Jo's Blog: September 2007

Ballet and the Peak

Ok, so the past few days has been really busy. It was payday yesterday (Friday). So as we have Friday afternoons off, we decided to go shopping in Tuen Mun. Any excuse. In the evening me jenny, jules and Joel went to see Cinderella at the ballet. It was the first time I had every been to the ballet so it was a nice experience. I really enjoyed it, although it was quite long, 3 acts, so i was really tired by the end of it.

Today Jenny and I decided to go to the Peak. Which has fantastic views of Hong Kong Island. We went up by tram, which certainly was an interesting experience. It was really steep. I felt I was on some weird rollercoaster, and kept expecting it to suddenly release and for us to go flying back. But we didn't. we made it to the top. it was just so steep, it was almost 90 degrees.

The Peak tram

Views from the tram

see where the track ends? it doesn't, it's like a 90 degree drop. scary stuff

At the top there were two shopping centres. Lots of cool shops where i did lots of christmas shopping. So i can't say what I bought. hehe. I also found Heat magazine, which was awesome. it is like a couple of weeks behind, but hey! no complaints.

The views were amazing, was really worth the extra price to go up to the Sky Terrace. It was really hot today, so we didn't stay up there too long. So glad it was a clear day today.

The Peak Tower

Views of Central from the Peak Tower

We had dinner at the coolest restaurant ever. BubbaGump Shrimp Company. Basically a restaurant with Forrest Gump memorabilia. Was quite expensive compared to other restaurants in Hong Kong, but compared to England, it was average. Good food. Was good to have western food that isn't McDonalds or KFC.

We went on the Star Ferry again today, which was nice. Normally when coming over to Central Island, we either get the bus or the MTR. Today we were on the Morning Star. So thats two I've been on now. Morning and Solar. How many more can I go on this year?? xxx

The Star Ferry

a view from the open top bus

International Finance centre. The tallest building in Hong Kong

Madame Tussauds at the Peak

Good old Marks and Sparks

I'm excited!

Jo is excited! She's going to the Philippines for Christmas!!! flights all booked! woohoo!!!

Do a Google image search for Cebu, Philippines and this is the hotel

Mid Autumn Festival!

ok so I was at school on monday and then I had Tuesday and Wednesday off for the Mid Autumn festival. This is the children's favourite of the festivals. Everyone goes to the beach (or congregate in parks) with their families and light candles and carry lanterns that sing. It can get quite annoying. lol. we went along. I tried to get photos but it was too dark. So here are some photos taken by Jules (hope you don't mind?)

photos courtesy of Jules

As for school, my foot was sneezed on by a k1 which i must say, wasn't very pleasant. Oh and our toilet broke. wouldn't flush. nice. is all fixed now.

One month!

Jo is one month in! scary stuff!

Jo is excited that her family are coming to Hong Kong for Chinese New Year!! whoop!!

karaoke

so this weekend started with a day off on friday. I had to go to Immigration in Yuen Long to get my Identity card. In the evening me, jenny, ben, jules and Joel went out for a curry and then we went to the Green Box for a Karaoke night. Was really fun. It isn't like it is in England, we had our own room, where we could just sing to our hearts content, as loud, or as stupid as we like without the public humiliation. lol.

On Saturday me and Jenny went to the Gold Coast and I fell asleep on the beach. It was lovely, but the photos I took are really bad because my camera has a weird spot on it, so any clear, bright photos are ruined by it. Which is really annoying. In the evening, me and Jules went along to 180 at the Vine which is a 18-30s service. was really nice.

This morning me and Jenny had to go to St Peter's Church, the church which is part of our school. All the teachers were there. The church building was really modern although it was a traditional service. Unfortunately, the service was all in Cantonese, so we didn't understand a word, but it was still really interesting.

I've noticed a lot of small children wearing these jelly shoes, that make a noise as they walk. Like a dog's squeaky toy. Is really annoying, but so sweet seeing them dancing down the street. Everything still getting really decorated for Mid Autum Festival. Can't wait for the two days off.

