HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2012

After returning from the US (about 14.5 hours on a plane and 20 hours of travel total) on the night of the 30th in HK, we spent the day of New Years Eve unpacking our 6 large bags and boxes we returned with,

waiting for Aspen to be delivered home from her vacation at Kennel Van Dego, and fighting jet lag.

We had a wonderful reunion with Aspen and she is not at all unhappy, punishing us, or seems any worse for her own vacation. We are so lucky to have such an easy, adaptable, loving dog. By 9:30pm Alex was already asleep and Joe and I gave up the fight and went to bed as well. When I woke up this morning after a rest that only had me awake once in the night (since it was noon in the states my body was wanting to be active) I felt disappointed that we had not enjoyed a big, festive New Year, our first in HK. Then it occured to me that Joe and I were actually TOGETHER, even if sound asleep and practically comatose! The last two years we have been apart and I am quite happy to realize that is no longer the case.
So now it is January 1st in HK and thanks to the wonders and access of technology I can have the HK experience and share it with you! I hope 2012 is magical, happy, healthy and your best year yet!

"First" For Everything...Next Edition

To continue sharing observations and experiences in HK about memorable "FIRST"s, I add the following:

FIRST PROTEST WE RAN INTO - I have been pleasantly surprised to see that people can and DO, very visibly, but in a very controlled way, express their opinions and vocalize their issues here. One day, Joe and I were in a taxi headed toward Central and we got stopped because a long line of protesters were coming through. They were preceeded and followed by many police who were actually roping off their route and assuring they could travel safely while screaming their chants and carrying their signs. One of the signs said very clearly, "F*** The Police" while the Police were supporting and protecting their right to say it.

FIRST TIME I ATE SOMETHING THAT STILL HAD A HEAD/FACE ON IT - I want to be brave and open to new food experiences but there are some things that I just think I will not get accustomed to. For special events there are some very traditional foods prepared that are thought to bring luck, fertility, prosperity, etc. I find it is best to just not know what you are in for until AFTER you have tried it. That way you can respect the cultural significance and say you've done it without the grimace. It is hard when it arrives like this...

I don't like my food to look at me as if asking me to reconsider! This was suckling pig. Another thing I got to try on this particular occasion was a pig trotter soup. It has a lot of chunks of ginger in it, plus, well, as the name implies...pig parts. It is made and consumed after giving birth and thought to have healing properties for the mothers health and recovery. Yum? Then there are things like Bird Nest soup which is made from...yep, bird nests and the saliva that the bird uses to build the nest. Joe got to try that one before he knew what he was getting. There are some things that we've said no to so far. No thank you to duck web, duck tongue, and roast pigeon with head on. Pigeon? Aren't they the "rats" of the bird world? NO!

FIRST TIME I REALIZED I MIGHT NOT BE BUYING SNACK FOODS IN HK - Obviously we all have issues with certain things that we can't stop with just one or a bite. Chips, M&M's, wheat thins, cheeze-its, whatever your poison is, I know we've all gone to grab a bit of something and ended up consuming way more than we wanted. NOT a problem here...

I'm very confident I can resist the temptation to snack on these. Squid gristle? Sweet and sour tentacles?

I don't know what perilla is but you lost me at cheese and cod.





Now...Drumroll please...
MY FIRST TRIP HOME SINCE I MOVED TO HK - I've been here 3 1/2 months and Alex and I are in Hong Kong International airport waiting to board our 1am flight that will take us to SFO! We will arrive before we left! I am so grateful for the friendships and family that have supported me on this journey. I am returning to HK with Joe and Alex on December 29th but I know that this time I am prepared for what greets me. Oh! They just called our flight...I have butterflies of excitement. I have to go so I sign off with Merry Christmas and Happy New Year wishes to you and yours.

There Is A "First" For Everything

One of the things that becoming an ExPat for the FIRST time has given me, is a renewed sense of anticipation and appreciation for the basics in life. Everything from getting a hair cut to grocery shopping to attending school events is new again. Even more than when we have moved before...and lord knows we have done that...moving Internationally is like being a child again. You really SEE things, ask questions, and really learn! I find myself being very present in everything because I am trying to take it all in so that, in a way, it can become natural and I can take it for granted again, LOL! You know what I mean? The challenge will be to let living here become "easy" and natural but stop just short of letting myself cross over into the "taking for granted" part. It is a gift to suddenly notice everything, even when it is hard or uncomfortable.

