looks like I'm staying a while
Ok so I can't tell you I've moved out just yet but ...
Two exciting developments at work are that I've passed my 3 month probation period (not sure how, it's only been a little over 2 months and I'm sure I deserve to be fired but there you go!) and I've found the kitchen! The second point was kind of vital, I'm not sure why it took me about two months but I can now drink rancid tea (sits stewing on a hot plate all day) whenever I want to and more importantly I now have access to the office gossip circle!!!
In other news I'm now officially fit, I've not actually physically done much to promote this beyond the amazing round of golf however I've joined a gym (only been once but I hear it's the thought the accounts) and I've signed up to a local footie team.
The footie team has proved rather interesting as I'm the only none Chinese person in the squad and in the two games I've played so far I've been the only one on the pitch! I admit it, communication is a bit of an issue but they let me play in the middle of the field and don't complain about my lack of skill in English so I can only assume everything's ok.
What was an issue for a while was me thinking everyone was shouting to me as people kept calling "gwy" meaning white person (short for gwylow - phonetic spelling - literally translated it means ghost). However my paranoia proved unfounded as gwylow in football also means man on, as in someone is shadowing you or there's a ghost behind you, makes sense really but for a while there...
On top of learning to say white man or man on I've also picked up an amazing five Cantonese phrases (though one doesn't really work!). I know, all in a little under five months, clearly a natural linguist! So, to help you out if you're ever over in HK here is my first Cantonese lessons for you - Taxi Cantonese;-
Gin jaw - turn left
Gin yow - turn right
tchek hoi - straight on (the one that doesn't work very well - not perfected it just yet!)
Lido - here (stop here)
Um goy (sai)- excuse me/ Thank you (very much)
I know I've not reported exciting eating for a while but, a few weeks ago Woo was over in HK (joined me at the lingerie fashion show the lucky bugger!) and under his slightly dodgy guidance I ate a 1000 year old egg, a local delicacy apparently! In reality they are 100 days old duck eggs preserved (if you can call it that) in powdered ash, strong black tea and garden soil (after I'd tried it I was told horse urine is also used but thankfully that's just a myth) - the white is a translucent gelatinous brown, the yoke a putrid dark green, a real must try!!!
You may or may not remember my theory from Africa that stated that things that don't die easily taste better (ie, Gemsbok - strong, fast antelope with big horns are hard to kill and taste great, sprouts on the other hand can't move, aren't big or strong, grow at a convenient height for picking and taste crap!). I can tell you the African theory also works here in HK, 1000 years old eggs are clearly suicide cases and are rancid.
And that's me, I'd explain why I've not moved just yet but it's really all far to complicated so I'll save that for a later date. Hope you're well and having as much fun as I am.
Laters
Jonathan
Still in O Pui Village
New Territories
HK
Two exciting developments at work are that I've passed my 3 month probation period (not sure how, it's only been a little over 2 months and I'm sure I deserve to be fired but there you go!) and I've found the kitchen! The second point was kind of vital, I'm not sure why it took me about two months but I can now drink rancid tea (sits stewing on a hot plate all day) whenever I want to and more importantly I now have access to the office gossip circle!!!
In other news I'm now officially fit, I've not actually physically done much to promote this beyond the amazing round of golf however I've joined a gym (only been once but I hear it's the thought the accounts) and I've signed up to a local footie team.
The footie team has proved rather interesting as I'm the only none Chinese person in the squad and in the two games I've played so far I've been the only one on the pitch! I admit it, communication is a bit of an issue but they let me play in the middle of the field and don't complain about my lack of skill in English so I can only assume everything's ok.
What was an issue for a while was me thinking everyone was shouting to me as people kept calling "gwy" meaning white person (short for gwylow - phonetic spelling - literally translated it means ghost). However my paranoia proved unfounded as gwylow in football also means man on, as in someone is shadowing you or there's a ghost behind you, makes sense really but for a while there...
On top of learning to say white man or man on I've also picked up an amazing five Cantonese phrases (though one doesn't really work!). I know, all in a little under five months, clearly a natural linguist! So, to help you out if you're ever over in HK here is my first Cantonese lessons for you - Taxi Cantonese;-
Gin jaw - turn left
Gin yow - turn right
tchek hoi - straight on (the one that doesn't work very well - not perfected it just yet!)
Lido - here (stop here)
Um goy (sai)- excuse me/ Thank you (very much)
I know I've not reported exciting eating for a while but, a few weeks ago Woo was over in HK (joined me at the lingerie fashion show the lucky bugger!) and under his slightly dodgy guidance I ate a 1000 year old egg, a local delicacy apparently! In reality they are 100 days old duck eggs preserved (if you can call it that) in powdered ash, strong black tea and garden soil (after I'd tried it I was told horse urine is also used but thankfully that's just a myth) - the white is a translucent gelatinous brown, the yoke a putrid dark green, a real must try!!!
You may or may not remember my theory from Africa that stated that things that don't die easily taste better (ie, Gemsbok - strong, fast antelope with big horns are hard to kill and taste great, sprouts on the other hand can't move, aren't big or strong, grow at a convenient height for picking and taste crap!). I can tell you the African theory also works here in HK, 1000 years old eggs are clearly suicide cases and are rancid.
And that's me, I'd explain why I've not moved just yet but it's really all far to complicated so I'll save that for a later date. Hope you're well and having as much fun as I am.
Laters
Jonathan
Still in O Pui Village
New Territories
HK
posted by JP at 2:45 am
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