Time is going really quickly. Normally we live for the weekend, but it ALWAYS seems to be the weekend here. Is bizarre. I'm going to begin to dread it, because i spend so much money at the weekend, but not as much as the weekdays. LOL. Never thought i'd look forward to Monday. haha

thinking of a different title!

right, so this weekend wasn't all adventures. On Friday night we went out to a bar called New Yorks in Yuen Long with some of the others. Was really nice just hanging out, drinking cocktails. very cheap considering the price of them back in England. Me and Jenny did plan to go to the beach on Saturday, but it was so humid, and we were so tired after such an exhausting week, we decided to have an afternoon watching Heroes. I've just got the box set. What I did find accidentally on Friday in our complex a mini market, with a dvd store that we can rent from and clothes. It's awesome, living on top of shops. When I can't find anything to wear, I'm two minutes away from cheap new clothes! :-) On Saturday night we went out to the pier for dinner. The Federal Restaurant. Was the best meal I've had whilst being in Hong Kong. Sweet and Sour shrimp balls and orange pork. Wasn't a fan of the crab, but hey! you can't like everything.

On Sunday, me, Jenny and Julian, decided to go and check out The Vine, a church in Central. A colleague from work goes there and recommended it. Was fantastic. It's really lively and the live worship band is amazing. Jules and Jenny loved it as well which was great. So I've found my church, which is really comforting. In the afternoon we went to Causway bay and went to what I think was Victoria Park, and they were getting ready for Mid Autum festival which is next week. I get two days off. So lanterns were going up everywhere

even in our block of flats, everyone's getting ready for it. Unfortunately it started to rain, so we took refuge in IKEA! great fun! lol. In the evening we went to St Andrews and met with some of the others, and had burgers afterwards which was nice. Met the final gapper Ben who's just arrived.

This week at work has been crazy busy as I have been covering Bessa, so I've been doing K2s which is more challenging as they are younger. Had one little girl crying silently all through my lesson. I didn't know what to do. Yesterday we made Mooncakes (for the mid autumn festival) with the k3s which was fun. although messy, i felt a bit sick after eating too many. Apparently i'm teaching them today and it will be videoed which will be interesting. hmmm. I'm also in the process of making lanterns with 16 k3 classes. 2 down 14 to go. Is VERY messy and one little girl just wiped her gluey hand on my arm. I told her off. I couldn't believe it. she could have made it less obvious. haha

big long update I know.

Photos of Hong Kong and Kowloon

Eben

Julian Dan

Julian

Julian Dan

(Back Row) Ben Jenny Eben Joel Jo
(Front Row) Julian Matthew Zoe

Kindergarten

Some colleagues and I at the school.

Link to the Kindergarten

http://www.spckg.edu.hk/siulun/siulun.html

The site takes a while to load because of flash, but it's well worth the wait. Don't worry that you can't read the Chinese, click on links for loads more pictures of the school. You can use http://world.altavista.com/ to translate some of the captions. Choose 'trad Chinese' from the options.

Me and Jenny

From the bus to Kowloon

Gappers and friends

Nash Jenny

Julian

Dan Joel

Joel

Matthew Zoe

Eben

Jenny

Me

Tuen Mun beach at Melody Garden

Hmmm

so i've been writing a lot about what i've been getting up to... but i haven't really talked about how i'm liking it.. so... None of this has been what I was expecting. in a good way. It's understandable why I was so terrified coming out here, it's a big thing, but there was really no need to be. I've only been here two weeks but it feels like i've been here much longer. It does already feel like home, however there are limits. I miss t.v. the t.v out here isn't very good, two english channels in the evening, but i haven't really managed to catch anything very interesting. I miss english food. I am craving fish and chips and a roast dinner. which is strange cos i hardly ever had them when i was in England. roast dinners were special. mmm. I miss an oven. Ovens aren't common out here, because of the heat they generate in small apartments. Many people eat out, or make do with two hobs and a tiny toaster grill (which takes 10 mins to toast your bread.) Oh and i obviously miss my friends and family which goes without saying. But all the pros out weigh the cons. I love the school I'm at, am getting on really well with my flat mate jenny and all the other gappers, the flat's lovely and the clothes and shoes out here are great! :) have also found a really nice church, St Andrews in Kowloon which we will hopefully go to regularly when we find out what our duties will be at the Church which is a part of our contract.

