Teachers Sick at Sea

Today a gang of teachers acted as pirates and rented a junk boat for a trip over the rocky waters of the South China Sea. It had potential to be a marvelous event. However, the weather report today featured a "Monsoon Signal". Nevertheless, we braved the sea and wind, and loaded up on motion sickness drugs. Mine lasted half hour, the other hour and a half I dreamed of glorious, glorious land, while trying to steady myself in the boat. It wasn't really that bad because I didn't even throw up, but it was enough to remind me that I'm naturally and happily a land dweller.
We enjoyed lunch at a fishing village on Lamma Island and the return journey was shorter and actually a lot of fun, featuring fun photo taking and singing. Singing always does the trick, right Mom?! Here a few pics from the day on the boat!

Our Pirate Ship

Lamma Island- Fishing Village

Friends- Jamie and Shannon

Friends- Lynn and Mary

Friend, Tennis and Squash Partner- Bob

Slime Day!

A crazy but memorable Friday afternoon in my classroom. Slime- a fun example of a polymer. What a glorious MESS!!

A Day of Rest?

A friend in Hong Kong has been gently encouraging me, mostly by example, to think more carefully about the Sabbath. I think it's a good idea.

When I was little, I didn't at all like the idea of Sunday being a special kind of day. This meant that I had to miss my hockey or baseball games, and that felt like a pretty big sacrifice. I clearly remember missing out on a significant ball game, telling my coaches "I had to go to church", and them telling me to pray for victory while I was there! So I sat and listened at church, all the while daydreaming of diving for groundballs. Later on, I made my own choices and usually ended up going to my games. In high school, university and now as a teacher, my strong tendency toward procrastination usually finds me up late on a Sunday night, pounding the keys for an assignment due the next day, or tying up odds and ends for a lesson the next day. This has been the routine for many years now.

I haven't even really put much thought into setting apart a day for God. How about you? What are your thoughts on observing the Sabbath? I'd love to hear from some of you on how you approach this.

I started to do some reading on it, and I found a sermon by John Piper to be a good starting point. Here are some of the highlights:
-The Sabbath is a reminder that blessing comes from God's grace, not my labor. (HEY! That really hits home for me. I need this reminder, big time...we cannot sustain, or sanctify ourselves on our own)
-We often understand the Sabbath as a burden, when it is a gift. God promises that He will meet all of our needs in 6 days.
-The purpose is for us to find delight in the Lord.
-Our hearts are set more on the pleasures we find in the world than on enjoying God and being in His presence.

Anyway, what do you think? How does this play out practically in your life? Relevant?

You know it's humid when...

The dehumidifier collects 10 litres of water in a day! No wonder I had mold issues!!!

Buzzing Away (Thankfully)

It's been an unusual month for me. I've updated a couple of times on the strange symptoms I've been having over the past while. The latest is a diagnosis from a neurologist I saw this week. He believes that I have something called "guillain barre" syndrome. If you are like me, then you've never heard of this before, so you could always find out more here. It's a unique syndrome- affecting about 1 of every 100,000 people. Basically, I most likely picked up some kind of infection when I was sick in India or Nepal, and this kind of thing can show up a little later on. In the most extreme case, people are paralyzed and put on a respirator. Mine is a very mild case- resulting in the numbness and tingling I've been experiencing for about a month now.
I'm so thankful that it does not appear to be something serious, and I can expect that the buzzing effect will pass within another 3 or 4 weeks. It has been a new experience for me, and I can say that it definitely has sharpened my priorities in life, reminded me of life's fragility and breathed a very fresh wave of gratitude for good health. I feel like a heavy weight of fear has been lifted. There were so many people praying for me, and I am so thankful for the interceding of many of you. I wish that I could claim I worried less and trusted more through this. I guess it was and is a growing experience for me.
I am still buzzing, but generally I'm feeling a lot better. Plus, the second round of report cards is now in the bag! Woooo! That's a great feeling. In other news, I'm currently combatting the crazy humidity of HK. The only time I have experienced mold in dry old SK was when I'd hide Tupperware containers in my high school locker for months...yes, Mom, that's what happened to all of your missing containers. Anyway, a friend is giving me a dehumidifier and I'm disinfecting my house. Goooood times!
Well, I'm going to meet up with my bball team for our semi-final match this afternoon. It's a tough matchup, but hey, upsets are magical in March! Ohhhhh the MADNESS is coming very soon!!!!

Tunes of the Week

Mat Kearney. Nothing Left to Lose. Refreshing and enjoyable blend of folk rock, hip hop (yes!) and pop. Easy to listen to. Excellent music for backdrop to mark Grade 5 essays. Two thumbs up.

Patty Griffin. Children Running Through hit the Canadian ITunes Store sometime last week. I haven't listened to it enough yet, but "The MLK Song" is powerful and "No Bad News" has been a fast favorite. For your fill of folk, Patty is the way to go!

Dim Sum With The Guy Who Won Gold

Today I had the chance to eat lunch with Henry Wanyoike, from Kenya. I didn't know much about this man until today, but he has an amazing story. You can find it here. Henry woke up twelve years ago in darkness, having lost his sight. He won Gold at the Sydney Paralympics, and today he placed 3rd in Hong Kong's half-marathon. He runs marathons all over the world, with the help of his guide- a childhood friend named Joseph. They are running for the 17 million people with cataracts, 85 percent of whom could be healed with a simple operation. The organization is called Seeing is Believing. Right now he's aiming for gold in Beijing! I'll be watching for him! I was glad to have the chance to share some Chinese food with one, actually two, very inspiring people!
Here's his video:

Why Not?! (Sorry, that's for Sherri)

Earlier this week I kicked Sherri out of my flat and sent her to the REAL CHINA. Yes, enough of this wannabe stuff...it's time she enjoyed the real deal. She went to Yangshuo, a favorite spot of King and Queen China, Jay and Shannon, and myself as well.
I was sad to see her go! I am certain that her being with me in HK during that specific time in my life was something divinely appointed! Definitely some pretty great memories made. Sherri has a rare and wonderful gift of bringing a kind of contagious joy to anyone she comes into contact with. Oh, she's a funny girl- you'd be blessed to meet her!
Anyway, I made up a little comic with pics from her time here, and I've added some new pics to my flickr site should you want to see more!

I'm glad it is Friday night! I made it through the week back at school but I'm still not doing so hot healthwise. Waiting for this to pass...I have been to doctors and I've seen a specialist. They just don't have answers!
Well, time to head for bed. Tomorrow I'm going to try some tennis and hopefully get lots of marking done (knowing me, this may not happen until I have a couple less days before marks are due).
Good night, friends!

