Lions and Tigers and...Wild Pigs? Oh my!

On my walk with Louis this evening, I decided to change things up and turn left instead of right. I passed a cute little park (actually the signage labeled it a "Sitting Out Place"). I breezed right on by, when what should my little eye spy but this poster! It must have been the graphic designer in me that hit the brakes... Oh, the "lucky" designer behind a computer somewhere that was tasked with designing wild pigs in various states of mischief and mayhem. My first question was "How big ARE these pigs if hitting one with your car causes you to roll your vehicle in the middle of the intersection?!?" 😧 Once I got past the distraction of the artistic details I snapped back to reality, remembering I was standing at the edge of a small, lovely garden with park benches and beautiful flowers, in the middle of a quiet residential and pedestrian area. And then I wondered "Do people really have the courage to hand feed their bread (or is that a hot dog?) to a wild pig???". Apparently yes, yes they do, if a poster campaign is warranted.

And yes, I HAVE seen wild pigs standing by the front entrance of Lydia's school. I have also heard tales of tarantula spottings, and wild dogs that bite, on the hiking trails right outside our back door. I hope to never have a close encounter with any of the above. However, if it should come to pass, I raise my right hand and solemnly pledge that for the good of society and the safety of drivers everywhere, I will not share my picnic lunch with them.

View from the Rooftop

The view from our window

When we traveled to Hong Kong for our "look trip", the realtor reminded us at least two dozen times that "nothing we were looking at would actually be available when we planned to arrive in August". The rentals we were looking at were just to get a taste of location and what we would get for our budget. Besides that, there still was (and remains to this day) much uncertainty with Marcus' long-term schooling location so it became very difficult to determine the best location for our family with so much still up in the air. In the end, we decided we needed to move forward with our living location based on the one "known": Lydia's school (Hong Kong International School). Once that decision was made, there was no longer time remaining for us to make a return trip to Hong Kong for an official housing search.

Hong Kong International School is located on the very southern tip of Hong Kong Island. It is a much quieter, more secluded location than typical Hong Kong. This means that getting into Central is a more monumental task involving long taxi and/or bus rides. But it also means that we can walk to a very peaceful "boardwalk" type place with casual restaurants, grocery stores and coffee shops. I was very drawn to this setting since I knew it likely meant an easier way of meeting other expats with kids enrolled in the nearby schools and other commonalities.

Once we narrowed down the location, the next decision was housing type: high rise apartments or townhome style. The high rise apartments have quite a draw since they offer instant community, lots of amenities such as pools, gyms and tennis courts. However, they also mean long elevator rides down to let the dog out throughout the day. The townhome style feels more like we might be used to in the States... a row of approximately 6 units with shared walls, multiple floors, a patio and small outdoor garden area. However, this also comes at a price with slightly more isolation and a little more effort in obtaining taxis or getting to the bus. In the end, we made the decision that the quiet and the ability to let the dog in and out easily were tilt factors and we decided to make the call and attempt to reserve one of the townhomes we saw in our initial visit. It had recently gone through a simple update, was clean, didn't smell musty and had the arrangement of bedrooms and bathrooms we were looking for.

"Hahahaha" they scoffed. "Do you recall? Nothing you saw will still be available." Yet we continued to press and push for this particular unit. And somehow... the landlord was willing to hold it for us and sign the agreement. This was such a relief to check off the list and finally have one "sure thing" identified in our transition to life in HK.

Now that we have arrived and are (somewhat) settled in, I am extremely thankful for the ability to let the dog in and out, have a patio table outside for when the weather cools down and a grill on the terrace. On these super hot, humid summer days, I do wish we had access to a pool and Lydia wishes for a gym, but hopefully we will make close friendships with those who do and be able to spend time with them at their homes.

I find myself waking up every day and looking out the window just amazed at the view I am able to enjoy. It really is quite gorgeous and something I never expected when we first began considering a move to Hong Kong. I have always wondered if people who have access to such beauty out of their windows — whether mountains, lakes, forests, fields or oceans — eventually take it for granted and began to forget to see the beauty. I certainly hope I do not and that every morning of the next three years of our time in Hong Kong will be filled with gratitude for the beauty right outside the window.

