It has been a hectic week since Michael and I went to Tokyo. After coming back from Japan, we had a long weekend in Hong Kong, for Hong Kong S.A.R. Establishment Day on July 1.
There has been plenty in the news about what has been taking place in Hong Kong. We avoided the work district where the protests were taking place. Many people in Hong Kong, including myself, were pretty surprised and worried by the violent turn that the protests took on the night of the 1st, and even more were worried that this could pose a significant threat to the future of the stability of Hong Kong. Violence or rioting behavior would seem to serve the Communist Party's motives well, as it would justify a strong crackdown in response.
We have been apartment hunting lately, which has added to our errands and tasks. On Saturday, we went back to a building in which a unit on a lower floor has, we had been told, become available for a lower asking price. We took a measuring tape and went around and really tried to consider all of the pros and cons of the place. Apartment hunting in Hong Kong is so wretched and depressing that typing about it makes me feel kind of sad. They are all really small spaces for astronomical prices and I really don't think we will ever be able to afford/justify tying up our money in Hong Kong for an apartment. The reality of that is that we will always be renters and never feel like we really have a sense of permanence. With that comes the fear and annoyance of having to move every time our lease comes due, as landlords in Hong Kong are pretty ruthless.
We thought we were close to signing up a lease for this apartment, but some of the ensuing negotiations have turned us off. We have learned from previous bad experiences that that is a very important precursor to how the relationship with the landlord will eventually go. In the land of Hong Kong real estate leasing, people show you their true colors the very first time.
On Sunday, probably the hottest day of the weekend, we went to the Clearwater Bay golf and country club with our friends and their kids. The club is absolutely stunning, with one of the best views of water and mountains that I have seen. But it is really far - it took us nearly 40 minutes to get there, which in Hong Kong is astronomical. Lola got to play on the slides and the ball pit, and then run around the pool/swam in the shallow end, and then soccer on the beautiful big grass pitch they have. We enjoyed dinner out there (albeit a bit haphazard with three little kids). She was so exhausted by the end of it that she collapsed into a deep sleep as soon as we got into the taxi.
On Monday, we basically started getting ready and packed. I played with Lola and took her to the playground where she was super cute in her new dress that I bought for her in Japan. Jovie put her hair into little braids too, which was really cute. I also took her to the pool, where we played for nearly an hour in the baby pool and the adult pool where she kept jumping in and cackling with delight as I caught her. Needless to say, I was exhausted!
Then, before we knew it, I had two very busy days at work, filled with trying to get as many things done and cleared off my plate as possible, packing, and then we were on our way to the airport! Jovie, Lola and I traveled this time without Michael. He's coming later. It went as well as could be expected - Lola slept for nearly nine hours and then, between snacks, fruit, books, coloring, TV, walking around the plane, cajoling, and stickers, we managed to figure out the rest of the trip (nearly seven more hours, not that I was counting or anything).
Sleeping. I bought her a seat even though I didn't yet have to - it was worth it.
This was near the end, when Lola about lost it and we managed to distract her with some colored pencils and stickers. Lola was quite intent about it. Please note the sticker on her forehead, which kills me.
We arrived in the U.S. on the night of July 3, one of the last flights to land so the airport was relatively empty. Jovie passed through immigration without any issue, which was great. They lost our stroller for nearly an hour, which was not great. My dad came to pick us up and we didn't get to bed until nearly 2 or 2:30 am that night. Lola woke up at 4 am. As I popped out of bed with a groan, I remembered once again why having a jetlagged baby is the stuff of nightmares: it's like having a newborn infant again, requiring you to come face to face with hours of night that you hope never to see: 1 am, 2:30 am, 3 am, 4:20 am, 5 am, 5:30 am... you get the idea. I have been up at all of these hours these past 3 days. My own jetlag is likely worse than ever.