The First Pep Rally Ever

So yesterday we had the inaugural pep rally at our school! Making history, baby! Many students were not familiar with the term "pep rally". It went pretty smoothly for a first time. We even had our sweet jazz band jazzin' it up. Classic! I'm afraid I made a fool of myself while singing in a strangely large blue wig, massively oversized basketball shorts and jersey and other accessories, but it was worth it, and it was fun. Anyway, this was the movie I played at it. You are welcome to have a look...but beware, these Lions have some mad skills!! Roar. :)

House Guest and House Arrest

Hey all. There is a noted gap since my last writing. Chinese New Year has come and gone, though many of us are still basking in a nice week of holidays from work. It hasn't turned out exactly as I had planned. I was hoping to get lots of planning and marking done in the first few days, and then welcome my friend Sherri to town and continue on to tear up the concrete jungle for the remaining days of the holiday!
Turns out my body had a different adventure in mind for me over the break, and I definitely feel the grace (but disappointment) of being unwell during time off from school. It's a strange kind of virus (we think?) that has my legs and arms numb and tingly, and has left me really tired and generally not feeling that great. I know, it sounds a bit weird, but I'm doing okay. Tests came back normal, so I'm just trying to take it easy, take my vitamins, and maybe the next step is Chinese medicine! I hope whatever it is decides to pack up and go on its merry way really soon. :)
However, the best thing is that Sherri is here! Ah, she's a fun, fun gal. We haven't done much exploring but we're finding fun in small things...like Photobooth and becoming expert dancers in every genre of music in my Itunes Library. The pictures below are inspired by "I've Had the Time of My Life" and, I really don't know about the last one....maybe something from Shrek?

Valentines Day 2007

It has been a love-ly day, though I'm reeeeally tired! One of my students gave me two roses to start the day, and to end the day another student gave me such a sweet Valentine. On the front it simply said- "Miss McMillan: I Love You". Now that's pretty cool. I gave out chocolate kisses and real hugs to anyone who would take one, so there was no shortage of love in the classroom!
Another staff member kindly thought of the single ladies and gave each one a rose. On an interesting and funny note, I was also left with a note from a secret admirer. Ha, ha! I'm serious though. It was poetic and remains anonymous. Ooooh, the drama!
I came over to my friends' place for pizza and now I'm hanging out at their place while Hunter (their 9 month old) sleeps and they enjoy an evening together.
So, Hunter is my special Valentine this year! Check out the Valentine he gave me! Awwwww. Happy Valentine's Day, friends!

Piggies

(Exhibit A)

Sunday Night

I think I've said this before, but the weekends are the best here in HK. Not to say the weeks are bad, it's just that the weekends are really good. On Friday night I tried Lebanese food. It was excellent. The Egyptian restaurant in town is still my all time favorite, but this had similar flavors and was very tasty. Saturday I had tennis lessons again, and then on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon I watched the Davis Cup- Hong Kong edition. It was HK vs. Indonesia. HK lost both of the matches I watched, seemingly not due to being less skilled but because of unforced errors. The Indonesians had a rocking fan base, maybe that was the difference!
I'm in the midst of planning a pep rally. It's been 7 years since my pep rally days! I'm trying to remember all of the goofy things we did at FWJ. Those were the good days, I tell you. We had some serious school spirit! Anyway, now that we're in the 2000's pep rallies have taken on a new look- the way of the home-made video. Gotta stay hip, so first thing on the list is to start producing something magical. Ha ha.
Enjoy your Sunday, friends!

Oink, Oink.

Happy Year of the Pig. I was reading people's predictions on the Year of the Pig today. Some say pigs are lazy and fat, therefore it's going to be a bad year for Hong Kong. Others say pigs are lovely, cute and adorable, so it's going to be a squishable and adorably prosperous year for Hong Kong. Pigs have become a normal part of the decor. Yesterday my friend showed me her new kicks- Nikey oldschools with an embroidered pig. These ones are even better- I've got to buy myself a pair of these beauties! Nike is all about embracing cultural tradition, clearly. Starbucks is in on the Chinese New Year festivities, too. The only red packets I'm hoping for this year are the ones that are filled with Starbucks money! Ha ha. (Red packets are little envelopes with money that people give to one another during Chinese New Year)
Speaking of Starbucks, tonight I thought they were secretly filming for Rush Hour 3. Across the table there were two men, with suspicious looking brown manila envelopes. They kept whispering to each other, staring down at the table, trying to convince the mobile to ring. Shifty eyes, very shifty eyes- I was sure they were waiting for Jackie Chan and Chris Rock to jump out and interrupt the big deal. Oh, it was funny. Finally they left, bags and envelopes in hand. Don't worry, you'll see it all when Rush Hour 3 hits theatres- watch for me, the amused Canadian in the backdrop, latte in hand.
I was going home on the bus tonight and the view from the second deck was something else. I'm trying to think of ways to describe the massive ocean of humans filling up one particular street- likely the most crowded street in the city. Okay, let's stick to the Riders. It was like the crowds spilling out after the Labour Day Classic, except instead of green everywhere you see black, and instead of a high percentage of drunk, loud people, everyone is escaping the madness of the human cyclone by either talking on their cel phones or listening to Cantopop in their mp3 player. To be honest, it kind of made me woozy watching all the people tonight! Usually I'm in the thick of it and I zone out with my ipod, but it looked crazy from the bus! In moments like that, I transport myself to Highway 48, driving to Grandma's house. Ahhh, I can breathe again. Freedom!
One day and one week until our Chinese New Year holiday arrives. My buddy Sherri Kasper is on her way to help me ring in the Year of the Pig! Saweeet!
Time for bed! Good night from the land of fat, lazy pigs! No wait, make that cute, adorable pigs. That's better.

Let's stop here...

I enjoy an hour at Starbucks with a lovely friend, Kara, every couple of weeks. She has the best Australian accent, beautiful children, and a warm heart. We've been reading through Brother Lawrence's "Practicing God's Presence"- the easy version. We were going to talk about the second conversation. However, we got stuck on the first sentence:
"Brother Lawrence explained how love, rather than selfish goals, had always steered his life."
That's more than enough for me this week. This month? Year? This life?
Let's start with today. God, let love be my one strong motive today.

Molecules...or Fish Balls

Culture is great and often funny when it shows up in the classroom. The other day we were building models of molecules in class. It was marvelous! I never dreamed chemistry could be so enjoyable. As some of the kids finished their models, I started hearing rumors of fish balls for sale. Yes, the models were no longer molecules, but mouthwatering fish balls on sticks. They were going fast. Another kid pipes up, "Hey, can I get some curry sauce with those fish balls, please?!" I bet you never dreamed of curry fish balls when you were in Grade 5! I'll stick to my KD for lunch, thanks.

Generous.

