Well this week is certainly a "week of weeks" for Team Matvey. Tomorrow morning Katy and I go and sign the permanent apartment lease, we start a new temporary nanny and I go away for a week (more to come on that.)
Our lease for our "permanent" apartment starts tomorrow. We paid the fee to have our sea shipment stored for a couple days until the delivery on Friday. Then Saturday Katy and I get the place ready while Maggie and Nicholas stay at Parkview with the nanny. Hopefully we spend our first night in the new apartment Saturday March 5. We all can't wait. Oh that's not all....
Maggie's school is having a sports day on Thursday where the kids have a special day of team activities. Also the Canadian School has decided to give Maggie her evaluation this week as well.
To top it off, I will be away. I will be flying to Tokyo on Monday afternoon then on Wednesday off to Beijing for the week and come back on Friday night. A detailed work trip to visit our corporate operations sites. It's a great opportunity at the exact wrong time for our family. Katy and I talked long about it and decided it was a trip I should not miss. I have been packing tonight. I leave for the airport from the lease signing. Please note, since I am the "trailing spouse" I actually don't get to sign anything. the entire thing is under Katy's name.....so I better watch my Ps and Qs or I'll be renting a cot in some fishing junk off Hong Kong Island!
So best to get some rest.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Day 39: Let's Go out For Pizza
If you have been following, I still have a craving for a pizza. A good old fashioned Italian American pizza. Not the kind you get in Sicily but the USA. Katy thought her growing network finds that a place called "Pizza Express" has the ticket. Great. Can't wait. Katy, Maggie, Nicholas and I hop in a Taxi and head down one of 2 locations near us.
Did I mention it's raining?
The taxi drops us off right outside the first location. It's about a 2o table restaurant which seems to be letting out a birthday party. "Yes we are closed for a party until 6:30."
Did I mention it's 5:50PM.
In the rain under 2 small umbrellas, we weigh our options 1. Head for the other location. 2. wander around the area we are in. Now #2 is perfectly fun if a) it wasn't raining and b)Katy and I could go back in time machine 6 years ago when we didn't have 2 small children growing hungry by the minute. We decide on #1.
We get into another taxi and head to the second location.
Did I mention we are not quite sure where the the second location is?
We get to the main area and find a marquee with, thank God, Pizza Express on it. It's on Star Street. Great. Uh where's Star Street, oh right in front of us. Good. Ok, right or left. Left seems better.
After some wandering we find the restaurant. Great. Another birthday party wrapping up. "Can you come back at 7:30?" Well let's see, 2 small wet hungry children. I am thinking no, no we cannot come back at f--kin 7:30pm. I am tired and wet and have 2 hungry kids and will give you a 50 dollar, yes US Dollar bill for a bread stick. That's not what comes out. What comes out is "never mind." Now I am hungry and getting testy.
We remember a nice American style restaurant is near a mall we are now close to. Let's walk there. We get there. "Do you have a reservation?" No. "Well we can seat you but you have to leave by 7:30." This is real common here in HK. No reservation, well then you have to leave by so and so.
We sit down and have dinner and all's well that ends well. Maggie and Nicholas just went with it. I love our kids. Soooooo lessons learned:
1. Always call ahead and make a reservation for everything.
2. Pizza Express is a prime location for kids birthday parties
3. Taxis are NO problem in the rain in Hong Kong (Thank God.)
Did I mention it's raining?
The taxi drops us off right outside the first location. It's about a 2o table restaurant which seems to be letting out a birthday party. "Yes we are closed for a party until 6:30."
Did I mention it's 5:50PM.
In the rain under 2 small umbrellas, we weigh our options 1. Head for the other location. 2. wander around the area we are in. Now #2 is perfectly fun if a) it wasn't raining and b)Katy and I could go back in time machine 6 years ago when we didn't have 2 small children growing hungry by the minute. We decide on #1.
We get into another taxi and head to the second location.
Did I mention we are not quite sure where the the second location is?
We get to the main area and find a marquee with, thank God, Pizza Express on it. It's on Star Street. Great. Uh where's Star Street, oh right in front of us. Good. Ok, right or left. Left seems better.
