Music & Culture with the Ladies.

Street Art at Times Square, CB

I recently joined something called the AWA - the American Women's Association.  I hesitated to join for two reasons: 1) I wasn't sure I was 'invited', being Canadian, and as a proud Canadian I don't really like being called American and 2)  A woman's group sounded like an 'old lady' version of the college sorority concept, but with stuffy old ladies sitting around knitting and playing majohng.  I really didn't think it would appeal to me.

Street Art

After several recommendations from people I met and reassurances that it was truly an 'international' organization with women from all over the world, I finally decided to join.  It has been one of the best things I've done in Hong Kong.

The AWA organizes great mini trips, volunteer opportunities and activities which make it easier to explore and get involved in this city than if I were always on my own.  Last week I spent an afternoon volunteering for their spring drive (organizing collections for local charities) and then spent a day going to the Cultural Centre to watch a dress rehearsal of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.  That was perfect because it's the kind of thing that Foley would not be interested in, but I really am... so I went with my old lady sorority.  (The new friends I have met are of all ages, by the way).

I snapped this right before we were asked not to take photos... does that make it wrong to post?? Just before dress rehearsal began.

Then today we did one of my favourite cultural activities so far, we learned how to do a 'lion dance'.  We took turns learning the percussion piece and the dance steps, everyone got to try it all.  After first 'mastering' (please read: no where near mastering, more like butchering) the drumming, I proudly brought up the arse end of our lion in the dance.  It's harder than it looks to keep together as a cohesive unit when you can't see, since the rear person is bent over with their face in the other person's butt.  Lovely mental image?  You certainly don't want to step forward when they are stepping back.  At the end of our lesson we put all the pieces together and were feeling pretty proud of ourselves when we performed the percussion and steps of a lion dance.  That was until our teachers performed for us with one of their lion dances, welcoming us to HK, and we were all blown away (see some of their dance here).

Our percussion group, with our teacher who did NOT speak English. 

Drumming solo.  :)

Their wonderful performance... done properly.

Me in the lion's head.

Their grand finale... so sweet.

There's such a rich history and culture here in Hong Kong.  I really love learning about it, and having the opportunity to participate in activities like these.  However, the best part of joining my 'old lady sorority' has been the interesting and fun new friends that I have made (who do much more than knit and play mahjong)!

Canadian Chamber Gala Ball 2012

The entrance way into the ball.

Last Saturday Foley and I went to the Canadian Chamber Annual Ball... yes, a ball.  I didn't know people still called them 'balls', sounds a bit like a Disney story, but okay.

It was a night that surpassed both of our expectations.  We got 'dolled' up (I'm sure Foley would love that I referred to him as dolled up), and went downtown to the gorgeous Convention Centre.  It was beautifully decorated, had incredible auction items and was overall classy affair.  We were classy too... at least at the beginning of the night.  :)

A beautiful room, seated for the delicious dinner.

Foley's boss had sponsored a CIBC table to support the event, similar to many other Canadian and international companies.  It was nice to get to know some of the people that Foley works with all day and their spouses.  We also ran into some other Canadian friends, which was unexpected.

Before the meal everyone had to stand for the singing of the national anthem.  Being a teacher, I am used to hearing it every morning with the morning announcements (yes, just like when we were young) and I hadn't realized that I missed it.  The dinner was a delicious 4 course meal with tons of wait staff who continually filled our wine glasses. (Note: classiness slipping away rapidly). The entertainment included a great band and more dancing than I expected, although I'm new to 'balls'.

Overall it was a great night, and it made me proud to be a Canadian living in Hong Kong.

Rich *Pardy* and Foley - buddies from Oakville partying in HK with glowing glasses.

Droopy eyes, getting late in the night.

Dance floor gets rowdy.

Aline and Pardy

Head of CIBC in HK, Andre, and his wife Catherine... v serious boss man.

And he's all mine.

AC Survival Story

The tiny ledge holding outdoor AC units.

Long way down.

From the time we moved into our apartment here, the bedroom AC unit hasn't worked properly.  Air doesn't circulate well, so each major room has it's own wall-mounted AC unit, connected to an outdoor unit.  Our outdoor units are on a small ledge (no railing) which you get to by climbing out of the bedroom or bathroom window.

