Dispatches from Hong Kong: Part 7

End of the line

Soaking in the Shousun Hill view for the last time...

Week 10 came faster than I thought it would. At the beginning of the summer it seemed like a lifetime to be away from the family, but it really didn't feel that way in the end.

On the first day of my final week my high school bandmate, Jason, showed up in Hong Kong for a few days on the way to his brother's wedding. I got to share a meal with he and his girlfriend. Never thought I'd be sharing a meal with an old Jacksonville friend in Hong Kong, but life is a funny thing...

Work slowed down quite a bit in the final weeks. All the officers who were there when I arrived were gone by the time I left, so the transition forced us to reinvent the office flow, but by my final week I was able to get some quality work again. I had the opportunity to go with our Economic Section Chief to a meeting with interns at a local NGO to talk about international careers and I was also given an opportunity to run my first program. Typically this job wouldn't fall to an interns, but as the program was being put together in June, I was the only person in the meeting who would still be at post in August when the event was scheduled to happen.

The event was with some alumni from the Woman's Foundation's TEEN Program which is a program that helps underserved youth prepare for the next stage of their lives. So, we had about twenty kids aged 16-19 come to the Consulate. The program we put together started with a presentation on the work of a US mission abroad followed by Q and A. After that Bella helped me come up with games to play with the kids to help them practice their English language skills. Her background in education was really handy here. We started with the human pretzel game and charades as ice breakers and then we split them into 4 groups where we played Two Truths and a Lie and Head's Up. The day far exceeded my most optimistic expectations. Everyone had so much fun as evidenced by the photos.

Delivering opening remarks....

During Q and A the kids asked me about the significance of the flag...

Two Truths and a Lie...

Much laughter on this day...

Playing Head's Up. The kids had to, in English, describe the movie I'm holding up and the girl I'm standing behind has to guess what it is. 

My favorite picture of the day. A kid born in mainland China picks up the American flag for the photo so he can literally wrap himself in it. Diplomacy doesn't get better than that.

 At the end of my 9th week our colleagues threw a joint going-away party for Tau and I since we were leaving 4 days apart. I thought it fitting, the summer started with us sharing a birthday celebration, as you may recall...

Kristin bidding us farewell...

I got to supervise Tau for once...

"Thank you all, so much."

In my final weekly staff meeting  our Information Officer/Spokeswoman Kristin surprised me with a certificate of appreciation for my work this summer. It was very unexpected and I was humbled to receive it. I think this Foreign Service business is going to suit me just fine...

"I'd like to thank the academy..."

The most memorable thing about this summer will be the friendships I made. It all started with Tau on the first day who was a great friend and mentor. The time I spent with Sylar and Elizabeth will always be precious as they showed me their country in a way no American could have. I made many friendships with other colleagues that I've talked about in prior posts, these relationships will last for a long time.

(Random interjection) This was easily the strangest thing I saw in Hong Kong. This show sold pictures with inspirational quotes, you'll note that above Aung San Suu Kyi, and in-between Mandela and Bruce Lee is a nugget of wisdom from one Adolph Hitler. It reads "I use emotion for the many and reserve reason for the few." O....K....

Even until the end, I was still collecting friends. Below is a picture of Katie and I, she is a friend of Bella's who came to visit. We hit it off immediately, I wish we had more time to hang out but I'm grateful that our paths crossed, at least for a time.

My summer would not have been the same without Alex as a part of it. My FSO mentor served with him in Doha and told me to make sure to meet him once we found out I was coming to HKG. Fortunately for me, he was my neighbor. When his wife and kids left for a few weeks on vacation, we got to be married bachelor buddies for a month. We share a passion for music that bonded us instantly. We even found time to make a little band we titled The Foggy Bottom Boys (a few of you will get that joke, I hope).  We never got the courage to gig out, but we shot a few videos. The one below was one of the better ones. I hope to serve long enough to get to work for Alex in the future, that would be one amazing tour. Cheers, brother.

Dem Foggy Bottom Boyz

Those of you who've been reading the blog all summer will remember that I was the photographer for the Dragon Boat event at the end of June. Well, it was at that event that I first met Elaine. She ended up being the subject of more photos than anyone else that day because, as you'll soon see, she's one of the more photogenic people I've met. But to my shame, I never took the opportunity to hang out with her...until my last weekend. We ran into each other at an event during my last week and we talked about our common love of movies. She mentioned that she hasn't found anyone who likes to go to movies and that was all it took, date set! We went to go see Inside Out (Yes, it was great. No, I didn't cry; but it was close...) and we had a great time. Afterwards she took me to have Korean food for the first time in my life. I truly regret not getting more time in with her, but maybe fate will provide more opportunities in the future.