In the past couple of years, I have felt challenged to "let the fruits of the spirit flow generously through me". It's become a banner phrase for me, especially when I find myself, all too often, becoming self-absorbed- with my time, money, space, with me. I have some wonderful examples of "generous living" in my life, for which I am so thankful. These simple thoughts came to mind.

generous in living
generous in loving
generous in time
generous in spirit
generous in energy
generous in relationships
generous in gifts
generous in talents
generous in fruit
love, faith, hope, patience and peace
generous in all of these
because
generous redemption
generous life
generous love
has been given to me

matthew 5.48
Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.

What's up?

Hey blog reading friends! A newsy update for you from the land of dumplings and slurpy noodles. It's a quiet Sunday morning, or at least we can pretend it is that way from my flat on the 32nd floor! The gentle roaring of traffic from below never lets up, so it all blends into the music of living in this city. That's when Steve Bell comes in handy!
First of all, have you heard the now one week old news about Michael?! That was officially the news of the year! I can't wait to see the little fella. I've got to find him something Jordanesque to wear!
The last two weeks have been the most slow-paced since I joined the teaching profession. That will change this week as basketball revs up again, but it has been nice to have time to watch movies, go to the gym freely, or go for a coffee at the mall. Speaking of movies, I watched one terrible and two very enjoyable ones in recent days. I wish I never would have seen Babel- my life was better before those 2 hours- and Cars I absolutely loved. And yes, the last scene moved me to tears. There were some great messages in that movie! Last night I went to The Holiday for a good fill of sweet romantic drama, by myself. Haaa! It was great.
A highlight from last weekend was going to watch one of my students play Little League. It was way too cute, and this experience also brought me to tears. My student hit the ball farther than I've ever seen a kid hit a ball. He cleared the fence by at least 50 yards! It was beautiful! And, it brought back some sweet, sweet memories of playing for the good ol' Buffaloes in Mosquito back in the day.
The highlight of this weekend (so far) was my first tennis lesson. First I watched Serena pummel Sharapova, and then I learned again how to hit a forehand. My friend Bob (Bob is the best) and I are taking the lessons together. It was a good time!
Anyway, I should get ready for church. It's not a three minute walk to get there anymore! It would be marvelous to see an email from you if you are reading this. I'm already really excited for the summer- I can't wait to see everyone again, and squish my nieces and nephews!

Thanks, One Year Later...

I just realized that I missed 25 comments because I had the moderation thing turned on. That was a year ago. A year ago I remembering, sheesh, does anyone ever read this thing?! Where is the love?! Ha ha. So thanks, one year late, for all of your comments and well wishes on my coming to HK!!

Memory Work

Every week my students take to mind, and hopefully to heart, a memory verse. Usually I correspond the memory verse to the topic of morning devotions. At the end of the week, each student comes up to my desk and recites the verse to me. This week they memorized a verse from what might be my favorite chapter in the Bible:
"Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:4

The exercise is likely better for me than it is for them. Truth is spoken to me, 21 times, via the pretty cute voices of ten year olds. They are wondering if they got it all right; I'm ready to thank them for sharing such a great thought with me. The gift of scripture, 21 times over.
This whole vine thing is pretty inspiring to me. And it seems simple, but I'm a pretty stubborn branch, it seems. Hey, tree! I can handle this. Let me take care of growing the fruit- I've got this patience thing under control. Gentleness? Done! Self-control? I'll do it myself!! It seems to make sense to just try harder, and then I will become more faithful, more patient, more loving, more giving. But it doesn't really work. Perhaps for awhile, but I don't think trying hard usually ends up changing the heart.
John 15 says it pretty clearly- Jesus says the way to grow is to live in Him. He's the Way to becoming a fruit-bearer. Remain in Jesus. Stay with him.
Thanks for the reminder Grade 5...21 times over!

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

The Top of the World

I arrived in HK again last Sunday after flying first class from Kathmandu to Bangkok (that was awesome- I'll move up anytime!) and then wandering around the Bangkok airport on a 14 hour layover. The most interesting thing to do was play "Guess Where That Person is From Based On Their Shoes" and listen to the rowdies watch the Arsenal/Liverpool game.
The best part of this week was yesterday's overtime victory for my basketball team. A character builder, an intense game and a satisfying victory! I'm enjoying a slow paced Saturday and looking forward to being back at church in HK tomorrow.
I've been working on uploading pictures to Flickr, so if you feel like following the McMillan Family Amazing Race, you can check those out. I'm going to post a few of my last favorites from Nepal below. The last thing we did together before I left Nepal was take a mountain flight over the Himalayas. A nice way to finish up a fun holiday!

I'm pointing to Mt. Everest in the picture above...

The Tunes of 2006

My "Best of 2006" Playlist (too difficult to choose a real order!):
1. Let Me Be- Caedmon's Call
2. In Need- Ross King
3. Everything- Tim Hughes
4. Fix You- Coldplay
5. Coming Around Again- Simon Webbe
6. You Have Been So Good- Paul Baloche
7. The Hardest Part- Coldplay
8. My Old Friend- Tim McGraw
9. When I Get Where I'm Going- Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton
10. None But Jesus- United Live
11. Tomorrow is a Long Time- Nickel Creek
12. Fireflies- Amanda Falk
13. Subtle Shiver- Steve Bell
14. Road Song- Fernando Ortega
15. The Heart of Life- John Mayer
16. How Can I Keep From Singing- Chris Tomlin
17. The Easy Silence- Dixie Chicks
18. You Raise Me Up- Selah
19. Cannonball- Damien Rice
20. Mary- Patty Griffin

Best New Artists (in my collection):
Patty Griffin
Simon Webbe

Best Albums:
X and Y by Coldplay
Continuum by John Mayer
See the Morning by Chris Tomlin
A Greater Song by Paul Baloche

Best Song in the Gym:
You Win Again by the Bee Gees

Look what came in the mail!

Package from Little E, Little Z, T, and T....= Happy Harm!!!! Cookies (including ginger snaps!), icing and sprinkles to decorate, candy (mmm, NIBS and Reese's Pieces!), maple cookies, and goodies from one of my favorite companies- Crayola!!! Pure goodness!! Thanks SO much- you are awesome!!

Nameste from Nepal!

