Culture Shock - Dog Ear's edition...

I love my little dogs.  It is true.  When everyone leaves, they stay by my heals and keep me company.  They always have love in their eyes, and smile on their little snouty faces.   I tend to be a little over-protective of them...  

I have always gotten them groomed.  They have very thick coats that get matted very easily, and shed.  We have found it is much easier to keep them clean and healthy with a trim.   I have used a TON of different groomers... A TON.  Between Arizona and California.  Yes, there some that I have loved and some that I didn't use again, but overall nothing too bad....      

We had them trimmed very shortly before sending them to Hong Kong, but their fur grows quickly.  We were lucky to find a groomer that lives in our complex.  They don't have 'groomers' like they do in the states.   We took our dogs to this nice Australian lady, who groomed them (when they had the flea episode, poor thing)...   She did an ok job, was a bit shorter than I would like, no cute bow or anything, but was ok.  Only problem, she was moving soon.  That and Lily was a bit angry at her. I have never seen Lily act like that.  We would see her in the complex and Lily would growl and hide.  Clearly, not a good relationship for future grooming either way....

So, time passed... My little pups became very furry...  They needed a grooming...   I did a LOT of research and came across a groomer that has TONS of recommendations, a face book page, with lots of before and after pics, and she comes to your house.   Seemed like a perfect fit!

I set an appointment.  She came on time, and was sweet, kind and wonderful (even with LILY!).  Lily, while a spaz, loved her.   I specifically asked her to shave their bodies ONLY.  I said do NOT touch their heads or tails.  I think they look silly with their heads or tails shaved.   She confirmed.... 

This is what they normally look like when I make this request...

(Ok. I know, they look a little silly, but I love it!)

Well, I had to leave by 1pm, and she finished right at 1pm...  When Honey came bounding out, while I noticed she had shaved her head (argh), I didn't notice her ears........   She was jumping and Lily was barking, and I had to go.  Todd was there too.  He didn't notice either.  I think I was thinking, "Uhg, shaved the head, oh well, asia."...  

It wasn't until I got home that I realized there was something VERY wrong with my dog's ears....  

VERY wrong. 

I picked up Honey and noticed that the groomer had TRIMMED THEM OFF.

I am not joking.

Kayla was sooo upset, that she made this comparison.

Yes.  The tips of her ears are gone.  GONE.  

I am not going to lie.  I started to cry, and cried continually for days after every time I look at her.  I feel so badly.  I feel responsible for her getting hurt and MAIMED!

Todd and I were home the entire time she was being groomed.  The door to the bathroom was open, while the grooming was happening.  I didn't suspect anything was wrong...  But, Honey NEVER complains.  Not when she gets shots, not when she had a huge microchip implanted, she just doesn't.

How is Lily, you wonder?

Her ears a tiny bit shorter, but Lily is a handful and I am betting trimming her ears wasn't possible.

Did I contact the groomer?

Oh, yes. I did....

I emailed her, as that was our means of communication.

I asked her about Honey's ears, and mentioned asking her not to touch the head.

Her response?  Let me cut and paste it...

Hi Tamara,
So sorry.... I know you asked me to keep the head and tail..... but didn't realize that you want me to keep the ears pointy.... the purpose to cut the ear's hair is to make their fully body and everything as round as possible.... for me or in HK.... that's a basic step every groomer will cut the ear round...unless you request it have to be pointy,  so I didn't ask you..... anyway I am so sorry I don't know what can I do for you...?   I will start to ask every customer from now on...

P.S. I cut the fur only... not the actual ear,  you mean I cut their skin or something...?.....  

Let's look at the pic again and decide did she or did she NOT cut the skin?

On the left, last time she was groomed with her head shaved (which I hate).  Look at the ears. You can SEE the skin.  POINTED little triangles.  On the right, sheared right off. :(   

She then sent me a diagram of how she didn't cut the ears, just the fur, and offered to come over immediately and make her ears 'pointy' again.  She even has medicine to stop bleeding.  :(

I was like, seriously, cut MORE off, no thank you...  Poor little Honey.

Worst part is, she is super sweet, and aside from cutting my dog's EARS OFF and not following directions, did a great job and was so sweet with them.  UGH....

Ok, cause I KNOW you are curious to see the diagram she drew to demonstrate how she didn't cut the skin...  

In the diagram, notice how the ear is still pointy under the fur.  

Look at the above picture, does it seem accurate???

Let's just say that I am deeply disturbed by this, my poor Hun.

Take this as a Public Service Announcement, if in Asia with a dog, watch them GROOM your pup...

Track

Hong Kong is so not into sports, well compared to the U.S.

Krystin and Logan have been training with a professional coach about 2 hours from where we live a couple times a week.   It really was the only option if they wanted to run.   The coach works with a running club, and they have to qualify to join the running club.  Then, they can be entered into competitive races.

There was recently an event that lasted over two weekends.

