Back to school

Almost one year later. Maybe this will be a yearly blog. Reading my last few entries was interesting.

I still have my Ricoh, but still haven't mastered all the manual functions.

Beijing - finally going there!!! My cousin and her family has moved there so I'll have a free place to crash. Going with my best bud, Coco. So excited about it. Will be taking my Ricoh with me as well. Bejing, here I finally come.

This summer has been very full indeed. Still processing and digesting everything. Yum...

Went back to Mongolia!!! More to come on that later on.

A new old job

Oh yes, and I neglected to say that I have a job! I'm working at my old job again. The English language centre for kids. In a nutshell, I worked there until I started school again, and when I was finished school, my boss was nice enough to offer me a job there. I feel really thankful for the chance to work there again, see my old students, and my colleagues!

So there's my work update.

Other news, I've bought myself a new toy, a camera! It's a Ricoh GX200 and I'm loving it so far. Lots of manual settings and functions, a step up from my Canon compact before. I'm still learning to make use of all the fancy functions.

Skip back to last week when Typhoon Hagupit hit. It was a little bit terrifying. Since I was on my own (parents were in Toronto), and I had forgotten to close my windows that morning. So let's start from the beginning. I didn't leave work until 6:20ish (typhoon 8 was hoisted at 6pm). Made my way home to Shatin where I usually catch the minibus home. No more minibuses! Hopped back on the train to Fo Tan to catch a cab. No cabs, long line! Hopped on a minibus. Unfortunately the minibus doesn't stop in front of my building, so I had to walk up the slope (about 3 min. walk). The place where I got off the bus had a huge tree branch strewn across the sidewalk. Had to walk onto the road to avoid that. On my way up, many tree branches had fallen down. Getting a little bit scared now. Lots of tree branches swinging crazily over my head. But I was too busy trying to hold on to my umbrella in my attempt to stay a bit dry. Made it back home. Time for damage control. The drapes in my brother and parent's rooms had been sucked out of the window and was flapping around in the wind. And man are they heavy when wet! Had to tug them back in, unhooked the drapes then set them out to hang. Wiped up all the water that had spilled in. Moved the heavy potted plants in from the balcony. Moved the clothing racks in. Made sure all the windows were closed. Swept up all the leaves that had blown in.

Settled down for some TV with my dinner. Suddenly a rain of shattered glass fell onto my balcony from the neighbours above. Wow. Saved that for another day to clean up. No way was I going to go out on the balcony in that wind. Snuggled down with Pig and continued to watch TV. The end.

Beijing Beijing

My plans for Beijing have fallen through once again. I was supposed to go with my cousin back in May but he couldn't get a visa due to the Olympics. This time around, had a long weekend so decided to go with my colleague to Beijing. We were getting really excited about the trip and planning for it. We even thought we had tickets. But turns out it was only waiting list. The package we wanted was all sold out. We didn't want to pay too much for 3 days in Beijing so once again, no Beijing.

It's like the more I don't get to go, the more I want to go!

Hopefully the next time around, the third time's the charm!

So now I'm focusing my thoughts on Christmas holidays. Destination keeps changing from week to week. Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Egypt, India....too many decisions to make! More to come on that.

9 months

Not bad, it's been only 9 months this time!

In my last post, I was starting school, and now I'm finished school. I survived my 2 month practicum at a local secondary school teaching form 2 students (gr. 8 for you Canadians). It was tough and challenging yet I really did learn a lot. All the blood and sweat made it all the more memorable.

I actually still have 3 more assignments before the month is up. So why am I here? Doing my favourite thing, procrastinating. I'm really good at it. Somewhat of a pro actually. But honestly, I've really enjoyed being back in school.

My motivation to finish is a trip to Beijing. Still not 100% sure if I'm going, we'll see how I do on those assignments. My cousin's in town from Toronto, and is looking for someone to go with him to Beijing. And since I've never been.... My brother is also back for the summer, my aunt is here visiting too. My grandma and another aunt will be arriving in the next few weeks. More Canadians to add to the growing population in HK!

Technically, I should be job hunting. I was supposed to start somewhere, oh, about 2 months ago. I really need to send out those resumes. Lacking in motivation at the moment. And as usual, I don't really know what I want. So I'm going to apply for everything and anything.

Who knows, maybe the next time I post, I'll have worked at some school for 2 years already! Here's hoping not and I'll be back soon.

Please drop me a message so I can know if anybody is still reading this:)

Back to School

Wow, it's been four months since my last blurb. It's been a busy yet relaxing summer. Many people came to visit HK:) Cousins and friends from Canada. It was great seeing them again. Made me feel like I was back in Toronto. So yea, for the rest of you who haven't visited me yet, there's always room for you to stay! Even if it's only a mattress on the floor. Very cozy:)

I'm heading into the last week of work before I start school at HKU. Don't really feel any excitement yet. Maybe it'll feel more real after I get my student card today and pay my second installment of tuition. Back to the life of a $-challenged student. It'll be fun:) At least I'll get all those student discounts again.

Here's hoping my next update won't be four months later!

Movie Review and Random Rant

Memories of Tomorrow aka Ashita no Kioku starring Ken Watanabe. Watch it. Amazing performances. Make sure you have tissue on hand. In a nutshell, Ken, a salaryman with a family gets early onset Alzheimer's. I just couldn't help thinking what if that was me, or my parents, or someone I loved. Even when I think about it now, I get a bit teary-eyed. Don't get me wrong, it's not just one huge sob story, but its also about loyalty, family, and cherishing life's every moment. The hero of the film is actually the wife, played by Kanako Higuchi. My words do it no justice, just see it.

Totally unrelated. There's something I'm dying to find out. I have my suspicions and I've been trying to piece it all together. But all I can do is guess. Maybe I should be warned by "curiosity killed the cat". It's just bugging me though, not knowing. It has nothing at all to do with me though. But I still want to know. THUD. I just passed out from the suspense of not knowing.

Home Sweet Home

A year and a half later, Pig is finally back at my side. And in my closet.

I think the flight tired him out alot. Heck, I'm tired from picking him up this morning from the airport. It's times like these that I really miss having a car! 15lb cat plus in a huge cage is pretty hard to carry, especially on a moving bus! After spending 2 hours in the cargo building, get this and that stamped, I finally made it out of customs with Pig:) Call me crazy, but I think Pig recognizes his momma! I think I'll join Pig in a catnap now, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Finish line

Only by God's grace that I finished this 10k run. No jokes. I didn't train at all this year. I was actually really dreading running today. But I had an awesome time running today. Lots of friends also joined this year. So it was nice to be able to start out with a bunch of buddies. Although that lasted only 2 minutes. I hung back with my mum. That's really why I do this every year. Not because I love to run (not even like), but I love to run WITH my mum. It's just fun egging each other on or pointing at "interesting" people and laughing. We saw a dad with a baby strapped to his back! Poor baby, up and down, up and down for 1 1/2 hours! The air was much better today compared to last year. I didn't feel like I was choking on car exhaust this year. And yet again, we were NOT the last ones!! YAY:)

Definitely will do it again next year. Maybe do the half marathon (22k) next year? That's what I said last year though.