General Update

Since I've only finished talking about the Christmas holiday I should give you a biiiiig update on everything else I've been doing...but I honestly don't remember much. And it has nothing to do with alcohol. We spent a lot of time just relaxing around the house after we got back. I managed to take a trip to Kowloon and Mong Kok, and bought myself a really good external hard drive for my laptop.

For New Years Eve we went to the Vine for the worship service there. Loads of 180 people went, as well as everyone else from the church. We had food and drinks and mingled. In the service they got people from different countries to sing a song in their mother-tongue. The Philippinos sang a really nice song in Tagalog, the Sri Lankans sang pretty badly but one of the guys did a really funny dance, and the Togo boys used the african drums and did a great song. there was another group that were really bad but I don't remember where they're from. We had a great talk from a guy from Hillsong in Sydney. And then we did the countdown. Was really fun!

After the service a group of us went to the Flying Pan which is open 24 hours and serves fried breakfasts. It's my answer to the kebab shop at 3am hehe. Then some of us headed to Lan Kwai Fong to do some dancing and just have a bit of fun. As you can guess I spent most of New Years Day recovering... I also went to the cinema with Joel to see I Am Legend which is so good! I wanted to see it for my birthday, but because it was premiering we couldn't get in. Still, it was definitely worth the wait.

In the evening the peaks by our flat caught fire. It was a pretty awesome sight- the whole one side of the hill covered in flames. I don't know what caused it, think it's just a bush fire. It was burning for about 3 days though and people had to be rescued. I'll post pictures later.

Going back to school on Wednesday morning was so hard...I put off getting out of bed as long as I could. Luckily I didn't really have a proper lessons to teach, just revision, so I played pictionary with the kids. A really easy week teaching wise. I tried asking them about the presents they had for Christmas but they could only tell me in Cantonese so I gave up on that hehe. This week I'm teaching them about the seasons and it's going well. I'm going to play a dressing up game with them tomorrow- they have to put on the right clothes for the right season. Like hat, scarf, coat, tshirt, wellies, sunglasses. Should be fun!

Oh the weekend! On Friday night there was a house party at a friend's house in Hung Hom. We watched Prestige -which is so freaky- played poker (I cam second!), and all had a go on his PS3. I want one! They are so fun! And since everyone will have to buy a blu-ray DVD player anyway soon it's probably a good investment. It's really cheap over here too- only 170 GBP. And the games are great! I had another very late night. I went for lunch with Sam (guy who hosted the party) on Saturday, then went to 180 in the evening. After 180 I went bowling with Joel, Jules and Dan for Dan's 19th. I was doing really well until Dan got 2 strikes at the end and knocked me into 3rd place! Sunday I spent sleeping or eating or watching Nip/Tuck. We've finished series 3 now. I think we got through it in less than a week- it's so exciting! The whole Carver storyline was fantastic.

Yesterday after school I went for a meal at the Gold Coast with Jo, Mandy and Sandy. Mandy and Sandy work with Jo and it's Mandy's birthday on Wednesday so we went to celebrate. I had quite a nice meal, and we chatted in Pacific Coffee for a bit after too. Feels like I've been really busy lately! Ok, back to work I go...

Update

Wow this week is going so fast! On Friday me, Jo, Joel, Jules and Ben went for a curry and then decided to check out the Karaoke place. You get shown to a room to with a TV and microphones and then you're left to it. Was a right laugh! On Saturday we dragged ourselves off the sofa and went to the Gold Coast- the proper beach in Tuen Mun. It's only small but there is white sand and the sea is really clean. There's also a 5 star hotel and some nice restaurants. Me and Jo went to a small Italian one for dinner.

In the evening Jo went to 180 (young adults worship at the Vine) and I stayed home. Because it was the Mid-Autumn festival this week they put on some shows in the courtyard. I only saw a clown and then the raffle being drawn before heading back upstairs. On Sunday we had to go to St Peter's Church, the church we work for, for the morning service. It was nice except for the fact it was all in Cantonese and the speaker went on for aagges! We met the Revd. Kwok for the first time and he's going to phone us soon and let us know what we have to do there. In the evening me and Jo went to the Vine with Joel. Afterwards me and Joel grabbed some noodles in a small restaurant before heading home.

Monday was interesting. There was no typhoon so I still had to go in! It was really windy and rainy though. I had to do lessons on the Mid-Autumn Festival so I blagged my way through that. I don't really get the whole thing, I think it's something to do with harvest and the moon being really big in the sky?! I tried teaching the kids the "Pizza Hut" song because I'm so sick of "Heads and Shoulders"...I reckon they'll get it after a few more goes. I had Monday afternoon off school so I could head down to Yuen Long and sort out my HK ID card. I got lost trying to find the place and it decided to rain torrentially too so I was very late and very wet when I eventually got there. When I got back home we watched Memoirs of a Geisha- a brilliant film! We've got the book somewhere around so once I've finished my others I'll give it a go.

Yesterday was the official evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival so we had the day off school. We had a lazy day in and finished watching Heroes Series 1- just in time for the start of the 2nd series! In the evening we met Joel, Jules, Dan and Ben at Ferry Pier and watched everyone on the beach- it was absolutely packed!

The lights on the beach are hundreds of candles lit in the sand. It was an amazing sight! We stayed for a bit then took the guys back to ours to play poker and blackjack and had a few drinks.

So that was our week. Today is another lazy day but on Friday we're going to the Cinderella ballet and on Saturday we're going to do the Peak. Busy busy!