ONE Week Notice

Ok- remember how all my posts start with an apology about how long is been since I last posted? Well, this one isn't going to break the cycle.

I'm sorry it's been a while- there have been some serious decisions and loads of stuff going on. Saying goodbye to all the CNETs (and our social network of friends) made for a difficult end to May. See the picture of Matt and Jacqui (who are now somewhere between Kuala Lumpur and Boston) and Sean (who, having returned from Russia has left again for Shanghai). We had Sean over for a few dinners- he's here enjoying Fish Tacos with Brett.

I made the transition back to the Chatteris office in early June. I was surprised how much I missed the kids immediately. They made me feel so loved.

With the return to the office came the time to make some serious decisions about next year. I flipped and flopped this way and that, knowing that Brett was thinking that December was his goal to move home. At one point, it even looked like the continuation of our program with my school depended only on me staying for next year- luckily that no longer looks to be the case. In the end, I made the decision to finish with Chatteris in June.

This decision leaves me content in that I know that going home and starting a career in US education, but I'm stuck with some seriously conflicting feelings for now! I find myself looking forward to home more than I have since being here- everything in each day reminds me of something I want to do- or someone I'm really excited to see. Yet looking forward to home means leaving Brett here for now, and I dread the day we have to part for a while. (To the HK readers- please invite Brett out for dinner when I'm gone!)

I have a very promising opportunity back home, but because it's still uncertain, I'm afraid to mention it here for fear it falls through- but I promise I will let you know when things are for sure. I'm headed home in ONE WEEK. I'll be busy with interviews and settling in to life in a place with hot water, reliable meat and veggies that can be eaten fresh! I'm sure it will feel too good to be true at first.

August will find me visiting family I haven't seen in a year! Which feels unheard of to me! I cannot wait to spend time learning more about cooking (thanks to Brett and his "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" Cookbook collection birthday gift!) Perhaps he's hoping to come home to a girlfriend who can whip up a batch of Croissants and Chocolate Souffle for Christmas! I want to read! And enjoy myself.

I know that there are going to be things about Hong Kong I'll miss. I'm trying to take photos of more "everyday" things I don't really think about as much here.

So - To some, I'll be seeing you soon. To others- thanks for the ride.

Dear Hong Kong,

It's been a pleasure knowing you.

Emily

Open Day and Bug Bites!

Hello everyone!

As usual- it’s been a while. I wanted to share some photos of my recent “Open Day” at school. It a really big deal for all schools in Hong Kong to have Open Day, as it’s like an open house day when parents and students come to see the school. This applies to both current parents and students and, perhaps more importantly, prospective families. In Hong Kong, students really shop around for the best school. And on top of the already high expectations, SMPS what celebrating it’s 20^th anniversary! Everyone decided to combined the two reasons to party and have one giant 2 day event!

I organized 7 booths with English games for students. The EAT (or English Abassador Team) assisted. This group is made up of students who already love English and tend to like sharing that joy with others. Still, it requires a lot of training! Since I can’t be in 7 places at once, we had team leaders for each station. Each team leader had two sets of helpers as the event was two days and 4-5 hours each day! That was just too much to ask of most kids. After 3- 90 minute trainings, and loads of outside prep work on my part, the day finally arrived!

Early in the morning, teachers and students joined forces to blow up hundreds of balloons to decorate the outside hall. 3 hours later, the place looked ready for a party. We broke for lunch and soon after eating, most of my helpers looked pretty pooped and hadn’t even started their session yet! The first group covered 2 more hours of actual “Open Day” activities and left looking like they needed to go straight to bed! The next group picked up the baton and forged full speed ahead. Good thing, because Miss Emily was pretty tired herself, and needed their energy to get her through!

Thankfully, I was taken out for dinner and drinks! J But depressed thinking of my 6am Saturday alarm! I had to do it all again the next morning! Still, everything went beautifully.

