CRAZY Americans Ride the Trolley

Yesterday, after visiting the Central Library,

we decided to take the TROLLEY

since we hadn't used that mode of 

transportation before.

We thought it would be a perfect way 

to get to the Subway.

What we didn't know was...

You board the trolley from the back

and get off in the front.

The trolley was PACKED

and our journey was short -

100 yards to be exact.

So 4 CRAZY Americans PUSHED

their way from the back of the trolley -

saying "Excuse me, excuse me"

until we reached the front,

paid our $2 HK toll,

and disembarked.

I am sure MANY Chinese Trolley Riders

had a good laugh about the LAZY

Americans who can't even

walk 100 yards to the subway.

WE LAUGH every time WE think about it!

HONORED to have Flat Stanley Visit

We were so excited when, two weeks ago,

 Flat Stanley came to visit us

all the way from Elise's 1st grade class

in Clearfield, UT.  

He will be with us until April 29th.

Here are a few of the things 

he has done so far!

Visited the park across the street from our house

and climbed a Banyan tree.

Rode the bus down to the plaza

and visited the toy store.

He met some Littlest Pet Shop friends
but couldn't understand them
because they spoke Cantonese.
(The language they speak here in Hong Kong.)

He rode a bus with us to Kowloon Tong

Where we visited the LDS Hong Kong Temple.

Over the weekend he took the
Discovery Bay Ferry with us

and rode in the pocket of the seat.

From the ferry he took a taxi

to watch the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens!
He CHEERED extra loud for the U.S. team.

Today, Tuesday, we took him to Central and

saw machines where you
can buy FUN toys,

met a Hong Kong Kindergarten class,

and spent time at the library.

Look at the book he was reading!
Boy - Flat Stanley is learning a lot.

He also enjoyed the view from the top
of the bookshelves.

His adventures have just begun!
Stay tuned - for more adventures with our new friend
Flat Stanley.

Diving Into School!

We are cramming 5 days of school work

into 3 since we will be

traveling to Beijing this week.

Ammon's ready -

goggles and all -

To dive into SCHOOL!!

Note: Goggles provided by 

Georgia Cyber Academy 

to be used for science experiments.

Ammon insisted on wearing them for 

most of the school day.

Happy Birthday Relief Society!

As every ward or branch in the WORLD

celebrates the Birthday of Relief Society

we did the same here in Discovery Bay

We hold most of our RS Meetings on Sunday.

We have many Sisters in the Branch

that work as helpers 

(helper: a maid/nanny/cook

whom usually lives with the family

they are working for.)

and the only

time they have off is Sunday.

It was held at our house at 29 Headland Drive.

(It's kind of cool to find us on the DB map.)

19 of our 35 Sisters attended.

We played a 'get to know you' game.

Ate light refreshments.

Enjoyed visiting.

And Ai taught us a new
cake decorating technique.
(Isn't she the CUTEST thing EVER!)

Each Sister created something
to go on the cake.

And when each creation was
put in place ...

It was beautiful!
I LOVE the message -
NOT Happy Birthday to the Relief Society
Happy Birthday Sisterhood.

Hong Kong Rugby Sevens!!

We spent the  day at the Hong Kong Stadium

The event?

Hong Kong Rugby Sevens!
(The Rugby player on the far right is in
the Discovery Bay Branch.)
Rugby Teams from all over the
world come to compete.

We cheered on the U.S., Spain,
Russia, Hong Kong, China, Fiji, Tonga,
Samoa, France, Mexico, South Africa,
New Zealand, Portugal, Korea, Japan,
England, Australia, Malaysia, Scotland,
Zimbabwe & Canada.

It was INCREDIBLE!!

The most entertaining piece was the costumes.
YES - the costumes.
This guy in the cape is really playing it safe.
Groups of spectators would dress in theme -
to the extreme.
Sitting to our right was a group of men
dressed in doctor's white lab coats wearing
red and white jokers hats.
To our left were three men in arabic dress
(they were not arabic)
 from head to toe & carrying a stuffed camel.
It was Halloween (for adults) times 200!

