Starbucks Everywhere

They are on almost every street corner in the U.S. and here in Hong Kong.

When I was living here in 2000 and the first Starbucks opened in Central, I was elated. Each time I walked in, I felt like Dorothy must have when she clicked her heels and returned to Kansas.  The smell, especially, transported me back to Seattle and everything tasted just like home.

Now, Starbucks is ubiquitous here, but they've made some changes to accommodate the local consumer preferences.  The buildings and ambiance are just like what we are used to in the States, but the drinks are very different.  The Asian palate is used to flavors that are more pungent and bitter, while the American palate prefers foods that are quite sweet in comparison. When you order your Frappuccinos or sweetened drinks, you will have to add your own sugar or sweetener if you want it to taste more like what we are used to drinking.

This Starbucks is my new favorite, located in TST on the promenade just past the Intercontinental Hotel.  Its view is one of the most amazing in the world, even on a very hazy (read 'polluted') day like today.  Where else can you sip your espresso and watch a sampan go by?  I'll have to go one evening to see the lights from this perfect vantage point.

Thank you., Mr. Schultz, for this fabulous treat in Hong Kong.

Skype rocks!

http://www.skype.com

If you are not on Skype yet, then I have a treat for you!

For free, you can video-chat with friends and family.  Yes, I said FREE!

It takes about 15 seconds to download and it's easier to use than Facebook.  Even if you do not have friends or family overseas, you can still use it just to see the loved ones with whom you are speaking.

(Hey you grandparents out there who do not live near your grandchildren...you should be ALL OVER this!)

I did purchase a package that let's me call landlines and mobile phones in the U.S. from my computer.  I have unlimited minutes for only $7 U.S. dollars a month.

You can also purchase Skype Premium which allows you to have group video chats.  We tested it for free for a week and my daughter was able to introduce some of her new friends here in Hong Kong to her friends in Atlanta.

Now that's cool.

Those Troublemakers - "the Oons"

It's raining here.  Again.  And it's all being caused by those pesky weather systems in the Pacific, whom I'll refer to as "the Oons".  Surely you've heard of them:  the Typhoons and the Monsoons.

People ask me about them and how they impact my life here, but there seems to be some confusion as to what they actually do.  Let's start with the definitions of these rabble rousers and go from there.

Typhoons are tropical cyclone storms in the Northwest Pacific Ocean.  Depending on where you live, you may know them by one of their other criminal aliases:  Hurricanes in the Atlantic, or Cyclones in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific.  Same storms, different names. This mug shot to the right is Typhoon Nesat, a recent offender.

Monsoons, on the other hand, are wind systems that change the levels of precipitation, which is why a Monsoon Season is often referred to as a "rainy season".*   Hong Kong's Monsoon Season is usually June through October.

There, definitions covered.  Now for the good stuff that relates to living here.

In Hong Kong, we have a very interesting warning system to let people know how to prepare if a Typhoon has formed.  The warnings are based on the threat level and they are taken very seriously.

Typhoon Signal 1 means that a typhoon has been spotted somewhere in the Pacific.  No need to worry just yet; you can go about your regular business.

Typhoon Signal 3 means that wind speeds are picking up and the storm is getting closer so you may want to tie down anything outside that could be blown around.  It also means to stay tuned because things could get interesting.  We experienced a Signal 3 while we were at Disneyland Hong Kong and they closed down the outdoor rides, but not the entire park.  

Typhoon Signal 8 (I'll explain why we jump to 8 in a minute) means that everything shuts down.  Wind speeds in the harbour are hazardous and people are supposed to stay inside.  Schools, offices, stores and taxis all stop operations. When Typhoon Nesat skirted by recently, Hong Kong hoisted a Signal 8.

Typhoon Signal 9 means it's getting pretty bad.

Typhoon Signal 10 means that there is a direct hit and you're basically toast.

So why do we go from Signal 3 to Signal 8, you may ask?

Well, Asian cultures are very big on luck and superstition.  The number "4" when spoken in Chinese dialects, sounds like the word that is used to mean "death".  Therefore, the number 4 is considered to be "unlucky".

So why not change the word for the number 4, you may ask again?  This is one of those times when you have to stop thinking like a Westerner and just go with it.

To counter the "unlucky 4" during typhoon signals, we jump up to "8" because 8 is considered to be very lucky.  People here LOVE the number 8.  That's why the Beijing Olympics started on 8/8/08.  Folks will even pay money to use as many 8's as they can in their phone numbers, addresses, license plates, etc., because it is believed to bring them "good fortune".

The symbol for 8 is to the left.

So if a typhoon is coming, why not go with the luckiest number as a signal in hopes that it won't be disastrous?
Makes sense to me.

The Hong Kong government does a very thorough job of keeping the public informed of weather-related issues.  Check out their website - the descriptors they use are often, but never intended to be, humorous.
http://www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm

So for now, I will think of these rainy days as a much needed bath for this fair city.  Hopefully the sun will come out soon, the sparkle of Hong Kong will quickly be restored and any "Oons" which might be thinking of stirring up more trouble will think again.

And that means YOU, Tropical Depression Banyan.

* Definitions checked via The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

"Foon Ying" means "Welcome"

I LOVE the American Women's Association!

This fabulous resource is a networking group of expats located in many large cities around the world.  You don't have to be an American to join, but you would need to be able speak some English in order to participate as that is the language used.

The AWA offers all kinds of social and volunteer activities...Mahjong, Book Clubs, New Mom Groups, Dinner Clubs, Trips, City Tours, Hiking Excursions, etc.  Money raised from these activities is donated to various local charities here, so our socializing has a philanthropic purpose beyond helping expats get into their new groove.  Check out their website https://www.awa.org.hk/

This time, I have been part of what's called a Foon Ying group.  "Foon Ying" in Cantonese means "Welcome". The AWA groups newcomers together by their arrival dates, a fabulous coordinator (We love you, Elise!) organizes a few activities for us, and then we sort of take it from there.  Our last activity was a morning trip out to Lamma Island for a walk-about and lunch.

Something amazing happens when you get a group of women, who have all just arrived in Hong Kong, together for any length of time.  We can all come from very different backgrounds, be of different ages and at different stages of married life, with young kids, adult kids or no kids and still bond almost instantly via the unique experience of moving here.

My Foon Ying group has been absolutely lovely!  The women are all so interesting and I've enjoyed meeting each one.  A few of us are "Re-treds", meaning that we are returning to Hong Kong after a few years back in the States.  It is such a comfort knowing that someone else close by is going through the exact same process at the exact same time.

I look forward to getting to know the members of my Foon Ying group better and to future social outings with them.  And I thank each of them for the fun we've had so far.  Cheers, Ladies!