Dispatches from Hong Kong: Part 4

Finding my Groove

Now that I've finally gotten my sleep on schedule, I wanted to start some healthy habits during my time here in Hong Kong. As you've seen by now, my apartment here is at the top of a giant hill overlooking the sea. It turns out that there is a really beautiful promenade along the sea for people to walk or run along. So, I've started running down the hill and walking along it and climbing back up the hill as a exercise circuit. That climb sucks more than I can adequately express in words, but the walk along the sea is beautiful.

(First the night shots. I love the guy fishing in the pic on the left. The lights on that hill in the distance are the cable cars you can see from my balcony. The pic on the bottom is the dreaded staircase that you have to climb to get off the promenade. At the end of a run, you're in no mood. Trust me.)

 (Who's got it better than me?)

(Local graffiti)

After the first week in the office getting my bearings, I was determined to get out there and start making friendships in my second week. One of the better ideas instituted in the Foreign Service was the creation of the Community Liaison Office (CLO). The CLO's job is to help integrate people into the embassy community and to help them feel at home at post. You want to know what is fun to do in this town? You wanna know how to get your kids into the local schools? Ask the CLO. In addition to providing information, CLOs also organize group activities a couple of times a month to help tie people in. I had been getting the weekly CLO newsletter for a few months and I was excited to finally be able to partake. The first opportunity I had was a night at the race horse track. Happy Valley Race Track is an institution in Hong Kong. The environment is similar to a NBA game, but less music. Some people just come just to have a beer and hang out, others are there to gamble hard-core. I think only one guy in our group placed a bet, and one of his horses won. I have to admit, it is a lot more fun watching the races if you have some skin in the game, even if it your friend's money on the line. I met some really cool people and had some fun conversations. I've been surprised how few people in the service are aware of the Pickering Fellowship, so I've had to repeat my story quite a few times. It was on repeat on this night, but it was a good time.

(Prior to the race, they parade the participants out so you can get a good look at them before you bet on one.)

 (The main event. I was surprised how quiet they were going by. I expected more rumbling.)



In the middle of the proceedings a variety show of sorts broke out. The guy being interviewed below claimed to be an acclaimed designer who's worked with Madonna, P!nk, Usher and others. I'll take his word for it. Then these women came out and did a dance for us. A good time was had by all.

(my selfie-stick game is improving)

                                      

        (Madonna, you say? Ok....)

(Hong kong Skyline above the track)

                                      

 (This moment was popular with those in attendance.)

 As I mentioned in a previous Dispatch, this is transfer season in the Foreign Service. So, lots of tearful goodbyes are being shared. While you'll likely interact with the Americans again either in D.C. or abroad, the locals you've learned to love and rely on will likely never be seen again. It is a tough time. Our Public Affairs Chief, Nini, was rotating out and so on Friday we took her out to lunch to say goodbye. It was my second Dim Sum experience in Hong Kong and it was a great time.

(The Entrance)

(The whole office came, we need two large rounds to fit us all.)

                                      

(The fanciest chopsticks I'd ever seen.)

(The food was amazing and plentiful. I wanted to try one of everything, I barely did it. So much food...)

 (One of the most memorable dishes was the pigeon. He was delicious, tasted a bit like duck. As you can see, his head was still hanging around.)

 

(It was a bit awkward at first, but we were getting along by the end)

(We'll see you again soon, Nini. Travel well...)

On Saturday brought one of the great local Chinese traditions, the Dragon Boat Festival. The Thursday prior to the races we celebrated in the Consulate with a dumpling party.

(Dumplings in the middle of a workday? Yes, please. I finally met the CG at this party. He's the guy in a tie on the far right. He told me he was born in Jacksonville, FL. I accused him of lying to me. Not the most diplomatic response, but he has a good sense of humor. Duval Diplomats, baby!)

