From a rainy Hong Kong

It's raining in Hong Kong. I am watching Monday Night football, San Fransisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals, live game on Hong Kong television. That's pretty darn sweet. At the same time I cannot stop thinking about my friends and old colleagues on the east coast that right now are trying to survive the gigantic storm Sandy. I just want you all to stay safe, to make it. I am reading your status updates on facebook and I am so happy to hear that things seem to go well considering the circumstances. Just hang in there and hold on to each other. My thoughts are definitely going out to you all. 

Hong Kong has finally starting to cool down to a bearable temperature. I don't get as many heat strokes anymore. In fact, I was thinking about finding my jeans and long sleeved shirts the other day. Those clothes are still stowed away in a suitcase. There is no room to unpack. Our apartment is just too small. Anyway, the temperature drop is a nice change. Now the weather is starting to be comfortable, just the way I like it, around 23 to 27 degrees (74 to 81 Farenheit), still a bit too humid though, but absolutely bearable. It makes it easier to take walks or go outside for a run. 

There is no change to winter or summer time here, which I guess is just not necessary. Daylight during summer or winter doesn't differ that much. 

The weather will get cooler before it gets warmer here. Let's just hope that the weather stays nice and warm like this at least on our wedding day in December. 

It looks like 49ers are kicking some Cardinal ass this Monday Night Football... 

Stay safe on the east coast my friends!!! 

I know, I shouldn't make fun of how people dress, but this is
typical Hong Kong.  It is!

A Hong Kong Wedding

Last Saturday Honey and I went to a real Hong Kong wedding. It was a friend of the family who got married. Let me tell you how I experienced the wedding. 

The wedding started at church where Honey's mom works. It was all in Cantonese, including the printed program for the ceremony, so I was merely there to watch. The couple who got married met in church, and they made that a big deal for some reason. We were around 150 people or so at the ceremony. The bride had five or six brides maids, and the groom had just as many grooms men. During the wedding ceremony we sang hymns, then the priest talked for a bit, then the groom's father (also a minister) talked for awhile. There was a choir singing. Then the couple said their vows, both said Yes and while everybody was watching they signed the marriage certificate. Then their fathers signed as witnesses, and the couple could now kiss as husband and wife for the first time. They walked down the aisle with the people around cheering and applauding. Once the wedding couple reached the end of the aisle they turned around and walked back. The groom started thanking everyone who had helped with the wedding, he thanked so many people. Then the bride thanked her family and friends. They kept thanking people for about 15 mins. (Honey translated for me the whole time). 

When this was over there was picture taking in the church with the couple. There was a list printed in the program of when each person should approach the couple for picture taking. The list said for example "Family", "Close friends", "Groom's co-workers", "Bride's co-workers", "Friends from Church" etc. Simple and clear. We got in the picture together with "People who work at the church where the wedding ceremony is held" (Honey's mom works there). After we took the picture and congratulated the newly married couple we went back home to chill for a while. 

At night we went to the wedding banquet, a traditional banquet. We arrived around 8pm. It was a big banquet hall with a stage, a registry where you pay the traditional 500 HKD banquet fee per person. Yes, you pay the couple to eat at their banquet. There was 29 tables, each table seats 10 people, so pretty darn big wedding banquet. We were seated with co-workers of Honey's mom. They served a 10 course meal and free drink refills of your choice. The food was traditional Chinese food and not too impressive. Apparently it is rare with good food at a wedding banquet. 

While the food was served the couple had two MCs that ran a small show on the stage. They showed videos on big screens about the couple, and they showed videos from earlier during the wedding day. The couple showed up in different outfits during the evening. The groom, also a musician, sang a song to his bride. That was probably the best thing all night. It was real nice. 

We did leave before the end of the dinner, which Honey and his parents said is very common. I never got to taste the desserts, the thing I actually looked forward to on the menu... 

After having experienced a traditional Hong Kong Wedding I am very happy that we won't have a banquet at our wedding. It just felt dull. Honey said that is how it is. The banquet is almost more for the parents and older relatives, so it's not so much party. Actually, no party at all. I'm not saying that parents don't like to party, I know my parents do :). But party is not really what Christian Hong Kong parents are famous for... However, I am very happy to have attended a traditional Hong Kong wedding! 

The spirit of Hong Kong

The first time a city spirit slapped me in the face was when I was studying in Montpellier, France, a city with a harsh spirit at that time, almost a bit angry. One weekend a bunch of us international students took a bus trip to Barcelona, Spain. As soon as I stepped off the bus I felt a warmth, a welcoming and happy place. It was like the city was actually happy to have me there. It was overwhelming. Yeah, Barcelona physically got to me. Not all places does that, but New York also has that effect on me. When I'm in New York I actually feel butterflies in my stomach, like I'm in love. I truly enjoy the intense atmosphere that only New York can deliver. 