Some "first" experiences of note:

FIRST HAIRCUT AND COLOR - Salon services here tend to run a lot higher than in the states so I had this great plan where I would just try to hold off on the big ticket items like color for when I came home to Windsor for a visit. This plan failed miserably when, one evening while curled up on the couch with Joe, he said, "Wow, you have a lot of grey hair!" It was not said to be mean, just an observation as he lovingly looked down at what he expected to be my luxurious locks! You can imagine how quickly I sat up and turned to him with a horrified expression. By the next day I was making an appointment for a cut and color! What I found was that, as usual, it IS different than what I was used to but it was quite enjoyable and I still looked like me when the "job" was done. It was 3 full hours of pampering, a head and scalp massage, delicious tea, three different guys gushing over me, and an experience that had added value for the added price I was paying in HK. Joe and I have seen other barbershop-type places in the very local areas where they advertise a cut for $50HKD/under $7USD. BUT they speak Cantonese only and it is a pretty basic, one dimensional cut so we are going to enjoy the pampering of this experience and have learned, yet again, that we just have to let our perspective shift to a new normal.

STILL ME...

FIRST DOCTOR VISIT - Going to the doctor is very different too. If you call to schedule an appointment it is usually no problem to get into the office quickly and be seen. Our doctor is part of a group called International Doctors and he is British. There is no language barrier and when you get there you are seen pretty much on time and if they run a little late they are SOOOOO considerate and apologetic. When you go to the exam room there is no sterile environment, they don't weigh you (thank you God, finally my prayer answered), they don't do a pre-exam, and they don't hand you a piece of paper to slip into! You pretty much sit down in what is the doctor's office with his desk as well an an exam table in it and you TALK. Yep, you just talk about what is going on with you and then if needed he will examine you but still, no need to disrobe. If you need a prescription it is filled on site through their own dispensary so you leave with everything you need. Done! When Alex needed x-rays we jetted off to the hospital and within a very short amount of time, he was done and we left with the diagnosis. None of the, "we'll let you know in a week after our person looks at them and then we'll send them to your doctor and if you are lucky you'll know something eventually." We left with his x-rays in our hands and Alex is thinking of starting an art grouping on his walls in his room because he is getting quite a collection! OH, and the cost was surprisingly cheap too.

FIRST TIME TRYING TO DO SOMETHING DURING PEAK HOURS -
So, as I navigate through my new life in HK I am finding out that you don't want to go to lunch at 1:00pm here. EVERYONE goes to lunch about 1pm.
This is what you will be faced with...

I am lucky because I can make my way around the city at various times of the day but sometimes I hit commute times and then...

This in what the subway/MTR is like. These are the moments when I am reminded of the huge population here.

That is Joe's arm trying to hang on!

And then there is the typical visit to the ATM. Going to the ATM usually involves an area or room with up to 12 machines and lines at each one.

FIRST TIME I TRIED TO BUY RICE - Obviously rice is a staple in the diet here. I knew that. I also know Joe watches his carbs because of cholesteral so we haven't added the rice to our daily diets yet. I decided to make a dish that requires basic long grain rice and put it on my grocery list. Hmmmmmm, I'm not sure how to get just a little bit of rice for cooking...

I didn't buy any. I don't think I would ever use enough. The rice comes in the size of huge dog food bags! That recipe is on hold for now.

FIRST TIME I WENT TO USE A BATHROOM WHILE HIKING -
One thing that I like about the contemporary parts of Hong Kong is how beautiful and clean the restrooms are. They are always attended by someone and they are very private with full length cubicles and doors that tell you if they are occupied. None of the bending over to look for shoes to see if anything is available! Some of the bathrooms are like works of art they are so beautifully appointed...

They are filled with beautiful marble, chrome, wood and the latest in contemporary plumbing. THEN there is the older, more traditional China bathroom facility that I came upon one day while hiking with Joe. The squat pot...

I am going to need some time at the gym and some leg work before I try to use one of these babies!

I have many more FIRSTS and adventures to share so stay tuned. I am taking pictures and keeping notes on all the things I want to tell you about!

Happy Thanksgiving from Hong Kong!!!!!