The tradition goes back centuries and is one of the most colorful events I've ever participated in. There were so many people on that beach, I didn't now it was possible to fit that many people on one. It was like a mosh pit that you couldn't get out of. This year the Consulate was fielding a Dragon Boat team called the Stars and Stripes that was going to compete in the races, so I was determined to go out and support them. When the team in Public Affairs heard that I was going they asked me if I'd take a camera and snap a few pics for our social media pages. So, when I got out there I was armed with a little camera and was ready to work. But when Tina--one of our consular officers turned Dragon Boat racers--saw my little camera she insisted that I use hers. She had a nice, professional camera with a medium range lens attached. I was now ready to do some serious damage. We were out on that beach from about 9am to 5pm and I took hundreds of shots, I'm proud of how they turned out.

(My photog career is off and running. Wearing my swim trunks turned out to be my best decision of the day. None of the other photographers could wade out as far as I could.)

 (Tina snapped a few pics of me before I took over the camera)

(This post went up on Facebook a few days after the event. Not only did I take all the pics, but I wrote the draft of the post as well, with CG's approval, obviously. My first Foreign Service publication.)

The CG was scheduled to give remarks to the gathered faithful on the beach and before he gave them he wandered over to the team tent to wish them luck. He gives out his personal CG coin to people at events for their service on behalf of the Consulate. He gave me a coin for serving as the photographer. It was a fun day. I got to make some new friends, take in a great cultural festival and cheer on my colleagues.

That next day was Father's Day. I obviously didn't have my kids with me, but Steph was kind enough to stash some cards from her and the kids in my luggage. I also got a dad t-shirt and hat, so I wore them as went out on a shopping adventure for the day.

(Father's Day swag)

(My new Dad hat)

The next week was a big week in the office. Before I got to HKG they started a contest called My American Dream. This year's theme was about food tourism. The contestants were asked to submit videos describing why they wanted to go to the U.S. and what food they wanted to try while they were there. It is a great contest to promote American tourism. We established partnerships with private-sector partners like Delta, Uniter, Marriott, and Uber to give the winners free flights, hotels and transportation in the States. I got to help with the logistics of the finals, the finalist were brought to our offices for interviews and scored. The even this week was the announcement of the winners. We had the event at the Hard Rock in Hong Kong and I was given some MC responsibility for the event. I think this Public Diplomacy work is going to suit me just fine...

(The spot.)

(The Room)

(The team getting ready to put in work.)

(CG Showed up and chatted for a bit. He actually immediately recognized my tie as an SIS tie. He said they gave him one when he spoke there once. Shout out to AU!!)

(MC Bisase)

(After the event was over the CG ordered a round of shots to celebrate the birthday of one of the officers. I saw this and ran over just after this pic was taken. So, yeah, I did shots with the CG. How is this my life?)

My third day in the office I got an email asking if I'd like to speak to a group of ethnic minority high school students about coding. "Sure", I said. "No problem." (One thing I decided I was going to do before I got here was agree to everything I was asked to do. "No" is not in my vocabulary this summer.)  Right now you're wondering "what does Jack know about coding?" Nothing. At least two weeks ago I didn't. One of the most valuable lessons of my grad school career was that I can learn a tremendous amount of information in a short period of time. So, given 2 weeks to work on it, I knew I could put together a good presentation. I didn't need to teach the kids how to code, mind you. I just had to talk to them about why it was a good skill to learn. So, I had my first speech in the Foreign Service. The kids had already had their finals, so they were a little checked out, which is to be expected (but begs the question: what is the point of school after finals? They call them 'finals' for a reason), but some were really engaged and I hope I reached a few of them.

So, I'm going to end this post on a cliffhanger.

Last week, on Monday, I had a meeting with the Deputy Consul General. It was just an introductory meeting, but we got to talking about my background. Through that conversation it came up that I studied classical voice in a former life. "Oh yeah?", he said, "we might be able to use you..."

Next time on Dispatches: a star is born...