Spaciousness

Spaciousness.  The roads feel wide!  The parking spaces have so much lee-way.  (It is a luxury to not always have to SQUEEZE out of my car because the door is only 1/2 way open.)  There are fields and fields that go on and on for acres as you drive through rural Wisconsin. Even in my own space I have both a front and a back yard to enjoy.  The flatness of Green Bay also lends itself to the feeling of spaciousness as the horizon seems to go on forever.

I actually didn't feel cramped in Hong Kong.  I got used to bustling streets with lots of people when we were in downtown HK.  And nature was plentiful on the Southside where we lived.  Yet, due to the mountains and the water, the buildings, and the closeness of it all, I never felt spaciousness.  Grandeur, yes.  Spaciousness, no.

Home entries and rooms are generally much larger than I have become accustomed to.  You know, those entries with a high ceiling and a spot to check yourself in the mirror before leaving?  That is new to me again.  It feels luxurious and somehow off to have all that space.

I notice even at grocery stores there is so much room in the aisle!  And the grocery carts are generally far larger in the US, too.  (Perhaps that leads to buying more groceries or goods?)  The grocery store near us was more the size and feel of an old general store or a little convenience store on the edge of a small town.  The aisles were close together and the shelves packed with a few of everything but not much of anything.  Not so here!  So much of everything and so much room to display it all.  Even two months living in Green Bay now, the grocery aisles seem huge and foreign to me.

In Washington DC we visited the monuments at the National Mall.  Now there is space!  So much space provided for each monument.  Even the national mall itself has held millions of people; it is that large.  And although it is a tourist attraction, there are far fewer people milling about than on a normal day in downtown Hong Kong.  This too makes spaces feel. . . well, spacious.

I suppose what I am saying is that I had become accustomed to spaces being smaller and closer and squished.  Neither is right or wrong, but it certainly is. . . different.  And something I've noticed upon re-entry. 

Wide lanes, wide roads, big sky, and spacious distance between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. Brent on the bridge as we walked across the Potomac River. 

"The Hill"

I remember being always amazed at the beauty and challenge of the mountains in Hong Kong and Korea. Now, experiencing Wisconsin's topography again with new eyes has been delightful. 

"The Hill".  Alec and I were at UW-Eau Claire for his first college visit.  There they boast "The Hill".  (How flat is this place?) We heard all about it during the orientation and then our tour guide made a big deal about it before we were to leave on the tour.  There are two ways to get from the lower campus to the upper campus, the STAIRS or the road on THE HILL.  

As a slow sprinkling rain began, our Eau Claire Senior, Jason, first took us to The Stairs.  "Let's take the stairs," he said.  "Don't worry, we will take it slow.  And don't worry, if you are a student and don't like the stairs, there is an on-going free shuttle to get you from the lower campus to the upper campus." (How big is this thing anyway?)

These were wooden stairs winding their way through the beautiful lush, green Wisconsin underbrush and woodlands.  Through the trees we couldn't see very far up the hill with clarity.  But it looked inviting, even challenging.  Our group of 10 began the climb.  At about 6 stories there was a landing where we all rested and caught our breath before the rest of the climb.  "Have a seat and some water if you like," said Jason.  Alec and I looked at each other, "That wasn't too bad.  But how much is left now?" we wondered.  

Well, as we left the covered landing we could now see to the top of the hill.  About 4 more stories and we had reached the top of The Hill.  At the crest, we chuckled to ourselves thinking of the HKIS campus and the many many stairs to be climbed each day especially from the field to the entrance of the high school for Alec as a middle schooler.  

By the time our tour of the upper campus was done, the sprinkling rain had become torrential. Now we needed to decide whether to take the steps or the road down "The Hill".  My vote was for the road as I worried the wooden steps had become slippery.  Plus, I really wanted to see what this famous hill was like!  We opened our umbrellas to begin the descent in the heavy rain. Our tour guide led us down a slow winding road without a visible end.  Again, Alec and I chuckled as we reached the bottom in about 4 minutes after having carefully selected our footing in the rain.  This wasn't even a 1/4 of the length of Villa Rosa, the hill just beyond the HKIS gates.  

Forty-year old Brenda would have huffed and puffed and cursed "The Hill".  But this Brenda was simply chuckling and realizing anew how flat so much of Wisconsin actually is. 

Re-entry: New to me

We have been busy re-patriating to the USA and to Green Bay for a week now.  Re-entry is much like departure - there is the flurry of visits and hugs with people, only now these are hellos instead of goodbyes.  (Still tears and a heart full and aching, though.)  There is the handling of everything that you own, piece by piece, only now there is the decision of where each thing goes in the house.  