So, it is here. Our first Thansgiving in Hong Kong. Obviously, Joe, Alex, and I are experiencing a lot of firsts and this is one. We had our first Halloween here. No trick-or-treaters in our complex, because it just wouldn't really work. You need security cards to get into each tower and our floor really only even accesses three doors, including ours. They had a big Halloween carnival on the grounds and I got to see all the families with their young children in costume and I smiled. Alex didn't dress up but went out with friends to Ocean Park (HK version of Great America) and it was all decked out for Halloween. In Hong Kong, that then signals the immediate transition into...Christmas! Yikes. There is no transitional holiday that eases you into it, like our Thansgiving. Nope, the day after Halloween, Santa was going up in our rotunda!

Joe did get to dress up because his Holiday party for associates was in early November and it was a theme...1960's Hong Kong nightlife. He wore a purple velvet blazer with a black skinny tie and a Beatles-like wig. This is him with his manager ready to go party:

Later that night, Joe and his beauty division managers did a Jackson 5 number. This came after they did a Hong Kong karaoke game where they made the executives listen to head phones with Cantonese lyrics of pop songs which they sang out and the first employee who could figure out what song they were TRYING to sing, won the round! I think some of the staff deliberately didn't come up with the name of the song so they could just continue to watch some poor executive up there stumble and butcher his way through a song for as long as possible! I can only imagine how hysterical it all must have been. I can't believe I'll never know what Joe was doing up there on stage, singing Cantonese or doing Jackson 5 choreagraphy in full costume and makeup. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! He won't let me post the Jackson 5 picture but just know, it's a good one! If only there was a video. I could make some big money to keep that out of the public domain and fly home once a month!

So, now the big 1st I've been dreading...Thanksgiving 2011. This is an interesting one to navigate for many reasons. We are down to only 3 of us here...plus Aspen! She LOVES the turkey so she counts. Of course, I will miss being near and around Windsor. I will miss gathering with my family. We've had different Thanksgiving celebrations though so I can handle all that and be open. The one thing I WILL struggle with is the fact that this is my MeliBeans first return home from college and I'm not gonna be there. No cooking all her favorite foods, no doing her laundry, no hugging her until she turns purple. NO getting mad at her when she wants to go see her friends and I want more of her time and attention. I am so filled with joy at the anticipation I hear from all the kids that are returning home right now, all her wonderful friends that she graduated with and that I love like my own. So if I am brutally honest, I am jealous. It just isn't gonna turn out like what I envisioned over my 18 years with her. I earned it! And now it just isn't fair! LOL! You know those holiday commercials where the parents wake up to the smell of coffee and come down the stairs to find their child HOME from college and its filled with hugging and reunion and...coffee??!! I fell for it. That was soooooo gonna be me! LOL!

Now that I've had a momenentary tantrum, let me assure you that I DO get to have that, only closer to Christmas in about 19 days (nope, I'm not counting at all!). And I'm gonna be just fine. My Melanie knows we love and are with her and she is going to be surrounded by the love of her Nana and Aunt Jackie and her other-mothers of Windsor. She will have more friends and fun than she will be able to fit into 4 whirlwind days. She is such a smart girl that she has written all her papers and done all her homework so she can just enjoy this time, sleep in a bed she doesn't have to climb a ladder to get into, and use a PRIVATE bathroom. So with those thoughts in my head I will spend the day smiling knowing just how blessed we are to have so many blessings in our life, so many amazing people that love us and stick with us through all our crazy adventures.

We have been invited to dinner tonight and they have promised to keep me laughing and off the floor and out of a fetal position! They have promised wine! And if we have a toast, mine will be filled with love and appreciation for my marriage, my children, my family, my friends, and my life - a life that is more than I could have even imagined for myself. THANK YOU!

My Adventure With Alex

I can't believe I have not posted anything since Oct. 20, 2011! Now it is mid-November and I have a lot to tell you. Since the last time I wrote, Joe has been back to California and Oregon to visit home and Mel at college. I survived the 8 days without him and even took Alex on quite the adventure!

Alex was just being released from his extended, doctor-ordered rest period and he was free to return to normal activity and exercise. What does he want to do...remember? Go wake boarding! So, despite hoping this wasn't going to really happen, I decided to just go for it, as well as show Alex that his mom could deliver adventure. Did I wish Joe was home and we could try this together? YES! Did I let that stop me? NO!

