Baby Shower - HK Style

Back Row - Natasha, Rina, Me, Ayu, Mel, Sally, Beth. Front Row - Naomi, Chi

Beth, Rina, Natasha

I honestly look forward to attending showers.  Whether they are wedding showers or baby showers, you're inevitably celebrating a big life event with someone that you love... however, I have never been comfortable to be on the receiving side of such events.  I managed to kibosh every mention of a shower prior to our wedding, and I had fully intended to avoid all showers for our first baby simply by living on the opposite side of the world to my lifelong friends and family.  My plan was genius... Enter HK friends: Beth, Rina, and Natasha.

These girls wouldn't take 'no' for an answer.  They were insistent, and to be honest, my resolve dissipated whenever I would walk into the big baby store here and feel entirely overwhelmed at how many crazy products there are for things I didn't even know existed.  I was feeling quite scared and very out of my element with what I actually needed to do and buy in order to care for a baby, so the thought of getting some help started to have some real appeal (which I think is the whole point of a shower... late learner over here).

My wonderful friends here organized the most stunning and wonderful day!  Firstly, no one had to guess how much weight I gained, what my circumference was, or which poopy diaper had which chocolate bar smooshed in it; all games were scrapped... thank you!  Instead, the venue was a gorgeous spa on the south side of HK Island, where there was a stunning outdoor gazebo with seating, food and drink, and a dreamy set of spa chairs where we could all get various treatments done. In short, the day was heavenly.

I opened generous gifts from friends which really did have us feeling much more prepared for the little baby's arrival (I didn't even have diapers or onesies before this... amateur).  The biggest surprise of the day was an amazing video that was put together by my friends and Rina's husband, Dustin.  They contacted friends and family from home and everyone who sent back a video was included with their well wishes and words of advice.  The video had me laughing my head off and sobbing with tears (ah, pregnancy hormones!).  If you have some time, the link is posted at the bottom of this entry...

Watching the video together and my various emotions below...

As baby Foley is due on Saturday, and we are now far more prepared than I was, it seems like the right time to say THANK YOU!  So thank you to my friends here in HK who threw me the shower and attended the shower.  Thank you to friends and family from home who participated in the video.  Thank you for all of the kind comments on facebook from everyone and the words of encouragement over the past several months.  Being this far from home for such a big life event could be very scary... but I feel so cared for, loved and supported that I think all will be well.  My mom and dad also arrived last night, and having them here will be wonderful.

Much love to you all... and I promise to post news soon!

LINK TO VIDEO:

My friends here who orchestrated this (Rina, Beth, and Natasha) ask for you not to 'judge' them. These girls are the ones downing glasses of wine throughout the video... they are awesome and I assured them that no friends of mine would ever judge someone for being an enthusiastic drinker.  :)

You are invited to view Dustin Leitch's photo album: Trish's baby shower, Jan 27, 2013

If the link does not work, try pasting this into your browser.  Generally people struggled with opening the video on any mobile devices, but most laptops and desktops seem to open it just fine.  Enjoy
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=109489825380448122699&target=ALBUM&id=5838296766337900865&authkey=Gv1sRgCN2Or7aP_pHlgwE&invite=COeNws0D&feat=email

Happy Chinese New Year!

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Did you know that this doesn't mean 'happy new year' in Chinese?  It technically means 'may you be prosperous'.  That's the culture here... "it's all about the money, money, money..."


Perfect segway into CNY (Chinese New Year), part one:  LAI SEE

Lai See are little red and gold envelopes that are given out during CNY.  Traditionally, married couples give these envelopes with cash gifts inside to unmarried people in the family and at work.  It's also customary to give them out to people who report to you at work, and to all regular service providers in your life (building staff, gym staff, hairdresser/barber, etc.).  The amount of money in the envelopes varies depending on the connection, but all bills should be brand new with no creases and the amount should always be an even number (except any number with a 4, because that's unlucky).  When you hand over the envelope (always with two hands), you say 'kung hei fat choi', and the receiver will generally say it back.

CNY, part two: GOOD LUCK AND BAD LUCK

The Chinese are extremely traditional and superstitious as a culture.  There are certain 'rules' to follow to encourage 'good luck' for the year, and other rules to avoid 'bad luck' for the coming year.  Some examples to attract good luck include filling your house with flowers and plants, decorate your house with the colour red, pay off all debts, and my personal favourite, eat candy to bring a 'sweet year'.  To avoid bad luck never clean the house on New Years day (you will sweep away good fortune), avoid handling knives, don't talk about death or light fires (you will burn the good luck you just received).

CNY, part three: FIREWORKS

This year we were able to watch the impressive fireworks display from the comfort of our bedroom window.  Amazing.  The show was stunning, as always, because HK doesn't do fireworks half-assed.

CNY, part four: SNAKE

Every Chinese (Lunar) New Year is associated with a different animal, based on a 12-year zodiac cycle.  We just finished the year of the Dragon, and have now started the year of the Snake.  People born in the year of the snake (Baby Foley, and MANY friends having babies this year!) are "intuitive, introspective, refined and the most collected of the 12 zodiac signs.  They are attractive people who remain calm under pressure, are graceful, exciting and dark at the same time....  A snake is keen and cunning, intelligent and wise." (source: AWARE magazine, Feb. 2013)  Having a snake in the house is a good omen because it means your family will not starve.  That's a fair amount of pressure for wee baby Foley.

Rhys, Foley, me, Rina, Gillian, photo by Beth

CNY, part five: TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Rhys & his adorable birthday girl Natasha

L-R: Foley, me, Rina, Beth, Gillian, Pat, Chris, Ed, Rhys, Natasha, Mel, Andrew

Chris and Natasha

Ed, Beth, Natasha & Rhys

Dinner with Rina's parents and Aunt at chinese restaurant, photo from Rina

The floating restaurant

Being an enormous pregnant lady and Foley still fairly fresh back from Canada, we decided to have a very low-key Chinese New Year this year.  All the same, we had some great times with our HK 'family' of friends.  First, was a surprise birthday party for our friend Natasha which kicked off the New Year with a big hangover for most of our 'family'.  Then Saturday we had a traditional Chinese style dinner with our group of friends and my friend Rina's wonderful parents and aunt who were visiting for the weekend.  Following dinner, I was once again the pregnant lady in the bar, sipping my soda water... classy.  We had brunches and lunches with various friends and one awesome lunch on a floating restaurant in Aberdeen.  It's certainly different from how locals spend their time (visiting family, meals cooked in home, etc.) but it was our wonderful CNY, expat style.

Mel, Rina and Natasha with an enormous daiquiri! photo by Dustin

Fireworks from our bedroom window