DIY

OK, it's time for me to update again. The last of our IKEA furniture has just arrived so i better make this short.

Yesterday, I attended a HELP clas way up north in the New Terrirotires (I had to leave at 6:30 for a 9am class, taking bus, ferry and then another bus) with Ada, a CECES employee. She's a funny girl, a bit of the typical "hong kong character" in her but desperately wanting to impress me too, for some reason or other. She told me this hilarious story about herself meeting some guy over the Internet, but i shouldn't tell it here for i wouldn't want it to be broadcasted if it were me.

Anyways, the main reason i was asked to shadow her class was because she was having some trouble with disciplining the students (aged 10-13), and making the lessons engaging and interesting without having them compare her with the program from last year.

From what i could observe, the kids definitely had a lot of energy but isn't that just expected from kids? One thing that i've noticed after seeing two classes already, the kids in HK are a lot more HAPPY than in China. It's hard to explain, but the only way i can describe it is that they glow.

Perhaps i've mentionned this before, but Chinese kids seem to get stuck with the weirdest and funniest English names. Sometimes it's their teacher that gives them their name, sometimes they name themselves.

In Urumqi, the ones that stick close to mind are: Elmo, Nemo, Starfish, Blue and the best, BUS STOP!! Yesterday i met my first Bobo and Pinky. Haha!

Last evening, Matt and i took a ferry from DB to a nearby village on Lantau Island, Mui Wo. More authentic in HK flavour, it had a nice seaside cafe/restaurant that serves a delicious cappuccino cheesecake.

I bought a second hand mountain bike there too, so happy about it and can't wait to ride it around later today. From Mui Wo, one can get lost in the many hiking and biking trails, can't wait to go and explore.

Gotta go and be useful with my screwdriver now.

written by: Bon

OK, finished our second weekend of intensive lessons in how to delve deep into the Swedish psyche and figure out how use six screws to fill seven holes in the infuriating pieces of Ikea furniture we bought.

Add to that the fact that we only got one of the vertical shelf stands and the cross bar at the back was delivered with all the paint peeling off and covered in rust, anyway glad it's all done now.

Also had time for a game of tennis and a quick trip on our bikes to round off the weekend. Settled in to watch Etre et Avoir now then another fun week starting tomorrow!

written by: Matt