Another Year Gone

Today marks the 1st anniversary of our relocation from Tokyo to Hong Kong.  Rika still gets tearful when she remembers the immigration official at Narita bidding me 'sayonara' ('goodbye') rather than the usual 'itterasshai' ('have a good trip').  

I think we can be pretty satisfied how we have adapted and settled-in to our new life.  Especially Hannah who had a hard time adapting to two new schools, but now seems fairly happy and secure.

Today also marks the half-way point in my initial contract in Hong Kong.  But given our cost-cutting targets there is no guarantee that my job will survive the summer.

So although we'd love to stay longer in Hong Kong, our life here inevitability feels temporary.  I still feel very much 'on the road'.

年暮れぬ
笠きて草鞋
はきながら

Toshi kurenu
Kasa kite waraji
Hakinagara

Another year is gone;
a traveler’s shade on my head,
straw sandals at my feet

Matsuo Basho, 1685 (c. 41 years old)

School Trip

On Wednesday I joined Hannah's school trip top see the Hong Kong skyline.
Class photos on the lions at HSBC building.   This is a different class since we gotour group mixed up.

The Central Post Office has the worlds largest picture made with stamps. 

Then we took the Str Ferry to TST to have lunch and sketch the skyline. 

Hannah at work sketching.  She didn't want to draw and needed lots of encouragement

And Hannahs drawing.

And on Friday Hannah got an award from her gym class.

Day Off

Rika was still in bed all week with a cold.

We didn't have help on Tuesday so I came home early to look after Hannah.   It was a good chance to se how her tennis class was going.

Video: tennis lesson

I also noticed that our supermarket is having a New Zealand food and drink fair.   Naturally only the most exclusive and sophisticated products have been chosen....