Alex knew of a place by his school and we called on a Saturday morning and the next thing we knew...we were in a taxi to go for a "two hour cruise." If I ran in to the Professor or Ginger I was gonna back out! Sadly only people of a certain generation will get that. My kids wouldn't! Oh, the innocence of Gilligan's Island versus the Kardashians! Anyway, we met Alex's friend Laura, who was joining us, and started to walk to the cove where this establishment was located. Hmmmmm. I don't see any businesses, or store fronts or "establishments." I see some fencing and shacks and boats. No signs or even addresses to help us figure out where we were going. This was not what I was expecting but then, this whole experience of moving to Hong Kong teaches me that just because things are different doesn't mean that aren't good. We found the spot we needed and I stayed open and willing to adjust my expectations.

See...there was NO office, NO paperwork, NO deposit, NO forms, NO signatures. As a matter of fact there was NO door on the little hut and NO staff, highly trained in the legalities and details of running this business. Just a guy we found sitting in a plastic patio chair (NO teeth)who said, in broken, accented English, "Your boat is coming in right now." He pointed to the water and we headed down to meet the boat. Getting to the boat was like a ropes course cause the docks aren't secured or stable. More like a log rolling contest! Surprisingly,I didn't fall in or embarass myself. Phew!

The boat was pulling in with some people who also looked like Ex-Pats and as the couple got out they looked happy, healthy and no worse for their trip out on the South China Sea. The guy driving the boat asked if we were the ones that booked 12:30, we confirmed and got in. That was it, we were off! All the gear was on the boat and provided. Even though everything was VERY informal, I trusted this guy. He trusted us enough to just let us hop in his boat and go... without any money exchanged, agreements to arbitrate, or assurance we would pay more for any damages than the item was worth to begin with! Within moments I was feeling the wind in my hair, seeing the coastline of Hong Kong Island, and thinking, "Look at me!" with a smile on my face. So easy, so fun, amazing to be out on the water, seeing things in a new way, seeing my son healthy and active again. I was so glad I just went for it and did this!

I thought our driver/instructor was great! I had an awkward, funny moment with him though. Laura was up boarding and all of a sudden he slowed the boat down and stopped. She thought her turn was up but instead he said he just had to pee. Okay, obviously he'd been out on the boat before we even got there so I figured he'd jump in and take care of business. Well, he took care of business, but not by jumping in the China Sea. He just stood up and started peeing over the side of the boat. Obviously, we all looked away but I couldn't help thinking that I was getting another new experience. When the sound of water hitting water stopped, I knew it was safe to turn around. This was a very casual establishment! I had already noticed that bodily functions like burping are not held back in Hong Kong so this was just another example I would ask the intercultural trainer about when we went in a couple weeks!

The two hours were wonderful and I got to see a different part of Hong Kong Island and see it from the water. We were able to see the contrast of ships in the area, modern yachts versus older, more traditional boats. Alex's school campus was visible from the area we were boating around and I could see the huge contrast between housing options.

Alex's school, HKIS, as seen from the boat. The front is the Middle School campus and the white buildings behind and on top are the High School facilities.

Our adventure came to an end and the boat headed back in. I figured NOW the business would be handled. Payment and signatures on releases. We got out of the boat and I managed to get back over the unstable planks again, hit the shore and headed up to pay.

Well...there was nobody around to take money or even talk to. After a lot of floundering around, the driver of the boat came up and gave us the very low cost. The catch, CASH only because now that I am here I see that they don't have credit card machines or cash registers. They might not even have electricity. But I brought my credit card and didn't have enough cash. NO PROBLEM! The guy said to just come back whenever! Huh?! Do you want me to leave something as collateral? His turn to say, Huh? NO, just bring it whenever. Wow! Nice! I like this level of trust and casual, easy style of doing "business." Needless to say, we dashed off to Stanley, I went to the ATM and got him cash and a tip. You know what they say..."Two hours wakeboarding on the South China Sea with 3 people - $800 HKD (only about $100 USD). An adventure with your son and learning to let go of details and just enjoy the moments - $Priceless!"

Oh, and by the way...Alex is FINE! No trouble or lingering issues from his little health scare/lung issue. Oh, to be 16 again!

FASCINATED BY THE INAPPROPRIATE STATUES AROUND MY COMPLEX

I have been wondering how to bring this up.  I certainly don't want to insult the new place or people where I live but "WHAT'S UP WITH THE NAKED GROPING STATUES EVERYWHERE?"  First, let me say, I love where we live and am so grateful that despite not really knowing much about our options, we could not have found and chosen a better place for us to start our life here.  Bel-Air is perfect for us...we have a comfortable, though small, condo with amazing views of the South China Sea.  Our complex offers amazing gyms with sauna and steam, a spa, game rooms for pool, foosball, ping-pong etc., indoor and outdoor pools that make you feel like you are at a resort, two restaurants, pizza delivery in-house, fun events,  and beautifully landscaped grounds. It is a very family friendly community, with many playgrounds suited for young children.  Considering the family feel, I have to ask again..."What's up with all the naked statues?"