That means hello! Greetings to you from the frigid valley next door to the eastern Himalayas. Brrrr. We are in the capital- Kathmandu. It is a very colorful, interesting city. Tons of action!
The journey here was The Amazing Race- McMillan Family Style. It makes me tired thinking of it! Heavy fog in this part of the world led to a ton of flight delays and cancellations. We have endured our share! One cancelled flight from Aizawl led to a 6 hour drive by night via sumo (large jeep) through the mountains (I was so happy to be alive by the end of it!), an overnight stop in an Indian city named Silchar, a delayed flight to Kolkata, a sprint from the domestic to international airport (we thought we only had half hour inbetween arrival and departure), alas another delayed flight from Kolkata to Kathmandu. We won the Race; it was thrilling!
Flying into Kathmandu was amazing. I was looking for the Himalayas out the window. I was looking down. No sign of mountains. I glanced up for a moment- wow!!! At eye level, I saw a white strip of mountains, which seemed to be suspended in air. The clouds were below the mountains. Amazing! We are really hoping to take a mountain flight that takes you to visit Mount Everest and its friends in the Himalayas. However, we woke up early this morning, and again due to fog, the flight was canceled. Tomorrow I'll have one last shot at the flight, as I leave for Bangkok- Hong Kong later in the afternoon.
Yesterday we ventured into a place flooded with vendors, pigeons (eeew) and people. It was called Durbar Square- it has many, many ancient temples. It was very very interesting to wander through. I admit I almost slapped a boy trying to sell me a necklace. Talk about action- this place is crazy. It is quite similar to India, though has a slightly different feel to it. Old alleyways, shrines, shops, rickshaws, potholes, scooters, incense, hippies, and a cold blanket covering it all.
Mom, Autumn and I spent the rest of the day shopping. It was grand. The shopping here is divine, and oh so cheap!!! It is cheaper than India!
I am not sure what we will do today, but first on the list is to drink something warm and cozy. My fingers are going to freeze up, so farewell from the Himalayas!

New Years Pandemonium (Happy New Years!)

Last night I experienced New Year's Eve- Aizawl style. Firecrackers of all designs have been going off for the last few days- a POP! here or a ZAP! there or a whizzing sound finalized with a SMACK! has become an expected piece of the soundtrack here. Last night was the mother of all firework parties. Everyone was sending rockets, firecrackers, full out fireworks into the sky. Our house was being attacked on all sides. I ran into the house numerous times because I feared a speeding, fiery orange projectile was going to smack me on the side of the head. We were rained down on by a party above us, and soon attacked from below by our neighbours!! As he watched a rocket jet into the sky, he turns to me in this sneering voice and says, "Lovely, very lovely" (with an evil giggle). Meanwhile, his 4 year old is lighting a match and setting off a firecracker. The granny is trying to get her sparkler going...

It was truly a community celebration. You could hear laughter, singing, and at the break of midnight, hearty HA-LE-LU-JAH's!!
Andrew was squealing with delight. If this was not his finest moment, it came a couple hours earlier when we had our own firework show. For 4 CDN bucks, I bought about 45 minutes worth of fun- rockets, spinners and sparklers. What excitement!

When we tried to go to bed at 1AM, they were starting up a program on the loudspeaker just down the hill from us- singing, preaching, on and on and on. Gongshow!

Anyway, it was a memorable New Year's Eve. Enjoy your celebration wherever you are- bring on 2007!

Snaps!

I'm not attempting Flickr while using this turtlish internet connection. Here are a few recent pictures for you!

Andrew and our Christmas present from the neighbours! Dad butchered it and Mom and Becky plucked it. A few hours later we enjoyed it for a birthday supper meal! Tasty and fresh.

The Morning Veranda View.

Poinsettias growing just down the road.

Old friends Para and Mawia. They came for Dad's birthday. They are simply wonderful people, and funny!!!

Live from India

An update from Hong Kong Harm is overdue, now situated in Aizawl, India, Mizoram.
I have been here for four days now. I traveled safely to Kolkata and was hollered at by some foreign guy in the airport. The foreign guy turned out to be my Dad, who successfully surprised me by meeting me in Kolkata. We spent the night in Kolkata and I took in a quick blast of Kolkata craziness (smells, sounds, generally an overload to the senses, however, always intriguing, intense, and in short bouts- enjoyable). All things India were brought from memory to reality again- drooling cows, staring men, garbage galore, rickshaws and Ambassador yellow taxis with all kinds of flashy gods adorning the dash. This is Kolkata!
A one hour flight to Aizawl and a 90 minute taxi ride later, I found myself on Mom and Dad’s doorstep, smack in the middle of the magnificence of Mizoram. Magnificent for one, because it holds the treasure of family, and magnificent for two because of its wonderful scenery. Waking up after the first night reassured me of the wonders of this place. Looking out the window, I gazed upon a stretch of cotton ball clouds sitting in the valley. Mizoram itself is a gift.
Christmas Day was very nice. I am amazed at how my Mom can manage to essentially make everything here that she does at home. A Christmas dinner with all the fixings, including homemade buns and pumpkin pie. Awesome!
Unfortunately I’ve been slowed down by some kind of bug since Christmas night. I’m not sure what it is but I wish that it would tire of me and move along. I am happy to feel hunger at the moment as I haven’t felt that way for a couple days. It’s not a terrible flu or anything, but I know something is not quite as it should be. Anyway, today I did go to town and enjoyed taking in the life of Aizawl. It is fascinating to observe, watching all the busyness and the milling of people around town. Culture is wonderful. I wandered in and out of the many little shops that line the road, ventured down to the market and sat outside a shop to read a book.
Around the house, I’ve spent time with Autumn and her buddies (pics coming soon), as they have been enjoying new skateboards. Andrew is a pyromaniac and spends most of his time blowing things up. Oh, that sounds a bit dramatic. Basically he thoroughly enjoys firecrackers, sparklers and these little spitballs that blast when they touch ground. Nic will enjoy this freedom and share Andrew’s passion for this pastime, I’m sure. I have enjoyed many a hug from both A and A. They are great!
Tonight we are having a birthday supper for Becky (who helps my parents) and my Dad. Tomorrow is his big day! We will have a tea and enjoy the company of many of his friends from around Aizawl. Some of you will smile at the thought of seeing Para and Mawia. I’m excited to see them again tomorrow.
We will go back to Kolkata on Tuesday, stay a night and then fly to Kathmandu, Nepal on Wednesday. I fly back to HK, via Bangkok for a night, on Saturday. The holidays are flying by!
Anyway, this is a lengthy report and I’ll say goodbye for now. Love from India!

It's Go Time!

Well, I've been in China for almost five months now, and I've been teaching for four months in Hong Kong. It's time for a break! Ahhh, it's nice to take a rest from the go-go-go taste of life and trade it in for something fresh, fun, and family- filled! India fits that description, so here I go!
The bags are packed, the house is clean, my head is going to pop due to a bad headcold, and I'm very ready for bed. Tomorrow I fly to Kolkata via a stopover in Bangkok. I will stay the night in Kolkata (always interesting!) and take the one hour flight to beautiful Aizawl on Christmas Eve.
So, the next time I stop by the blog, I'll be in Mom and Dad's house in Aizawl, hanging out in the hills with Autumn and Andrew. How's that for a Christmas gift?!
Til India...

LUCKY WINNER!!!!