 The AC repair guy came first.  I held my breath when he jumped out the bathroom window to inspect our outdoor unit.  No harness, no safety equipment.  He just grabbed his sneakers and hopped out the window.  I'd like to say that the sneakers were for better grip, but I'm pretty sure he just didn't want to get his socks dirty.  We live on the 32nd floor, but we are on a serious incline... likely about 40 stories from that ledge to the ground.  Gulp.

The dizzying view out the window... where the guy simply hopped out on this wee ledge with no harness.

The prognosis from the AC repair guys was that a repair was out of the question.  The units are so old they simply needed to be replaced.  

Rusted out base of bedroom unit.  Clearly seen better days.

So the process began, first with assessments, then landlord approvals, installation bookings, etc.  To install the new units they first needed to build bamboo scaffolding outside the window.  This time the guy at least wore a harness, although I think he tied the tether off to the rusty frame of the old AC units, it was still a dramatic improvement in appreciation of human life.  The scaffolding was built in stages, shown in the following photos.

Bringing in materials.  Bamboo scaffolding is apparently as strong as steel.

Testing out the small frame - held in with ONE screw.

Leaning out to drill holes for screws.

Fastening bamboo to the frames.

 

Materials passed from the bathroom & bedroom windows.

Having a dart... why not?

Imagine this is all that's between you and the ground? Some bamboo sticks and little ties?

Ties for the bamboo looped through his belt.

Building side walls to the scaffold.

 

Climbing around, building walls.

The finished scaffolding.  The side wall material is to keep debris from falling and hurting those below.

Such a mess... still dusty everywhere.

After the scaffolding was built, it was time to install the new units inside and out.  This involved cutting into the ceiling to replace the hoses and electrical connections too.  What a ridiculous mess.  I now better appreciate the frustration people go through with home renos.  The dust and dirt from cutting into drywall and sanding, not to mention service men who don't take their shoes off or cover things up properly, it has been very dirty.  The added complexity of not really being able to communicate with the installation team has been pretty funny at times.  We're through most of the work now.  We still have holes in the ceiling and copious cleaning ahead... but the entire apartment is currently wonderfully cool with new and efficient AC units.

Gross that shirts are optional.  These weren't the 'freshest' men I'd smelled.  :(

I'm happy that we all survived the AC assessment and installation... (knock on wood, the scaffolding still has to be torn down).  Now Fole and I will survive the hot summer with cool sleeping conditions.

Sign Humour

I have been sick for the past week (just a gross cold), and Mike is away.  Without much current excitement in my life, I am posting a series of signs that I have taken photos of, over the past few months.  It seems quite often there's something 'lost in translation'.  Here are some which have made me giggle.

The full sign.

These first few are of signs on the escalator, which carries people from down town up the mountain to the more residential areas. Foley posted this first one to his facebook, so you may have seen it before.  It's absolutely perplexing.

Zoomed in... hmmmm.

That's right, no smoking for you, or your car... ??

"BUT I WANT TO GO THE OTHER WAY!!...
NOOOOOOOOOO!!"

The next two signs have to do with public spitting.  It is quite common here to hork a big one without a shred of shame... gross.  Apparently the government really stepped up the campaigns against spitting after SARS, hence the focus on germs.

Action shot. *gag*.  The thumbs up really gets me. 

In the city bus, this reminder not to bring bombs or poison on board sure made me think twice about what I packed in my purse.

What to do without my naked lights?

 The best ever movie ad.  I think I may go see this one, just because of the title.

My favourite part about this next one is the total lack of English with the exception of "say bye bye" and the slogan "the clear way to a confident smile".  However, when you actually look at the cartoon (also hilarious), it's not clear at all.

A random business that I must check out one of these days.  It's Canadian, and it's all about sleeping.  It calls to me.

 For those days when I feel so disgustingly skinny it's unbearable, it's nice to know that there are places to go like "Yiu Fat Seafood" restaurant.

This final ad I have no idea what it is about or what it's for, but it makes me want to throw up in my mouth.  Nasty.