That’s what was happening in my mind on Saturday morning…

This particular bit of information has not yet been released on this blog…. so here it is: Chinese drivers, whether of public transportation or privately owned cars, are crazy. The laws surrounding driving in this country are “more what you call guidelines than actual rules.” The bus drivers are definitely included in this… they can be seen passing cars left and right on a regular basis. I thought busses were supposed to be slower than the flow of traffic…. not so.

Saturday morning was no exception. Our driver was fast but not too crazy. We had no problem dozing off to the sound of our iPods. Once we got into the city however, something very unfortunate happened… and we never even figured out the cause of all of this. Our bus driver actually SLAMMED on the brakes. This has happened before. It has startled us. We’ve exchanged concerned looks that ask each other, “What in the world are we doing here?!” Today was different. You see, today we had the unfortunate pleasure of sitting in the very back row of the bus. Rather than two sets of chairs divided by an aisle, the back row extends across the width of the bus. Britt was in the middle seat and I was to her left. Have you heard the principle that goes: “an object in motion stays in motion”? Well we discovered the inherent truth of this principle. When our driver hit the brakes and the bus came to a screeching halt…. Brittany did not come to a screeching halt. Brittany flew. Off her seat and down the stairs. 

I could not wrap my mind around what was happening. I’m shocked, obviously, due to the sudden stop, like I have been in times past. Then on top of that, my friend is no longer in her seat by my side. She’s sliding. All I can see is her head bouncing as she falls down the stairs. One-by-one… lower and further away from me. (I kid you not, I cannot breathe right now as I write this. And poor Brittany knows I’m laughing at her expense too. Sowwy Britt!) I couldn’t understand why she wasn’t stopping. She slid long after the bus came to a full and complete stop. 

Other concerned passengers thrust their arms out to help her stop. The poor thing looked back at me like a very confused and wounded child. We both had the question in our eyes as we stared at each other: “What just happened?!” I can’t tell you how happy I am that she was unharmed… makes it easier for me to laugh about it without too much guilt. I’m sure she would be doing the same had the tables been turned in my direction. LOL! 

It’s safe to say that was not the safest ride we’ve ever taken on the bus… but it was certainly the funniest.

That is all.

PEACE!

Hong Kong is such a huge, beautiful city! Britt and i were able to visit this thriving metropolis for a second time. This trip, however, was not spent at Disneyland. This trip was guided by our new Georgian friend Reese, who knows more about HK than some of my coworkers even do. One of his informative tid bits was the fact that Hong Kong transportation is more expensive than that of Guangzhou.
And so we walked…. and walked…. and just for a little change of pace, we walked some more.
We walked to breakfast: a place called The Flying Pan….. Child. That was good American food! It’s been too long since i last had French toast, eggs and bacon for breakfast! It was just what the doctor ordered: a taste of home. We get those as often as we physically and financially can!
Then we walked to the Mo Man temple: a place to worship the gods of war and education. It was interesting to see all the incense burning and altars set up everywhere. And to see the people dressed in their casual everyday attire to come and worship. People came to burn incense at every altar. After taking some pictures…
We walked some more…
This is where it got hard. There’s a peak in HK, called Victoria Peak. There is a tram that goes all the way to the top, but did we take the tram? Oh no. No no no. We walked… hiked… crawled to the top. Every few minutes we would stop to rest, take pictures, drink some water. I sat down at one point, bent to rest my forearms on my thighs… and slipped. Literally. I have never been so sweaty in my life!! I drank my weight in water and had no need to relieve myself because i was sweating that much! Sorry to be so graphic but it’s the honest truth! But… it was not for nought. Oh, we were greatly rewarded, indeed, for at the top of the Peak was the Marriage Supper of the Lamb…. Bubba Gump Shrimping Co. Friends…. to an American girl (especially one from SoCal), seeing a restaurant such as this when you’re so far from home is almost enough to bring you to tears. We feasted like queens… and one king. 🙂 It was glorious! There were no angels singing, no bright light shining from the heavens above. Just a smiling face. Just. Plain. Happiness. Totally worth the walking.
While we were up there we also took several pictures of the most amazing view! We shopped at a place called Happy Land which was full of candy!! Truly a happy land. We also bought some cool headphones and just walked around for a bit.
Well, thankfully we took the tram down the mountain to give our aching joints and full tummies a rest. We then walked to the Apple store where i was able to buy an iPod nano: my #1 goal for this trip. I was so excited i was doin a little dance and singin a little song!
We then took the Star Ferry from Hong Kong Island back across to Kowloon, where our hostel was located. The view at night is much better than in the morning. The buildings actually lit up the clouds above them! The lights danced with moving pictures of rabbits and birds. The water captured and reflected the beauty like a rippling mirror! I’ve never seen anything like it before! The night was so clear and perfect!
Back on Kowloon, we hit the night markets. Not much to tell… we shopped, we bartered and we bought a few things. It was a nice night but i was ready to sleeeeeep. Armed with snacks and drinks, we then returned to our hostel. Let me paint a picture for you…
The street is lined with old but maintained buildings. If u pay attention you’ll see a long, thin sign that reads “Lee Garden Guest House – 8/F.”  You enter the building, walk down a narrow passageway and come to a wooden door. On the wall just left of this… door is a row of buttons. Yes this is the elevator. Push the button and wait. The elector arrives, a metal elevator door opens and you open the wooden door to enter the elevator. The buttons are old and raised. This must have been built in the 60s or 70s. After a jostling, bumping, thumping ride, you arrive on the 8th floor. You use one of the four keys you were given to unlock the door to the hallway that leads to your room. Walk down the hallway, use another key to open the door to your…. closet. That is, essentially what it is: a closet with a bed to share, a window and a mirror. The bathroom is down the hall, shared with everyone else on the floor. This was our room for two nights. Fun fun fun. We got snugly.
All-in-all, it was a great trip! We saw amazing sights and ate wonderful food! I can’t wait to go back and take my brother to all the cool places we saw!
Thanks for reading….whoever you are. 🙂
PEACE