Our backyard (Louis' stomping grounds), and a view of the grass on the other side of the fences.

Life is a Scavenger Hunt

"Inflated Objects Hanging From the Ceiling" Store, for the win!

Three weeks in and life has slipped into something of a "new normal" routine, although routine is a loose term since every day seems quite different than the one before and my mind is overloaded with new info and discoveries each and every day. I find myself continually feeling like I am forgetting to do something or sign up for something or pay for something.

Just yesterday I learned that there is a specific "mall" (multi-story building) dedicated just to anything you might want for electronics or computer-related gadgets. And, thanks to my new friend Natasha, I found a grocery store with hummus that more closely meets our expectations. However, this store is different than the one that carries sugar snap peas and the BBQ chips that we like. I can't keep them straight, so I end up going to both. I've also gotten much better at remembering to take shopping bags with me at all times, because finding something that I've been searching for always seems to occur when I don't have a bag and then I have to pay for one. Again.

I've also learned to carry an umbrella with me at all times. That lesson only took once for me to learn! The rainy season really is the rainy season and sunshine in the morning doesn't mean there won't be a downpour in 10 minutes.

I have tripled the number of times I have driven the car. Yes, from one to three. My total mileage to date is probably somewhere around 7 miles and I drive like a beginner with a death grip on the wheel and sweaty palms. Narrow, winding mountain roads and speeding double-decker buses are quite unnerving.

In the time since we arrived three weeks ago we have:
• Bought a car
• Sold our car in the U.S.
• Gotten our Hong Kong driver's licenses
• Obtained our Hong Kong IDs
• Applied for our Chinese visas
• Had cross country tryouts for Lydia (two times; thankfully she made the team both times!)
• Had soccer tryouts and two basketball tryouts for Marcus
• Eaten Chinese food only once
• Washed 28 loads of dishes in the dishwasher using laundry pods (I'll pay extra for the imported English-labeled detergent from now on)
• Begun to figure out the public transportation system including buses, taxis and subway
• Made many of new friendships with others who have lived here both long and short amounts of time
• Gone dragon boating, SUPing, hiking, mountain biking, market shopping and kayaking
• Stepped out of our comfort zones and tried things and activities we would have never considered in our U.S. life. Necessity breeds courage.
• Paid our water bill by taking cash to the 7-11 store. Gives new meaning to "convenience store".

Still on the list to conquer:

• Find light fixtures to replace the bare single bulbs currently hanging from our ceiling
• Find and arrange for an electrician to hang these light fixtures
• Locate nightstands and rugs from somewhere other than IKEA. (Nothing wrong with IKEA, I just don't want to feel like I live in an IKEA showroom.)
• Figure out how to have a propane tank delivered for our outdoor grill
• Find a clinic that carries the same version of the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine that we received and make appointments for the 2nd dose. (Two thumbs down for this task.)
• Open a local bank account so I can more easily pay for school activities. (They really like their "cheques" and bank transfers in HK.)
• Buy a pizza pan that fits in our teeny tiny oven
• Drive further than 10 miles
• Buy a popcorn popper. I miss my air popped popcorn on the weekend!
• Purchase one of those wheeled personal shopping totes. I'll feel like such a local. And my back and shoulders will thank me for it.
• Buy a backpack that makes me look super cute and stylish (tall order, I know!). It must also accommodate my shopping bags, umbrella, water bottle, have secure hiding places for my wallet and "Octopus" payment card, and dedicated pockets for my keys and sunglasses so that I stop losing them. And then Lydia won't accuse me of dementia anymore.

My new friend, Jamie, described going to the grocery store as a "gambling game". You just never know if you're going to walk out a winner or if you'll have to play again tomorrow. What I DO know is that if you see it, you better buy it! Even if it means paying for yet another shopping bag.

Dragon Boating 101

So... this happened today. You could find me in the last row of the engine room, keeping Mr. Dragon slightly on pace despite my incorrect form, mostly incorrect timing and incredibly weak arms, core and legs.

Let's rewind a bit.

