Hong Kong Life

I refrained from adding the picture of me and Tripp the first time around because we are so sweaty after hiking, but wanted you to see how small these houses are! We seem so tall against these people’s homes! I’ve attached a video clip from the firework show (two posts ago). The first one I just wanted to capture the crowd, which was impossible to do, but try to imagine just one intersection and all those people crammed in. It was equally packed all along the waterfront. Look closely at the very beginning to see Tripp in the thick of it waving.
We have been fortunate to keep busy the entire time we have been in Hong Kong, and tonight Tripp and I are looking forward to relaxing and swimming laps in the pool—the night breeze is starting to feel amazing now that it’s cooling off. This past week was full of festivities and celebrations. At the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of my 3 years olds came into the classroom while all the teachers were eating lunch and shyly handed me a gift-- a Thomas the Tank Engine tin can with a traditional egg-yolk mooncake inside! My first teacher gift!
I am teaching a unit on family this week, so this morning I brought in a PowerPoint with pictures of mine to show the class. The first Chinese teacher to see it starts bringing in the janitorial and administrative staff to point to the pictures. Even the secretary, who never before acknowledged my presence, suddenly developed the uncanny ability to speak English (“Your Father! So handsome! Your mother, so elegant! A twin sister! Brother, so young!”) Another teacher was amazed we had a big dog—even though Laney is still a baby Golden. She proudly pulls out her digital camera to show my video clips of her new pet—a hamster Sasa. Just am glad she didn’t pull Sasa out for real.
Trying to make the most of this city and my limited budget, I signed up for a complimentary workout at this fancy-schmancy international gym. I figured they would put the hard sell on me – which they did—but I have to tell you about this place. It occupies the top four floors of the upscale mall Langham Place—two for PureYoga and two for PureFitness. I chose the latter and it was like walking into GloboGym on the Dodgeball movie set. Think red colors, super macho, in-your-face pump up music, ultra modern and an amazing view when you are working out. They have a ceiling to floor collection of every imaginable TV season series, and the latest DVD’s for you to select and insert into your personal DVD player on every elliptical, treadmill, bike, etc! The women’s locker room was like a resort spa. There are shelves of Pure logo t-shirts and gym shorts, so bringing my gym clothes wasn’t even necessary! A personal trainer gave me a body composition analysis (definitely worth money!) and a free half hour training session! Could not believe it. Then I was invited to hang around and do whatever suited me. I checked out the next studio class—Body Pump!! It was the exact same class you would take in Columbia. I absolutely loved it! Besides the Australian instructor, I was the only Westerner in the room. The music was great and the energy rush is still kicking the next day. Of course afterwards, sweet sales rep Kennex was insistent I sign off a significant chunk of my paycheck to join this haven. I wish I could—the SoHo site has its own organic juice bar, tons of dance classes, and a healthy restaurant, and another location in the International Finance Centre has a climbing wall, boxing ring, and a studio with trapezes hanging from the ceiling to accommodate their new “fit to fly” class. We had a friend point out the other day that Hong Kong makes up superfluous jobs to create work for all its citizens. In the previously mentioned class, the music had no sooner stopped when a tiny Chinese lady swooped in to grab my yoga mat and start disinfecting it. Then they have workers waiting in the locker changing areas to take your sweaty workout clothes and wash, dry and fold them. The cooks at my school insist on washing my chopsticks after I finish lunch, even though I am perfectly capable! On the MTR underground subway system, there are people motioning where to step on the escalator. Duh. Even at McDonald’s, there is a designated tray tosser. Our friend Amy really shook someone’s nerves when she dumped her own tray and the person couldn’t do their job! Tripp is dominating basketball, and I will get yall some pictures of him in action when I make it to a game. Thanks for reading and keeping in touch! I love yall!