Hibbets' Happenings

Class #2 down, and successful (at least, I think and hope so!). But let me back up. I have so much to post. I may run out of energy before I run out of things I want to say. Yesterday morning (Tuesday), we were up early again. I believe everyone was up by 3:00; Joshua may not have been. We ate breakfast (oatmeal w/raisins, boiled eggs, and toast w/ strawberry preserves) about 4:30. I worked some and we got ready to meet Candy and the Shue Yan staff for lunch at 12:30. There were 4 Shue Yan "folks" and the 4 of us Hibbets. The Shue Yan people were Candy (she is my main contact here), Mr. Cheung the Registrar, Mr. Khaw the Dean of Studies, and Dr. F S Hu, who I should know but can't remember his position. I will have to ask again. We loaded into 2 cars (we put Joshua's wheelchair in the trunk of the car we rode in) and off we went. They took us to a hotel -- I can't remember the name of it -- for a traditional ("real") Chinese lunch. I want to try to remember everything about it to tell you. It was a very nice hotel. It also had very nice Christmas decorations, which I enjoyed. The restaurant was on the first floor -- which is the British first floor -- so we went up the elevator one story. The room was very elegant with lots of flowers and greenery. There were big round tables with nice tablecloths and the chairs were covered (draped) in nice fabric, too, like sometimes you see done for weddings. There were 8 of us seated around our table, but I don't remember any tables being different sizes; it seems like they were all big tables to seat 8. It is hard because there was so much going on at once: a new place with new customs and new food, trying to make a good impression, keeping track of the kids (well, one in particular) -- it was all kind of overwhelming. Plus I wanted to take in every detail to try to remember. It was an impossible task! I just tried to do my best. In the middle of the table was a large lazy susan. Let's see, the first thing they brought out were these small tarts, which I believe are egg custard. They were sweet, and very good. Jayden especially liked them! We got a kick out of her eating them. I know she ate at least 2, maybe even 3. Then they brought small dishes of several things: some thin slices of beef (very good), some eel (I did try a bite, and it tasted fine, but in good conscience I couldn't eat much), some green leafy veggies -- I'm not sure what these were, but they were good. They were stalks and leaves, very green, well seasoned; we especially enjoyed these. There were these two large dumpling-type things, one with beef and one with shrimp. They brought rice congee (soup) -- it was very good, but nothing like wonton soup or egg drop soup, and especially not like hot & spicy soup. I liked it. There may have been something else in this course; there were many choices, and I may be leaving something out. We tried it all. Then they cleared that away and brought noodles -- similar to what you think of as the noodles in the States, but not as greasy and much tastier. Then, they brought these soft white little round cake-like things that had a sesame paste in the middle. They were also good -- and Jayden approved. She pretty much only ate the sweets at the beginning and end a little of the beef. She was already tired by the time we got there. THEN, they brought out soup, two choices -- David and I each got one so we could try the other. My choice was a papaya soup; it was sweet, like drinking the liquid out of a can of fruit, but hot, and good (it was more liquid than syrup). David's choice was a bean and peanut soup. It was also very good. I would like to try to find a recipe and make it. To drink, we had Chinese tea in little cups with no handles, which David and I being "tea people" now liked. They were funny though because you could hardly take a sip without them refilling our cups! It was very much an "event" and not just a meal, I felt. It was a nice experience. After lunch they took us to Causeway Bay and dropped us off. Mostly we walked around. There were a ton of shops -- hair salons, jewelry and watches, cell phones, electronics, money changers, banks, magazines, clothes, restaurants -- and a TON of people. I couldn't get over how many people there were! People everywhere. David bought some headphones for the computer at one of the first shops we came to (which later he figured that was probably not very smart), and later we went into one of the banks to change money. Oh, we did go inside a bakery and I really enjoyed looking at all the breads. I must be a carb-type! We only bought a chicken sandwich that we had with our lunch today (it was very good) and a bottle of water, but I could have bought several of the different kinds of breads. I would like to try some while we are here. We found a mall and walked around a little inside, but mostly just went inside to use the restroom! There was a McDonald's and a Toys R Us, many other stores I didn't know, and two movie theaters -- but no movies in English. We didn't stay long. Then we found the "$10 Store" and walked around there. The "$10 Store" is a lot like a Dollar store in the States -- HK$10 is not much more than US$1. There was so much stuff in there! We will probably be back at some point. All we bought yesterday was a pencil for David to work on his math studying. By now we were getting tired and beginning to get hungry, and I mentioned that since it is hard for the 4 of us to get out, I would be interested in getting supper at a restaurant while we were already out and downtown like that. So we ended up seeing this Indonesian restaurant which was in the same building and right down from the Outback Steakhouse. There were not many people in there and the prices seemed reasonable, so we thought it would be a good fit. It was excellent! We had a hard time deciding what to order. We ended up ordering 4 dishes, 2 for the restaurant