Unique to repatriation, though, are the cultural differences one encounters while engaging in the community.  I've taken a few notes on things that are new to me (or maybe just feel new to me after eleven years away). And so I would like to begin a new short series called "Re-entry" documenting my journey returning to life in the US, Wisconsin, and Green Bay. 

New to Me

Masks After leaving the airports, the first very noticeable change is not seeing masks on everyone.  Hong Kong is still quite strict about wearing masks in public (in part because few have been vaccinated).  But here there are very few people wearing masks indoors or outdoors.  This takes a bit of mental adjustment.

Airport Cart We have travelled a lot over the years, and not until hitting O'Hare did we need to pay for a cart to move our luggage.  What is normally a free service suddenly became $7 a cart!  What?

Friendliness at O'Hare I do believe that the decimation of the airline industry has resulted in better service at O'Hare.  As a family for many years we have noted how rude workers at O'Hare have been in comparison to other airports.  Over the past few years that has been changing.  And this time there was a stark - and pleasing difference!  Our airport shuttle driver was literally singing and providing a brief tour on our way to the car rental, for example.  Also, another shuttle driver noticed I was about to pay for a cart and pointed out there was a loose one available.  A small kindness goes a long way.

Sugar and fat Eating out suddenly became more challenging.  Menus seem to have limited fresh items and far more sugary and fatty items.  Not to mention the portions and sheer amount of food served with a meal seem to be much bigger. 

Cup sizes As we were cleaning out our kitchen we found a plastic sippy cup designed to hold - 20+ ounces of coffee in a car.  The base would fit in the cupholder of a car, but the rest of the cup is massive.  It is mind-blowing how big some of these cups are!  At restaurants Alec has complained that there is no "medium".  He said the small is small but the medium is large.  He just wants a medium (think 12 oz versus 18 oz).  

Recycling Where are the recycling bins in the community?  It doesn't make sense to me to go to a vegan "smoothie in a bowl" sort of place literally called "Dirt" only to be served in plastic with plastic utensils and then have no recycling option.  What is up with that?  

Gas I know everyone is complaining about the rise is gas prices, but to us $2.89 is a good deal.  In HK we would be paying $9.40/gallon right now. Feeling blessed to be here!

Groceries HK is one of the most expensive economies in the world.  And so it was a pleasant shock to do our huge grocery run to stock the kitchen and come away paying only $309.  I have to tell you, I am pretty good at guessing the cost of groceries and I literally predicted a $600 bill.  Woohoo!

Sunset I have very much loved our view of Tai Tam Bay and the occasional lovely sunrises.  Now I am thrilled to see the beautiful sunsets. 

More to come. . . 

Thank you, Asia "Wishlist" (1 more day until seeing Adam)

"Wishlist"
 

10:05 PM in Hong Kong

Airport Terminal 1. Gate 26.

2 hours until the plane takes off.

We are waiting now.  These are the final moments of being a Hong Konger.  

Yesterday was full of goodbyes and emptying an apartment and getting to a hotel.  

It was an emotional roller coaster.  

Today was calm.  

Time for a Messenger chat with Adam. 

Time for a nice breakfast.  

Time for tea.  

Time for a perfect message at Luxe in Wan Chai.  

Time for Starbucks and cream puffs.  

Time for floating in the pool at the appointed slot.  

Time for room service with the family.  

Time for a tiny nap before leaving Ocean Park Marriott at 8:30 pm. 

The city lights were clear and beautiful as we passed by for our final time as residents.

I wish I could have seen Siem Riep in Cambodia.  

I wish I could have gotten to Taipei, Taiwan and Jeju, Korea and Tokyo, Japan.

I wish I could have visited Seoul and Boracay one more time.

I wish I would have seen Victoria Harbor from Ozone (on the 101st floor?) one more time

And walked through the Old Walled City park.  

I wish I could have given our helper a goodbye hug, but our paths didn't cross in person yesterday to do that.

I wish I could have eaten with my HKIS cohort (7 years!) at a local spot once more.

I wish I could have gathered the Super Moms together once more.

I imagine I shall think of many more things I would have liked to do or do again, 

but that is the nature of endings - 

there will always be some things left unfinished.

Therefore, let me instead now blow my wishlist to the wind and let it go.  

As Brent so eloquently reminded us all at Baccalaureate, "It is well. It is well with my soul."

Thank you, Asia "A Blessing for HKIS" (2 days until seeing Adam)

It has been a wonderful and emotional and long, exhausting, last day at HKIS.  I am so grateful for the kind words, well wishes, hugs, and gifts from my wonderful colleagues.  Goodbye to all!