Oh yes, today I was the big winner at our staff party!!! Not only that, I looked....well, you can decide on your own what you think about that. People were amazed that what they saw was actually my real hair! For such a stylish display, my disco-grooving friend and I were given a consolation prize of...Dove soap. Maybe that's implying something. Hmmm. And then the most umm, interesting, and practical? gift I think I have ever received. Eight lucky teachers, myself being the last of them, had their names drawn to receive a complete physical examination from the insurance company. How did they know?! I was definitely asking Santa for a physical! Ha! Maybe that's implying something, too. Hmmm.

The Hong Kong Ballers

Here's a pic of my guy's basketball team. They are a great group to coach. We had a pizza party this week to celebrate the prophesy of the end of our losing streak. :) It was fun. Later we played a mini 3 on 3 tournament. Basketball is golden!

Smooth As Ever- Christmas Style

Sarah McLachlan's new festive release is wonderful. Check out Wintersong for a smooth and soothing brand of old and new Christmas favorites. You can listen to samples by following the Amazon link above. Her voice just makes me go "ahhhhhhh".....so good.

Me the Babysitter

Last night, I babysat my little buddy Hunter. Poor kid. You can see it all over his face- you're leaving me with HER?!
Actually, it worked out quite well. He slept for almost two hours, and when he woke up and got over the fact that he was stuck with the freaky babysitter, he was lovely and cheerful. In fact, we went downstairs to the Jingle Jungle playroom, which has a mini-Ruckers that Hunter very much enjoyed. He beat me at the Tennis arcade game. I'll get him next time!

Cold Weather Warning

I heard this on the news last night:
"The Hong Kong Observatory has put out its first cold weather warning, as the mercury dropped to 15 degrees for the first time this winter."
Brrrrr! Time to bring out the winter parka!

This makes me smile!

I've been loving this picture ever since Steve posted it on his site, along with other AWESOME pics taken by Bec. I couldn't resist adding a caption! Hope it makes you smile, too! I miss you, Aiden!

"A Speedo and a Moustache- A Great Combination"

These are the kind of ridiculous statements that come from Jeremy Olson. Even more outrageous is the fact that he wholeheartedly believes this statement to be true. And that's a pink speedo we're talking about, folks. Well maybe Jeremy is right, maybe I'm the only one who isn't a fan of the speedo...
"It is true, Harm. Just wait and see. Tomorrow".
They are looking forward to the attention from the European ladies in Macau on Saturday.
However, the other day they bought me a french press coffee maker, and Jonathan is presently baking monster cookies for my class...so I'm keeping them around for awhile yet.
This week has been good. Great, in fact. It will be odd to have an empty flat again in a few days. Lonely odd, I'm sure! They've been exploring Hong Kong on their own during the days and then in the evenings we've enjoyed various cultural cuisines. Monday we went for Thai, Tuesday was Turkish, Wednesday was Egyptian and today was Indian and Mexican. A kaleidoscope of flavors! I must say that Egyptian food is emerging as one of my favorite taste sensations.
In other news, my basketball gang played and did not win the other day. It was frustrating. However, they are a great group of guys and they have some good, but raw, athletic talent. They are a lot of fun and they have a lot of potential. I'm very much enjoying my time with them.
Tomorrow we are having a MONSTER SMARTIE PARTIE in my classroom. That's why Jon is making some high quality cookies. They are going to stop by for a visit. The kids are looking forward to it!
I think tomorrow night will call for good food and a good foot massage- a Friday night tradition.
So long from the 32nd floor!

Good Times.

Things are looking different in my flat these days. At present there are two young lads lazing around in my flat. It is wonderfully surreal to have Jeremy and Jonathan here in Hong Kong.
The last two days have been great. We've had amazing weather- blue skies and twenty degree weather. We've taken good advantage of it, as yesterday we went to The Peak (likely my favorite place in HK). We timed it well and saw both the day and night view of the city, and enjoyed supper in a restaurant at the top. Today we went on a day trip to a fishing village. It was a bit of an unknown venture, but it turned out to be a sweet day. We went on a short hike, swam in a beautiful cove-like space of the ocean, found a neat spot to jump off cliffs (okay, they jumped, I was a chicken), and then had a scrumptious meal of very fresh seafood in the fishing village. To top it all off, we went to a dessert shop for mouthwatering mango delights. Soo good.
Tomorrow will be church, more eating, and I think we'll head to Stanley Market- a famous shopping hotspot on the southern part of the Island. Oh, right, and then I'll take the Roger freaks to the tennis courts to wrap up the evening. These guys are PASSIONATE about Roger. Wow.
It really is a joy-giving thing to have such good friends here. I am a happy camper, that's for certain. We'll post some pics one of these days. Good night from HK!

To Do Lists

I like them. I like feeling like I've got things organized and under control. I leave a little box to allow myself the pleasure of an oh-so satisfying checkmark. Beautiful!
Tonight I was feeling the need for a high quality to-do list. Let's ease the stress by staying organized. Keep those checks coming.

Things to do this weekend:
Mop the floor.
Make banana bread.
Plan for the presentation.
Mark the math tests.
Go to the gym.
Dust. (What? Dust? I must be getting old)
Plan for the next two weeks.
Read.
Make a practice plan.
Call Grandma.
Go grocery shopping.
Write on the blog...

After musing on my classic list, I decided to back up and start again. All of these will get done at some point (okay, maybe not the dusting), but sometimes my little mundane checklists swallow up the best stuff. So let's try again.

Things to do this weekend:
Find ways to love practically.
Take time to care for people.
Be passionate about what you're doing.
Stay in touch.
Jesus loves me deeply, know this deeply today.
Pray.
Be reminded of grace...live humbly.
Smile freely.
Pay extra attention to the old and the young.
Sing!
See beauty and truth around you.
Listen.
And call your Grandma.

Chances are, I won't end up with a bunch of oh-so satisfying checkmarks on the revised list. I don't need them. But I do need the constant reminder to live intentionally, with passion, and with a heart for the Kingdom.

What's on your to-do list this weekend?