Tuesday night, at the HKIS (Hong Kong International School) New Family Mix & Mingle, I was working on mixing and mingling when I was introduced to another mom, Jamie, by my other new mom-friend, Natasha. Jamie and her family arrived in HK and moved into their apartment on nearly the exact date as us. Jamie is from Michigan (three cheers for "Midwesterners in Hong Kong"!!). Jamie's daughter is in 10th grade, runs track, cross country and plays basketball just like my daughter. Jamie joined the AWA (American Women's Association) immediately after arriving last week and signed up for Dragon Boating for Beginners.

"Hey!", Jamie said. "You should sign up too!".

And, well, I didn't have a single lame excuse as to why I shouldn't. Not one thing on the calendar, no more window cleaners coming, no more air conditioners needing repair, no deliveries of microwaves or tvs. So, I just politely smiled and said "I'll think about it". Secretly thinking... "Uh, no way. I am about as unathletic and un-fit as they come!"

The next morning I woke up thinking about the open invite again. And I really couldn't come up with a reason WHY I shouldn't at least give it a try. I sent Jamie a message saying I was thinking about it and she replied:

"I don't think you'll regret it".

What other response could I possibly have to that but "I think you're right". Gulp.

So, today at 9:30am, I summoned all my courage and inadequate strength and made my way down to the meeting point. Not knowing the first thing about Dragon Boating, and having a past history of a clear inability to coordinate paddles on kayaks, canoes, or boats of any sort, I convinced myself "Hey! At least I'll get some pics and have some laughs!".

The group only had 1 hour on the water, so it quickly became very apparent that it was ALL business! I'm sure the veteran paddlers on board were losing their minds at our pathetic attempts, but I'm happy to report that eventually we could pretty much keep in time and not hit each other TOO often with our paddles. By the end, the event coordinator and former Dragon Boat Captain even said I was "doing MUCH better"! Hey, I don't care what she was saying between those lines, I'll take it.

After we were done with the more-strenuous-than-I-expected-for-beginners session, we quickly showered up in the beach shower houses and headed to a really great Mexican place for lunch. During the course of lunch, I got to know a few of the more experienced Hong Kong expats who were a great source of information on where to shop to find certain things I still need and general answers to how to live life here. I'm feeling really thankful tonight for Jamie – who pushed me to step out and show up, even though right now my ARMS are NOT thanking her. Also, thanks to Jamie, I now have a non-family emergency contact to put into the required school database. Win win!!

(The jury is currently leaning heavily towards DON'T join the Dragon Boat Team, but never say never!)

One Week

One week. Seven days. A lifetime of change.

It's hard to wrap my mind around everything that has transpired since we loaded up our 12 passenger van and drove away from our lovely (still for sale) home in Minnesota. It felt so surreal driving down our driveway the last time. It honestly felt like we were leaving on vacation, but for some reason we had decided this vacation was going to necessitate that we pack 750 lbs of personal belongings in 10 suitcases before we go.

We are still acclimating to our new surroundings and figuring out our new life and routines. A lot of time so far has been spent in taxis to and from stores picking up the rest of the items we need to make our house a home. Overall, jetlag has been tolerable and we have been able to find almost all comforts of home that we need.

Here are some highlights (and a few lowlights) of our first week with boots on the ground:

1. All of the household goods that were shipped by boat arrived and were unloaded into our apartment without any breakage.

2. Louis arrived healthy and safe (though very VERY thirsty and hungry!)

3. Lydia successfully signed up for her high school classes and seems to have a generally positive outlook on her new school.

4. A tv has been selected and is set to be delivered today!

5. It's HOT. And HUMID!

6. In-home gecko spottings to date: Three

7. In-home roach spottings to date: One, who thought he was a possum and pretended to be dead until I went to sweep him up. Then he miraculously revived, and I screamed and Brandon put on his hero cape and removed it. Good thing roaches are solitary creatures and live a solo life. Ahem. Right?!?!? (We won't concern ourselves with counting the outside-our-front-door roaches).

