Nope, Still Not Feeling Title-y

Made my first venture into Hong Kong yesterday. It was mission oriented and quick in its inherent nature, but the point is that I went and I can now say I've been to Hong Kong. Perhaps I will describe it more once I have spent more than an hour there and seen more than the ferry terminal, but I can say this: mountains. I know, right? Not what I expected either. But there it is. Mountains.

I would also like to point out that I currently have no less than FIVE currencies in my wallet. 6 if you also include the Australian dollar in my possession that I was given two years ago to use for my first trip to Australia (which still has not happened). That can be your fun fact for the day. That Alex - me - has 6 currencies in her wallet. You're welcome.

This whole new life of mine (well, it's not really a new life, as it is still mine, but you get the idea...) makes me feel like a combination of Alice in Wonderland and Dorothy in Oz. My motto is "we're not in Kansas anymore," but the two girls had very much in common. They both wore blue, both travelled to strange and far away places, both met odd characters with unique (but sage) advice: Cheshire Cat, Smoking Caterpillar, "Drink Me" and a Tin Man, a Scarecrow, and "Click your heels three times to go home." Anyone? Think about it. That's kinda how I feel. Except without the wicked cool silver sparkly shoes (though my work tennis shoes are a nice silver and purple - Thank you to Puma for keeping my feet well outfitted and looking sharp...). I even have a blue dress. But it's wrinkled and I do not have an iron and RayRay once told me I look like Holly Hobbie and the Disney Channel when I wear it. I took it as a compliment; I know how he feels about the Disney Channel. It is also much too hot for the leggings that go under it. I need a Toto (Mom, want to ship me Bailey Rae?) and a white rabbit in a vest with a pocket watch, but, as I am apt to do, I digress.

OH! I officially got trained to use my harness. It is a fancy harness too. I cannot use slings because that training was, um, somewhat lacking (re: did not happen barely at all) but if I need to, I will simply be annoying and ask millions of questions. They can't be that hard. "Do not choke the sling, make a basket" - or something to that effect. I still do not have a harness of my own, but I can use it when it does come in. And I probably won't even die! Well, at least I'm not planning on it. I almost chickened out when I had to rappel or abseil (German for rappel and yes, I did look it up on dictionary.com) from Level 8 - Level 4, but I did not want to be a pansy in front of everyone else, so I basically peer pressured myself into doing something I was terrified of. Yes, I do know I am ridiculous. Thanks for pointing that out. Thankfully, the Talkinator (New Guy) had been trained previous to me, so our interaction was limited. I could focus on learning rather than who was right and why he could not shut up. Rest assured that while I was waiting to abseil, he had some pointers I ignored because I was busy concentrating on not being sick. So now I think harness work is super fun and of course I wonder why I was panicky about it in the first place. Well, I know, but you get the point.

In other news, we walked home in the POURING rain the other night. I write "pouring" in caps not to be obnoxious, but to emphasize that I know the difference between a drizzle, a rain, and a downpour. This happened to be a downpour. A couple of times passing taxis drove through the standing water on the side of the road and it cascaded onto us. I don't know that I have ever had that experience before, but it was worth it. Memories, here, memories.

Titles are Lame.

I finally bit the bullet and went grocery shopping. Which I knew was going to be an adventure. But wasn't quite sure how much of an adventure it would be. There are a surprising amount of Western options at the local Park N Shop, for which I am grateful. Familiar foods rock in this environment. There are also (this should not surprise me as much as it did) an inordinate amount of Ramen noodles, as well as dried noodle bundles and rice options. I have not quite figured out what exactly to do with them yet, but I am open to suggestions. Feel free to email me recipes with basic ingredients that are easy and delicious. Even better if I can improvise, which I love to do. I did manage to find the basic ingredients for quesadillas and cereal, as well as some American milk, so I am feeling pretty good about that situation.

Take-out is a huge part of the culture here. The kitchens are often super small, so it makes sense that there are as many restaurants as there are and the people all walk around with plastic bags full of deliciously smelling styrafoam boxes. But it is pretty cheap to eat out here, so I suppose it can be justified.