The entire south end of the field was nothing but
groups in costume.

When the south end filled up they moved
to the field's north end.

You may be wondering what our costume was -

We dressed as foreigners living in Hong Kong,
all wearing Rugby Sevens 2011 shirts!

Another AMAZING experience in Hong Kong.

MY Space?

I am learning so much about myself and

my Western culture here in Hong Kong.

Growing up in a place where there was 

always plenty of room to walk,

to stand, to sit, to spread my wings -

OK maybe that's going a bit too far -

The point is -I have always had MY space
and been a bit protective of it.

I haven't ever really had to
think about MY space.  

So WHY think about it now?

Because I am living in a place where

there is no MY space!  

Personal boundaries are challenged
everywhere you go.

On the train, the sidewalk, the bus, a restaurant -

sometimes you are even required to share
your table with a total stranger.

 MY space was even challenged at Girls' Camp.

I was curious when I saw the group of young

scouts heading down the hill toward the pavilion

where we were having craft time.

As the procession moved closer 

I realized their destination point was 

"our" pavilion (or MY space).

"No," I thought  "surely they can't be

heading to the pavilion. 

It's already PACKED with Young Women

and leaders and they have to notice

we are teaching a class.  They will move on."

My thinking was wrong.

Not only did they NOT move on ...

They moved IN and carried on with their

very lively conversations -

in Chinese.

I must admit - I was impressed.

(And I'm serious.)

1) That it didn't faze the young scouts and their

leaders  to be standing under the awning while

it was occupied by so many others.  

They needed to get out of the rain.

And

2) Those in our group were neither offended or

annoyed.

Besides ... take a close look at them -
aren't they CUTE!

LESSON LEARNED ...

I shouldn't be so worried about MY space.

Young Women vs. WILD

AKA - The first Girls' Camp 

EVER in Hong Kong District.

We made it!

We wondered if the weather would 

cooperate with our camp plans.

With a forecast of thunderstorms 

for all of Friday and Saturday

we had wondered if we were

going to get rained out.

When we departed the house at 2:50 PM

it was overcast but no rain - YET.

How do you pack for Girls' Camp in 

Hong Kong?  VERY lightly.

This amount of luggage carried 

personal supplies, water for 2 people for 2 days,

10 camp chairs, snacks, supplies for 30

first aid kits, t-shirts for DB Branch, 2 tents,

2 sleeping mats, 2 pillows, and beads for bracelets for the value hike.

Compared to previous camps I have attended,
as a leader, this was 

EXTREMLY minimal, and still ...

when Caleb saw the pile of stuff he said,

"You're taking all this?!"

Our biggest feat -- getting all of the previously mentioned luggage,
PLUS two more carts and 2 BIG bags, for the rest of the DB Branch supplies,

onto the bus heading to Tung Chung and then

transfer everything to another bus

to Nam Shan Campground.

AND ... (of course)

We DID IT!  We then hiked from the drop off

bus stop to the Campsite.

There was a slight drizzle as we climbed the hill,

but when we entered the Campground -

the RAIN began.  Thank goodness it was not

a torrential rain but a persistent rain,

one that continued all evening long, all through the night, 

and up to 1PM when we left on our hike.
It was just enough to get everything wet.

But that didn't slow us down
or dampen our spirits.

We were able to accomplish most
of what we had planned.

Here's what we did!

Slept in tents.

Stirred chili with a small branch.

Made a banner with our theme

"Young Women vs. Wild"
on it.

Ate snacks.

Koalas are some of our favorites.

They're from Japan.

Learned how to light fires using
2 different methods -

a battery and steel wool

and flint and steel.

We learned how to tie knots.

We learned about First Aid and made

a First Aid Kit.

We ate homemade snacks.

We learned how to purify water and the 

importance of sanitation while camping.

Made tied floss bracelets
and mini photo albums
for CRAFT time.

We went on a hike with 4 pit stops.

At each pit stop 2 value lessons were taught 

pointing the Young Women to the beauty

of nature and away from
the WILD of the world.

Girls' Camp in Hong Kong District?
HUGE SUCCESS!!!