It doesn't feel like I'm on holiday. I feel like I'm living here. I don't feel out of place or foreign which i didn't expect so quickly which is great. Everybody out here has been so welcoming, including the security guard to our apartment block.

All's good!

Mong Kok

Today Jenny Zoe and I had a girlie afternoon looking round Mong Kok Ladies Market. It's insane there. It was the first time since I've been in Hong Kong that I've really felt the craziness. Was really crowded. But not as crazy as I'm sure it will get. Mong Kok Ladies market was fun, and very easy to spend money. It's a long strip of market stalls with shoes, knock off watches and 'Tiffany's jewlrey". T-Shirts saying 'Lost in Hong Kong' remember that guys from Portugal??? lol.

but there were some really great shoes which I bought, a jewelrey box and a deck of playing cards. Zoe bought a really nice duvet cover and Jenny bought a jewelrey box like mine but a different colour, shoes, jade bracelet and hanging decoration. Was fun. I'm not a big fan of haggling, but we managed it. was tough saying NO though. Afterwards we went to Kowloon Tong cos I wanted to have another look round the English Bookstore there for teaching stuff, but i didn't have any luck today. eh well. we went to starbucks and Jenny had a really nice shepherds pie. I am really craving a roast dinner right now. xxx

school!

right, so the past few days have been really busy at work. But i'm really enjoying it. It was terrifying at first though. I may have said before that i'm teaching K2 storytime on monday and tuesday for 25 mins a time. and on weds and thursday I'm teaching k3 drawing. thats 8 times a day with the same lesson plan. Although i feel that i'm teaching the same thing over and over again to different pupils, each class is very different and the levels of the pupils vary. Some are quite good at english nd you can get a bit more than just a repeat of the word you just said, out of them. For example, some respond to the question "can you say computer for me please?" "can you say computer" Some would respond "Yes" many would just look at me blankly. So i just say COM PU TER. and they repeat. Which is good. haha.
The kids are so so adorable and all the teachers are lovely. I'm really really pleased with the school I'm at. There is a really nice atmosphere there.

the past few days

So this weekend has been really really busy, but has been great finally going to Hong Kong Island. Beforehand though we finally got to meet the rest of the group who’ve come out. We went up to Yuen Long to meet Zoe and Joel, and we went to Pizza Hut, which was great, was nice to have comfort food. It was a really posh Pizza Hut though which was surprising. It was good to see their place as well. We met Jules later when he came back from work. Dan and Eben live just round the corner from them so we met them as well. We realised that everyone’s place had it’s upsides and downsides. We have really lucked out with our accomodation but we are far out from everybody else.

Jenny Joel Zoe

On Friday we went to open up our bank accounts at HSBC and then Jules, Joel and Zoe came over to visit our place in the evening. Saturday was really good. We got the train to Kowloon Tong where we met Matthew, the final gapper, who is living on his own in Sham Shui Po. We then made our way down to the Star Ferry, the Solar Star, which was amazing. Although it was really really hot. I thought i was on fire, it was so hot. Over on Central we took a tram, which i didn’t like at all. I was tired and my feet hurt and it was really cramped. But Times Sqaure shopping centre was really amazing. Although the shops were western prices, which i’m already unaccustomed to. So the shopping will be done in Tuen Mun methinks.

St Andrews, Kowloon

Sunday was also really good. We went to church in the morning at St Andrews. It’s an English Evangelical Church. It was the family service, but apparantly the evening service is much more lively. I think i’ll feel at home there. The people were really welcoming and I knew the songs, which was great. In the afternoon we wandered round Nathan Road which heads to The Star Ferry. We were meant to go to St John’s cathedral, but I was so tired I decided to try and make my way home from Hong Kong on my own. Which i did successfully. Although I did miss my stop, because i switched my mind off, but i corrected myself. LOL.

Inside St Andrews

Today was the beginning of term at school. No lessons though as it was still orientation. There were many tears from the little K1’s. They were so sweet. I'm nervous about my first lesson tomroow.But i'm sure once i have the first day out of the way i'll be fine!