8. We can walk to the beach in 8 minutes.

9. Finally figuring out how to order and pay for Marcus' amazing-ly uncool British uniform. Hope the sizes I ordered are correct! He'll find out at orientation tomorrow.

10. We made it to church (on time!) for Sunday services and are hoping Island Evangelical Community Church www.islandecc.hk/ could be a good fit for us. (Prayers for connections please!)

11. We navigated the process of applying for our Hong Kong ID cards with relative ease and even commented "that wasn't so bad!" when we walked out. How many U.S. government agencies would we say the same about?? Pickup is in 7 business days, so praying that Part 2 is just as smooth!

12. IKEA trip. And another IKEA trip. And another IKEA trip. Followed by 4 hours of assembly.

13. Successful navigation of the MTR (subway system) without any family members fighting or making a scene in public.

14. Protection from experiencing the Hong Kong protests first hand.

15. Finding Pringles, Lucky Charms, avocados, not-from-concentrate orange juice, Haagen-Daaz ice cream, bacon, greek yogurt, Eggo waffles...

16. A lovely view of the South China Sea and mountains from our living room window.

17. Built-in exercise just by living life (funny how that road up to our house didn't seem nearly so steep when we drove up during our apartment search!). Did I mention.... It's HOT. And HUMID?!?!?

18. Locating and obtaining a large variety of transformers which allows us to use our coffee machine, printer, and small appliances.

19. Air conditioning. I love you. (Minnesota winter, my apologies but I STILL don't think I'll miss you.)

20. Friends and family who send texts of encouragement, leave posts via social media, and the ability to easily make and receive phone calls from halfway around the world. We are missing these friends and family so much already, but the incredible technology we have available to us in 2019 is making it a little easier to feel not quite so alone. What an advantage compared to our move to Prague in 2005!

The kids both have their school orientations on Tuesday of this week and then dive headfirst into their new schools and classes on Wednesday! What a big day for them! I am so impressed by their attitudes and confidence in this regard. I know I would not have been the same as as 12 or 15-year old. I am curious what discoveries, challenges, and adventures Week 2 will hold. We continue to take it day by day, and feel tremendously grateful for the health and safety we have had so far.

Looking back…looking forward.

When I allow myself a few moments to stop and really consider our upcoming move to Hong Kong, my tummy does a little flip, my heart skips a beat, I catch my breath and I think "HOW?" How did a small town girl from Iowa find herself sorting and packing up all her earthly belonging into boxes to donate, boxes to put on a ship, boxes to put in the trash, and boxes to store away. I don't often allow myself the time or space to actually reflect and contemplate what's ahead. It's really too scary. And insurmountable. And overwhelming. And unknown. It's easier to just scroll through Instagram or run to Starbucks for another latte or find some other distraction, than to face the fear.

But then.

Reality Check in Aisle 12

The gallon of milk I bought tonight has an expiration date that matches our one-way tickets to Hong Kong. I contemplated putting it back on the shelf and rooting around for a different gallon. Things are getting really real.

2019. Detour Ahead.

I'm not one to make New Year's Resolutions. I have a hard time committing to just one thing to accomplish. What happens if a better goal comes along? As a rule follower I can't simply quit the first goal, so it's better to just make a list of many goals and see which one rises (on it's own) to the top! So, sometime in early January of 2019, I began making a mental list of all of the things I'd like to accomplish this year. Of course, I did NOT actually put anything on paper because that would be committing too fully! But I do remember some of the things on my list: Lose 20 lbs. Start exercising regularly. Read the Bible. Sew those curtains for the great room that I bought fabric and curtain rods for LAST year. Design my company logo. Launch my website. Update and decorate the master bedroom and bathroom. Organize and declutter my house.

Hit the breaks! It turns out I should have been MUCH more specific in my mental list-making exercise. When I said "declutter and organize" I didn't mean literally donate, sell or pack everything we own into boxes and move halfway around the world! But here we are.... In almost two weeks, our family will be disembarking from an airplane, gathering up our eight suitcases from the baggage claim and launching the next phase of our greatly downsized, Hong Kong Life. In 2020, I'm mentally putting "Drink more coffee and eat more chocolate" on the list. I can't wait to see what happens.