Happy in Hong Kong

Sonia Herron Academy of Jazz....Now Open!!

The latest Modern Jazz and Hip Hop Dance syllabus from Australasia. Classes taught in English, Internationally recognised examinations, and all done to the latest trend setting music your child will LOVE!
A safe and positive dancing environment for your child to learn and develop their full potential in dance.
Syllabus info and timetable with prices can be found by click image above.

Register NOW at dance academy website   www.academyofjazz.com

Address of studio is:  Shop 26, 1/F, The Waterside, 15 On Chun Street, Ma On Shan

phone/fax:  +852 2643 9688

Classes start on 20 November.

Don't miss the grand opening specials!!!

new house and pictures

Just wanted to let everyone know that we've just uploaded more pictures in our Family & Friends picture album.  they show the first pictures of us moving into our new village house in Tai Shui Hang Village.
I also uploaded some old photos of when my parents visited HK last February into our HK Places album.  I thought they deserved being added, even this late.
Take a look!  It's more than worth it.

Grocery shopping in Hong Kong

when we first came to HK 9 months ago, we didn't have a clue what to do as far as weekly groceries.  And now it's not even weekly, since you tend to stop by the grocery store more often here (not wanting to carry too much if you either forgot your own trolley or don't want to buy more than $400 which is the minimum you must spend in order to get free delivery to your house.
Now we think we're experts.  Especially because I really do scrutinize what each store offers: prices, variety, quality, and bonus programmes.  I've come to the resolution that Wellcome is the best all-around place to get your groceries in HK.  Just remember these things:

• at least 2 cloth shopping bags (environmental discount of 10 cents per $50 of groceries)
• a hand trolley with wire basket
• your Octopus card to collect Octopus Rewards (can register at cashier or online)
• your Standard Chartered American Express card -- 8% off at Wellcome & Park N Shop
• get double Wellcome stamps on Saturday & Sunday when you spend over $250 (redeem for prizes)
• if you send a dometic helper to do the shopping, they won't allow her to use your credit card

You can only get certain Western foods at Park N Shop, and they provide good incentives as well, but they tend to be overpriced in the more expensive item category.
If you choose to complete your shopping online, then you must be aware that they won't give you Octopus Rewards or your environmental discount.  We ordered like this a couple times, and we weren't at all satisfied with the quality of the fresh foods they picked out on our behalf, so that was the end of shopping online for us.

• Oh yeah!  Don't forget your shopping list!

shop in shenzhen

There are endless opportunities to get unheard-of bargains in the border town of Shenzhen.  Just in the last year alone, HK shoppers have spent $3.9 billion US on products in this city of China.  It's located just 40 minutes from downtown Hong Kong, and you can click on the image below to learn more about shopping in Shenzhen from the expert herself.  This is a very popular book amongst expats here in Hong Kong, because it is a book written especially for us!

missing New Zealand and loving HK!

--picture of Lake Tarawera, N Island, NZ.

recently, we've encountered other aspects of Hong Kong that make us think back to the simple life in NZ.
...when I forget my keys or my wallet, it takes me going thru two security gates, waiting for the lift, standing in a crowded Asian-size lift, then doing the reverse.
...always second-guessing the way I think in this context, and the assumptions that are second nature in NZ don't exactly play out well here in Asia's World City.
...having to negotiate prices and contracts or else get ripped off
...seeing a beautiful sunny afternoon, but knowing that you can't just open the door and sit down in your lawn chair outside
...not having the freedom to go out driving when you get stir crazy with toddlers gnawing on your leg
...dealing with crowds no matter how much effort you exert to get the opposite

We love Asia and all its complexities.  Of this we are sure.  There are sacrifices, but the daily surprises, the bright and lively people, the local amenities, the modern way of life, and the endless opportunity to put your dreams to work are undeniably wonderful!

overseas transfers & payments

Looking into how to move big amounts of money for overseas relocations or overseas payments?  After having lived and worked in three foreign countries, I have decided that HiFX.com offers the most competitive rates and is easy to use.  You first have to set up an account with the office near to your permanent residence.  They have offices all around the world.  Once you give your basic details to them, you'll be ready to start a foreign exchange contract:  either at current prices, forward prices (like an insurance policy), or with more complex agreements for business purposes of hedging when you think you know the risk of which way the rates will move in the future.  You can start your contract by calling or emailing.  You then provide onward transfer details for the target currency amount to be paid out.  Everything can be handled in a small amount of time.  I did my contract and had my money in my new overseas account within 2 or 3 business days.  See link below for more info and to set up an account for yourself.

The Vine Christian Centre- Hong Kong

for all those looking for a church home in Hong Kong or for those who just want to see the great things that God is doing through the people of The Vine, see their videos, info, and pictures at their website.  We are so happy worshiping and serving God in this place since coming to Hong Kong in Aug 06.  To get directions to the church for Sunday services at 9:30am, 11:30am, and 6pm just click here.  Nearly every other Sunday we are there we are invited out for lunch after the 11:30 message.  The people are so friendly and just so down-to-earth that we couldn't feel any more at home there.  We have been inspired and challenged even.  We are seeing where and how God has given us certain talents and passions to be used with the people that come to this church.  We have even been able to start a new "home group" in our area of Shatin, New Territories, to get together with others every other week on Mondays in Tai Wai.  We are also so relieved that they have such great children's activities there on Sunday mornings.  Our kids love it there and have made so many really good friends already.  Our 2-year-old says his friend's name all week long when he doesn't get to see him.  I could go on and on...God is so good.

getting a bigger place!

last night we received another totally unexpected gift from our kindergarten.  Sonia and I had been complaining and ranting and raving about how small our high-rise apartment is, especially with two kids under the age of 3.  So after far too much navel gazing we decided to go out to get some yogurt, since we were running low.  That's when we bumped into the boss of our kindergarten, and after greetings and pleasantries, she surprised us by informing us that the big boss had given his permission for our school to start looking for a village house that we can move into within the next 2 months.  We'd have ground floor access and more inside space, too.  We might even have a rooftop garden/play area if God really decides to spoil us.  The village is the one right next to our school, so now we'll have a 5 min walk to work in the morning, and Sonia can have better access to the kids at home, and we'll be able to do more with them all throughout the day.  I can pop home during lunch, the kids could come for a quick play, and the list is endless!  Wow.  more info, pics, and videos to come...

live & work in HK

A couple great sites that I found inspirational many times before I came to HK...