After some wandering we find the restaurant. Great. Another birthday party wrapping up. "Can you come back at 7:30?" Well let's see, 2 small wet hungry children. I am thinking no, no we cannot come back at f--kin 7:30pm. I am tired and wet and have 2 hungry kids and will give you a 50 dollar, yes US Dollar bill for a bread stick. That's not what comes out. What comes out is "never mind." Now I am hungry and getting testy.
We remember a nice American style restaurant is near a mall we are now close to. Let's walk there. We get there. "Do you have a reservation?" No. "Well we can seat you but you have to leave by 7:30." This is real common here in HK. No reservation, well then you have to leave by so and so.
We sit down and have dinner and all's well that ends well. Maggie and Nicholas just went with it. I love our kids. Soooooo lessons learned:
1. Always call ahead and make a reservation for everything.
2. Pizza Express is a prime location for kids birthday parties
3. Taxis are NO problem in the rain in Hong Kong (Thank God.)
Tao Moment: Having a bad day
Here in Hong Kong you have a "Tao Moment" I think because Zen is Japanese. Having a bad day. So on the off chance I do have a bad day here is how I think about it: I am having a bad day, but I am having a bad day IN HONG KONG. How bad can that be?
Saturday, February 12, 2011
One Month in Hong Kong
It's hard to believe that one month has passed since we moved into the temp apartment. From the little things to the big things, we are slowly checking off the to list from finding a nice pediatrian for the kids to a cable package for the permanent apartment.
One funny little thing story. I have to start my saying there are 2 ways to look at living as an expat: eitehr everything is an adventure or everything is a pain. It's the general theme that defines your stay here. We see it as an adventure. When I say everthing, I mean everything.
I have seen a Pizza Hut delivery cycle outside the condo complex. So one day I think let's order pizza. There is an online ordering service. Great. How hard can this be. Well. every pizza online to order is shall we say unusual. My favorite is a pizza with thousand island sauce, crab sticks tuna and I think fruit. All I want is a pepperoni pizza. after spending a lot of time searching the site I give up. I end up picking up a very expensive imported frozen pizza from the store.
But there is also a very important lesson here. Afterward, after reaching out to my co workers and nanny about it, they tell me about several pizza joints that deliver. The more people you connect with and befriend, the larger your network here is and the greater information you have available to you about where to buy a pizza, or kids toys, or doctors, or books, or the side streets of Wan Chai where you should really should go to buy electronics.
Thus the adventure continues.
One funny little thing story. I have to start my saying there are 2 ways to look at living as an expat: eitehr everything is an adventure or everything is a pain. It's the general theme that defines your stay here. We see it as an adventure. When I say everthing, I mean everything.
I have seen a Pizza Hut delivery cycle outside the condo complex. So one day I think let's order pizza. There is an online ordering service. Great. How hard can this be. Well. every pizza online to order is shall we say unusual. My favorite is a pizza with thousand island sauce, crab sticks tuna and I think fruit. All I want is a pepperoni pizza. after spending a lot of time searching the site I give up. I end up picking up a very expensive imported frozen pizza from the store.
But there is also a very important lesson here. Afterward, after reaching out to my co workers and nanny about it, they tell me about several pizza joints that deliver. The more people you connect with and befriend, the larger your network here is and the greater information you have available to you about where to buy a pizza, or kids toys, or doctors, or books, or the side streets of Wan Chai where you should really should go to buy electronics.
Thus the adventure continues.
Fitness During our Move and in Hong Kong
As many of you know, I try 1. to run for exercise, 2. eat right and 3. get rest as much as we can. So during the move, how well did I do? On all three, not so good. By my estimate, this entire move costs about 6 to 8 pounds...and that is trying to keep a eye on all 3.
So when we got here, we were excited that the temp apartment in this condo complex has running trails around the island park. Did I mention that the complex is actually at the top of one of these mountains? More later.
I was so excited to finally get out on the road for run. I got out there very happy with waking up early, ready to restart the program. I start down hill and down hill and down hill....