I would like to leave you with this blessing:

May the light of God surround you.

My the love of God enfold you.

May the power of God protect you.

May the presence of God watch over you.

May you always know that wherever you are, God is.

Here is an image from yesterday's graduation pre-ceremony social.  Our 7-year cohort of Brenda, Heatherly, Hamlet, Simon, and Brent.  

Thank you, Asia "Forever Changed: 2021" (3 days until seeing Adam)

This is part 2 of a 2 -part reflection on changes. 

Our eleventh - and potentially final year - living abroad is coming to a close in a few days and we shall travel back to Green Bay to repatriate.  I'm excited to get back home.  I have been wrestling with the big question, "How has this experience changed me?"  I understand few will have the time or interest to really ask me that question.  (It is a hard one to ask and even harder to listen as they slog through their thoughts.)  So let me curate those thoughts here.  

Read on if you care to know more. 

I would say a big change is that my world view has changed.  I feel rather untethered from the US.  Political campaigns, mask madness, daily mass shootings, Covid numbers rising and falling, Black Lives Matter - all of these major events consuming so much attention and energy for my friends and family have not been my reality.  My heart is saddened by all the drama and trauma.  But at the same time, They were happening "over there."   My world for several years was more about realizing Kim Jong Un was far more bark than bite.  Then my world for several more years was more connected to HK Protests, mask mandates, and - most recently - National Security Law repercussions.  In 2020 when North Korea blew up the liaison office in the DMZ, I thought, "Wow.  I've stood in that building!" In my world when India shuts down due to ridiculously high Covid-19 deaths, my heart aches for a country I have volunteered and love dearly.  When war reignites between Israel and Palestine, I text a friend there to see how she is affected and speak to a student I know whose is Israeli.  In some way I have become a citizen of the world. 

After adjusting to apartment life, I have found I don't need nearly as much square footage as before.  Being in large homes even feels a bit overwhelming and unnecessary.  I now have a hard time even imagining all the things we used to store in our basement.  What were we keeping all that stuff for?  We have a shipment of "stuff" on its way over the ocean right now.  As much as I can't wait to reunite with my gong, I have a feeling I have kept too much stuff.  I have certainly appreciated the easy access to nature in both Seoul and Hong Kong.  Perhaps apartment living encouraged us to get outside more.  As we didn't have a back yard, we did find ourselves hiking or biking or heading to the beach.  That was 

pretty cool.  But now I absolutely look forward to sitting in my own back yard again!  And I can't wait to invite friends and family over for a back yard BBQ.

I have blogged a few times about public transportation, so I won't go into much detail here.  But, it has been amazing!  To have the choice of driving or taking cheap public transportation just makes so much sense.  Additionally, I can now drive on either side of the road.   

In some ways, living and travelling in countries in which English is not the primary language spoken has changed me.  I tune out strangers' voices.  I recognize a wide variety of languages.  I can read Hangul (but I don't know what it says.) I understand what it is to be illiterate.   I understand that a culture is held in its language; if you don't know the language, you won't really know the culture. I marvel at children and adults who speak several languages.  I am far more at ease speaking to someone from a different country than I used to be, too.

When we left Green Bay my hobbies had been primarily walking, acting, and singing.  Since then I have re-engaged in old interests and gained some new.  I have again played volleyball, swam regularly, and played piano (all activities from my youth).  I read a ton and wrote lots of poems, also interests since childhood that I hadn't had much time for.  But I also began blogging, took up hiking, weight-lifted, did circuits, a bit of yoga and learned how to play a gong! I started meditating and learned a bit of qigong. And, believe it or not, I did a deep dive into quantum physics and the nature of consciousness. While in Korea, I volunteered as an English teacher to North Korean Women Refugees and loved it.  I have also enjoyed many other volunteer service opportunities.  

And yes, my job spoiled me.  I loved having smaller classes and fewer classes than when teaching in Green Bay.  I loved the amazing students and ease of classroom management.  I loved the time I had as an educator for creativity and collaboration.  I loved taking students abroad for Speech and Debate tournaments and Drama. I appreciated all of the professional development opportunities. Most of all, I loved the better work-life balance that I have had (minus the Covid months).

And since my decade in Asia has coincided with a shift from first half of life to second half of life, I have to say my sense of Self has shifted.  I know who I am on a completely different level now.  I am far more attuned to my heart that I used to be.  I see through a lens of connection, not separation.  Of love not fear and trust in where life leads. Perhaps one could say, I have peace in my Soul for these years have served as a sort of refinement of who I am.  And for that, I am most grateful. 

