Going to Work in Tall Buildings

I've become one of them. The people who go to work every day. I commute to an office on the 18th floor of a downtown high rise. I run before the sun rises because I get home after it sets. I use the phrases, "at work," and, "in the office" regularly. 

The good news is, I have great office mates. Last week, some of us went to dessert buffet together. That's right, people: all the dessert you can eat. I had one of everything. It was delicious!

And the work is fulfilling. Our Mandarin learning program is shaping up well. The web site will be up soon and the program may just run at some point. 

But, lest you start thinking that I've been hypnotized by desk calculators, I leave for NEPAL tomorrow! Alison King, Katherine Caouette, and 26 days of trekking are on the horizon. The "real world" may have won the battle but it's nowhere near winning the war!

Anyway, sorry it's been so long since I've written. It's been the daily grind here, which just isn't very interesting material. There (hopefully) won't be much internet while I'm in the mountains, but I'll have plenty to say when I get back from Nepal. Talk to you in April!

Kung Hei Fat Choi

Happy year of the Rabbit! I'm at the tail end of a a four day weekend of celebrating lunar new year. All of Hong Kong seems to be celebrating with fireworks, food, and family. For my part, I had dim sum with the people in the office and went to see the big fireworks show in central Hong Kong. And, of course, I enjoyed a nice, lazy weekend of hanging out at the flat I share with another Dragonfly staff member. Since I really haven't done much worth sharing, I'll tell you about where I'm living.

When I'm in Hong Kong, I live in a little town called Mui Wo on Lantau Island (Hong Kong comprises Hong Kong island, some area on the mainland, and several other islands. Lantau is one of them). It's an all bike community that doesn't allow cars in the residential areas--not that they could fit on most of the narrow roads anyway. We have a beach and the essentials (two grocery stores, two bike shops, and two bars among other establishments) and for everything else, it's a 45-minute ferry ride to Central Hong Kong. One cool thing about Lantau is that the government has limited development here, there is natural land right outside my door, and water buffalo roam around freely. I can leave my house and go for a hike or a run on trails without any driving or planning.