The slopes are, no kidding 40% to 70% grades up and down for large stretches of the trail. I think it has to level out right? It does 1 mile down at the dam for about 1/4 mile, then starts up again. Basically I head out on this elite hill profile, proud of myself and feeling great and get my ass kicked. The first thing I think is, "Great my fitness has gotten so bad I can't even run a hill." But then remember, that as I am trying to get your fitness back on track I am living within a monster hill profile....great. Half way up a no kidding 70% incline I stop and start walking. Buzz Kill.
The complex has a very nice gym, so call me "treadmill Davey."
So when we got here, we were excited that the temp apartment in this condo complex has running trails around the island park. Did I mention that the complex is actually at the top of one of these mountains? More later.
I was so excited to finally get out on the road for run. I got out there very happy with waking up early, ready to restart the program. I start down hill and down hill and down hill....
The slopes are, no kidding 40% to 70% grades up and down for large stretches of the trail. I think it has to level out right? It does 1 mile down at the dam for about 1/4 mile, then starts up again. Basically I head out on this elite hill profile, proud of myself and feeling great and get my ass kicked. The first thing I think is, "Great my fitness has gotten so bad I can't even run a hill." But then remember, that as I am trying to get your fitness back on track I am living within a monster hill profile....great. Half way up a no kidding 70% incline I stop and start walking. Buzz Kill.
The complex has a very nice gym, so call me "treadmill Davey."
Day 29: Enter the Dragon...and Lion...to Work
One of the more well known symbols of Chinese New Year is the Lion and Dragon dancers. Whether in the street during a parade or on a float, the Lion and Dragon means "Chinese New Year." Well being in Hong Kong these take on a whole new and very serious meaning. Thus I learned at work on Monday.
I came into work a normal Monday morning with a list of things to do. My secretary came by and said, "The Lion Dancers are coming by today from 2:30 to 4, but don't worry I ordered you the lettuce." "Oh, great, thank you," I said back having absolutely no clue what she meant.
"You have some red packets on you right?" she asks. I actually do have a small stash for Chinese new year emergencies. (Please refer to older posts.) Yet have no idea why I need them.
The morning went on quietly, clearly many associates were excited about this. The about 11 or so, a series of building workmen started hanging heads of lettuce in all the offices and certain cubicles. Slowly they worked around the floor till they got to my space. I am in the middle of moving cubicles and rearranging the layout. This caused a LARGE set of worry and concern. Where should they hang the lettuce? In the current space or the new space? After some discussion, my secretary chose the new space, since that is where you will spend 2011. I didn't have the heart to mention that my boss said don't get too comfortable as the Bank is restacking the floor and we will probably move. Oh well, I hope luck travels.
Then the red packets come into play. You need 2 to hang with the head of lettuce.
I should stop and give some very important facts about all this care of my new internet site for Chinese Wo Jing Martial Arts and I qoute,
I came into work a normal Monday morning with a list of things to do. My secretary came by and said, "The Lion Dancers are coming by today from 2:30 to 4, but don't worry I ordered you the lettuce." "Oh, great, thank you," I said back having absolutely no clue what she meant.
"You have some red packets on you right?" she asks. I actually do have a small stash for Chinese new year emergencies. (Please refer to older posts.) Yet have no idea why I need them.
The morning went on quietly, clearly many associates were excited about this. The about 11 or so, a series of building workmen started hanging heads of lettuce in all the offices and certain cubicles. Slowly they worked around the floor till they got to my space. I am in the middle of moving cubicles and rearranging the layout. This caused a LARGE set of worry and concern. Where should they hang the lettuce? In the current space or the new space? After some discussion, my secretary chose the new space, since that is where you will spend 2011. I didn't have the heart to mention that my boss said don't get too comfortable as the Bank is restacking the floor and we will probably move. Oh well, I hope luck travels.
Then the red packets come into play. You need 2 to hang with the head of lettuce.