Back to grocery shopping. {I almost forgot the most important part}

THEY HAVE ZAPP's HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honest to God, I almost cried when I saw them on the shelf. They are not my favorite flavor, the Spicy Creole Tomato kind, but I bought a bag (umm, hell-o. Of COURSE I bought a bag) and ate half of said bag that afternoon. We all know how much I love all things Louisiana, but they mean even more to me here. I mean, what are the chances??? If you said: "Slim, at best" you would be absolutely correct. They also have Jiffy cornbread mix. Which I will be purchasing on my next grocery stock up trip, as there are few things better in life than hot cornbread and butter. Ah, Louisiana.

Work is still super. I have bruises all over my legs again, so I know I am working. I feel like I am learning a lot... I spent 2 hours yesterday learning the ins and outs of PAT testing and European standards for electricity. There were lots of diagrams involved, which was excellent because if I have learned anything about myself over and over again, it is that I am a VERY visual person. I am no longer "the" new person in the department. I am now "a" new person in the department. We got a new team member this week. I do not know when I will stop being new. Maybe it is a gradual transition instead of the instant I am looking for. I got a helmet that fits yesterday, so that was pretty huge. It's all about the baby steps people.

I feel like I am ending this quite abruptly. Forgive me. I have simply run out of things to say!

*This post has a post script (Wow, hello redundancy), which I am adding in an edit 12 hours later. Tonight, when we got off work at 130 am - night shift - I had an adventure. Late (super late) night take out. Legit Chinese take out, the kind where you point and order a picture, rather than a description and they show you a number and you pay the number on the calculator. While I admit I was with a coworker and that I never would have done this on my own, the point is, I did do it and it should not matter whether I was with someone or not. It was delicious. Best food I've had since I got here (well, Thai was pretty good, too, but a different good. So let's say best Chinese food since I arrived.) 30 MOP well spent and so I salute anyone who stays open long enough to feed weary employees just getting off the late shift. Thank you and even though we don't speak the same language, your efforts are appreciated all the same. And now, as it is 330 am and night shift works day shift tomorrow, I am going to bed. With a happy and full stomach. {That was a much better ending than my previous ending, yeah?}

Oh Hello New Experiences!

Three things:

1. I'm starting to settle into a routine. Which is awesome. Routines make everything better. My senior year at LSU, Jennifer was teaching and I would occasionally have to get up at 6am for work and we would make pancakes or eggs or both and spend our peaceful mornings preparing for the day together. I really like that time before anyone else gets up. That being said {Segue warning}, I'm still in the hotel. By myself now. Daddy left yesterday and may I just say that having him here was super good. I am so glad my family loves me enough to send him over here with me to start this epic new chapter in my life. And I do mean epic. Who moves to the other side of the world to start over??? Apparently me. But anyways. Daddy left for the airport and I Skyped with Mommy and Morgan because my mother knows me and loves me and even though she didn't really WANT to see me wipe snot on my t-shirt, she let me cry to her long distance. Because what is family for? Technology is wonderful. There are days when all I want is to not have a cell phone or a computer so people can't get in touch with me; but then again, there are days like yesterday when the only thing I needed more than that Skype call was a hug.

So Daddy's gone. Back home to mow the yard that hasn't been mowed in two weeks because it rained everyday there and he should be pulling into the driveway where everyone is sound asleep right now, even the dogs, while I write this. Thanks for coming Daddy. I'm not good at good byes and I never have been, but you know I love you more than most anything. Everything you've ever done for me has made me a well-rounded individual and I know I joke about our crazy family, but I wouldn't have any of us any other way. I would be far more boring without the football games, family vacays, everyday routines that ya'll instilled in me.