But what about Hong Kong? First time I visited I knew I had to come back. We got along well, the city and I. It wasn't the physical emotion as with Barcelona and New York, but spiritually it got to me. And yes, Hong Kong has many spirits. Most of all, it's the city of contrasts. 

Work
Hong Kong is a lot about work. Work, work, work. Everywhere you see people in suits, the city is filled with fancy shopping malls, expensive brand stores and luxury cars. Next to all these money you have the other hard working population, the 85-year-old woman still selling fruit and vegetables at a stand on the street, the 79-year-old man still sweeping the streets, the 14-year-old girl who's waitressing at her family's local cafe/eatery, the 5-year-old kids in school uniform on their way to school. It's work from early age, no matter if you are rich or poor. 

Safe
Hong Kong is safe. So far I haven't felt unsafe anywhere here. I never hear of bad neighborhoods, I never heard anyone who's gotten mugged, beaten or even threatened. Honey told me to close my purse when we were up in people packed Kowloon, around Women's Market, but that is just common sense. Hong Kong is a safe city. Women can actually walk home alone from the subway or bus without worrying. That feeling alone makes me love this city. 

Green
Considering how many people, cars and buildings there are in Hong Kong, it is a surprisingly green city. Usually you don't have to walk far to see a park. The park may be small, but it still means something. It's not just concrete and roads, there are green areas where people can sit and relax, sit and talk, or, as they do in the mornings, exercise of all kinds. The parks makes Hong Kong even more human, more alive. It's not only parks, there are trees and flowers planted all over the city, and they are truly city trees, because they survive all the pollution coming from the traffic. Sometimes I wonder if they are mutated haha. 

Friendly
Hong Kong is friendly. It has to be with so many people living here under so many different circumstances. Generally people mind their own business and they don't step on each other's toes. We all have our burdens. When I walk in to a restaurant where I am the only white person in the room, they don't care. If I need help at the store and the person I ask cannot speak English, he or she will find someone who does. Let me give you an example; I was trying on wedding dresses and the lady who helped was alone in the boutique and didn't speak English.  She went through the effort of communicating with me by calling her daughter and I spoke to her on the phone to find out the information I needed. That is service. And yes, people do get out of their seats in the subway or on the bus to make room for an older person. It's so nice to see. However, people generally don't hold up the door for you, because if you do you will be standing there the whole day due to the constant flow of people :). Most doors close super slow here anyway, there is virtually no risk of getting the door slapped in your face. 

Hong Kong has so much to offer. It's modern and old at the same time. For example, many buses offer free Wi-Fi, but when I get home I have to turn on the gas manually to get hot water. There are escalators almost everywhere, but in the public bathroom I have to stand and aim in to a hole on the floor. 

It has contrasts, it's alive, it's beautiful. It's Hong Kong. 

Food and reality in HK

I've moved to the US without gaining weight. I've moved to France without gaining weight. I move to Hong Kong and gain weight! I mean, seriously, how can that be?! I don't like much of their food; it is just too much fat, bone and tendons in the meat, many soups are too oily and the bread is as sweet as a dessert. I find it weird. 

Photo from www.hkphoto.com

I want to cut the carbs, but since most of the meats here still have skin, bones and fat left on them I basically just eat rice or noodles. And with family dinners sometimes several times a week I have to eat what's offered. My fiance's family usually have problems with what to order during family meals since I don't eat what they eat. I tell them not to worry; I eat the decoration, which usually is some kind of vegetable like carrots, bell peppers or broccoli. Don't get me wrong, I have tried almost all food; squid, jellyfish, stinky tofu etc. But I won't eat chicken feet or intestines, just cannot do it. 

I know, there is a way around this, I just have to start cooking more food at home. Then I will get just the food I want and like. I just wish I didn't dislike cooking so much. And when I cook at home I will have to do both the cooking and the cleaning. Honey, who actually likes cooking, will of course cook meats and food with skin, bones and fat, and as we have established, I cannot eat that, so I am stuck both ways. 

Thank goodness we joined a gym! I'm there basically every day, sometimes twice a day. I have started to gain some control over my weight, but I'm not satisfied yet (like I ever will be...). I must be among the fattest, fit persons at the gym. I can run for a long time, I lift heavy weights, but still have a fairly thick layer of body fat. I am obviously doing something wrong. I think my diet is the key...

Another factor is unfortunately age. It's a common knowledge that the metabolism goes down after you turn 25 years old, and it gets a little more difficult to get in shape. As you get older you have to push a bit harder, run a little longer and lift a little heavier than before. And you also have to accept that the body is getting older and may not be able to take as much as before. However, this definitely doesn't mean you should give up, not at all! Every little work out is always better than none! Hell yeah it is!