I should stop and give some very important facts about all this care of my new internet site for Chinese Wo Jing Martial Arts and I qoute,
"The legend says "Nian" (pronounced Neen) who was a fierce monster, especially liked kidnapping children. He terrorized villages year after year. Finally, one year, a lion defeated and chased the monster away. “Nian” vowed to return next year. This time the villagers did not have a lion to protect themselves. So, they solved the problem by creating a costume likeness of a lion and two villagers used it to scare “Nian” away. This is the reason the lion dance is performed every Chinese New Year.
The legend also says that loud noises from the drum, other instruments, and firecrackers helped scare the “Nian” away. Red is worn during the New Years celebration because it was also believed that the “Nian“, was afraid of the colour red. The word "Nian," thought the yearly ceremony, has become the Chinese word for year."
As much as the Lion embodies all these forces and powers, the Lion is still a wild animal and must be tamed, disciplined and dedicated to help man utilize the yang element (cycle of life mentioned before). One method to achieve this was to find a way to communicate with the spirit world and to influence the workings of these forces of nature for one's benefit.
To achieve this, the Lion must be “awakened” in a ceremony. By this ceremony, the Gods and the Deities are asked to look favourably to grant and bestow spiritual life to the Lion. The Lion is now called hsing-shih (pronounced Sing See) or “awakened Lion”. The Lion now becomes, neither God nor Deity, but agent assigned by Heaven to bestow blessings of wealth and happiness to the community and to dispel evil forces and pestilence.
Other elements of the Lion dance include paying respects via bows to the audience, leading party, deity location (Sun Wei) or location of prosperity (i.e. Cash register, doorway to a business). When more than one Lion appears, elements include playing (i.e. tail chases), fighting (i.e. head bites), grooming, scratching and horseplay.
The Lion will then proceed to the eating element. Lettuce is usually used, and when eaten symbolizes the appeasement of the Lion and, in turn, the Lion will bestow good fortune to the provider. When the Lion spits out the Lettuce, it represents “Fat Choi” (as in Gung Hey Fat Choy), or spreading the greens, spreading the prosperity. Sometimes, the Lion will also be fed scrolls with lucky sayings when lettuce is inappropriate." End Quote
To achieve this, the Lion must be “awakened” in a ceremony. By this ceremony, the Gods and the Deities are asked to look favourably to grant and bestow spiritual life to the Lion. The Lion is now called hsing-shih (pronounced Sing See) or “awakened Lion”. The Lion now becomes, neither God nor Deity, but agent assigned by Heaven to bestow blessings of wealth and happiness to the community and to dispel evil forces and pestilence.
Other elements of the Lion dance include paying respects via bows to the audience, leading party, deity location (Sun Wei) or location of prosperity (i.e. Cash register, doorway to a business). When more than one Lion appears, elements include playing (i.e. tail chases), fighting (i.e. head bites), grooming, scratching and horseplay.
The Lion will then proceed to the eating element. Lettuce is usually used, and when eaten symbolizes the appeasement of the Lion and, in turn, the Lion will bestow good fortune to the provider. When the Lion spits out the Lettuce, it represents “Fat Choi” (as in Gung Hey Fat Choy), or spreading the greens, spreading the prosperity. Sometimes, the Lion will also be fed scrolls with lucky sayings when lettuce is inappropriate." End Quote
So you can see this is serious stuff and I have only been here 3 weeks! The actual ceremony starts in the lobby with a very ornate dragon dance and multiple lions dancing in front of the building executive staff. This lasted about an hour. Then the loins proceeded to each floor, that funded this, for the individual ceremonies.
I started to get very anxious. Then they arrived on 42: one lion, a drum and several cymbal players. Greta they are starting on the other side of the floor. I decided to watch and try and get some on the job training. Once they made it to my boss, my secretary noticed my concern and said, "don't worry I will help you." Thank God for the lifeline.
So the lettuce is hanging above your desk, you put out several red packets of money around it to "attract" the lion over. So imagine, there you are: you and the Lion dancers backed up by the loudest drums and cymbals you have heard. In between you is the hanging lettuce. The Lion did a stylized dance then jumped up and ate the lettuce. OK, pay attention, this is the really important part. The Lion tears up the head of lettuce ad then spits some back out at you and all over the office space. You are supposed to catch some to lock in your luck and prosperity for the year.