Thank you, Asia "Forever Changed: 2011" (4 days until seeing Adam)

This is Part 1 of two parts.  I am reposting a post from May 22, 2011 called "Forever Changed."  At the time, it had a whopping 3 views!  Part 2 will be posted tomorrow, when I again reflect on how I have changed.  Enjoy.

Our first year living abroad is coming to a close in a few weeks and we shall travel back to Wisconsin  to visit friends and family.  I'm excited to get back "home."  I expect some people may be interested in how this year has changed me.  And while I've given thought to what I've enjoyed this year, what has been challenging, and what I've missed from back home, I haven't yet given much thought to how I've changed.

So let me try it here.

I would have to say the biggest change is that I've been untethered from the USA and North America.  We used to think, "Let's go to Utah (or Florida, or California, or Mexico)" now we think "Let's go to Malaysia (or the Philippines or Australia or Cambodia or Vietnam or Europe or on safari in Africa)."  Our children used to think "Let's go to the Dells."  Now Anna says things like "When can we go to Paris, the city of Love?"  This is pretty huge because it implies a different world view than before (for all of us).  Globalization already had been making the world smaller (or flatter, depending on who you read), but now globalization is also a part of my existence and very real.

Changing from living in a house to living in an apartment has been less significant that I thought it would be.  Some friends and I were musing about this today.  We worried that living in a big city would mean the end of nature in our lives.  We used to sit on the deck in the back yard and enjoy the flowers and trees, etc.  We worried that apartment life would feel so confining without a back yard to go to.  What we've found is that Korea (at least Seoul and the surrounding communities) has made a concerted effort to create green spaces (extensive parks and biking trails) for people to enjoy.  Also, the mountains are replete with trails.  It is not hard to find nature here at all, and that makes apartment living less sterile and confining than one might think.  So, while I yearn for a back yard BBQ and the chance to sit on a lawn chair, I've also come to love hiking and biking on trails and playing with friends and family in a local green space.

In some ways, using public transportation has changed me.  First of all, I'd never used the city buses in Green Bay (and I don't know that I would now).  But now I feel more comfortable taking a bus or a subway or a train.  I did know how to ride a subway before, but now I know how to get around  by bus waiting as much as 20 minutes for it to show. An odd side effect of being on a bus with strangers who probably don't speak much English is that you stop talking all together.  No one on the buses talks unless it is to quiet their child.  Mostly, they listen to ipods, read, or doze.  But rarely does anyone talk.  Yesterday I was on a bus that was so crowded all the seats and the aisle were elbow to elbow people.  Probably 55 - 60 people were on the bus, and the bus was SILENT.  Between the quiet nature of public transportation and the language barrier, I've found that I no longer say the customary "Hi. How are you?" or   "Excuse me." etc.  No more potential for "small talk" with a stranger, unless that stranger speaks English too.

Recently I realized that this year has allowed me (or forced me) to explore different interests.  For the past few decades my hobbies have focused on singing and acting and walking.  These are three thing that I love!  While in Korea I've not had the opportunity to sing or act BUT I have been able to resurrect old interests like playing volleyball and piano.  About two or three times a month I've been playing duets with a friend from work.  I've also taken up yoga once a week.  There is a pretty large group of teachers who like to play volleyball, so I've been able to do that again (even ended up on this weekend tournaments' winning team!)  I've taken up hiking and more biking.  It's been fun to pursue new interests and resurrect old ones!  I believe I'm becoming more physically diverse.  That's pretty cool.

The last way I believe I've changed is that I've gotten spoiled.  To define that further, my job here has spoiled me, and I love it.  I haven't had to work at a dizzying pace this year nor have I had to work tirelessly at home with a huge paperwork load every night.  This is an amazing thing!  It means I am pretty much stress free and relaxed for a good portion of each day.  This is not to say that I am not working hard or to my fullest potential.  On the contrary, I believe I've got more time for planning, thinking, and creativity.  I have more contact with my students since I have fewer students to care for.  I get to be myself in the classroom and that is a joy.  I believe it would be hard to return to 150 students to care for and 150 papers to mark.  For one who has sought balance for much of her life, I believe I've found the best balance here.  Lots of time with family; lots of time with friends; productive time at work; (more time needed at church, though).

If any of these changes sound intriguing to you, I encourage you to think beyond your usual "world", even if it is just to look at a National Geographic magazine or go for that bike ride you've been talking about but never do.  You're never too old to learn something new.  Give it a go!