The Umbrella Garden

It was raining incessantly when I stepped outside of my building Wednesday morning. Scratch that -- Did I say it was raining incessantly, I meant it was drizzling. Drizzling, yes. I was on my way to the Kowloon island where I will be teaching in a few weeks at a Montessori school. One foot in front of the other, I found my way through the streets and small puddles everywhere. Splish, splash. Little droplets of water fell on my head, and more than normal. In Hong Kong, the air conditioning vents all have leftover residue falling into your hair, and more unfortunately, in your eye at times. Yuck. Wednesday, it wasn't just A/C coolant, but acid rain. Oh joy. The worst of it was the professional attire I chose for the outing. I was performing a trial lesson plan in front of the kids and the school principal, so I chose a blue silk dress, warm grey tights and a blazer. The flimsy blazer material was simply not enough, and the black scarf I finished off the look with couldn't keep my neck from feeling the goosebumps underneath my clothes. But - wait. The best part about the walk in that day's rain was the crossing from outdoor Sheung Wan (My home neighborhood) to the metro. It is a five minute walk to the MTR rail station and I kept trying to quicken my steps. The puddles were not as much of a distraction as the people and their umbrellas. The streets are narrow, and the sidewalks even narrower. Despite the small amount of drizzle, everyone seemed to be scared of the rain. And then, the entrance to the metro loomed in front of me and there was a large outcropping of these pink, green, blue, black, polka dotted umbrellas. It was as if there was one large misshapen tent in front of me in an unusual sequence of color. As soon as people would march up the steps to get out of the metro underground into Sheung Wan, another umbrella would burst open and poke its way out into the fresh air. I thought I was going to find my eyeball rolling around on the ground at any moment. I kept hearing that line from A Christmas Story about the dangerous BB gun the kid keeps messing with: "You're going to poke someone's eye out." Um yes. Mine. And so, that is how I survived with my face still intact. Eyes in head. Check. Hair damp. Check. Frozen Nose. Check. Blue lips. Check.

I took a ferry ride across the harbor and braved the frigid ice path across the water. Perhaps turtlenecks and five scarves per day are in order. We learn our lessons hard. The path from arrival at Hong Hum Pier was a quick jaunt to Whanpoa Garden, where the principal observed me and gave the final confirmation that I can begin teaching her kindergarten class in January. I'm quite excited because although the Learning Centre has been a pleasure to work with, the management's organization skills have been left wanting. Since I was on a three-month probation, I have leave to start work as a teacher at the new school and remain teaching some smaller classrooms on Saturday. I'm looking forward to the change, but aware that I will probably have many days of exhaustion ahead of me. In the meantime, I am quite excited about Christmas and New Year's in Hong Kong. I recently came across a church I enjoy, and now have a place to celebrate the birth of Christ for service and carols. Ah, what splendor! I love being able to sing and praise, as well as discuss the meaning of giving and love. Christmas is such a special time, and although I'll be away from so many I love, I am in the hope that the distance could not separate us from how much affection there is and will always remain between us.

Today I had my first skype chat with a California friend today, and I must say I'm so grateful for this technology. Life's little quirks makes it so that we don't always get to be near the ones we care for, but I call it a quirk simply because I know I will be with all the ones I adore soon. In the grand scheme of things, my trip to Hong Kong is a hiccup. I still plan on coming home for my dear friend Liz's wedding in February, and to be in California's great sunshine. I miss so many at home: my sisters Annette, Suzy, Mom, Dad, my new brother-in-laws, Sean and Austin, Liz (greeban), Liz (bell), Janie Jane, Rachel, Nikki (I always miss Nikki so even though she's not in California), Andrew, my favorite co-worker from JT's, my cousins, Ray, Johnny, Noel, my grandparents, Oma and Omi, my adopted grandparents, and Tante Vonny, Oom Frans, my aunts and uncles Franny, Bernard, cousins Mea, Frank, my tennis partners, Kevin, Aaron, Brandon, Brett, so many I worked with for the last few months in California, and my Newport Beach friends... And so I wish all of you a very merry Christmas.

"I cannot go back to yesterday..."

"...because I was a different person then." - Lewis Carroll

Adjusting to Hong Kong is taking some time. I considered today how many changes I have been going through. There are all these people who talk about taking adventures. I'm actually on one of those real-life adventures I've always talked about, and sometimes it does not feel real. Like I just dropped through the looking glass by accident and here I am. Why did I do what I'm doing? I'm supposed to be an adult, with the resources to handle any sort of problem or thought. To work it out in my head. But, what if I fail? What then? I don't always feel like an adult. I feel like a child with big eyes, wondering how I got here, and what happens next...A child who is a stranger to all these mad hatters, philosophical caterpillars, and cheshire cats.

But, I will say this. I am so very happy. Despite how much there is to learn, I feel like all the tough hurdles of the first month of adjustment have made me better prepared for the cultural differences, what to expect of people and how I can live in this strange country. My friend Erick has introduced me to so many great people and I keep bumping into recent acquaintances when I walk down the street or get a cup of coffee or sit down at a comfy lounge with my book or laptop. The city is smaller than I know! I'm having a lunch with a recent acquaintance today at this spot in the IFC Mall (International Finance Center) which serves healthy food. I will say this much - good people make the trip out here worthwhile, but sometimes good food makes everything so much BETTER. I've been healthy, with a hint of a cough only once a week or so since the dreaded cold I had, but I bought a heater, so if I need it, I can make my room at home in the flat nice and toasty. MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmm. It has air conditioning too...ah! What blessings. I alternate between the A/C and the heater since the room is so small it needs circulation constantly.


Random photo taken of my blissfully crazy-happy face! (My friend Liz from home commented that it looks so "Me", so I had to upload it.)


As for going "back to yesterday", there are things I miss about home, especially as Christmas is around the corner. But, I am grateful for what today brings - I'm learning. I'm growing. My family recently sent me some things I needed from California and were gracious enough to include a pillow from their house with the star of Bethlehem and "silent night" drawn on it, as well as my favorite holiday ornament of Sleeping Beauty. Ah! I almost had tears glistening on that pillow when I saw it in the box. It is always the smallest, considerate acts of kindness that make a person feel special. Despite the fact that I can see Christmas all around me in Hong Kong, it is in stark contrast to Christmas in Southern California. And getting a small piece of home and the American Christmas just strikes that one chord with my heart. Doesn't everyone just love getting mail? I adore my family for sending their thoughts and affections by post. How effortlessly do they send it...So blessed, as always, with a wonderful family.

As for any brand new information on adjustments in Hong Kong, I have been keeping up with the job postings and need for English tutors to keep my options open in addition to the learning centre I'm currently working with. I discovered a private school who was seeking a teacher to finish the school year through August and with an immediate need in January. So, I've decided to accept this new teaching position working January 4th with a kindergarten class of 30 students, and in addition I will continue to work for a few months with the children I currently tutor on the weekends. I've already fallen in love with these kids and I'm not ready to leave them, so I guess that means I'm a busy bee, but I'm once more excited about what is to come. So many changes! So much to do! So much opportunity!