Thank you, Asia "Rice " (86 days left)

March 6, 2021

When Brent and I were first talking about the possibility of teaching abroad I remember approaching our kids.  "If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?"  Adam, all of 8 years old responded, "Somewhere with rice."  Perfect!  Korea it is.

One year prior, we were hosting Sein, an exchange student from Korea.  One night she was going to make dinner for us, "Do you have a rice cooker?" she asked.  I didn't even know there was such a thing as a rice cooker!  Within days she took us to Walmart and helped us purchase our first rice cooker.  She then proceeded to teach us the secrets to cooking rice in the rice cooker.  First you rinse the rice several times until the water runs clear, using the water to feed your plants.  Then you check the water level by placing your hand on top of the rice until it reaches a particular level on your hand. This leads to perfect rice.  Little did I know how much rice I would consume in the next decade or so. 

Coconut Rice at Veggie SF in Central, Hong Kong

Of course for both Korea and Hong Kong rice is a staple.  There are many different types of rice available in small to huge bags of it.  When Covid-19 hit us first in Hong Kong, the run on toilet paper was soon followed by a run on rice.  At the time, I bought a huge 25 pound bag of it.  It has since been used.

It turns out that living in Asia for most of his life means that Alec much prefers rice more than potatoes with a meal.  He actually doesn't even like potatoes that much.  For me, it is about even, although I do get a hankering for good mashed potatoes now and then.  And, as you may expect, I have learned how to make fried rice from left over rice. 

Living in Asia has expanded our palate quite a bit, and amongst that is an appreciation for rice. Thank you, Asia. 

Uncooked sticky Rice which became. . . 

Mango Sticky Rice at cooking school in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Enjoy the menu at Chinese New Year 

. . . and here is the stir fried glutinous rice with preserved meat!

Photos by © Brenda Brayko. All rights reserved.

Thank you, Asia "Sand" (87 days left)

I didn't know there were so many different types of sand until we began travelling to beach locations such as those around Asia.  I hope to bring my sand collection home to Wisconsin, but I don't know if it will make it intact.  Here we have sand samples from our travels these past 11 years.  Perhaps you can spot the black sand from Bali, Malaysia. 

Our first beach trip was to Boracay island in the Philippines our first Christmas abroad (2010). This is still my favorite sand in the world!  Until vacationing here I didn't know that sand could come so white and so fine and soft.  The local children in Boracay can even pack sand balls the size of large snow balls to play a local game.  Thus began my collection of sand. 

The kids on the beach in Boracay. 

The Braykos have a long-standing tradition of taking pictures of our writing in the sand.  Hanging out with kids on a beach is an easy day.  Sun +  sand + kids = fun.  In 2015 we headed to the Sabah region in Malaysia, staying at a resort in near Kota Kinabalu.  The water was warm and the sand hard packed. 

Alec at Sabah

In 2015 I reunited with an old friend in Phuket, Thailand.  Alexandra had survived the 2004 Tsunami at the very resort we stayed at.  

Another Christmas with sand was in 2014 where we vacationed with friends from our time in Korea, the Cabalunas.  Phu Quoc, Vietnam had an amazing beach that wasn't too overcrowded, as the area was newly open to tourism. 

Closer to home, in 2012, I attended a women's retreat with ladies from my church in Hong Kong, Church of All Nations. We spent a few days in a lovely Airbnb enjoying the sand and water on our breaks.  And of course there are a myriad of other beaches in Hong Kong closer to home where I have spent a good amount of time with friends and family or all alone. 

Repulse Bay Beach - end of year celebration

Repulse Bay Beach during Covid beach shutdown

Hong Hom Beach

St. Stephen's Beach, Stanley

Repulse Bay Beach

Brent at Turtle Cove, our closest beach

Thank you, Asia, for all the beach time!

