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

Being a voluntary member of AA

Christmas Tree decorating sans a glass of bubbles - oh the joys of AA

I was worried about not drinking and being a bit of a Nana - especially when going out and about here is a bit of a release, as is the obligatory, after school debrief session over happy hour.


However, I have been VERY proud of my efforts! I have accepted nearly EVERY single invitation out and one weekend, even partied until 4.30am on the Friday night, sober as, and then the next night outlasted my slightly intoxicated friends by not wanting to leave at about 2am the next night! TOTALLY SOBER!


The next days, I felt so great and really enjoyed my time out also. I have had dinners out and drinks with everyone and not worried about drinking (mock tails are GREAT - Vegan of course), I have been to the horse races and chatted to lots of people, completely sober and have even had 2 visitors stay at my house for at least 4 nights and have still not indulged AND I fully supported them and encourage their drinking.


The truth is, I really have NOT missed it. This weekend I am going to let down my guard a bit and have a glass or 2 of bubbles, Christmas just wouldn't be the same! Plus forgoing the bubbles while decorating my Christmas tree, did not fly! I was so pleased to find out that I could actually have fun and enjoy life without alcohol - the confidence is still pretty much on the downlow thou, but you can't fix 'em all!


Watch out Chch, confidence is a coming and after my last conversation with my Dad - 'Amy, grab a bottle of Vanilla vodka at Duty Free, we have found a great Christmas cocktail, remember you are on cocktail duty every night!' - I have a feeling the last few weeks of 2009, might see me leaving AA, either unwillingly or willingly, you be the judge!

Yes, unbelievably the fact that my gorgeous friends look like Gap Jeans models, has not driven me to drink!



Arohanui,

Love Amyxo

6 weeks sober

There has been NONE of this for the last 5 weeks! African Chicken and a bottle of Rose in Macau

For the last 6 weeks I have been doing a 'Liver Cleansing' of sorts, well not really of sorts - a Liver Cleansing, however I am trying it out as a lifestyle change.



It all started when Dad was here and we weighed ourselves - I nearly threw up (I was so disgusted at myself) and decided to have a competition to see who could lose the most weight by Christmas.



With this as an initial motivator, I was off! I had lost 10 kgs previously on this but had moved to Wellington and lived as a house guest for a few months, so could not continue without offending a few people.



Living by myself, feeling a tad more settled in my lifestyle and life in Hong Kong, it had to be my time!



Basically it involves eating natural foods (fruit, vegies etc), nothing with added colours, flavours or preservatives, not meat and diary. To ease you into it you can have chicken and eggs for the first 2 weeks and then for four weeks you eliminate yolks and chicken, then the last few weeks - chicken and egg yolks can reappear. NO alcohol!



As this is a lifestly change, I have eliminated the alcohol to see how it affects me and I will not be returning to chicken and eggs for the last 2 weeks - it will be ongoing.



So far - 5 weeks, I have lost 7 kgs, but have been hovering on this for the last 3!! It is driving me insane. However, the reason for this I am guessing is the fact that I have found crafty ways around my eating habits! I can eat fries (canola oil is ok, so is potato), I have found the most amazing Soy icecream, fudgy wudgy bars (diary and egg free) and have gorged myself on sushi (not technically allowed white rice, but it's a lifestyle change so WHATEVER!) Not to mention VEGAN meat-free, meat pies (yes, I realise the oxymoron) and I find that since it is a 'lifestyle change' I have allowed myself at least 1 coffee a week (2 this week to deal with the variety show plus it IS Christmas in a cup!) Hmmmm, sneaky or what!



This weekend is our first HK Christmas dinner, which will be held at my place, so I have said that I will allow myself a few glasses of NZ Lindy and turkey, which will make 6 weeks, and let's forget NZ Christmas, it will be out the window!



The real challenge will be returning to HK - will it stick!???



Who knows but those kgs better start budging OR it's looking like drastic action might have to be taken - I might ACTUALLY have to start going to the GYM!!!!!!!!!!!! Please don't make me do it!!!



Arohanui,

Love Amy xo

A crazed end to the year!

P1 Soldiers - March scene from the Nutcracker!

Today is the big day, and if you asked anyone at VSA, we'd tell you it seems like the biggest event of the decade - well it might be one to finish us off for the decade that is for sure!

Yes, you guessed it, our Variety Show, you know, the one that was NOT on the original calender and was put in, well, just for fun I suppose!

No, no I understand it is great promotion of the school and the parents will love it. However, going back to curriculum teaching for only one week before Christmas has had the school halls echoing teachers cries of 'Curriculum, what is curriculum?' as we hurriedly turn back to our 8 counts and children not singing in tune. We have now unaffectionately dubbed ourselves VAPA (Victoria Academy of Performing Arts) All in good fun thou!

Not blogging has driven me insane as there has been too much going on and lots to write about, I have kept the gossip hungry at bay by adding a few photos of events of facebook.

Wish me luck for tonight, the havoc of keeping 23 5/6 years old entertained and hidden away from their parents for an hour and a half mixed with the stage managing, micing, cuing and getting props on stage may see the end of me!

Arohanui,

Love Amy xo

Returning soon....

CRAZY, CRAZY busy here with the run up to Christmas and dare we mention it - the Variety Show - that which sucks all our energy and curriculum time!

Be back soon! xo