There was a giant Gundam robot in Times Square outside of the theater. 

 The last day in the office came and I didn't expect it to be very memorable, but I ended up being able to rack up some new experiences before I punched out for the last time. Our new IO, Kristen, and a couple other folks took me out to lunch at a great local place where they serve awesome roast goose. Do yourself a favor, get to Hong Kong one day and have the goose, it'll change your life! They gave me great Foreign Service life tips and even treated for ice cream after. Then it was time to say goodbye to everyone. The great thing about FSO goodbyes, however, is that there is a good chance you'll cross paths again. So, they're more like see-you-laters

Kristin and I in front of her Board of Wonder. 

Goose!

What a wonderful bird...

 So, my final weekend was fun and busy. Saturday the Foggy Bottom Boys had one last jam before going out with Elaine that night. Then Sunday I did some last minute shopping before I met my buddies for my last supper in Hong Kong. Sharing hot pot with Elizabeth and Sylar was the perfect way to go out.

Many people asked me during my last week "How was your time here in Hong Kong?" As I reflected on my answer to that question, I had to say I felt fulfilled. I did everything I came to do. I got to do lots of work that was important and took many different forms. I also got to learn a lot from colleagues who've been in the business for a long time, and I also got to make lots of new friends. At the end of my time there I felt like you do after a good meal where you ate enough but didn't overeat. I was anxious to get home to my family, however. Being apart from them for 10 weeks reinforced for me how much I love them and need them in my life. I was very excited to board the plane home on Monday...

Thanks to all of you who kept up with the Dispatches from Hong Kong. While this is the end of the series, the Duval Diplomat rages on. My Foreign Service career begins September 8th; no one knows what that future holds but I look forward to sharing the twists and turns with you all.

My parting note for the consulate folks...

Dispatches from Hong Kong: Part 6

Potpourri

(Taking in the museum on my visit with CG)

So, my approach to these dispatches thus far has been to write them in narrative fashion in order to give you a sense of how these events unfolded in my thoughts and how they unfolded in real life. The problem with this approach, however, is that many stories don't fit into the narrative. They're just funny, interesting things that happen as one-off events. So, this post is going to be a catch-all for some of the funny moments that have happened this summer.


My first trip to the CGR (Consul General's Residence) for an event for folks in the social enterprise world. In the pic below I am meeting a nice gentleman from JP Morgan.

Me: Oh yeah? JP Morgan?  I used to wok for them, I did mortgage underwriting for about 18 months there. What do you do for them?
Him: (trying his best not to laugh). I, um, run it. 

Turns out he is the senior country officer for JP Morgan in Hong Kong. The big cheese. Everyone in the room knew who he was except me. But in the end I think he found it refreshing to get to explain his job to someone, I don't think he gets that opportunity much. At least thats what I tell myself...

(JPMorgan Boss and me)

(Lady tryna shake my hand while I'm eating, come on man...)

Below picture is at the going away party for our departing Information Officer/Spokesperson, Scott Robinson. It was great getting to work under his leadership for 2 months. Fun fact: He will be starting language training for his next job at the Foreign Service Institute the same day I start there for Foreign Service orientation. So, we'll be reunited again on campus. He's promised to come haze me, as is tradition...

I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to go out to visit some historical districts in Hong Kong with CG Hart. Before our visit, we went to sample some local delicacies. Word to the wise: if you want to eat well, hang with the CG. 

After the meal we went to visit a museum and a center for disadvantaged youth. 

We also had the opportunity to do come community service by going to Food Angel, and organization that provides meals for the elderly. CG and I got paired up for the entire day and we got to swap stories while making meal boxes. He and I have similar personalities so we were laughing the whole day. 

(Perfect microcosm for the day: spoon in hand, head thrown back in laughter.)

July 1st is an annual protest day in Hong Kong. This is a unique event in all of China because this is the only place allowed to protest openly. I went out with one of our Political Officers to observe the protest so we could report back to DC what happened. Usually, nothing happens, but you need people on the ground just to make sure. These are some of my favorite shots from the day:

(ever seen 30k people flood the streets? Its quite a thing)

(These guys had a puppet show going mocking local politicians)

(A full marching band was marching in the demonstration)

For 4th of July weekend I hopped on a plane and went to Taiwan to enjoy Taipai for 48 hours with my friend and colleague Tara Lewis. Tara is in my Pickering cohort, so we've been on the same life path for the last couple of years. She's doing her internship in Seoul, so we decided to meet in the middle to take on the town. 

(At the top of Taipei 101, the 5th tallest building in the world)

            

(They have a mirrored floor at some parts of the observation deck. Ladies in skirts beware!)

The 101 from about 5 miles away. 