  NAKED CHUBBY GUY GRABBING BOOB OF NAKED CHUBBY GIRL

This is in the lobby of the building where many of the children come through after playing at the waterfront park.  I see this everyday when I take Aspen for her walks. 

THIS COUPLE HAS SOME BEAUTIFUL ADAGIO MOVES THOUGH THEY TOO ARE NAKED!

(Stephen Jackson I know you can appreciate this move, the extension and form!)

We have had some friends over and when you drive into our complex it is dramatic.  A large water fountain feature with dramatic stairways up to the buildings and chrome palm trees (we live in a tropical area so I'm not totally clear on why we have to have fake, chrome palm trees but I am gonna learn).  Someone told us it was a bit like arriving at Ceasars Palace! LOL!  This is the statue that greets you in the traffic circle as you enter...

You can also see parts of the chrome palm trees...



YEP...THIS ONE IS GRABBING HER BUTT!    

May I be totally honest as well, and say that Joe does not appreciate the male representations on the various statues?  You know what I mean..?

Now I can't close without a moment to appreciate the artistic lamp in our own tower's lobby...

Joe waiting to catch a taxi as he ponders the night this horse must have had if he ended up with this lamp shade on his head!  Note:  in the evening, the lamp turns on and everything. 

Don't worry, Joe and I will be attending our cultural training soon so maybe we will start to behave ourselves and better appreciate art.  Hey!  No head shakes or eye rolls from you!  We CAN behave.

Just so you know how much I DO appreciate everything I get to see in my "neighborhood," I will leave you with a few other pictures around the complex...





Looking down from our balcony at the various areas of
the Bel-Air complex.

The outdoor pool area as seen from our 36th floor.

The two guys in the middle are Joe and Alex swimming while I spy
on them from up above in our house!

Hong Kong Food Poisoning, A Different Kind of 16th Birthday, a Rejected Visa Request and a Pneumothorax!

After I reached my 1 month mark and thought I was starting to gain some control of a new "normal" life here, I was reminded that control is not really what I need to seek! What I need to always remember is to just be IN THE MOMENT and if I am not in charge of what happens I am still in charge of how I handle what happens. 

We got through a typhoon.  Kinda exciting and figured I am really having some new experiences here!  Cut to next new experience...HK Food Poisoning!  Joe and I spent a wonderful afternoon in Stanley drinking Sangria and eating lunch on the water, watching locals perform for National Day (the China version of 4th of July), and wandering through the Stanley market.

.

STANLEY MARKET...GREAT SHOPPING FOR USELESS STUFF AND SOUVENIRS.  CAN EVEN NEGOTIATE PRICES.

After this lovely afternoon, we headed home on the city bus.  It's about a 40 minute ride, narrow curvy streets and bumpy roads.  I thought I was getting motion sickness.  Wanted to get home and get off that bus real BAD!  I made it home but the next 30 hours made me regret my lunch selection! (I had tuna) No pictures to post for this lovely event.  Glad I got that out of the way and boy was I grateful and happy when I got to feel good again. 

Now it was time to think about Alex's 16th Birthday!  We were struggling with how to celebrate it because this is a big one!  I couldn't help but feel the distance and just how far away we were. Though we are building relationships and he is meeting a lot of new friends at school, we are still very new, and sharing this day without our close family and friends-who-are-like-family was going to be tough. PLUS, this is my son who came out of the womb talking about cars and trucks.  He said "loader" and "backhoe" before he said "mommy" and "daddy" and I know one of his biggest sacrifices in moving here was being able to drive at 16.  People say, "So let him drive in Hong Kong!" but 1st:  We don't have a car! 2nd: You can't drive until you are 18 here. 

I think we did okay.  The Sunday before his birthday we had a nice family day with the 3 of us.  We had foot and shoulder massages and pampered our boy (sorry, but he is always going to be my baby boy though I know 16 puts him in the young man category). On his Birth Day...we started with special birthday breakfast and ended with dinner out at Bombay Dreams for Indian food.  Weird, but my picky eater likes it!  He felt comfortable enough with a new friend to bring him along and it was a really good day.  Joe and I managed to find birthday wrap and a card but no candles or ribbon.  I put a tealight on his ice cream cake (made by mom).

