Advantages of my apartment!

I know I have yet to post my India photos, however I am finding it hard to part with a lot of them and have been able to whittle it down from 600 and something, down to 400! So I am getting there! What can I say...it was just AMAZING!!!

Since being back however, I have celebrated the Chinese New Year with a few girlfriends seeing 2 Dragon and Lion dances right on the steps of my house and have even started a new blog that addresses the plight of a real single girl living in the big city - nothing to do with me?! Haha.

Last weekend I was awoken to the sound of a crowd and noise.....never noisy from the street in my apartment, I was surprised and had no idea what to expect.  As I had to take a trip to IKEA (literally 2 minutes around the corner), to actually buy some decent dinnerware, I ventured outside.

To my surprise, right outside my door, the Hong Kong Marathon was taking place.  It was a fantastic crowd and so many runners took part.

But never fear.....living overseas hasn't changed me that much...I still won't be taking part next year!

Arohanui,

Love Amy xo

A taste of India

With over 600 photos to look at and edit and arriving back in Hong Kong, sleep deprived and straight back into 4 days of school, complete with parent and child conferences (3-way just doesn't sound right) writing on my blog has taken a real back seat and being in bed at 8 has been priority.   Now it is Chinese New year holidays and time to catch everyone up on the world of Amy and my adventures in Mumbai (Bombay) India!

The photo above was one of my favourite photos I took while we were roaming the local suburban streets. It was just after we had witnessed and joined in a Groom on his way to his wedding and his fellow friends (and band) dancing in the street.  This street girl thought we were hilarious and was the sweetest thing.  

Enjoy!

Arohanui,

Amy xo

P.S - Go the Crusaders!

Namaste

Today I am leaving on a jet plane and heading to a little old country by the name of India!

India is a place that I really have never been interested in visiting, until I got to China (a place that I NEVER EVER thought I would end up).  So when the school offered to pay my way, accommodation and course fees I was in!!!

So in an hour we leave (8 of us) to head to Mumbai (Bombay) to do an IB PYP course - for all those non teachers - it means learn more about the international curriculum and how to use it in our classrooms.  I am really looking forward to actually having the course under my belt, complete with IB certificate, as it is a MAJOR help when looking for top paying and quality jobs worldwide!  Not that I am looking anytime soon.

On the topic of teaching, yesterday I had to present to our staff BY MYSELF!!!! And by staff I mean 77ish staff, looking right at me!!!  So not cool but anything to practice for my next role as a principal (haha, so NOT what I am intereseted in doing EVER!)

I am not sure that India is ready for me but I am sure ready for it, call it escapism, child like excitment or whatever you want but.....

"I'm going to India for freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"

Excited much?

Arohanui,

Love Amy xo

As the years roll by...

My last post was about 20,10 being 'The' year! And without a hesitant doubt I still agree, however, this year has started off at a furious and mind-blowing pace.

Being in a school that is yet to even make it to halfway through the year and only being the start of the year - it really throws you. Reports have ruled our lives since New Years and with them submitted, we move straight to Portfolio's (which for some crazy reason - need to actually accompany the reports???). Meetings are coming out of my ears and this is where I am nearly toppling over with a friend Pana crying over our office divide 'Amy, just say 'NO'

But it is 'The Year' How am I supposed to say no?

I am having HUGE issues with my teaching partner, which although making the situation sticky is not hindering my mood issues and life too much.

Having a separate divide between school and home life is great thing. I actually enjoy paying my (phenomanal) rent, paying my bills by myself, visiting the bank on a Saturday morning and really being able to talk someone about my problems (bank ones only, of course). Granted it may be a pretty stilted conversation and not quite like the banks at home but oh my lord - it really feels like I have a 'normal' life here! I even became a Premium customer the other day - didn't I feel rich (until I looked at my bank account)

I have control over the things I do, who I see and who is involved in my life. I do not have to divulge information to everyone, people do not know my business (unless I want them too) and I have met some amazing people, who I think I can actually call genuine friends. I have not had that in a long time!

Plus HK is a great port of call for people traveling through, already I have had Narciso, Matt, Kate, Raihania and Dad all to stay in the space of 5 months, with Dad and Justin post Japan and Beijing and Mum and Dad for my birthday in July still to come - roll on Easter and Summer!

