDs and most importantly… some new perfume. The movies we bought are still in theaters in the US, so you’ve gotta tip your hats to the ole Chinese movie pirates.
Yesterday, Sunday, we relaxed at the apartment, by the pool of course, and then joined our new friend Phyllis, to church. Its an Anglican church, which was a new experience for both Sara Beth and i. The congregation was open, and very warm to their American guests. The service itself was much like a YoungLife club meeting. A band led the songs, and a very lively man gave the homily. This experience was much needed in both of our lives. Anyway, I hope everyone at home is doing well, WE LOVE Y’ALL.
-Tripp

News from HK!

Hi all! That was me that posted last, accidentally forgot to log on my name when writing from Tripp's laptop! Things are going well here— facing the demons of dislocation on occasion-- mainly just culture shock but missing yall back home as well! On one hand, we know we are so blessed to be able to be on this trip together and seeing things we have only read about. We are making the most of the trip with the hours we have after work, so after school Tuesday, Tripp jumped on the subway I was taking and we went for sushi and watched the lightshow at the harbor. The Symphony of Lights is a fantastic tourist attraction shown every night at 8 featuring 44 of the biggest skyscrapers in Hong Kong participating. Absolutely gorgeous! Yesterday, Liza and I went to the art museum because Wednesday is free admission! After dinner we toured the Temple Street Night Market (see photo) for trinkets to bring home to you!

Our kids are so precious… they blow kisses at you and run up to hug you when they leave. I am attaching a picture of my very own classroom! Today we had two interesting events-- the first is that the city is under a level 3 typhoon warning so we got out a bit early today! Tried to capture the cross breeze we had in the apartment once the winds started up in the picture with the billowing curtains. Cross your fingers the warning will be up tomorrow and school is canceled! The other piece of news is that two of our teachers in our group have confirmed H1N1 viruses. We are vigilant about keeping healthy and clean, but getting sick seems inevitable with the mass humanity running around here.

Lots of love to those reading, especially you, Nancy Farish! xox Sara Beth

First Week of School is Complete

Hi all! Trying to make this one quick for you to breeze over! This past week, we started our "real world" jobs! Couple of points from the first week....

• The chairs are so small; they are built for teeny people. Since all the teachers eat lunch together, we sit in a classroom. For the small Chinese people, these seats are perfect, but I look like Will Ferrell in Elf.
  
• Katy Bagley was teaching at my school last year, and I was pumped to find a page long handwritten note from her hidden in my classroom addressed to me full of encouraging words!
• We are teaching British English... mummy, colour, axe, etc.
• I am working at Yuen Yuen Ping Tin, a Buddhist kindergarten. Who would have ever thought that's where I would end up? At least we get Buddha's birthday off!
• The native staff is very friendly to me, which is more than I can say for some of my other teacher friends! There is a massive language barrier, so there is alot of gesturing and smiling.
  
• The kids are adorable and have great manners and precious uniforms. It is a lower income area, and all my kids have black teeth. From what I can tell, oral hygiene is non-existent in their homes, and they drink tea all the time. It is a shame to see.
  
• One difference I immediately noticed is the boys and girls bathrooms are open to one another. There is no separation or privacy.
• Every parent or child that enters has antibacterial hand sanitizer squirted in their hands, and a temperature gun is pointed at their head to ensure they do not have fever.
  
• Although they seem extremely aware of the swine flu threat, they do not seem to notice the huge bottle of "soap" in the bathrooms we wash our hands with is actually Vidal Sasson moisturizing shampoo... It is an English bottle.
  
• I've got some great names of kids in my classes. The parents pick them out... a couple of Sunny and Shines, Yo Yo, Bo Bo, Mira, Javia, Haider, Kawaii, Mandy, Ada, Karen, Ki Ki, Cindy, Ivy, Iris, Candy, Ricco, Ales, Fanki.... I have three Jacky's in one class; one is Jacky Chan. Those are some of the names off the top of my head.
• At our orientation, our boss mentioned he once had students whose parents gave them the English names Large Wong and Green Bus.
  
• Once my K-1 classes start next week, I will be teaching between ten to fourteen English lessons a day.
  
• The kids hug and blow kisses to "Miss Sara". They hang on every word you say and every move they mimic.
  
• We are all getting used to our new routines here in HK. Thanks for all the e-mails and support! We love yall!
  

Thank Goodness Its Friday

Well, We just finished our first week as kindergarden teachers. WOW. I never would have thought that a group of 2 year olds could be so intimidating. The first few classes were a bit daunting, but as we got the hang of things, it got easier.All of the teachers we have met have told us that the children make the job worth it. That statement could not be more true. The kids have a zest for life, and absolutely adore their English teachers. All of the kids want to shake our hands or give a ‘high five’ all the time. Even at 7 in the morning they are making the job worth it. Best part is, they are so well behaved. When they do act up they get into serious trouble, and pressure is put on the parents to work with the kids. At my school, parents and the child have to interview with the principal. This interview determines the families financial status, and the level of commitment to the child and to the school. School in Hong Kong is not a right, it a privilege. When I do get to interact with the parents, they are incredibly polite and nice. I have also been amazed at the level of fluency many of the children posses. It is no wonder why so many Chinese adults are such successful business men and women.

One of my favorite classes is a parent child class. The kids in this class can hardly walk, so I am basically teaching these moms how to speak English. But the children are being exposed to a second language at such a young age; it can only help their learning process.

I have had to be more creative this week, than I was in four years at college. The children cannot be lectured, they must be engaged and learn through playing. Which actually makes our job pretty cool… We are being paid to play Duck,Duck,Goose, and TAG.

On another note, I had a really cool experience this week. I joined a men’s basketball league. Like so many things here in Hong Kong, the league is run like a business. The games are officiated, and each player is handed a clean jersey before the game. All games are indoor, and away from the Hong Kong heat. Most of the players are like me; visiting from somewhere else. It has been an awesome opportunity for me to meet some really good people
Well… until SB adds a little more, love yall and see you soon