B'DAY PAMPERING WITH THE AMAZING HK FOOT MASSAGE AND REFLEXOLOGY, HOT TEA AND SHOULDER MASSAGE.  90 MINUTES OF HEAVEN FOR ABOUT $40USD

ALEX'S 16TH BIRTHDAY DINNER WITH THEO AND MOM AND DAD.

So the birthday was bittersweet.  He got a lot of great messages through email and technology so he knew he was thought of but it also made us miss everyone.  Mail is so slow to arrive here that even the cards sent from Grandparents didn't arrive in time.  One was sent on the 28th and didn't get here until the 12th!  That Slow boat to China is  REALLY SLOW! Through it all Alex continues to amaze me with how much he is embracing this opportunity and experience.  He ended up finding out that he was going to be put on the traveling X Country team and he would have opportunites to travel to Mainland China and Guam for races.  Thus began visa applications and paperwork.  Living internationally is nothing if not paperwork intensive.  A lot of fun rules and regulations!  We scrambled to get him a multi entry visa to participate only to find out he was rejected because his passport expries in March.  Scramble again...going to consulate for passport issues.  Joe also made him a doctor appointment for vaccines to make sure all of that was in order.  Phew...this is a lot to think about all the time!  LOL! 

While all this is going on Alex has mentioned to us a few times that it hurts to breathe sometimes.  Well, there is constant smog here and we thought, much like when Joe and I were in college in LA, he was probably feeling the effects of that smog when he took deep breaths.  He runs for Cross Country, is still biking, and goes to the gym almost every single day so he didn't seem like he was sick.  Even his coach said running on a bad smog day is like smoking a pack of cigarettes so we were concerned but didn't think there was anything to do.  WRONG...PARENTS OF THE YEAR AWARD EARNED HERE!  Joe was taking Alex to the doctor for the shots so I said to the boys, "Make sure you mention that it hurts to breath."  Didn't really think anything of it, though. 

Next thing I know, Joe is texting that they are on their way to hospital for a possible pneumothorax, he needs an immediate x-ray, and they are putting an operating room on hold for him just in case.  WHAT?  HUH?  WHAT?  It's probably a good thing Joe was on duty for this one.  To make a long story a little bit shorter, he did have a pocket of air in his lung or lung sac...but it was small enough that they felt monitoring through x-ray was enough. It wasn't caused for any specific reason and tends to occur in tall, thin men. It would hopefully heal itself, the air would be reabsorbed and the lung would re-expand to normal. I guess now we don't have to worry about the visa being rejected! He's not going to be racing any time soon. We have bigger fish to fry!

We just went back for another x-ray on Sunday and it seems to be healing itself.  Another week of rest, no physical acitivity (which is torture for Alex), no PE or Cross Country, etc.  He is going to school but otherwise taking it easy.  I think he is going to be fine, especially since he already asked if he could go wakeboarding this weekend!  Note:  headshake and eye roll by me takes place here! 

So how's that for the first part of October in HK?  Not really any exciting stories of adventures and explorations in China, just stories of REAL LIFE.  I have proof that life happens no matter where you are or if you are ready to shake it up!  I wanted time to settle in, ease in to this new country...silly Tammy!  What if I just decided NOT to struggle? There will never come a time in life when you can say "I am done now." Each of us is a work in progress. What if I just allowed myself to BE okay with it all? Including being okay with the sad days when I'm homesick or the chaos I felt when they diagnosed Alex.  I tend to want to strangle life into submission.  But strangling doesn't allow for letting go.  Struggle allows me to feel but also let go, learn and embrace what life has to offer more gently...Yes? No? I'm working on it!

"We don't see things the way they are...we see things the way WE are."  Talmud

Typhoon Nasat

I survivied my first typhoon!  What have you been up to?


  IT'S GOING TO BE A STORMY DAY

On September 29th we awoke to find out we were in the midst of a Level 8 Typhoon!  We had gone to bed with warnings at Level 3 and had definitely heard the howling winds whistling in the night but we got up as usual to get Alex off to school and Joe off to work.  Alex takes Aspen out about 5:30am and since he is half asleep it didn't make him wonder when one of the guys at the guard stand was waving and motioning to him.  He just nodded and continued with his task.  Upon his return he saw the signs posted that we had been upgraded to Level 8.  A Level 10 is a direct hit!  Soon we were finding out just what this meant...schools were closed, buses and taxis were not running, and we were in for a new experience!  The buildings here are built to withstand this kind of weather so Joe tried to go down and get to work.  No luck!  If a taxi was willing to risk taking you, they were charging whatever they wanted. They were no longer running under any rules and regulations and just taking fares at their own risk because they were really not supposed to be taking fares. One of the parents of a friend of Alex's was able to get a taxi only to be returned back to home when they couldn't get to their destination because of the conditions.

