Wednesday, October 6, 2010

1-month in HK...avoid packaged sauces!

I've been here for 1 month. Time flies.  Have I really settled in?

YES 
- My apartment is getting messy. I sometimes sleep in then rush to work - without coffee. So I am back to my normal self !
- I speak more in Cantonese and less in English
- Have my annual health exam this Friday
- I'm not bothered by lack of personal space, poor air, crappy medical/dental plan
- Eating at home is a pain more than a pleasure
- Got paid in HK dollars
- Coffee shop and concierge people recognize me
 - Happily carry Octopus cash card for everything

NO
- Husband not here. Still feel like a business trip with suitcases.  Off to Taiwan and Toronto for 3 weeks soon
- Home and car in Toronto still not packed/shipped and sold, argh!!
- Have yet to meet many new friends and social networks
- Have yet to improve my Mandarin. Need to go to China soon. Damn visa letter - hurry up!
- Still two months away from Hong Kong Credit Card qualification
- I have not dyed my hair or bought white-rimmed glasses yet
- Sad to miss Canadian Thanksgiving Turkey next week.  I'm definitely not going to try... no Oven!
- Sad to see people needing to be lifted up MTR stairs due to lack of elevators/escalators at many stations

Side notes:
I did observe what appears to be a significantly high % of polio cases.  Not sure if its 'polio' per se or its side effects, but significant limping is much much more common in HKG.. wonder why. I see at least 1 person at each MTR station have this issue. Wikipedia is not that informative. Any idea or comments people?!  Supposed to be Polio-Free since 2000. Sad to see the struggles these folks have walking up the MTR stairs. 

After too many dinner nights last few weeks, I'm cooked three times this week... More pain than pleasure.  My rice or pasta carb portion are home-cooked and nice ... BUT all meat or sauces which come pre-marinated are TOO SALTY! In Cantonese, we say this causes "yeet hay" (hot air).  Hence I have to make home made marinades, which takes more time, more little ingredients (I don't have either).  So I am re-thinking to be a 'cook at home' type....

I had a very important meeting which started at 12:30am last night.  Kill me already!  My colleagues consistently set up meetings at odd hours. At least finally my Outlook and SAP status is updated with my Hong Kong info.

I'll be attending the 90th birthday dinner of my grand-aunt this Saturday, and meeting up with Carin Chan my friend who's in town for a month.  And hopefully see a few other friends also. Woo hoo!  Work sucks this week!

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