Thank you, Asia series "The Value of Space" (89 days left)

The last home we owned, our home on Summer Place in Green Bay, was 1600 sq. ft. with a basement, a good size front and back yard and a 2 car garage.  

Our apartment in "Goodmorning Hill" in Dongcheon-dong was 900 sq. ft. with three bedrooms and 2 baths on the 15th floor of a 25 story apartment.  No basement.  No yard.  Parking garage. 

our first Goodmorning Hill apartment building

The view from the 15th floor

Our apartment in "Scenic View" in Tai Tam now is about 1100 sq. ft. with three bedrooms and 3 baths on the 7th of 8 floors.  No basement. No yard. Parking garage.   Many Hong Kongers live in apartments of only 300 sq. ft. (Thankfully, that is not our story.)

Our Scenic View apartment is pictured in the video 

It was probably after living three years in a suburb of Seoul that it hit me why I could simply walk out of my apartment and get to everything I needed  - economical use of space.  Living in high rise apartments means all the people are stacked on top of one another which means that the surrounding land can be made into businesses right there out of your door.  We had a stationery store, a grocery, clothing shops, dry cleaners, convenience stores, and lots of restaurants within about a five minute walk of us.

In Green Bay our home was a lot bigger but any services we need we need to drive to, the nearest being Walmart about 5 minutes driving.  

Learning to live in an apartment in Seoul took about a year.  We were "on top" of one another. But over time having the family so close to one another became less annoying, and even tolerable.  Could we be a "closer" family because of it?  Maybe.

Of course the population density of Seoul at nearly 16,000 people/kilometer squared and of HK at 6300 people/kilometer squared far exceeds that of Green Bay at 884 people/kilometer squared.  This explains why, pre-Covid I once stood at Times Square in Hong Kong and counted 100 people walking past me in 50 seconds.  It explains why we have gotten used to being bumped into without needing anyone to say "I'm sorry." 

Overlooking apartment buildings in Hong Kong

Now I believe I think of space differently.  I don't mind what some may consider a small apartment.  We have successfully hosted parties with 30 - 40 people in our small spaces.  I don't mind that we can't accumulate so much "stuff" (somehow we seem to still have accumulated plenty).  

Pictured is a party of about 16 in our HK flat. 

However, I certainly love our present home in Green Bay and the extra space it affords.  It feels a bit luxurious to have 1100 sq. ft plus a basement, front and back yard, and a garage again.  

Our home in Green Bay.  See you 89 day!

Perhaps there is still much to explore about the value of space.  But I am fairly certain I would never have concerned myself with the value of space and use of space without living in Asia.  

© Photos by Brenda Brayko.  All rights reserved. 

 

Thank you, Asia series, "Hiking" (90 days left)

 Thank you, Asia series.  90 days left.  March 2, 2021

Hiking.  I guess when I was a kid we would hike out to our family's cabin.  Hike the trail from the road to Isbushka (about a 25 minute hike, if I am correct) - or later from the valley cabin Serendipidy up the hill to Isbushka. And from time to time as an adult I would hike a trail through a state park or two.  And as a dog owner I would walk Bucky and Roscoe through the woods or down a wooded lane, but it wasn't until moving to Korea that I really encountered "hiking" culture.  

Grandpa with the grandkids at Isbushka II.

Hiking in Korea always fascinated me.  The trails were somewhat steep because the mountains were higher than the hills in Wisconsin.  

The trails we hiked on were close by our apartment initiating with a steep staircase and then proceeding to wind up and down rocky, dry leafy, dirt trails.  You could easily walk thirty minutes on a trail to suddenly come across a "work out station".  

a workout station about 25 min from the trailhead

More workout equipment in the middle of nowhere

Inevitably there would be people working out in the middle of the woods and they were alway old!  For some reason the hiking culture in Korea appealed most to the grandmas and grandpas or the expats.  While one would find families with small children, it was rare to see teens hiking the trails there.