and 2 for "take-away." David got chicken gulai, at least I think that's what it was, which was a spicy chicken dish (chicken wings, I guess), with a sauce and vegetables. I got mixed vegetable curry, which was so good. I got to bring a little home that I couldn't finish. Plus, we brought home some greens (kale and some other things) and chicken w/ garlic and green beans (I think). We ordered Jayden plain egg which she enjoyed. We brought some of that home, too. She ate some today but I think she still has some leftover. Then, after eating the spicy food and being in a celebrating mood, I felt like dessert. We asked what would be a traditional Indonesian dessert, since this was the first time we had had Indonesian food. She made two suggestions, and we decided on the "sticky rice" with mango. Sticky rice is black rice, topped with cream, I believe. It was sweet but not overly so. And of course mango is delicious. We really enjoyed it. Jayden did too -- have you determined she has her mother's sweet tooth? -- and I think she was a little sad when it was all gone. She wanted more. We left the restaurant and found the MTR (subway) station. We had to buy an Octopus (electronic travel) card for Joshua. Then we had to find a lift (elevator) to get us to the platform to catch the train. The volume of people was so overwhelming! Finally we made it to the platform just as the next train was arriving. We took the MTR two stops and got off at Fortress Hill, which is the stop closest to Shue Yan, but it's really not that close. It is a very far walk from Shue Yan to the MTR station. We walked a little way down King's Highway from the MTR station towards "home," and then caught a taxi to bring us to Shue Yan. The taxi cost HK$22 (so about US$3). We were wiped out. Jayden was already history; I wasn't far behind. David managed to stay up a little longer than I did, and I don't know about Joshua. And it was only 7:30! But I hadn't had much sleep before that, so I think it was just catching up with me. I ended up getting a LOT of sleep last night. This morning we had a visitor; Dr. F S Hu's wife, Miranda. She brought us a blender to borrow for Joshua (and the first attempt using it this afternoon went well) and a few other kitchen things. She visited with us for a little while and told us several things to see and do in Hong Kong plus some advice on getting around. She and I will go to a big grocery store on Monday morning. She was very nice and such a blessing. Everyone here has been extremely nice and helpful. We stayed inside today; David didn't even go to the Park n Shop. It was his first day to not go! (We'll have to go to the store again tomorrow, though, for water if nothing else.) I had plenty of school work to keep me busy, and David was able to get some work done, too. It was a little cooler today, and very windy. But still warm enough to run the air conditioner and wear short sleeves. I hear it's very cold in Monroe these days! Tonight's class went well. I have 13 students. They all seem very friendly. I think I have learned all 13 names -- English names, not Chinese! I couldn't match up their English names with their Chinese names, yet. But I do have it written down. David and I were thinking tonight that we might like to have a Christmas party here in the apartment for the students. An American Christmas party! And we would try to use it to share the true meaning of Christmas. I was also thinking I would like to invite them up for a "Louisiana meal" -- but I'm not sure if there's enough time to do both, or just do both at the same time, or only do Christmas (I'm thinking finger foods/party foods, not a sit-down formal Christmas dinner). I could use your help with ideas and recipes. I have not made Louisiana food from scratch before, plus I may be somewhat limited on available ingredients (though I did see Tabasco sauce at the Park n Shop!). And for Christmas, although I enjoy my Christmas cooking every year, I always have my favorite recipe books that I reference and then end up with plenty of ideas. But right now I'm trying to think "from scratch" and I'm coming up empty! Granted, it's also late and I'm tired, but still. I want to do "American" but not completely unhealthy, either. Please send your ideas -- I'd love to hear what you come up with! One more request: please keep us in your prayers. Jayden has been a little under the weather for a few days now, and tonight David is running a little fever and feeling yucky. Then tonight during class my throat started getting scratchy -- oh no! We tried to be diligent about washing our hands, but there's only so much you can do. Pray that Joshua won't get sick and that the three of us will not get TOO sick, and for a speedy recovery. I think Jayden may be heading back up; by this evening she was looking better. David said he was heading down, and I hope I'm not following him! We've been drinking our echinacea tea and using peppermint oil and Jayden's little cold tablets. I'm thinking I may fix me a cup of tea before heading to bed -- either Throat Coat (that is some good stuff for sore throats) or maybe just chamomile. I already had a cup of echinacea at the beginning of this post (it's long gone!). I think I managed to say everything. I posted new pictures from yesterday. David's been reprimanded that he needs to take a few pictures; I'll try to help him do that. He says I'm the photographer of the family! We're going to try to get out again tomorrow; we'd like to go find the tailor on the Kowloon side (across the bay) that Dr. Hodge recommended. I have a lot of work to do, too, so we can't stay out all day, but a little trip out will be very nice. I also need to go get some sleep to be able to do all that! I haven't heard back from the church yet, but hopefully I will before Sunday. If I would have thought about it I could have asked Miranda while she was here; I bet she would have known. Aleecia