Back To Hong Kong

Returning to Hong Kong from Germany was a relief, as everyone settled back into their comfortable routine. We only had a few days to recover but now everyone is doing great except for me where change is in the air as I prepare to leave my job at The Conservancy Association where I am currently the Conservation Manager (isn't it a bummer that in this open information age we can't simply rant about our true situation? and opinions of others?). What will I do next? I have some ideas, but won't mention here until they are confirmed.

Christmas In Germany

Christmas in Germany was curious. We got stuck in Heathrow overnight on the way because of a dense fog that sidelined many a traveler, some for 3 days. Then we arrived a day late to a nice vacation house in Oberhausen with no luggage, which wouldn't come for another 4 days. Birgit had to quickly go shopping as ALL stores are closed from 12/23 to 12/26!

Then we slept through Christmas because we only had the clothes on our back and no gifts. It was quiet, but in a sense, very nice just to be "stuck" with the kids. When our luggage finally arrived we said to ourselves, "Wow! We didn't need it anyhow!" It was nice to not have to change clothes everyday!!!

Then we visited old friends, old cities, were lucky to have a borrowed car with free gas, ate as many gyros as we could, and generally felt peaceful.

There is nothing like New Years Eve in Germany. There aren't many small localized little parties (or huge events in downtowns that I knew of, except maybe Berlin) but EVERYONE in EVERY house comes out at midnight and sets off their own fireworks! It's incredible that you come out and all around you see rockets going off, fireworkds and more. The kids were quite excited and we did fireworks for an hour.

And they still woke up early the next day!