The Tuesday Times

Sigh. Where did the first three weeks of November go?! The days have felt very much "on the go". Here are a few pieces of the life and times of Hong Kong Harm this week...
-I can't get enough of Simon Webbe (thanks, Steve!).
-Tonight I tried to disprove my feeling about Cantonese food, and failed again. I went to a shop down the road, hopeful that maybe I could find a great dish, maybe something that resembled the AMAZING food I found in Hubei (mainland China). The first thing on the menu was "Imitated Dog Meat". That should have been my first clue. After trying to order "mixed vegetables" and having two different dishes that looked too close to the aforementioned meat, I walked home and ate a bagel with cheese....
-Despite my displeasure with the Chinese food, my neighbourhood has awesome Thai and Vietnamese food. SO GOOD.
-One of my favorite fellows in Hong Kong is named Tom. He is one of the security guards in my building. His English is "in progress" and he's about 50 years old. The other day when I walked in, he gave me a great big smile and said, "OH!!! I haven't seen you in AGES!!!" It was pretty cute.
-I splurged and bought a $125 IKEA sofa bed this past weekend. Now I have more space to host my visitors (that could be you!!!)....
-Speaking of visitors, it's only 9 days until the Canadian fellows arrive in Hong Kong!!! I can't wait. It's quite surreal and I'm sure it will feel that way when I pick them up at the airport. Good times ahead- you know the first place we'll eat? Definitely the Imitated Dog Meat Shop. :)
-Last week I spent three days at Gr. 5/6 camp. It was a beautiful spot. Bamboo groves, banana trees and geckos!! Slightly different than good ol' Kenosee (Kenosee's got it beat by far). The meals were as gross as I have ever experienced. Let's just say Ellen and Laura were not in the kitchen. Other than not eating, it was a fun time. My first time counseling 20 Gr. 5 girls. :) I was acting out of my dimension by being the rescuer from all the unwelcomed creepy crawlies...as well as a plugged shower drain that flooded half the cabin. Good times....
-We have parent-teacher interviews on Thursday and Friday. I know it will be good, but I'm a bit anxious.
-Tonight in the gym I met a Hong Kong-born man who went to school at Campbell Collegiate in Regina. Weird.
-Hoofta. I'm tired. I'll sign off here. So long from Hong Kong....

Happy One Hour?!

Following a very satisfying Indian buffet meal last night, a friend and I did what all logically thinking people should do- go for a foot massage. There are little upstairs shops calling your name everywhere here. Literally- Harrrrmoooony!!! Come on up for a piece of heaven! How could I refuse?
This time a little lady gave us a "Happy One Hour" ad and coerced us upstairs. I did have a happy one hour practicing Mandarin and laughing a lot with my massage lady, but the massage was evil! I was writhing in pain most of the time. And the funny (?) part was that she was getting a great kick out of it. As she dug into my feet and I squealed, she looked at me with a big smile and said, "NO PAIN, NO GAIN!" I couldn't help but laugh and say, ooooookay then! No pain, no gain!!! They are all about the reflexology here, so apparently as she was digging a hole in the bottom of my foot she was fixing something in my liver. I don't really get it but hey, my liver appreciates it!

SO Good.

The boys in the tight pants, hippy shirts and funky/greasy? hair do's were in town tonight! I joined the masses in packing out an auditorium for a United Live show. It was awesome. I went on my own, and joined in with the Chinese, who belted out every song with all their might- offkey, broken English, it didn't matter. They were right fired up and I couldn't help but join the madness. The band was great, and it was so refreshing to be a part of such a spirit-filled time of praise. They pumped out the best of the best (but aren't they all the best?! I rarely find a song I don't enjoy). I was especially excited because they brought the lone gal along. I believe her name is Mia Fieldes. She's my favorite. It's too bad she only had one solo (Til I See You)- her voice is so beautiful! Salvation is Here and Take it All were rockin'. I'm glad I went. It was sweet encouragement for the spirit! I hope they make another stop in HK!

A picture of perseverance and community

This past weekend in Hong Kong, 4000 enduring and determined souls entered The Oxfam Trailwalker. It is an event hosted by Oxfam, a worldwide charitable organization fighting poverty around the globe. The race is held in major cities across the world.
The race is on a 100 km trail that runs through the Kowloon side of Hong Kong. That is something that is pretty great about Hong Kong. Despite the cosmopolitan/concrete glare of the city, only minutes away you can find yourself on a gorgeous hiking trail. 4 people to a team complete the race, and each team has a support team to help them along the way. Each team raises money in support of Oxfam.
One of my friends from school asked me to be a part of his support team for one of the checkpoints. It was a really neat experience. I met a bunch of random people, stuck together for a few hours for the sake of cheering on the team and supplying whatever they needed for their journey! We drove ahead of them and prepared Gatorade, Mountain Dew, bananas, salt tablets, pasta, changes of clothes, vaseline for blisters, etc. They stopped in for about 10 minutes, and off they went. They finished the race in 26 hours, starting at 9am the first morning and crossing the finish line at 11am the next day! Incredible!!! The fastest team in the race finished with a time of 12 hours. They have a support team that actually runs the race alongside of them, and they run almost the entire time. I can't even imagine their level of fitness, and the intensity of their determination! One of the girls I met on the support team finished The Trailwalker last year, and it took them 41 hours. They walked through 2 nights. What an accomplishment!
I am thankful for the refreshed picture of perseverance that Drew and his team gave me this weekend! And, the great image brought to life of togetherness- coming alongside brothers and sisters to cheer them on, give them a boost, a shot of energy and encouragement to just keep on keepin' on.
Some of you are dear members of my support team! I need you. Thanks for lifting me up and pushing me along on the race.
Press on!

The Nemesis

The last couple of weeks have been a blur. There are a few reasons for this, but the most significant being report card time. Here are my thoughts in regard to this:
Oh Report Cards
How I despise you so
You are
Annoying
Long
Grouchy
And I don't like you.
I'm glad you are
Gone
Gone
Gone
Ha! My brain is so fizzled that a misfit of words such as that was upchucked. Sorry about that.
Okay, I confess it's really not the fault of Report Cards. If you know me, you know my preference would be to....wait for it....and then wait a little longer...shoot a few hoops...drink some coffee....send an email...eat chocolate..take a nap....you got it- the word is procrastinate. It is my finest art form, really. Truthfully, I didn't procrastinate as much as usual. I'm making progress, as I'm pushed by being responsible for more than just myself. Shooooot!
Anyway, I'm finished, and that feels good. I'm short on sleep and looking forward to regaining clarity in the coming days! The dishes have been washed and laundry is on the go. Things are looking up! A refill of patience and energy will be needed as next week I will take on the role of camp counselor. Three days with 20 Grade 5 girls! Woooo! It's time for Grade 5/6 camp. I think it will be fun, but I know it's going to be tiring, too.
I've had super weekends lately. The last being a two day women's retreat hosted by my church. The speaker was so good. I was refreshed and challenged by her thoughts on the love of Jesus. And wow, was she ever funny. A treat to listen to for a weekend, that's for sure!
The weekend before that I was in Singapore. I have more to say about that, but in short, I laughed A LOT, soaked up time with a treasured friend from home and enjoyed a quick trip to a new place.
Anyway, there you have it. That's the life and times of Hong Kong Harm. I'd love to hear from you; I am missing you. Yes, YOU!
PS: Go Riders.

