Weekend update

I was sort of nervous going into this week. Mike started work on Monday, and I would be at home with both girls. I don't have a car, or any friends to call up for a playdate. And getting around is a little tricky on my own with both girls managing the stroller. But somehow we survived, and we did just fine. The week actually went by really fast. I took the taxi to Ikea one day (it's about a five dollar trip- not bad!), and bought picture frames so we could put up pictures. And I did attempt to take the girls on the bus on my own to a nearby mall. It was chaotic getting on with both of them, scanning our bus cards, and hauling our collapsed stroller onto the bus. As if I don't stand out enough! But again we managed. I think it will be easier to get around once Annie starts school and I'm down to just one child. I look forward to establishing a bit of a routine once that happens. But for now, I'm going to enjoy my final week with Annie at home!

Mike had his first week of school, and it has just been PD training and time to prep. I can't believe all the training they've been getting for things like classroom management. I think back to his very first year of teaching at Hardisty how he just basically walked in had had to start teaching. How valuable would all of this have been back then?! I am encouraged that he has been coming home very optimistic and feeling like this school will be a good fit for him. His students don't start until Wednesday, so he has two more days to prepare. The kindergarten program doesn't start until a week from tomorrow.

This weekend was our first time finally socializing with people! On Friday, we were invited to the home of the librarian and his family of wife and five (!) children. He intentionally invited new teachers who have children so that the kids will see some familiar faces when they start school. They were very kind and it was good to meet people from the school. After supper, we headed to a public pool very close to their apartment to go swimming with all the kids. Our girls enjoyed that. They live in the New Territories, and another family that had been invited offered to give us a ride since they have a car. It was interesting to get to see a bit more of Hong Kong that's further out from where we are. We are surprised that some teachers are willing to travel a fair distance to get to school. We can't help but always compare our time here with our year in Korea. One thing we've noticed is that many of the teachers here have been here for at least five years, and are a lot more permanent. Maybe that's across the board with international schools, but in English teachers in Korea were so much more transient in comparison, it seems. Anyway, we enjoyed our evening- the librarian is from the States, and they had a real "southern hospitality" sense about them!

On Saturday night we went out for supper with the couple (and their 2 year old boy) who had let us use their apartment until we found our own. We wanted to thank them- they've been so helpful. They're names are M and S... just like us! Well, not actually Mike and Sarah, but same initials. They have been in Hong Kong for a while and I just find so interesting to meet teachers and hear about how they ended up here. S is Mike's "partner teacher" as she is the other grade 6 teacher at the school. They both seem really easy to get to know, and I hope we can be friends with them.

And then today we went to church for our first time... even though it's been our third Sunday now in Hong Kong. It's crazy to think of where things were at last week, and then the week before that. Last week we were still without internet, and the week before we were still completely jetlagged and not living in our own place. We went to a church called The Vine with a group of teachers. It is a fairly short bus ride from where we live, but is located on the island in Wanchai. The service was fine... it's a pretty big congregation, and probably comparable to WECA in Edmonton. The girls each were willing to go to their children's program, and seemed to enjoy it, or at least tolerate it. I think our plan will be to check out one or two more, and then maybe see which church the girls are the most comfortable with. I'm sure we'll meet people regardless of where we go. I liked it that this one was pretty close and easy to get to. After, we went to a "pizza by the slice" place with the group we had gone to church with- YUM! huge slices, and totally Western style. I met another mom who used to teach at the school, but is now at home with her daughter, while her husband still teaches at the school. She invited me to a mom's group that will be reconvening in September.

So it was a good "social" weekend. We are really feeling like the worst is behind us and are feeling so optimistic at this point that we will like it here. Last night after M and S headed home from the restaurant, we let the girls play for a while at a playground that was close to where we'd eaten. I watched them play amidst the Hong Kong children, and felt amazed that we are finally here, fulfilling a dream that we've had for so long! It's an incredible opportunity, and I'm curious to see what lies ahead!