Farewells

I had an amazing experience of saying some farewells to many good friends and my family the last two weeks in Hong Kong.  Looking back, I really appreciated how everyone played a specific role in my life whether it be a mentor or brother/sister.  These people always supported me and encouraged me. Others challenged me and pushed me to the next level.  I just wanted to recognize SOME of the many peeps who helped me grow while I was in HK.

:)

Nice lunch with some sweet ladies

Beach it up with A T-Ma

My cousin on my last night hot-poting with the fam

Visiting my Grandma again as she shows me her scripture practice

lion rock house church at Ta-Korea!

Shatin house church at Agave

Island hopping with Mary (and awesome cheap and yummy seafood!)

Doggie dates with Stoltzfus and Zaccheus families

Amazing Korean at Causeway with 2 amazing unnies 

ice skating with Noah's ark kiddos ^.^

Sayounara boat trip :)

baby cousin and brother passing out after a last day swim

farewells at the airport

last day of work, lunchin' at Cathay 

Farewell parties in the school

taking weird polaroids with the sweetest students

front security Ms. Kam who took care of me for 2 years

Graduation fun with kiddos, Maggie, and King sir

stealing people's phones for selfies

friends making awesome farewell mtv

saying bye to this girl until November....

farewell jam!!! missing HK swings!

annnnnnnd the last night in Sai Kung  :)

Feeling poetic...

After practicing piano....(first time in a long while) I felt a bit nostalgic. Reminded me of days and nights I spent practicing in the circle building. 

Practice, practice, practice,
Minor human error.
For the listener a canvas,
Intricate and rare.

To the eye a mere illusion,
Wind, stick, or bow.
To the ear illumination,
Breathe, strike, a show.

An hour? A day? A week?
Tedious preparation.
A month? A year? We seek....
For a musical perfection.

From the composer,
To the conductor,
To the performer,
To the receiver.

Only once,
Who, what, when, where, why.
Never twice,
No one can deny.

Next stop.... Nagoya!!!

The school year is wrapping up, and so are the moving boxes in my house.

You guessed it... next destination: Nagoya, Japan



Growing up, I was fascinated by Japan...everything from the traditional kimono to the anime, I was simply drawn to it...Up until 2010, my perspective of Japan was one of an ignorant foreigner's.  With no understand of the culture, language, or the state of the country, I made several life changing decisions.

Early 2010, I took my first step into exploring Japan.  I signed up for a student teaching program called Cultural Immersions Project.  This program, through the Indiana University's Education department, allowed me to prepare for 2 months of student teaching Hiroshima.  My student teaching didn't start until 2012, but I wanted to 'check out' Japan and visit my sister, Masayo.  My mom and I hosted an exchange student during my senior year in high school.  I learned so much from Masayo. Whether it was gaining insight to Japan or how to live in a foreign country, she truly influenced me.

NYC Marching Band Trip 2006

Summer of 2010, I went to Japan for 8 days.  In the span of ONLY 8 days, I had never felt more excluded.  Not knowing the language or the systems really put a damper to the experience.  Looking back, Masayo had a great deal of patience for me because I was probably the most annoying Chinese American girl to babysit.  For that, I love her.  She showed me a lot of grace. We had fun. We ate. We did sight-seeing. I learned. At the end of the trip, the people left such an impression on me, especially Masayo's family.

Kyoto Station, my first love

After that trip, I told myself that I would never go back unless,,,I learn the language.

Suddenly, I had this urge to study the language on my own (I'm normally not very studious).  I managed to memorize both hiragana and katagana in two months.  Following that, I found new friends in Bloomington and Indianapolis to study and practice with.  It was as if I was meant to meet those people that year....crazy how God works.... At this point, I still had general education to complete at IU.  Funny enough, the 3 courses I took that fell into the requirements were: international relations, introduction to East Asia, and Society and Education in Japan.  EVERYTHING kept lining up.

met Aya in Blue Stars 

Then. It happened. Summer of 2012. What an amazing blessing. (Student Teaching in Hiroshima)

2012 Shinonome Jr. HS

When I left Japan that summer... I....
- didn't want to leave
- wanted to keep teaching the students
- wanted to move to Japan right away
- thought I could easily sign up for JET or ALT
- would teach ANYTHING to go back!
- How? how? how?????

Luckily, my adviser kept me in line. Dr. Stachowski mentioned I should not be irrational and act on my emotions.  I was clearly on travel high.  She was right, I was. I heeded her advise and waited.

....and I waited.... (1st year teaching, Indiana)

...got called to HK and moved in 2013....

Kept studying Japanese and made more Japanese friends in Hong Kong.

....visited Japan in summer 2014....(to check my heart)....

