I am a teary mess.  I can see my parents boat from the Star Ferry as I put-put my way towards the terminal.  Mom, Dad, Aunt Judy, and Uncle Patrick had just arrived a little more than 26 hours ago and it’s goodbye all over again. It’s so strange to find us all in China.

They are cruising the Far East on a luxury liner.  Let me tell you, that is where the living is easy.  It’s wonderful to think of them enjoying themselves comfortably while they tour the world.  The weirdness for me is that two years ago, I would have never pictured us meeting in a ferry terminal in Shekou.

After I boarded their temporary home away from home, The Amsterdam, we headed down to my parent’s cabin and ordered some room service.  That’s when my dad whipped out his iPad and we started looking at photos from their trip.  There was this one picture of my mom as the saddest Geisha in the world… my dad and I could not stop giving her a hard time.  And to my mom’s credit, she put up with us because we were almost in tears from giggling so hard.  The great thing for me was being with them was so comfortable – it was like putting on an old coat that fits just right.

Living in this new country is fantastic but on so many levels I am still navigating this foreign landscape.  I sometimes get home after working 10 to 11 hours and collapse from exhaustion.  To be with them, people who know me so well, was like taking a breath after holding it for a bit too long.

My family was able to see my classroom, meet my wonderful students, and see the place I call home now.  We piled into taxis, stood in line, and they even got to taste some coffee at my favorite coffee house here.  They also now have first-hand experience of the unholy smells that permeate my bathroom on a daily basis.  We walked the streets of Hong Kong and had some ice cream.  All in all, it was great to be with them, feel their support and love around me.  It was such a treat for me.  How can one girl be so lucky?  That’s love.  That’s family.

Below are some photos from our trip to Hong Kong.  I also used my new app on my iPhone called CamaraBag.  It’s so cool.  Enjoy!

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