The Incredibles in Grade 5

Forget "body systems". Bring on THE INCREDIBLE HUMAN BODY!!!!
Want to go back to Grade 5? Ohhhh yeah. Goooood times!
"I praise you because I am fearfully and INCREDIBLY made. Your works are wonderful; I know this full well."
-Psalm 139:14

Singapore

Bouncing

Oh, I am so excited!!! I can't wait!!! In approximately 25 hours, Singapore with Sher 2006 begins!! Tomorrow after school, I'll head for the airport and catch a 3 hour flight to the isle of Singapore. One of my best buds, the one and only Sherri Kasper of Regina, Saskatchewan, is taking a bus from Kuala Lumpur to meet me in Singapore for a couple days. I arrive on Friday night and fly back to Hong Kong early Monday morning.
I've read a bit about Singapore (and I'll be careful to leave the Hubba Bubba at home) and I'm looking forward to enjoying a new place and a change of scenery for a couple of days, but the location is mostly irrelevant- it's all about the chats with a good friend from home. That cannot be beaten. I can't wait!!!!!

Praying with 10-year olds

We start everyday at our school with devotionals in each classroom. At the end of the devo, I ask the kids if they have things they would like to pray about, whether it's a thanks or a request, whatever. This little prayer time makes me smile everyday. Somehow 10 year olds make prayer a whole lot more simple, and that's helpful to me.
In Grade 5, we usually pray about birthday parties, our big brother's birthday party, and our second cousin's birthday party too, tiredness, sore knees, wrists and necks, that our cousins would have fun at Disneyland, bothersome mosquito bites, the Gr. 6's upcoming swim meet or practice, that it wouldn't rain, for our parents that are traveling a lot, basketball tryouts and for our band and spelling tests.
Prayer request time usually ends with the same student saying, and let's pray that we have a really good day!
Any birthday parties coming up soon that you would like prayer for?! Let us know!

It's Still 27 Degrees

What's your weather like in Canada these days?
It is 10:25PM, and the temperature is 27 degrees. Everyday, the temperature falls between 24-28 degrees, and the humidity hovers around 80-90%. I think that I must have adjusted because it doesn't feel that hot anymore. I am enjoying the fact that I have yet to put on a jacket in this place. Sweet!

Import Playground

Hong Kong plays host to a huge spectrum of people, thus the range of imported goods is quite fantastic. My fridge is having a multicultural party! I have South African juice, cookies from New Zealand, Aussie beef, and good ol' American Kraft Dinner, and my favorite, Corn Bran. Mmmm. Oh, and since I'm talking about foreign food, the other day the Aussie staff member treated me to Vegemite. That was the first and LAST time I will ever, ever eat that incredibly foul yuck. Sick! He thought it was funny; I was ready to hurl. However, I digress. Back to the imported food discussion. Yesterday I had a brilliant moment of national pride as I was strolling through the grocery store. The store has devoted the month of October to a "Canadian Food Festival". Ha. So they are selling those little bears with the honey inside, all kinds of maple products, other random things I've never cared to eat or pay that much for in Canada, and, wait for it...wait....this is the moment of national pride- bottles of Molson Canadian. Ha! I prefer the cute little honey bears. But wow, you can find anything in this place!

Pulling together...

I love tug-o-war pictures!
Here are my kids, giving it all they got in a spirited uphill battle against the Grade 6's!

Three Cheers for Banana Bread

Yeah! Banana bread is a bonding thing. I have banana bread to thank for the bond I have now have with my amazing, generally non-English speaking janitors at school. They rock. And they dig banana bread in a serious way. Bonded through banana bread, gotta love it.
And, in a most exciting turn of events, I have banana bread to thank for a second bonding experience! I have now officially, after 2 months of living directly next door, met my neighbours! Yaaah! I'm so excited! Here's what I did. I baked banana bread and then, made a bold, very bold, move. I opened my door, took one step and in a moment of brilliance, I knocked on their door. Then, I handed over the goods. Amazing. It was such a huge moment, no wonder it took me 2 MONTHS to do it! And again, banana bread comes through in the clutch. A family of 3, friendly as can be.
Going bananas in HK.....

There is a Hope So Sure

There is a hope so sure...
There is a life so true, a life of love so pure...
There is a life so strong...

And the life that I now live-
No longer is my own.
Jesus lives in me, the hope of glory!!
And each day I live-
No longer is my own.
Jesus lives in me, the the hope of glory!!

This week I'm finding such freedom in this song by Graham Kendrick. Okay, secretly, I could be found standing on my balcony singing at the top of my lungs via my ipod. I guess it's not a secret anymore!
But honestly, I find such joy, freedom and purpose in handing things over to Jesus. Hand it over and give it up for something so much better. I'm reminded that it's not about me, and how often I need that reminder.

Bad Air/Teacher Talk

Howdy from Hong Kong. Though my days at school are generally cheery, the pollution in this place is downright depressing! It's a bad sign when you wake up in the morning, look out the window and hope your heart out that you're looking at stormclouds. Alas, it's just a thick, dark smog. I read that the air pollution index in Mong Kok (a ten minute bus ride away) was 80 yesterday. That sounds bad, doesn't it?! Again, take an extra deep breath of Canadian air for me, okay?!
This week a director from Sask. Ed. is here to inspect, or basically just check on us here in Hong Kong. Being a new teacher, I am on the list to be inspected! I haven't been observed in the classroom for awhile- not since the days of my internship. As hard as I try to relax completely and just be myself, there is something a bit unnerving about being watched while you teach. Maybe once I'm a teaching vet, it won't phase me at all.
It always proves to be a valuable experience, though. Though it brings some anxiety, it reminds me of some good things. For one, it calls my teaching to greater integrity. If I teach differently when I'm being watched, something is likely off. It also reminds me again of how tempting it is to let someone else's approval become an idol. I wish it weren't so easy to give into allowing another human being to give me their stamp of approval so that I feel validated, or to give a boost to the ego. It's a good gut check to strive for a genuine and humble spirit, one that cares more about the kids I'm teaching than what someone else thinks of my teaching.
Anyway, I did have my observation today, and it was fine. Not out of this world, but it was okay. Next time I'll do something with a little more action. The dialogue that followed was helpful and constructive. So despite the touch of anxiety, I will book in a couple more observations with my administration. It's a great way to get better- and I want that!
Did I mention I'm coaching the Sr. Boy's Basketball team again this year? I'm coaching with another gal, Jill. We actually played against each other when I was at the U of R and she was at the U of S. Okay, so I watched her play against my team, but still....:) Ha ha. I think we'll have a lot of fun. That starts up this week so things will get a bit more busy.
And on a final sidenote, have I confessed my love for squash?! Not the vegetable. I can't imagine the fun in chasing a little ball around a court. Wow. It's tremendous! I had an exhilirating game this afternoon!

From The Corner of Pak Tai Street and Sung Wong Toi Road

The other night I was working out in the gym and I started to take in the view. The gym is on the second floor and it is open to the street corner, with big tall windows.