On July 4, we went to my cousin's house for a barbeque, where we enjoyed a huge spread of grilled meats and lobster along with lots of appetizers and salads and dessert. Lola was a complete hit at the party, until she completely lost it at 6:30 when her jetlag hit her like a ton of bricks. We hightailed it out of there mid-lobster.
But these past few days have also been really nice. Lola immediately recognized and warmed up to my parents. The weather in NY has been unbearably hot - sunny, humid, unrelenting. I thought Hong Kong was so hot but actually it's not been so much better here.
Here is Lola and her yeye playing at the park together. To my delight, on the very first day, she went off to the park with him without needing my presence.
There has been plenty in the news about what has been taking place in Hong Kong. We avoided the work district where the protests were taking place. Many people in Hong Kong, including myself, were pretty surprised and worried by the violent turn that the protests took on the night of the 1st, and even more were worried that this could pose a significant threat to the future of the stability of Hong Kong. Violence or rioting behavior would seem to serve the Communist Party's motives well, as it would justify a strong crackdown in response.
We have been apartment hunting lately, which has added to our errands and tasks. On Saturday, we went back to a building in which a unit on a lower floor has, we had been told, become available for a lower asking price. We took a measuring tape and went around and really tried to consider all of the pros and cons of the place. Apartment hunting in Hong Kong is so wretched and depressing that typing about it makes me feel kind of sad. They are all really small spaces for astronomical prices and I really don't think we will ever be able to afford/justify tying up our money in Hong Kong for an apartment. The reality of that is that we will always be renters and never feel like we really have a sense of permanence. With that comes the fear and annoyance of having to move every time our lease comes due, as landlords in Hong Kong are pretty ruthless.
We thought we were close to signing up a lease for this apartment, but some of the ensuing negotiations have turned us off. We have learned from previous bad experiences that that is a very important precursor to how the relationship with the landlord will eventually go. In the land of Hong Kong real estate leasing, people show you their true colors the very first time.
On Sunday, probably the hottest day of the weekend, we went to the Clearwater Bay golf and country club with our friends and their kids. The club is absolutely stunning, with one of the best views of water and mountains that I have seen. But it is really far - it took us nearly 40 minutes to get there, which in Hong Kong is astronomical. Lola got to play on the slides and the ball pit, and then run around the pool/swam in the shallow end, and then soccer on the beautiful big grass pitch they have. We enjoyed dinner out there (albeit a bit haphazard with three little kids). She was so exhausted by the end of it that she collapsed into a deep sleep as soon as we got into the taxi.
On Monday, we basically started getting ready and packed. I played with Lola and took her to the playground where she was super cute in her new dress that I bought for her in Japan. Jovie put her hair into little braids too, which was really cute. I also took her to the pool, where we played for nearly an hour in the baby pool and the adult pool where she kept jumping in and cackling with delight as I caught her. Needless to say, I was exhausted!
Then, before we knew it, I had two very busy days at work, filled with trying to get as many things done and cleared off my plate as possible, packing, and then we were on our way to the airport! Jovie, Lola and I traveled this time without Michael. He's coming later. It went as well as could be expected - Lola slept for nearly nine hours and then, between snacks, fruit, books, coloring, TV, walking around the plane, cajoling, and stickers, we managed to figure out the rest of the trip (nearly seven more hours, not that I was counting or anything).
On July 4, we went to my cousin's house for a barbeque, where we enjoyed a huge spread of grilled meats and lobster along with lots of appetizers and salads and dessert. Lola was a complete hit at the party, until she completely lost it at 6:30 when her jetlag hit her like a ton of bricks. We hightailed it out of there mid-lobster.
But these past few days have also been really nice. Lola immediately recognized and warmed up to my parents. The weather in NY has been unbearably hot - sunny, humid, unrelenting. I thought Hong Kong was so hot but actually it's not been so much better here.
Here is Lola and her yeye playing at the park together. To my delight, on the very first day, she went off to the park with him without needing my presence.
My parents also took Lola to the newly renovated public library in our town. They have a beautiful children's play area which Lola quite enjoyed.
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