It has been a few weeks since I last wrote, take this as a good sign as we are busy settling into HK life. Rich has started traveling-jumping around Asia doing lots of meeting and greeting. It is funny, this is the first time in our family life that everyone is in the same boat...we are all meeting and greeting, figuring out our way around and adjusting to the differences between life in Asia and life in the states. Thursday was the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, no school and lots of pomp and circumstance. Rich and the kids and I enjoyed chili dogs and fireworks over Victoria Harbor. Jim and Sabrina had us over, how nice it was to eat Hebrew National Hot Dogs and homemade chili! Friday it was back to school with all the usual activities. Saturday was a wonderful day with the arrival of Dan Garr or should I say the EASY MAC. Bless Dan's heart, he filled his suitcase with boxes of Easy Mac....if you could have seen the JOY on the kids' faces! Saturday was also the mid-autumn festival, this is a celebration of the full moon-there is a lovely Asian story that accompanies it...sorry, I'll have to ask the kids to explain. We started the evening with a home cooked Indian meal (our neighbors are Indian American, they have a full time Indian cook...yummy!). As the evening progressed and the sky grew darker, the beach began to fill up with families and glow sticks. At 7pm we walked to the beach and joined in the festivities. What a lovely, peaceful sight. The water is so warm that the kids jumped in the water..imagine that, night swimming in October! This morning was another fun adventure-Seamus, Annie, Conor and myself participated in a biathlon at our local beach. I was so proud of the kids! Seamus completed the entire race and Annie and Conor completed two-thirds of it...yes, Seamus beat me! The race was a 1 mile road run (with a hill), 1/2 mile ocean swim and then another 1 mile run-good fun. Rich accompanied Conor and Dan accompanied Annie-I just tried to keep pace with Seamus. And dear Riley, we let her stay home...her arms were sore from water skiing yesterday. Yes, you heard me right, she went water skiing with a friends family yesterday-yes, Riley is slowly accepting HK as her (temporary) home. This week looks to be a good one. Rich is in town, the kids have school, sports and music and the big highlight is the two Australian girls we will house! The Australian girls choir is coming to HKIS and Riley asked if we would house two of the girls-of course, I said! I will continue being "susie social" this week. The American Women's Association is a god send-they offer every possible activity, outing, excursion you could dream of. A few of us "newbie" Mom's are signing up for hikes, newcomer groups, and as soon as they are offered-Mahjong and Cantonese. I am grateful there are places to go, people to meet etc. Well I will sign off now. As I write this I am in the fireside lounge at the American Club. This place has been a god send as well.
I hope this note finds you well.
Much love,
Mary, Rich and kids
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