From the corner of Pak Tai Street and Sung Wong Toi Road, I can see an old man in his pj's and slippers. He's standing under the Dance Academy sign and swinging his arms back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. He is smoking a pipe and likes to stretch on the fire hydrant. He seems happy.
From the corner, I can see little Cantonese children in their school uniforms. They are clutching the hand of their domestic helper, usually a Phillipino woman. I wonder how long the parents work and I wonder about the Phillipino woman's family at home.
From the corner, I can see sleek looking professionals in suit jackets and shiny shoes, coming home late at night. It's too late for supper. They seem weary.
From the corner, I can see a weathered woman pushing a big cart with chestnuts in a wok, and sweet potatoes in a coal bin. She's trying to make it across the street. She's just trying to make it by.
From the corner, I can see mountains as a backdrop to the drama of the city. They must find this city an interesting storyline.
From the corner, I can see the hotel on the corner with the wanna-be Western restaurant, where many sightseers from the mainland come to stay. It has tacky plastic red roses on the tables. They bug me everytime I walk by.
From the corner, I can see red and green topped mini-buses, swerving ambitiously along the road, sprinting to keep up with the pace of the city. The cutely British looking red taxis tag along, too.
From the corner, I can see technicolor lights flashing and dancing against skinny highrises. The lights of the city never die.
From the corner, I can see the lasting flavors of a British colony- traffic skating on the left and English labels conveniently alongside the Chinese.
From the corner, I can see my little piece of Hong Kong.

Five Stars

Two new favorites. Highly recommended!
Most played songs so far-
From Tomlin's, How Can I Keep From Singing, Everlasting God, and Let Mercy Rain.
From Mayer's, The Heart of Life and Vultures.

Christmas Here, New Year's There

Christmas Here:


New Year's There:



My flights were confirmed today! Yippee! I am scheduled to arrive in Aizawl on Christmas Eve, and then Mom, Dad, Autumn and Andrew and I will spend a few days in Kathmandu, Nepal around New Year's. Exciting!!! I don't imagine we will make it up to the top of ol' Everest :), but we hope we might just catch a glimpse of the wonder!

I've got to include Lonely Planet's dreamy introduction to the country:

Draped along the spine of the Himalaya, Nepal is a land of sublime scenery, time-worn temples, and some of the best hiking trails on earth. It's a poor country, but it is rich in scenic splendour and cultural treasures. The kingdom has long exerted a pull on the Western imagination.
It's the kind of country that lingers in your dreams long after you leave it. This is why so many travellers are drawn back to Nepal, armed the second time round with a greater appreciation of its natural and cultural complexity, a stout pair of walking boots and a desire for sculpted calf muscles.

Thanks

There are no signs of Thanksgiving in my part of the world. Some blogs have commented on the fresh, crisp air, the color changing leaves and the turkey on the way. From my window, I anticipate the continued hot, sticky air, and I see green, leafy, full trees. Turkey? Probably not. Dim Sum? Of course! There are no signs of fall to be seen in Hong Kong. Maybe that's why I forgot that Canadian Thanksgiving was this weekend.
Regardless, earlier this week I was bombarded by a random flood of thankfulness, so I'm glad to share in the gridblog.
I was thinking about my siblings a lot this week. I love each one of you very much. I am so glad to be a part of my family, to be called a "sister". It is so great to have 3 big brothers, and a big sister that is like a best friend. What a sweet thing.
My heart aches for my nieces and nephews these days. I am so thankful for each one of them. Have you seen them?! They are one of the very, very best parts of my life. I regret, so much, that I am missing out on another 2 years of their little lives, but I'm so proud to be their Aunty, even if I'm really far away. (Tear, tear, tear) I love being an Aunty.
I'm thankful, too, for Mom and Dad and my Grandparents.
Why am I crying through my blog on thankfulness?! Gosh! Funny what happens when your heart starts settling in on your blessings. Mom, Dad- you are at the top of the list. You have been so good to me.
I am thankful to have a handful of friends that could be called family. Lifers!
I am thankful for the amazing women that have blessed my life many times over, like Barb and Laura.
I am thankful for great memories.
I am so thankful that I have a knee that works right, for the most part. It hasn't always been this way, and I rejoice in the fact that I can gleefully chase birdies and squash balls and tennis balls, play softball and football and basketball...
And oh, that brings me to sports. I am so thankful for sports. I love sports, I love softball, I love football, I love tennis. Soooo good.
I am really thankful to be a teacher. I am thankful to spend my days doing something that I enjoy and feel passionate about. I am thankful that I am surrounded by such a great community here at CAIS, and that I have many people to learn from and grow with here.
I am thankful to be called a child of God.
I am thankful to have the chance to live overseas and enjoy so much of the world.
I am thankful for the Word- it breathes life into me and gives me hope and direction.
I am thankful for music, in all its forms (minus Beijing Opera). It blesses me daily.
I think I will rest here, and try to rest in thankfulness this weekend. (I'm thankful for the weekend, too!)

The Sickest Cupcakes Ever

The sickest cupcakes ever are mooncakes. Don't eat them- the bean filled, or egg yoke filled, or yuck filled little muffins aren't worth the cultural experience. Resist!
Yesterday was the Midautumn Festival. The Festival is all about the moon. They say the moon is as close as its been in 9 years, and so we're excited about that. From what I understand, and I'm thinking something must have been lost in the tranlation, but the Midautumn Festival started because a very long time ago, an Emperor's wife overdosed on opium and flew to the moon. Or something like that. Something about the moon and a special drug.
Anyway, a couple friends and I decided to embrace both the tradition of the Festival, and the body-to-body crowds. The ultimate Hong Kong tradition- crowds! I honestly think there could have been over a million people in the area we were walking around. Ha! I'm working on a little movie depicting this blessed experience. I'll let you know about the release date on that one.
So, we joined the masses and watched the fire dragon dance. Actually, we enjoyed the head of the person in front of us more than the dragon, because that's all we could see. Until we were given a live video feed via the digital camera. We finally got a glimpse of the dragon and let out a hearty "waaaaa" in traditional Chinese fashion. The dragon was a really, really long skinny sort of snake looking thing made of twigs, and then it had thousands of incense sticks lit up all over its body, and especially its head and tail. It danced. It was quite the thing.
It made me laugh when I heard the sound of bagpipes coming from the parade. Haaaa!!! Seriously, full blown out bagpipes at the Chinese Dragon celebration. I didn't know Chinese people were into bagpipes- but then again, who ISN'T into bagpipes?! Funny, funny. So as a prelude to the fire dragon, our ears were graced by Amazing Grace.
Then we journeyed through the Carnival area, where our ears were beat on by Beijing Opera. It's not my favorite kind of music. There were lots of neat lanterns, and again, a lot of people.
There you have it, the best Midautumn Festival ever, and of course it was capped off by the Friday night tradition- foot massage. B-e-a-uuuuutiful!!!!!