Hello all. I have finally joined the site and can now post things about our experience here from my perspective… not that it’s much different from Britt’s. 🙂

So everything she has posted to this point has been spot on. Our first week was a whirlwind of activity: training, moving, metros, curious onlookers and much much more. We got lost… just a couple times, but that would be a resounding thanks to the random and unmarked Clifford bus stops…..  Since she covered all of that so eloquently… I will begin by telling you all about my job, since at this point it’s the only thing different from Britt. 

I work at Gymboree Play & Music. Gymboree as a baby clothing store is obviously very famous back in the States, but I did  not know that it was also an early childhood development center. The programs are fantastic! I am currently only a play and art instructor but the music program is out of this world! I’ve been able to observe a few classes and loved them! If only I could sing….. 

My coworkers are awesome! They welcomed me with open arms and jellyfish! (Word to the wise…. don’t eat jellyfish.) Aside from that, they’ve all been very helpful and just overall WONDERFUL people. I consider them to be very good friends now and I’m so happy that I have been blessed with a job and coworkers that I love. It has made the experience and transition so much easier. The only hard part will be saying goodbye. 

It was hard enough leaving California… saying goodbye to my friends and family and heading straight into the unknown. Literally I had no idea what would happen here or who I would meet. I only knew one person from the recruitment agency… other than that I was heading into this kinda blindly, ya know? So I was sad and excited and scared… Leaving China will be difficult in it’s own way…. this time I’ll be leaving people I’ve come to love and going home to people that I love. It will be a different mix of emotions. Overwhelmed to see everyone I’ve been missing, but very sad to leave the ones I’ve met here. They have made my time here so fun and exciting!

They have taken me to coffee shops, hole-in-the-wall restaurants I never would have known about, the zoo, a Disney exhibit, the hospital and more. They’ve helped me buy a phone and medicine when I’m sick, and are currently helping us find a place to live. They’re so kindhearted and giving, and so willing to help whenever they can! I will definitely be staying in contact with them when this trip is over. 

We’ve seen a lot and learned a lot more… some of it we’ve learned the hard way, but we’re alive and God has certainly come through for us in the little things as well as the big!! We definitely owe it all to Him! I can’t wait to see what happens over the next seven months!  

P.S. I do have a site of my own simply called monicawilliams215 (boring, I know. get over it), but I have not posted to it yet. Will let you know when I do. 🙂

PEACE.