We stayed in a nice hotel with free breakfast and a disturbingly helpful staff. But the most amazing thing about the room was the emergency exit. In case of fire, you're instructed to strap yourself to this hook and Batman yourself down the side of the building to the floor! We were 10 stories up! The thought of trying to learn this contraption while simultaneously trying your best not to be engulfed by flames was one of the funniest thought experiments I'd conducted in a while. 

(Totally realistic, right? Ha!)

(Tara and I at the National Palace Museum, one of the finest collection of Chinese antiques in the world)

(The garden of the museum) 

One of the highlights of the trip was the visits to the night markets. The sights, the smells, the bubble tea! These were exactly what you're looking for in an international experience. So much culture on display...

(The night markets were humming with activity)

(Couldn't read the Mandarin to figure out what these were but this much is clear: They're fruit flavored, they're edible, and they're shaped like penises.)

(Random Picture: everyone in Taipei rides a scooter. Everyone...) 

Those of you from the pacific northwest will know about Voodoo Doughnut. I had actually never heard of it until listening to the Rachel Maddow Show the week before my trip. She used is to make sense of a news story out there. Then when we get to Taipei Tara asked me if I'd heard of it, turns out they opened a branch in Taipei. So we had to go...

(The famed Voodoo Doll doughnut and the glazed with bacon...nomnomnom)

The final fun activity we had was a trip Maokong Gondola. It gives spectacular views of the city and they have nice shops and restaurants at the top of the mountain. So we enjoyed those. 

    

                                 

Our delicious bubble tea with cat cookie

Fresh strawberries, fried doughnuts, whipped cream? Yes please...

When I got back from Taipei my roommate had finally arrived. Bella Fernandez is her name and she and I get along well. We live and work together, so we see each other a lot, so it is a plus that we mesh. Here are some pics from our outings. 

(Us in the office making our 'gangsta face')

(Near The Peak after leaving CG's house)

(Found a burger joint)

One night I wanted to go see the famed Avenue of Stars and the Symphony of Light. I called my buddy Elizabeth and she agreed to be my guide. 

                                     

(We found this guy riding this inexplicable contraption while walking the town)

(Avenue of Stars)

(Most names I didn't know, but we found Jet Li)

(Bruce Lee is a legend around here)

(This skyline is peerless in the world. Simply stunning)

The light show was quite a thing. Better in theory than in practice, but it is an ambitious project. All the buildings on the other side of the harbor have lights on top, there is narration and music synchronized with the show on the spectators side of the harbor, so it was probably a huge logistical challenge to get it set up. I heard there used to be fireworks every night, but that got pricey. So, it falls a little flat, but is still worth seeing once.

This mall had a giant Where's Waldo exhibit which they inexplicably called "Where's Wally?"

(My first trip on the famed Star Ferry)

One of the best things about being in the consulate is that when CG doesn't want to go to events he's been invited to, sweet tickets sometimes fall into your lap. The US women's volleyball team , current world champs,  was in town playing a tournament. I went the first night with Derek, our Economic Officer, and had such a good time that I came back the last night with Elie, one of our Consular officers. 

                                                                                (Point for the US.)

(They hired cheering sections for each team. For the next match, they just gave the new signs and the same people were cheering for a completely different country)

(Me and Derek) 

(Beautiful view from outside the arena)

(Intermission)

(Elie and I)

(Started from the bottom...)

(The US cheering section. Not one American among them.)

I heard from my colleague, Samson, that Hong Kong had a 4DX movie theater. 4D enhances the typical 3D experience by adding moving chars, water, air blasts, scents, and track lighting to the movie experience. We watched Jurassic World. It was quite amazing. The theater was in the biggest mall I've even been in, we just kept ascending higher and higher...

(Escalators for days in this place...)

(Those two black dots on the chairs are where the air came from. Great for getting the effect that a dinosaur is breathing down your neck)

(Tau, Samson and I.)

The Carnegie Hall group came through with the US National Youth Orchestra, the best 16-19 year old musicians in the country. They were breathtaking. Before the concert we had dim sum overlooking the harbor. 

One night the local interns, Elizabeth and Sylar, decided to show the American interns another side of Hong Kong. We went out to a Chinese restaurant and then to a local dessert shop. 

(The tables have live goldfish swimming inside them)

(The intern crew)

(Peking Duck, boyeeee...)

(Walking through Times Square to get to the dessert spot)

(Believe it or not, these are all desserts. And, yes, mine has a boiled egg in it.)

The Consulate has a soccer team, Tau and my buddy Alex are on the team, so I went out to support them a couple of times.

This is my final week in Hong Kong. Its amazing how fast the time seems to have gone. We will have one final Dispatch once I return to the States to sum up my time here.... Until then...