All I can say is that being busy, both socially and in most part at work, has really bought me back down to earth and enabled me to almost feel back to myself again.

Loving life

-Oh, and off to India next week (paid by the school) Whoop Whoop!

Arohanui from over the seas,

Love Amy xo

20,10 - THE YEAR!

Welcome to 2010! A year that my friend Sam and I have now dubbed 'The Year'.

And 'The Year ' is the way that it feels, with the 31st of December at 3pm finding out that my latest test had finally revealed after 4 years (almost to the day) that my body has been activating with absolutely no irregular or cancerous cells for one WHOLE year!

How can you top that one?!

Let's see how the year progresses and hope that if this is the way that it starts, that this year will escalate and will actually become 'THE Year'!

Sending positive thoughts to everyone,

Much love,

Arohanui,

Love Amy xo

The China side of life

This sign was even in Hong Kong, on the way to China!

Missing elements of China has been a big factor for me. Luckily I have fab friends who have also lived in China and frequently travelled between Shenzhen and Hong Kong to show me the way.

So last weekend, it was off to Shenzhen to do some Christmas shopping and some clothes fitting for some!

Sam having Ada copy some dresses

Arriving across the border was relatively easy and could be done with no trouble at all, with a visa only costing HK$160, about $30 NZ, we were off.

On the train ride to Shenzhen - what to expect!?

Before even arriving at the border I knew we were heading into some serious Chinese territory. The train was filled with loud tones and very pushy mainlanders. Not to mention that I could understand snippets of conversation. It was like having a hearing aide and turing it on! Conversation came back to me!

While waiting for people to get measured, I got jipped by a Chinese woman offering threading! Argument number 1 of the day! Loved it!

Emerging from customs, weirdly felt like arriving home. Smoggy, smoky air greeted me, phlegm and urine covered ground awaited and pushy salesmen forced things of every kind upon me. Oh, China, how I missed thee!

It makes me laugh when people talk about Shenzhen. From what they said I was expecting to travel in a taxi, trying to find the markets, trudge my way around a crazily packed, un air conditioned space, have a lack of food bar 100 year old eggs and dodgy bottled water, instead......HEAVEN emerged. A 5 floor shopping mall, filled with bargins of every kind, and EVEN a tailor floor and fabric galore awaited! No need to travel anywhere, no need to use Mandarin. I must say I was HIGHLY disappointed. However, it was a relief to know the culture and I cannot imagine how overwhelming or crazy it was for other members of our party!

It even had a great Dim Sum restaurant, where I could even get proper Chinese veggie dishes, oh, sweet corn and lily flower, how I missed you!

Spending only half a day there was a challenge and not even denting half of the place, it will be a must to go back to for presents and DEFINITELY for clothes when I am closer to my target (who am I kidding if I say REACH my target - self confessed clothesaholic here!)

Everyone is eagerly awaiting their clothes delivery for Thursday (I can't wait to see how they turn out-future clothes are planned)

Meanwhile, I am content to receive my Winter clothes, shoes and board games that will finally be delivered from NZ tonight. Receiving these things has really made me look back and realise that I really have not been here that long!

Time flies when you are having fun (or starting a new job and moving countries!)

Arohanui,

Love Amy xo

My first Hong Kong Christmas....

...why do I have the feeling that this is the first of many?

Sunday night, my humble apartment was rearranged and brightened up with lights and yummy food to have a Christmas Dinner fit for the usual Sunday crew.

We had planned it for awhile and because of the lack of an oven, we ordered the food from our local gourmet supermarket. It bought us a HUGE turkey (the guy said it only would feed 3-4, we hardly bruised the first side), some new potatoes, seasonal veggies, cranberry sauce, gravy and a long row of stuffing!!!

This is what 6 weeks with no diary does to you! YUM, CUSTARD!

We all pulled money and even bought platters of sushi and nibbles, desserts, Christmas pudding and Sam even educated us on brandy butter and how to flambe! YUM!!!!

Crackers were a must, as was the NZ bubbles and white and it was a lovely evening!!!

Needless to say, turkey has been on the menu the last few days!!!

Merry Christmas season!

Arohanui,

I'll be seeing you sooner than you think!

Love Amy xo