Turkey Dressed with Gravy Boat and Friends

Thanksgiving. A time to give your family --love. To show that you are grateful for their place in your life. To break bread. Being away from so many loved ones this year was difficult. Never having been away from my sisters, parents, and grandparents during the holidays, the experience was rather jarring. I actually was under the distinct impression I would be getting a) no turkey and no mashed potatoes b) no family and c) no celebration. As exciting as it is to be in a foreign city with the lights of the skyscrapers, the city lacks any foresight on this holiday. Unless you're an American, you've barely heard of the existence of this "Turkey Day."

How grateful was I when an invitation to a holiday dinner popped up a few days before the event? I met some friendly, genuine people, at a residence in Pukfu Lam, half of which attend a local church in North Point, a little more than twenty minutes from home. Of course, besides the great people, there was turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, and such...there was dessert! Pecan pie, buttercream pie, and banana cream pie, oh my! I'm not really a "foodie" when it comes to candies, cakes and cookies, but the banana cream was oh-so-fluffy looking, I really had to try it. Sooo very delicious! It almost made me a convert to sweet tooth-ism. (Suzy - it can NEVER touch the amazing depth of your thanksgiving pumpkin pie, but I digress....) Maybe the favorite part about attending the dinner, though, was the spectacular vista from the balcony of the 37th floor of a building high-rise with a sparkling marble-topped kitchen, large living and dining area, with pretty Christmas tree in deco lighting. Felt a little bit like home. So very American for Hong Kong. Even late at night, with just a few stars, and not too many lights with which to view the harbor, it was quite a sight. I never would have guessed I would be in a high-rise this Thanksgiving on a far-off continent. It was an experience. Even better, despite the fact that we were all foreigners in a strange land, we could relate to each other based on those feelings. Many of the Americans at this party were still fairly new and could sympathize with the cultural shocks of the personal space bubble-burst on the metro, the customs of expatriates versus local folk, and the Chinese-broken English-trying-tell-the-cab-driver-where-to-go-and-arrive-safely-under-100-hongkongdollars. There was good, old-fashioned prayer before the meal, intellectual conversation, friendly banter, and silly American humor. All in good fun. Good, clean fun.

The wind is beginning to pick up around here, and I'm noticing my nose tends to become a little more red starting from morning through afternoon. Despite the chill, my sweater still gives me too much insulation. I tend to sweat when I bundle up, or wear a sweater and/or boots, however my face feels the coolness on my lips, my hands, my toes, and around my eyelashes. I guess it is why they say winter cools off the extremities, right? I'll be sweating underneath my coat, but my nose is going to fall off my face. An adjustment indeed. What kind of place is this? haha

I've begun an exploration of the city for used and rare bookstores, as well as a look-see for coffee shops with cheap cappucinos, espressos and windows that show more than skyscrapers - preferably gardens and green trees. One such recent find is Pop Bites, an indie spot with white-washed walls, polished concrete floors, and favorite vinyl on the walls. They play recent hits, and even old boy band favorites. I actually heard Spice Girls and the nineties pop-ish Backstreet Boys on Monday afternoon. Supposedly, deejays spin after 8pm all throughout the week, depending on the day, however, I have only attended in the afternoon. The Christmas and holiday party invites for hip hong kongers are starting to pour into my email inbox, as I've recently added new Hong Kong online community newsletters and such to find frugal art events and fancy soirees to crash without paying an arm and a leg. It can be rather a charming chase to find ways to save money and somehow still have a good time. My landlord recently offered to buy me coffee after I called to thank Property Management for fixing the water heater. What hospitality! Hospitality with a free side of espresso. I'll take it!

So, to end on a good note, the weather outside is frightful, but the city is so delightful.

Illness, Congestion, and Computer Software Meltdown

A glass of orange-brownish mud colored juice and a partially consumed ziplock of sunflower seeds, cashews and almonds sits next to my HP notebook computer. This is an unusual day not only because I am typing on my computer, but because the sun is actually in full force today. I wish I could enjoy the weather as much as I desire to, however, I need to be heading home again very soon. The comforts of my pillow are the only solace to a head cold- along with a traumatic headache. I started coming down with some sort of cough last week, and I must admit the weakness and fatigue is starting to get to me. I have good days and bad days. Today is a good day because the sun is out, but a bad day because the headache is slowly turning into a migraine.

The other reason today is an unusual day is because I am typing on my very own keyboard. My computer hasn't allowed me to access my programs or documents for the last few weeks, which has made e-mails and blogs very difficult. Internet cafes are simply not enough...I picked up my brand-spanking rescued notebook today from the HP Customer Center after reconciling myself to the fact that I lost some important documents on my computer. I think it is a small price to pay for the use of my laptop once more! My hardware is in intact, so no major harm done. I was starting to feel naked. I'll be downloading some photos today so you'll be traversing the Asian countryside yet with visions of Lan Kwai Fong, the IFC, and the Victoria Peak. Patience...

My first week of classes ended and I'm excited for this week's stories. My students have been tremendously sweet and encouraging to me. Last Thursday I had the realization that my name was too difficult. Every time I met a new student and one of the parents, I would introduce myself and get a similar response. First a sounding of a few of the syllables in K-i-m-b-e-r-l-y and then the look of confusion, struggle, with a slight smile. Usually this was followed by the obvious statement. "Your name is really difficult." It was time for change.

Come Saturday, I decided to begin writing my name on the board as "Miss Kimi." This is already beginning to stick. My classes with the grade 1 students (8-9 years) includes some basic essay writing. The name "Miss Kimi" is starting to appear in the fictious plotlines. Apparently, I can walk from Victoria Peak to the local park to Central Station all in the span of ten minutes. Really progressive! In all seriousness, though, the classes show some serious promise. The very young children have short attention spans, which will take some adjustment on my part, however, I am discovering a hidden talent. I haven't used my singing voice in some time and it seems to be one of the easiest parts of this job as a teacher. Even better, the children are so quick to laugh, which is such an inspiration to me as I am daily running into unexpected little stressors, like this cough, or meeting strangers and adapting. Sometimes life here is just so very different from home. But, in the end, I know why I am here and when I see the children, it makes me so happy.

A reading I came across yesterday really seemed to prey on my heart, so I wanted to share it today. Even when things seem foreign, strange, unknown, and difficult in Hong Kong, I am so aware that I am loved. I don't have much money, but it isn't about having a BlackBerry (my phone is broken) or having the clothes, or having anything but...just enough. There is no redemption except through this love that comes to me as a Christian, and also as a daughter, a sister, and a friend. Thank you, all of you, for that.

"For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ..." (1 Peter 1:18-19)