Conclusion? I felt at home when I arrived. I thought maybe by now, I would've lost the passion for it.

Nope. Still want to live there.

Started thinking it'll be another 5 years before I get to go....

....and waited another year (2015)....

Meanwhile, God led me by preparing me emotionally, financially, physically, and spiritually.

It's funny, because God knows me so well.  He knows how stubborn I am in terms of how I want to plan every detail.  I wanted to stay in Hong Kong and study for 5 years. I wanted to take the language test in 2018.  I wanted to apply for Hiroshima University in 2019. I wanted to take the teacher license test in 2023.  I wanted to teach there until 2028.  That was my plan.

So he swoops in and shared an amazing opportunity to me....

I have never been to Nagoya.  There will be major finance adjustments compared to now.  No family in that city/country. And, much more "negatives"....at first glance.

After prayers and reflection...I am now.... excited!!!
I now remember how...
- I asked God when I graduated college to let me travel and teach....well.  Here I am!
- I also asked if I could go and build music programs.... check! I'm going to do that!
- I asked to go to Japan..... Yay! He's answering that too!

This was very unexpected and quite a turn of events, but I feel so blessed.

Ladies and gentlemen, starting in August 2015, I will start a NEW ADVENTURE in Nagoya, Japan!

1. Please pray for me or keep me in mind (lots of transitions and adjustments)
2. Please come visit me or write me letters/emails (address/email/LINE/whatsapp/fb)

Thanks friends!!!

~ Ingy ~

Taichung Dec 2013

For the 2014 New Year's Eve countdown, I had the opportunity to travel with three cool ladies to Taiwan!  We didn't take the fancy route of going to the big city....instead, we spent out time in Taichung.  :)

Teresa, Prudence, Gloria, Me :)

I want to say most of our time was spent looking at nature, random vintage places, and eating.  This was a great experience for me because Taiwan was very similar to Hong Kong.  I didn't want to escape Hong Kong to go to another Hong Kong... Taichung was more nature and less city, which was perfect for a little getaway.

cardboard museum 

The cardboard museum was unique and we had the chance to buy some really good honey.  I learned from Prudence that there is so much one could do with honey.  It was also cool to see all sorts of structures and designs made out of cardboard.

such creativity! love it.

All of the art in this village was done by an old man.  Many of the phrases written on the walls were very wise and had simple meanings.  I enjoyed seeing the street and wall art and the use of the colors.

Sun Moon Lake -_-

Another one of our destinations was the Sun Moon Lake.  We walked for....a long time.....

Our taxi driver had some misunderstanding with us and thus, we ended up walking around for a long time trying to find a way to contact our taxi driver again.  But, it was beautiful.  

We also went to a farm!  I had the chance to eat some goat milk ice cream! (It was okay....) But look at the mountains!  There were SO many moments where I felt like I was back in Ireland!

 As mentioned before, most of the trip was centered around eating.  The street food was so yummy and Prudence did an amazing job finding unique restaurants.  She also found a cheesecake shop from her tourist book and we purchased a MATCHA cheesecake!  NOMNOMNOM!

yes, this is how New Year's went down.

Taiwan: check.

Surviving on 7/11

Successfully arrived home at 3am.
...with paperclips in my hair and gross after taste of seafood cupnoodles. Yuck.

It was a productive day and I made my new record: 19 hours at work

I stopped only once today when a friend brought me starbucks and I took an hour break.

Then at 11:30pm I camped at 7/11 for a while just to get out of the building. (And junk out...) When I returned, I discovered a sudden burst of energy to get me through one more task. I was so excited, but, out of nowhere, it felt like someone swung a sack over my head.  And the doom finally came.

My teaching schedule along with my lunch meetings did not allow for time to rest. One class after another followed by due dates drove me forward. 

I had a working 'rush' today.
Followed by a 'high'.

Last time this happened was... drum corps.  Running on adrenaline and support from the other 149 people, it was impossible to give up.  I can't quite compare today to the many nights of coach buses and gym floors, but, it was close.

4 hours later. Changed. Went back to work. Full day with no breaks again.

I charged on forward on a weak singing voice and drowzy eyes.

Made it. School ended. Had dinner. Then back for more.

Saturday: slept in until 9am at a friends. Sweet.

Then back again with dim sum to go with a friend with more work. 

Oh boy.

I got this!

Took a break Saturday night by going to a friend's birthday hang.

Slept in.

Sunday morning Church.

Went back to school after service with Starbucks in hand.

Finished some major tasks using 2 hours.  Had dinner with a good friend.

Returned to my humble abode.  9:30 PM.  

Sunday, 11:30 PM.  Finished final task.

Lesson learned: leave extra clothes at friends' homes and work.