Transitions Abroad

Escape Artist

a typical day in the life of....

Here is a wee glimpse into our Hong Kong life for the curious or very bored haha.
Our apartment is about 500 sq ft. ( I think that's 50 sq meters.) so yeah we were told it was 700 but that's how things go here, we got out our measuring tape after being in numerous friends seemingly spacious apartments. each day as we wake we have just enough room to place our feet out of the bed and totter to the door. The boys have only enough room for a bed and the portacot in their room, and at the moment Cielo sleeps on a mattress on the floor in her room, although she swears it's more comfortable.
We wake at the lovely hour of somewhere between 5.30 and 6.30am, not very culturally appropriate so I'm sure our neighbours hate us. People here sleep till as late as possible and keep their children up till midnight so they'll sleep longer.
Okay now is the good stuff, our helper Cielo makes us breakfast and helps me with the boys while Greg and I get ready for work. We play with the boys and have breakfast and usually try to get out the door between 7.30 and 8am. ( hmmm more like 8.15 this last week.)
We then walk down into the mall to the train station and catch the train to work, two stops away. We walk to our kindergarten which is a stand alone building next to some mountains and surrounded by high rises.
Then we slave away, well play away the next few hours until it is time for me to go home at 1pm. Greg then sits at his desk and reads the newspaper, gets on the internet, or goes out for a long walk for the next two hours...no joke. He gets paid to just be at school and doesn't actually have anything to do most afternoons except for one hour at the end of the day.
I go home to play with the boys and go to the playground, meet up with other mums etc. Two days a week I work longer hours to teach a parent and toddler class so don't get home till 4pm those days. Then Cielo cooks dinner and we all eat around 6pm when Greg gets home.
Evenings we sometimes go out to homegroup......we found one very close with some kiwi friends but it is not from our church. We're looking at getting together a group of people from our church to have a casual prayer and fellowship group that's not too structured.
Or we go to the mall or out for a walk when the boys go to bed at 8pm. most days I collapse on the couch after a busy day of playing with kids all day long.

That's a boring day in the life of Greg and Sonia.
Am watching the traffic downstairs backing around the corner as people sit on their horns cause everyone is trying to get into the mall carpark. hmmmm am glad I'm not a.)chinese and entertaining hundreds of people tonight. b.) trying to go to the grocery store cause apparently everything is sold out and the cues are so long they go from the front of the store to the back.

whirlwind city

Hello dear friends and family.
sorry we have taken so long to post another update. These last few months we have all been busier than we ever expected and now we are forced to slow down as our health starts to suffer.
Our impressions have been ones of amazement, horror, and fascination at different aspects of society and life here. We are totally loving being in Hong Kong and living in such a fast paced society, but we also realise just how much we are sacrificing in terms of space for living and style of raising children etc. so we are faced with the pros and cons everyday but we praise God that we feel confident we are in the right place. Our jobs are going well, and we've had lots of chances to put into practice alot of the cross cultural communication skills we learnt at East West College. We are grateful for the courses that gave us insight into Asian communication and bodylanguage etc. We've made some Chinese friends and some expat friends since being here. On a whole the environment here is so much more spiritual than I expected with huge shrines everywhere and personal shrines in alot of the shops you go to. The Taoist influence is very strong amongst even my most athiestic Chinese friends so we need to study up on that.
Please keep praying for us as we try to adjust to living so cramped up with two small kids. Also for our health that we can beat the winter bugs going around at our school and get through this season healthy and strong.

all the people

Yes, we have touchdown. This little eagle has landed. We have been placed in a temporary apartment for the first week, and today we are being moved in a van to our final cosy apartment about 30 mins outside HK. Ah, to not live out of luggage for the first time in 5 weeks. Greg taught his first day at the kindergarten yesterday, and we hope to get more pictures up as soon as we get a digital camera. Huge jet lag for the kids, and just learning where and how to get our daily bread. Just email me for our permanent address or NEW cell phone number if you don't have either of them yet. We love life and the people here, so we're waiting for the initial shock to wear off. Next week we should have internet hooked up and our apartment set up, so we'll do more posting then!

Visa approved!

Hello all,
The last few days have been a mixture of business and rest. We were delayed in our departure for Hong Kong by two weeks because Greg's visa hadn't arrived yet. We've just been informed by the school that we're working for that Greg's work visa has now arrived and they are sending it to us here in New Zealand. Please pray it arrives here safely. We've also been chatting with a lady about being our nanny while we are at work in the mornings and helping out with chores the rest of the time. She is Indonesian and recommended by a Pastor in the area. It is a difficult thing to negotiate as we've never employed anyone in that capacity before. But pray God gives us wisdom as we do all this new stuff. God has been gracious and given us a lovely beach front home for the next 10 days before we leave to have some REAL relaxation time so we're enjoying that.
Praise God that His interupptions in our schedule are always for our best.
We love you all.