Not long after this, Brett and I had quite a scare. During that same weekend, I acquired a bug bite which totally took me down! It looked weird from the start, but it took two full days for me to get a fever, and a bad one at that. Brett took me to the doc, who measured me at 103 degrees F! WOW! I went right on antibiotics and I'm doing okay now- but gosh that was a scary thing. Someday you'll have to ask Brett about my "most graceful public puking" award! :)

Thanks- will write again soon!

Love, Emily

Vietnam! Macau! In Pictures and Videos!

Back from Vietnam with an embarrassing amount of stuff to share! I see it's been over a month since an update! WOW- time can fly!

Brett and I returned from Vietnam yesterday and while he's back hard at work, I'm enjoying a more leisurely school-calendar vacation. Granted, I am, therefore, in charge of cleaning, laundry, restocking of fridge and cabinets and generally getting our lives back to their usual rhythm.

Brett is really enjoying his new camera and we took a series of videos during our trip. There are YOUTUBE links to show these.

Upon arrival, Brett's tour of our bungalow.
A funny discovery in the closet!
Beach bar lunch, post massage.
Saltwater pool.
Hakey Sak Convention out our hotel room window.
Attempting to cross the street in Saigon.

Just a week before our trip, mom and dad left from their visit with us. There is a separate album for this below.

I'll include the links to our new Picasa web albums for better picture viewing here:
Vietnam 2010
Macau and Mom and Dad 2010


Before I forget to congratulate him via the BLOG, here's a shot of Brett crossing the finish line of his first half marathon! GO BRETT! His time was under 1:30- very impressive. I LOVE YOU!

Stay-cation

Brett and I travelled home for Christmas. it was wonderful. It was exciting. It was full of activities. And it was not a relaxing vacation. We enjoyed a few days off for Chinese new year by celebrating with a stay-cation. This was our version of vacation: staying in Hong Kong and getting some rest!

Here is Brett checking out the view! (By the way- we are cursed and always seems to find that it's rainy and nasty when we stay at hotels!- it's okay with us as long as we're relaxed.)

I booked us a hotel stay which had some very attractive amenities! And we geared up to relax!

Upon arrival we popped some bubbly and toasted each other. Last year for Valentine's day, Brett was in Hong Kong and I was lonely in Seattle! We were very happy to be together for the occasion! Please note the handmade chocolates that came with the Champagne (there were also strawberries- but they were devoured!) The chocolates had about 4 kinds of nuts in, so I ate those and lucky Brett enjoyed his nut-free valentine from me!

The hotel brought tangerines and Lai See- red packets usually containing money. This pocket had chocolate gold coins inside!

Pink Toes! I got a pedicure and Brett's feet (not pictured) enjoyed a Chinese foot massage!

We were so very happy to stay-cation in Hong Kong. And now we have a great recommendation for a hotel if you'd like to come see us! *Be sure to check out the Chinese New Year post as well. (Just added) Click the top left "Kung Hei Fat Choi" title to see it!

Cheers!

Kung Hei Fat Choi! (Happy New Year)

This post is so long overdue that I'm going to skip right past that part!

Kung Hei Fat Choi literally means I wish you fortune...or "Happy New Year" in Cantonese. You see a kumquat tree and mums- both symbolic of good wishes for the year.

The break was met by some of the lowest temperatures Hong Kong has seen. Unfortunately, most people don't have heat in their homes (us included! brr...) so when you come home to a 45 degree house, it's no fun!

My office took a field trip day to the Che Kung Fair. Here, we found many traditional CNY activities.

Lots of things to buy showed the face of the Tiger, as this year 2010 is the year of the Tiger. 12 zodiac animals represent the different years. They rotate through

as each of the 12 animals hosts a year. There were also many pinwheels and shiny decorations for the holiday.

We banged the drums to scare away evil spirits this year. I decided to make a scary face also!

We had our fortunes

given. You do this by

shaking the cup of sticks until just one pops out.

That stick lists a series of numbers, which corresponded to a certain fortune.

I guess I got lucky because all of my Chinese friends who read it told me it was "all good things." Grace especially delighted in telling us all what our fortunes meant for us!

My coworkers and I decided that 45 degrees wasn't too cold for ice cream!