 It was at the Wan Chai Sport Grounds.
Very nice indeed.

Creepy poster.

They might be good for roll call, but not so much help in asking where the 'toilet' is...

 Logan ran the 1500 (not the mile) the first weekend!
He did awesome, and got a better time than he expected!

The next weekend was 800 Meter race day!

Look at the names...

Krystin and Logan were both given 'Club' Shirts to race in.
Strangely, they were completely different!

Logan's 800 Prelim was awesome, and he qualified for finals.
Which we didn't know would be 2 hours later....

 Krystin spotting!

This was Krystin's first ever 800 meter.

They were running a bit late, so they didn't have a pre-lim and just went strait to the final.

Krystin had to share a lane. 

She took 3rd place, which meant Bronze Medal!



Awesome!

What did Todd and I do to entertain ourselves for the hours we hung out?
Yah...  We were goofy.

Logan conserved his energy...
Which entertained us too.

 Krystin was too cool to sit with us, so we stalked her.

 and watched logan try and sleep on the most uncomfortable hard plastic chairs.

Oh, this was the event!

Yes, and then we talked to Logan to take pictures of his head!

We had to wait for what seemed like FOREVER for Krystin to get her bling.

 All-in-All, an Amazing first track race of the season!

It was really fun to see them run again, especially with Todd by my side!!!

Kayla's 1st Day - College in HK

Kayla is very excited to study in Hong Kong!

This week is her first week of school.

After months of Kayla's love and attention, there was some sadness at the thought of Kayla's departure... 

Kayla gave her pup some lovin' and then set out! 

Her Boyfriend sent her a little lizard friend!

When Kay returned, Lily quickly claimed Kayla to prevent future abandonment!   

My favorite things Kayla shared so far this week about her experience.

First, she went to class and saw a boy that was ''white" and spoke English.

At first, she thought could he be one of MY people, but alas, she said he was not.  He was a Swede.  Nice Swede, but not one of her American Homies...

My other favorite thing she shared, taken from her Facebook status:

Kayla Rooke

19 hours ago

You know you're in Hong Kong when a class taught in English requires a textbook that only comes in Chinese... Better pick up Japanese fast (it's a japanese class). LOL.  

Here's to a great  and very interesting Semester!

Kayla's Legal!!!

We have been going back and forth with immigration in Hong Kong about Kayla's Visa status, since last March.  Last March when she was 18 yo....  Apparently, in Hong Kong, when you turn 18 you are not allowed to be considered a dependent.  We originally thought it wouldn't be an issue, that they would approve her dependent Visa, after 7-8 months of discussion they said NO.  As an American you are allowed to remain in HK for 90 days at a time, which meant Kay needed to leave the country at least every 90 days to re-start the time again, and we were told that immigration doesn't like it if you just leave and keep coming back.

  The entire situation was a bit frustrating.   They suggested she apply for a student Visa, which has a process to it as well.  She was planning on applying for school when she got out here to start in the Fall, but missed the deadline by a week...   So, she applied for Spring Semester once she was able to.   Finally, a few weeks ago, she received her college acceptance, which she needed to apply for her student Visa.  Then we were told by the school that she can't be in Hong Kong when she applies for the Visa.  That immigration will not approve it if she is.  Luckily, we contacted immigration and they said it wouldn't be a problem, they have her in the system...   

So, finally she was granted her Student Visa, which means she is legally allowed to stay (for the semester at least).   It isn't quite that simple though.  She had to activate the Visa, which means she had leave Hong Kong, go through immigration, and re-enter, at which point the Visa is activated....

So....   We got home from LA about 2am Sunday Morning, Todd had to fly to Singapore Sunday at 8pm, and Kay had to officially register for school this week with her activated Visa, so Monday was the day to do it.  Luckily, Macau is only an hour boat trip away, and is a different country so it works to activate the visa....

Kayla and I were able to have a Mommy - Kayla Macau date.  

It was a beautiful day, even if I was totally jet-lagged and spacey.  

Completely....  Poor girl.

 Duff came along and even got a little Bunny!

Kayla was cute, as usual!

and had convo's with her BF

We got lunch.  Yummy turkey sandwiches, of which I dropped mine instantly on the floor...  Yes.  I can be a little extra special sometimes, especially when I am all jet-lagged and forlorn that Todd is gone...  It is ok.  I bought another...  

Oh.  Well, we did get some amazing French Ice Cream too.  Yum!

Who knew this little cart had such yummy ice cream in it?

Green Bean was cracking up with Duff and Sporie...

It was actually really funny.  

Kayla and I were talking about Giant Squids.

Kay was saying something along the lines of her squidlings wanting to see a giant squid (I believe)....

Then I said to them, "Well, we don't really want to see one, because it would eat your Mommy!"....

Green Bean immediately gasped in horror and ON HIS OWN, I swear, did this below...  

Yes.  always entertaining in our house...

Here's to Kayla living life as a LEGAL alien in Hong Kong! YAY!