I caught some. International incident averted. The Lion takes a picture with you and the ceremony ends. Congratulations from the locals on a job well done. Some actually leave pieces of lettuce around there work space through the year sprinkled across their trading screens.
I cannot capture the essence of Hong Kong better than this. This American blond haired guy of Russian and Slovak ancestry welcomed into a very Chinese ceremony because while so many things are different, Hong Kong is at the core a city and a people bound together by commerce, business and free market and wrapped tight with a strong commitment to tradition and family. Hong Kong if you look close enough is like the ceremony modern yet mystical, serious yet fun, foreign yet very familiar.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Days 24 to 26: Fun During Chinese New Year Holiday
When you have several days off and no school and you are in a service apartment, you can A) Not plan anything and hope the kids (and you) wont go stir crazy or B) plan some trips. We decided to plan some trips and things to do. Trust us, Plan A never ends well. There is a lot of crying and losing of tickets.
For pics see my Facebook page at:
http://www.facebook.com/david.matvey
Thursday New Years Day.
We decided to spend the day at the Parkview (Our temp apartment complex). They had a great but long Lion Dance we decided to watch before having a Traditional Chinese Lunch Buffet at the Parkview Restaurant. I say "long" because the Lion dance is part performance and part very serious ceremony to bless or rid the complex of bad luck. It is seen much in the same way that Russian Orthodox view a Priest blessing a home with holy water. So that means that the lion had to go to every office, every floor, every part of the complex. It ended with an impressive performance at the front with the executive staff. The ceremony which was to only last to 12:30 did not end till 1:45. Lunch was late.
Maggie was quite concerned about a traditional Chinese lunch. Well it was very varied. There was a fried shrimp ball both she and Nicholas loved. It was more of a Asian lunch with offerings from all over Asia. Maggie learned that yes she can find something to like to eat in China.
By the time we got back to the apartment everyone was tired. So we decided to skip the parade at night. Again a great temptation is to go and see a lot and do a lot. Our recommendation is resist it. Nothing ends well with 2 tired kids.
Thursday Night: Damn you Mickey Mouse.
Friday we decided to take Maggie and Nicholas to Hong Kong Disneyland. Little did we know how exciting with would be for a 4 1/2 year old. I think Maggie came into our room at least 7 times that night, "Mamma I can;t sleep," "Dadda I need to go to the bathroom." I have heard about this illness that affects children. "The I am so excited to go to Disney in the morning I can't sleep" syndrome. Well needless to say Momma and Dadda got no sleep, so it's off to Disney!
Friday: A Great Day at Disneyland
We headed out an hour late because of the above. The subway MTR takes you directly to a special Disney train that drops you off at the entrance. This is truly a Disney we can get on board with. It is small yet has all the things our kids want to see: Princesses, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, rides, main street and the parade. The staff was extremely friendly and especially nice to the kids. It is a perfect day trip that doesn't wear you out.
We got there around 10am. The crowds were just forming so we were able to get around and ride some rides before the lines got too long. We ate lunch and stayed for the parade. Afterward about 4 hours later we left. Maggie was on Cloud 9 throughout the day. Every phrase was an exclamation. I think we won the "Best Parents of the Year" Award.
Saturday: Day at the apartment
Now considering what I said above, you may be thinking, "What? are they crazy?" Because we were interviewing a helper, we stayed home during the morning. We actually found a helper we liked and made her an offer. While she can't start till late March, she was great. Older, experienced. Afterward we went into the city to buy a dehumidifier. NOTE: Buy the western brands because you are assured instructions are in Chinese and English!
Now is about when the Plan A backlash kicked in. Maggie started to get stir crazy, so Katy decided that we should go on a hike down to a lake. The Parkview is located within a great park. Maggie spent the first part of the trip working out her stir craziness and lamenting how miserable she is in her lot in life. It took about 20 minutes, then she popped back, looked around at the 70 degree blue sky day and started acting normal again. We came back and had a nice evening.
