Busy at Work & Ex-Pat Living

Sorry I haven’t blogged much this week but I’ve been really busy. Wednesday and Thursday were ten-plus hour days filled with meetings, conference calls, and research projects. Work continues to go well, it just kind of monopolizes most of my time. Once I have the requisite hours completely for my academic credit I’ll take more time off and do more leisure activities. It is nice being so busy though. Every night I fall asleep right after laying down in bed and feel very peaceful. Its almost like my mission where I was exhausted all the time but just felt happy continuing on.

Since I don’t really have any new experiences or pictures to write about I thought I’d do a post about where I’m living. As a missionary we were crammed four Elders into a small apartment in so-so condition and lived a very frugal lifestyle. We didn’t have cars, got everywhere on foot or public transportation, and generally lived out among the people of Hong Kong. My experience this year is very different. The complex we live in is called Bamboo Grove and is on a hill over-looking Wan Chai. It is a haven for ex-patriots and is quite expensive. From checking some real estate listings I’m guessing that the rent on an apartment similar to the one I'm staying in is somewhere around $7,000US a month.

Our complex has a pool, small gymnasium, covered parking (big luxury in HK), shuttle busses, BBQ area, guards, and a few other nice amenities. Most mornings I go down and use the gym when it opens at 6am. Thankfully it has a stationary bike, leg press, and two elliptical machines, the hardware I need most for my rehab. After working out Mike and I eat breakfast, get ready for work, and head into the office by 9am most mornings. Sometimes we have conference calls or do other work from home before heading in. Riding in a car in HK is a totally new experience for me. I think I took a taxi maybe 5 times on my mission and rode in the mission van twice. It really disconnects you from the smells (not-so-pleasant) and general kinetic (pleasant) atmosphere of HK. As an ex-patriot you really could live life without getting the true HK experience. Lately we have been getting home from work around 7-8pm, eating dinner, and going to bed by 10pm. Its almost like I’m a grownup now.

The pictures are of our apartment and complex. My boss extremely graciously invited me to stay with him during my time in HK as his family is back in the US for the summer. I am staying in their 17 year old son’s bedroom and have my own bathroom too. The living accommodations are a dozen times better than when I was a missionary and we would jam four Elders into a bedroom not much bigger than the one I currently have to myself. Thank you Mike!