THE WATERFALL GROWS!                                                                STORM CLOUDS

WE USUALLY SEE TONS OF SHIPS ON THESE WATERS...NOT TODAY. 

So, we had an unexpected day together and a new experience to share.  The winds were howling and there was rain but overall it was not a life-threatening, scarey situation.  I ended up breaking open a bottle of champagne to celebrate our first Typhoon.  We could watch the water and the storm from our house but it was not like what you would expect.  I took pictures but it is hard to capture wind!

THE WATER NEVER LOOKED
THAT CRAZY OR ROUGH.


 THE COAST GUARD WAS OUT TO PATROL.


Three different times Joe tried to go into work because his store was open and those who could get to work were part of a record-breaking day.  It turns out that all the people who couldn't get anywhere decided to shop.  All the ferries to Macau were canceled so there were a lot of people with a lot of nothing to do!

By late in the afternoon/early evening we were able to go outside and take Aspen for a walk.  Nothing was quite back to normal but the storm had definitely eased.  We could see a bit of the damage the winds had caused.

Mother Nature reminding us that she is still in charge! 

Our island escaped any real tragedies from this typhoon.  We later found out that it had been two years since a storm at this level had occured.   Considering we live on the 36th floor of a high rise, I must thank the engineers and builders who know what they are doing and kept us safe and comfortable.  I can cross this one off my "To Do" list!

4 Weeks Exactly!

It has been exactly 4 weeks to the day that I arrived in Hong Kong and became what I am now referred to as an expat.  I don't love the term because I believe I am a present and constant Windsor-ite, while simultaneously acknowledging that my day-to-day life is in Hong Kong.  It is official though.  Last week I went, all by myself, to pick up my Hong Kong ID.  Not a temporary one.  The real one with a bad picture and all my encrypted information and everything.  Just like my California Driver's License only this allows me to quickly go through immigration when I enter Hong Kong.  Like I'm a native, only giant sized with hips and boobs that are not normally seen in these parts!


I've had good days, great days, sad days, bad days, horrible days, laugh-out-loud days and this-would-be-great-if-all-my friends-could-join-me days.  Through it all there are a few things I know for sure:

*I am happy to have my marriage back.  The kind where I fall asleep next to Joe and wake up beside him and everything else is ok as long as we have that as a constant.

*I am savoring these next three years with Alex.  I can't believe Melanie is already off to college and I can't believe that chapter has ended.  I know our next chapter with her is going to be just as amazing but I am still missing my baby girl.  So, Alex, it's ON!  Let's make some memories.

*I AM NOT GOING TO HAVE CUTE HAIR HERE FOR MORE THAN TWO SECONDS.

*Hong Kong is a place of tremendous contradictions and contrasts...modern, contemporary architecture contrasting with no irrigation systems and one or two guys moving hoses around to water huge lawns and parks.

*I get so queasy on the double-decker buses here that I may become a taxi princess.  Swaying around narrow streets, narrow misses, and sudden stops don't make me feel so good.

*Pedestrians DON'T have the right of way here!

*My math skills are not so great.  Between calculating the value of HK$ versus US$, changing everything to the metric system, and figuring out military time, I am in a perpetual state of HUH????

*I forget what it feels like to be cold.

*I carry all my friends and family with me every moment of every day.

*The laughter of a child crosses all language and cultural barriers.  When you hear a child laughing or giggling, it makes you smile and you suddenly know that what matters most is universal. 

Here are some moments and memories from my past 4 weeks...

A TYPICAL HONG KONG STREET IN CENTRAL

WALKING AROUND AN AREA OF HK KNOWN AS CAUSEWAY BAY...

THERE ARE ALWAYS THIS MANY PEOPLE WHEN YOU ARE MAKING YOUR WAY AROUND...

WALKING THROUGH IFC MALL, ONE OF A MILLION HUGE MALLS HERE...

