Cantonese Lessons

We have been trying to pick up Cantonese.   It is amazing how tricky it is when there are 20 million things to do a day, but we have been trying.  Todd is definitely the most diligent!  

I took an 'intensive' Canto class.  Level 1 was 2 weeks, 2 hours a day for 10 days.   It was actually really fun, and interesting.  Unfortunately, since we live far from the 'town'.  Everything is a commute (except for the airport, go figure).  So, for the 2 hour a day class it took up about 5 hours of my time just to get there and attend.  I actually really enjoyed the class, and would like to take the other subsequent lessons, as well.  That is if I have 2 weeks in a row that I don't have something else going on.  Currently, no such luck...   That and finding the time to 'study' that much information that quickly out here is tricky...   

Especially, with these kind of helpers:

Also, studying a foreign language is much more fun with a friend.   Todd had been looking into a tutor with a flexible schedule.  He came across a Norwegian Lady that has lived here for some 20 plus years, can read traditional  and is fluent in Canto and I believe Mandarin.   She actually lives pretty close to us too.  We started doing family Canto lessons with her once a week.  We meet her at different locations.  The first time was at a restaurant, where she was teaching us how to read the menu (in traditional, no I am not there yet) and how to order.  

We have really enjoyed our lessons as a family.  It is really fun.  

I took a couple pics on the sly of our lesson on her roof top.

Finding her place is a little tricky...

She lives in a little 'village' type of place. 

Oh, I forgot.  The view from the (dirty) bus window wasn't too shabby on the way. 

View from her roof. 

The Chinese-speaking Norwegian! 

 Roof view...  

My favorite view during the lesson.

 It was during Chinese New Year, so we had fun seeing the festivities of the small town locals.

Fun to see, not so fun to hear (LOUD banging)... 

There is a stigma out here that White people in particular can't learn Cantonese.

They honestly don't believe white people are smart enough, odd!

They tell us to learn Mandarin, it is easier... 

Our goal is to prove them wrong, even if we have to force them to talk to us in Canto!

Our teacher said, when she was first learning she would just tell them she doesn't speak English.  That way they are forced to speak Canto with her.  

Wish us LUCK!  

In Pursuit of Crickets....

On Josh's last day in HK, what could be the MOST fun thing we could do?

Hunt for crickets of COURSE!

Previously, I mentioned during Chinese New Year (for like 10 days) crickets are not sold.  You know because if you sell a 'lucky' cricket during the CNY it is bad luck.  

We now know...

Anyhow, we were hoping that Bird Street would have some unlucky crickets,

or worms or something the poor starving lizard could eat....

It is actually a really cool adventure.

 

 

We had to pass through Flower Street to get to Bird Street!

Oh, darn!  Tons of beautiful flowers!! :) 

Bird Street! 

They have birds I have never seen before, ones I have, and all are in tiny cages...

In Hong Kong space is a commodity that is hard to come by. 

 Krystin trying to decide - worms or grasshoppers.

I mean grasshoppers look kind of like crickets.

We decided on tiny grasshoppers, and some worms.  MMMM yummy.

CUTE! Husky! 

Time travel to back to that morning...

They had their last breakfast date...

I love how they always coordinate their outfits.

(Even if they say it was unintentional.)

Hmn, does this look like a good breakfast to you?

Just watching them drink Oreo-chocolate shake drinks and eating cake for breakfast made me feel a little ill.

 

Ok, a couple phone pics from the Cricket hunt too.

This was my view most of the day.

Back at the flat they gave Ember some love.

Then after a nice day, it was time to take Josh to the Airport.

We had dinner and dessert there, at two of our favorite places.

These two were killing me.

Logan and Kayla gave hugs bye a little earlier, because Josh had a midnight flight out and they had school in the morning.

What a cute group.

Todd and I were looking around shopping, and found these guys tucked away in a corner outside a shop.

Never easy to say Good bye to those you care about.

That is a lot of coordinating! 

Ok, one more hug!

just one more, really...

Bye Josh!

We miss him already!

He was truly a pleasure to have the entire time.  He just fits seamlessly with everyone in the family.  The pets are even more well behaved for him than us.  It is weird!