Sunday: Do these people ever rest?
Ah....no. We met up with some new friends Anna and Allister (parents of Maggie's schoolmate Alexander). They were headed to Ocean Park on Sunday and invited us along. Now Ocean Park is half Sea World, half zoo and half amusement park. They have a great panda habitat and a really impression aquarium. They also have a kids amusement park area. We had a long but fun day.
Ocean Park has a cable car that goes over the top of the mountain it located near to an even bigger older kid/adult rides park. We did not get there today. It was very crowded.
It was interesting to Katy and I that while Maggie had fun, she had almost a knee jerk excitement at Disney that was lacking at Ocean Park.
And what of Nicholas. He was a his usual smile and make friends with whoever came by. My own "grip and grin" guy. I recall one point when Maggie was still melting down on our hike, Nicholas looked over at me and gave me this "it's a beautiful day and you are offering her a piggy back ride. I dont get it" look.
So that was our holiday. It may seem hectic, but the thing is Disney and Ocean Park are so close that while it is a day trip, it really doesn't wear on you like a day trip should.
For pics see my Facebook page at:
http://www.facebook.com/david.matvey
Thursday New Years Day.
We decided to spend the day at the Parkview (Our temp apartment complex). They had a great but long Lion Dance we decided to watch before having a Traditional Chinese Lunch Buffet at the Parkview Restaurant. I say "long" because the Lion dance is part performance and part very serious ceremony to bless or rid the complex of bad luck. It is seen much in the same way that Russian Orthodox view a Priest blessing a home with holy water. So that means that the lion had to go to every office, every floor, every part of the complex. It ended with an impressive performance at the front with the executive staff. The ceremony which was to only last to 12:30 did not end till 1:45. Lunch was late.
Maggie was quite concerned about a traditional Chinese lunch. Well it was very varied. There was a fried shrimp ball both she and Nicholas loved. It was more of a Asian lunch with offerings from all over Asia. Maggie learned that yes she can find something to like to eat in China.
By the time we got back to the apartment everyone was tired. So we decided to skip the parade at night. Again a great temptation is to go and see a lot and do a lot. Our recommendation is resist it. Nothing ends well with 2 tired kids.
Thursday Night: Damn you Mickey Mouse.
Friday we decided to take Maggie and Nicholas to Hong Kong Disneyland. Little did we know how exciting with would be for a 4 1/2 year old. I think Maggie came into our room at least 7 times that night, "Mamma I can;t sleep," "Dadda I need to go to the bathroom." I have heard about this illness that affects children. "The I am so excited to go to Disney in the morning I can't sleep" syndrome. Well needless to say Momma and Dadda got no sleep, so it's off to Disney!
Friday: A Great Day at Disneyland
We headed out an hour late because of the above. The subway MTR takes you directly to a special Disney train that drops you off at the entrance. This is truly a Disney we can get on board with. It is small yet has all the things our kids want to see: Princesses, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, rides, main street and the parade. The staff was extremely friendly and especially nice to the kids. It is a perfect day trip that doesn't wear you out.
We got there around 10am. The crowds were just forming so we were able to get around and ride some rides before the lines got too long. We ate lunch and stayed for the parade. Afterward about 4 hours later we left. Maggie was on Cloud 9 throughout the day. Every phrase was an exclamation. I think we won the "Best Parents of the Year" Award.
Saturday: Day at the apartment
Now considering what I said above, you may be thinking, "What? are they crazy?" Because we were interviewing a helper, we stayed home during the morning. We actually found a helper we liked and made her an offer. While she can't start till late March, she was great. Older, experienced. Afterward we went into the city to buy a dehumidifier. NOTE: Buy the western brands because you are assured instructions are in Chinese and English!
Now is about when the Plan A backlash kicked in. Maggie started to get stir crazy, so Katy decided that we should go on a hike down to a lake. The Parkview is located within a great park. Maggie spent the first part of the trip working out her stir craziness and lamenting how miserable she is in her lot in life. It took about 20 minutes, then she popped back, looked around at the 70 degree blue sky day and started acting normal again. We came back and had a nice evening.