THE FIRST APPLE STORE IN HK OPENED AND THE CROWDS WERE EVEN WORSE THAN USUAL!

HEADING INTO THE MTR STATION (MASS TRANSIT RAILROAD).

GOING SOMEWHERE USUALLY ENTAILS A LOT OF WALKING, A SHUTTLE BUS, A MTR, A POSSIBLE MTR TRANSFER TO A NEW TRAIN, AND MAYBE A DING-DING (DOUBLE-DECKER ELECTRIC TROLLEY).  THERE ARE ALSO CITY BUSES, FERRIES, TAXIS, MINI-BUSES, AND A WHOLE LOTTA OTHER OPTIONS THAT MAKE MY 45 YEAR OLD BRAIN START TO SMOKE! 

The welcome mat is always out at the Toth home so want to come join me as I continue to explore? 

WATERFALL MOMENTS

OUR WATERFALL!

So, this is the view we see from the back of our home.  The dining room, Alex's room and my bathroom all have this view.  I call it OUR back yard even though I really share it with all of the Bel-Air complex and the 8 million people that live in Hong Kong!  Not too bad to look at and it turns out, not too tough to get to and climb.  The first week, after I arrived and was settling in, my new cell phone rang.  It was Alex.  He had gone out to take the dog for a walk.  He said, "Mom, look out the window!"  I wasn't sure what he wanted but he proceeded to tell me to go over and look out the dining room window.  "Do you see me?" I'm thinking...What?!  What are you doing?  Well, like the curious, brave, I-can-do-it soul that he is, he decided to stop looking at the waterfall and go climb it!  He managed to get himself to it with Aspen in tow and climb up and then call his Momma so she could see her son and her dog on top of "her" (I'm very possessive!) waterfall in Hong Kong.  

VERY COOL!

I appreciated this moment and Joe was there beside me to take it in and love that our son was "out back" climbing a waterfall and we were living on the 36th floor of our high rise watching him! 

This is also why I love being a Mom... because my children are raising ME well.  Alex is teaching me how to embrace this experience and be a true participant in life.  Mel too.  They are both in the midst of huge changes and new experiences and they rise up to meet every day with enthusiasm and a positive attitude.  If they can do it, I CAN DO IT!    



Same Food, Different Flavor

"Make yourself available for the experience."  Marianne Williamson

This is a definite experience and I'm trying!  So, as I write this, it is MY Friday afternoon.  Alex is at school.  Joe is off to Macau for the day, for work.  I am still trying to figure out how to be Tammy in Hong Kong!  Everything is different and I am the same.  Yet I am completely different.  Everything I once knew about myself has shifted. The friendships, the community, the job, the routines, the food, the transportation, the language, the customs, the places to shop, the weather, the seasons, and, brace yourself...the TV options.  Oh how I miss a good, bad TV show to get my mind off of things! LOL!

FOOD AND GROCERY SHOPPING

 

So I've been cooking but so far I am not impressed with myself.  I need to learn how to make food really yummy again.  So much is imported here that nothing has the same flavor.  Fruits and veggies, breads, and, as you see above, the proteins are a whole new experience here.  The meat in the grocery stores is super expensive but the other option is the street markets where you can find the above selection sitting out all day in 90 degree weather with 80% plus humidity.  Not brave enough for that yet. 

                                                                               

NAME THAT FRUIT...

When I first arrived, a beautiful, large fruit basket showed up from Joe's store and coworkers to officially welcome us to Hong Kong.  It was filled with amazing pears, plums, grapes, apples, grapefruit, and several things I wasn't familiar with, like the above.  Turns out it is a dragon fruit.  I wasn't sure how to eat it or prepare it so I cut into it and this is what you get:

It's good.  I wouldn't say I'm in love.  I think it would be great in a big fruit salad with other flavors to balance it.  Now, speaking of salad...not a big deal here.  I love a salad.  Green salad, fruit salad, spinach salad, pasta salad, etc.  Here...not so much.  They cook their vegetables and don't usually serve lettuce cold. 

THE GOOD NEWS AND MY BEST FIND SO FAR

WINE IN A GLASS, TO GO!

This makes me happy!  I went to get a bottle of water at a little food store and LOOK...They have white and almost-red wine in a glass with a sealed top on it, kinda like a pudding cup for grown-ups!  So, I figure I have many more wonderful discoveries ahead but the glass-o-wine is good enough for now!  Pam, Carla, and all my wine country ladies...come join me for a glass!  My treat!!