This is the wishing tree. At Chinese new year, it's traditional to make a wish -

similar to how we might think of a

resolution. Instead, it's a hope for something and in many cases, wishers can plan to make that wish a reality. I wish for better grades in school might mean that you

commit to more studying, for example.

To make your wish, you must attach it (wr

itten) to a bag of rice and throw it to the wishing tree. You have 3 throws or your wish will not come true! I didn't do this because it was expensive, but I have a picture of Grace hurling her wish to the top branches!

Back in Hong Kong with fresh Christmas holiday memories!

Just a few hours off the plane, here's Brett sporting a select Chinese gift!

Meeting friends- old and new- for breakfast, for coffee, for lunch or for drinks...our schedule filled up so quickly!

Christmas day found Tommy teaching Brett to play Big Game Hunter on Wii. I look on fearful of the mountain lions said to surprise players. Note the rabbit fur lined cap and snuggie. (See bonus snuggie photo below).

Christmas dinner always involves the time honored Castle-tradition Table Gifts! But this year, dad added to the fun with a little Woot.com joy. Tommy, Vanessa, Brett and I unwrapped dozens of DVDs. Brett and I intend to share this cornucopia of B rated favorites with our fellow Hong Kongers.

Out to dinner with mom and dad and Brett before seeing "White Christmas!"

Our family New Year's card photo- taken (miraculously?) before we all left for Christmas Eve church.

Dad was able to set the camera on a timer, so the rest of us- in true "family Christmas card photo-taking drama" fashion, shouted our opinions all too willingly. But when that camera snapped, w all looked pretty happy, huh? Honestly, as I look at this photo again, I'm once again amazed that all of us, stretched from Hong Kong to Boston, were able to share the holiday together.

In short, Brett and I are loving our experiences in Hong Kong, but being home for Christmas made us feel further away from home. We can't wait to go back and enjoy the northwest- and more important, our proximity to all of you! :) We love and miss you already.

Bonus photo: "Snuggies Rock!"

I'll be Home for Christmas- in 24 hours!

T minus 24 hours and we're in the air on our way home for Christmas! Although I could VERY easily distract myself with packing or the like, I decided that there were more than enough "happenings" for another blog entry.


The Chatteris Christmas Party was a hoot. An event which, I must admit, required a lot of hostessing savvy on my part- almost to the point of non-enjoyment myself. All of our staff seemed to enjoy it though, and more than a few came up and acknowledged our valiant effort at creating a western Christmas abroad.


I even managed to get Brett on stage during our short music program. here we are singing "Baby, It's Cold Outside!"

Next, I should talk about the EAT team party, which consumed some time and planning. Our English Ambassadors are some of the most helpful students around and always lend a hand with projects and activities on campus. Sometimes I wonder if colleges will recognize the work of primary students- hopefully they will continue on this English heavy course!

We made Snowmen out of marshmallows and Oreos, as I've been studying "The Snowman" movie with them in our classes. (I realized there is no spoken word in the story- and it translates quite nicely to these guys. Plus, they have never seen snow and are fascinated by the concept!)

Sorry for the out of order photos...a few more of all of us at the Christmas party.

"The Best Cooking Show" was a lesson Scarlet and I did in class. Students had to script a cooking show with real demos. The kids got pretty into it!

Just last night I hosted Gingerbread house making here at the office. Little did I know when I bravely advertised this activity that my clever milk carton and graham cracker idea would be impossible. (add graham crackers to the list of popular American goods impossible to find in Hong Kong.)

I decided that chocolate wafer cookies would have to do- and luckily the staff managed to be creative with me! Check out my sugared-digs! Completed with backdoor and pez-lined garden. LOL. Such fun.

Below find a photo of me with some students at a Christmas Carolling Event I hosted.

A Picture of Kristy and Hannah with SK after their Aladdin Pantomime! My first real taste of the British classic.

Can't wait to see you all soon. I'm counting the minutes! To those I won't get the chance to see- I look forward to a long phone call? So as my British friends say "Have a very Happy Christmas!" HUGS!