On the hike behind Ramien near Goodmorning Hill 

Another thing that fascinated me about Korea was the lack of wildlife when hiking - no squirrels or rabbits. Some butterflies but few insects accompanied us.  Oh, but Asian bees - you know, the murder bees that have now found their way to the US?  We had those. It seemed there were only a few species of birds, as well - magpies being rather populous.  

Hiking became a ritual for Brent and others of our staff at KIS; I joined in occasionally.  It could be gruelling but fun to hike for 1.5 - 4 hours with friends in Korea, always looking for the next good view and munching on energy balls during a break.

KIS hiking group.  Photo credit: Steve Katz

from the summit of Dragon's Back in HK

I was pleasantly surprised to find a hiking culture in Hong Kong, as well.  As a matter of fact, our hiking trails are even closer to home than they were in Korea.  

The catchment to Stanley from Tai Tam

There are no workout stations in the middle of the mountains here, but there are lots of people who hike, and once again, they seem to be the grandparents, families with small children and the expats.  Most weekends we hike somewhere for at least and hour as a family.  

Again, we enjoy finding the views.  

Brent (left) at The Peak overlooking Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong

And, we enjoy far more birdsong and always butterflies - lots of butterflies.  During the humid times of the year we must also endure the gigantic spiders along the trails, nearly as big as a female hand.  Strangely, this has actually helped me to conquer my arachnophobia.  

Giant Golden Orb spider.  Photo credit: Meaghan Odell

Hiking alone is meditative and glorious and something I do with regularity. 

Sunrise over Turtle Cove

Overlooking Turtle Cove, near our home

Rigby on the catchment to Stanley

Hiking alone at Tai Tam Country Park

 Hiking with friends is fun and communal - especially when a meal and a beer await at the other end!

Hiking with colleagues at Lamma Island, Hong Kong

Brent and I hiking at Po Toi Island, Hong Kong

If it is a holiday, you can be assured everyone will be out hiking.  This means the trails can be full of people.  During Covid-19 shutdowns the only activity left to do has been hiking, actually (no beaches or BBQs or playgrounds).  

I had considered myself a "walker" for decades.  After spending seven years out on the trails, I now almost consider myself a hiker, too.

Thank you, Asia, for the beautiful hikes and views.  What fun it has been. 

Brenda and Brent at the Peak overlooking Victoria Harbor, HK

Photo credits: © Brenda Brayko. All rights reserved. 

Thank you, Asia series "Thank you, Humanities" (91 days left)

 "Thank you, Asia" series.  91 days left until we return to Wisconsin. 

Thank you, HKIS Humanities Department.

I wish everyone could say they enjoyed working with their colleagues.  I wish everyone could be with people who make them laugh and think and learn and grow.  I wish everyone had the opportunity to be with the amazing human beings in the Humanities Department at HKIS.  

These are the people that supported me in those first days of processing that my 14 year old now wanted to be called Adam.  Those were very rough first days as a mother of a transgender teen, and the women and men of the Humanities Department held a space for my shock and grief and pain.  They have collectively been this way for each other for as long as I know - in my experience, 7 years.

On any given day in our office space built for a department of 25, there could be quiet or lively conversation, banter, prank phone calls or rubber bands flying as easily as deep conversation about serious family matters.  Around the lunch table, I have enjoyed discussions about parenting, teaching, politics, politics, health and wellness, former students' successes, classic stories from the department -past, and more politics.

Over the years I have laughed until I cried both writing and performing the annual end-of-the-year skit. And more times than I can count, I have been told how to dress for some clan or group dress up competition at school.  

I know for a fact I am leaving a better teacher and a better human because of the good people in the Humanities Department at HKIS.  Thank you, all!

Dressed as Magnum P.I.

Dressed as the departing Chris Taylor (center)

The Wombies at Graduation

The wombies

Dressed as the Adams Family

Wombies at Graduation

Christmas gift exchange

Photos by Brenda Brayko © All rights reserved