Sunday: Do these people ever rest?
Ah....no. We met up with some new friends Anna and Allister (parents of Maggie's schoolmate Alexander). They were headed to Ocean Park on Sunday and invited us along. Now Ocean Park is half Sea World, half zoo and half amusement park. They have a great panda habitat and a really impression aquarium. They also have a kids amusement park area. We had a long but fun day.
Ocean Park has a cable car that goes over the top of the mountain it located near to an even bigger older kid/adult rides park. We did not get there today. It was very crowded.
It was interesting to Katy and I that while Maggie had fun, she had almost a knee jerk excitement at Disney that was lacking at Ocean Park.
And what of Nicholas. He was a his usual smile and make friends with whoever came by. My own "grip and grin" guy. I recall one point when Maggie was still melting down on our hike, Nicholas looked over at me and gave me this "it's a beautiful day and you are offering her a piggy back ride. I dont get it" look.
So that was our holiday. It may seem hectic, but the thing is Disney and Ocean Park are so close that while it is a day trip, it really doesn't wear on you like a day trip should.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Day 22: Crazy on Crazy...but fun was had by all
Today is New Years Eve. A big pre holiday here in Asia. Lunar New Year is kind of what would happen if you mixed Thanksgiving with New Years Day, a folk festival and any family oriented religous holiday of your choice. How crazy is Team Matvey?
Well there is a New Years Fair at Victoria Park. So I decided it would be a fun adventure to go with Nicholas and Maggie. Fun yes. Crazy yes. Now if you can imagine a NewYork Summer Street fair but 4 times the amount people and add and subtract an ebedding and flowing variable group of 1000 people, you come close to how many people were there.
So it was Nicholas in the stroller, Maggie tightly behind the stroller and in front of me and me at the end pushing my way through this mass of people, apparently stopping and creating huge bottlenecks at every stand that seemed to be giving away free stuff. Maggie "arms in arms in Daddy" Matvey did great. She got a festive pinwheel and we picked up flowers.
Where the whole system started to fall apart was meeting up with Katy which meant traveling away from the Fair stroller and 2 kids in hand against this mass of people headed to the Fair. Then trying to navigate the subway, again against the mass of people headed to the fair. (Did I mention this was the last night of the Fair.) We ended up in Wan Chai, our new neighborhood for dinner at Fat Angelo's: an Italian restaurant which as it was empty since the tradition is to have dinner with your family on Chinese New Year Eve conjuered up a funny thought: so if in the US non christians go to Chinese restaurants on Christmas Day for dinner, do Americans in Hong Kong go to Fat Angelos on Chinese New Year Eve?
This is though one of the first times in a while I am seen a truly tired look on Maggie's face.
Well there is a New Years Fair at Victoria Park. So I decided it would be a fun adventure to go with Nicholas and Maggie. Fun yes. Crazy yes. Now if you can imagine a NewYork Summer Street fair but 4 times the amount people and add and subtract an ebedding and flowing variable group of 1000 people, you come close to how many people were there.
So it was Nicholas in the stroller, Maggie tightly behind the stroller and in front of me and me at the end pushing my way through this mass of people, apparently stopping and creating huge bottlenecks at every stand that seemed to be giving away free stuff. Maggie "arms in arms in Daddy" Matvey did great. She got a festive pinwheel and we picked up flowers.
Where the whole system started to fall apart was meeting up with Katy which meant traveling away from the Fair stroller and 2 kids in hand against this mass of people headed to the Fair. Then trying to navigate the subway, again against the mass of people headed to the fair. (Did I mention this was the last night of the Fair.) We ended up in Wan Chai, our new neighborhood for dinner at Fat Angelo's: an Italian restaurant which as it was empty since the tradition is to have dinner with your family on Chinese New Year Eve conjuered up a funny thought: so if in the US non christians go to Chinese restaurants on Christmas Day for dinner, do Americans in Hong Kong go to Fat Angelos on Chinese New Year Eve?
This is though one of the first times in a while I am seen a truly tired look on Maggie's face.
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