2. EMILY MEYER IS COMING TO MACAU. And I cannot wait. She will be here sometime in the beginning of August. Did I mention I cannot wait??? I like new friends, but old friends are even better! I'm talking better like the pair of jeans I'm wearing today. They're old and worn and have some tears (pronunciation guide: TAIRS, not teers) and super soft, so very comfy. Yes Emily, I just compared you to my well-worn jeans. I know you cannot wait to live with my crazy self! : )

3. Yesterday, due to an event unrelated to the show occurring in the theater, night shift worked a short day shift. We got off work around 7 and went to get a frosty adult beverage. So, of course, there was some hunger mentioned. The moral of the story is: I had Thai food last night. I'm pretty sure it was authentic, I mean, let's be honest here people, more authentic than in the States because I'm in Asia, BUT. I had Thai food and while I was a little leery, it was SUPER good. I even...Get ready Mom... Ate a mushroom. I know. I know. It was very scary and I thought I might gag. But I didn't and I chewed it up and everything. No worries Jennifer, I'm still a faux adult. No need to rush things here!

At one point last night, I looked around and realized that I was the only American in the bunch. That is such a strange feeling for me. But it kinda made me incredibly happy as well. For the first time in my life, I am so far from my comfort zone I can't see the proverbial shore of it (my comfort zone, follow the analogy here for me...) but I finally have confidence in myself that I DO know how to swim. Swimming's not so hard if you just keep calm and remember that you know what you're doing. Well, I mean, I don't REALLY know what I'm doing, but I think I'm doing pretty good at making it up as I go along...

I Have a Confession to Make:

When I lived at the Wesley during my last year at LSU, we tried to have family dinners with regular occasion. (Did I just use that properly? It sounds wrong...) At said family dinners, Jennifer Fontenot, with some regularity would declare: "I have a confession to make..." And then proceed to confess to borrowing someone's shampoo or hitting someone's car in the parking lot (that actually happened, but she checked to see if it was one of our's before confessing. It wasn't harmed.) or maybe even just that she had a great day.

That being said, in the spirit of Jennifer Fontenot, I have a confession to make: I could see myself staying here for awhile. (Don't tell my parents.) But in truth, it isn't so bad... Maybe. Don't get me wrong, I miss Louisiana something fierce, because, you know, it's my home. I miss the States, too. I know and understand how things work there and this place is completely foreign to me. Even the times they do business (between 12pm and 12am, often) are weird to me and I want more than anything to find a Gap somewhere on this island.

BUT.

(This is important, I'm making a huge confession here, people.) Everything's much scarier when you're brand spankin' new or you haven't even made it to your final destination yet. I have a tendancy to panic and go straight to the worst case scenario in my mind (I know, right? ME???), which probably makes my fear of the unknown my greatest fear in life. (Aside from my physical fears of snakes and needles...) But this place isn't quite so bad, I don't think. Sure, there are rust stains on the walls of apartment buildings from the ACs haphazardly inserted here and there and sure, there are clothes on every balcony caged in by iron bars, but there's also some funky old trees and bonsai gardens and some ruins of cathedrals. Those parts are kinda charming!

I once saw an episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations where he eats street meat in Hong Kong. I haven't gotten that brave, but you never know... Anthony seemed to think it was pretty super.

Maybe one day I'll even get to travel around the area: the Phillipines, Japan, Indonesia... Everything's so close. For now, though, work is my life. Don't get me wrong, things could be worse. I love having a steady job again. That whole part of this situation is not half bad, you know?

Three Days Without Being Fired...

TAKE THAT WORLD! I feel really super good about this ya'll.

I have met MORE PEOPLE in the last three days than I know what to do with. There's approximately 16 people on the electrics crew - I think I've met all of them. And I think I know all their names, too! (Being good with names has been most beneficial to me in this crazy adventure. Although, meeting people in the dark - I may not know them when the work lights come on.) I met a couple SCUBA guys, I think I've met like 20 riggers (and I know there are many I haven't met, I think there's a lot of them...). Met a couple other various and assundry people here and there, but I'm not sure what departments they're from.

In other news, I got my ID badge, so I'm official. Word. It has to be on my person at all times. I also got a locker. Number 6. I need to get a key ring for my locker key because yesterday I left my key in my jeans pocket and I did not wear my jeans to work. Oops!

Story: Yesterday, we were dropping some mult (big cable) from Level 8 to Level 5 anticipating adding many lights. Well, we were prepping the cable and putting it in place to drop after the creation period ended for the day. (In the dark, of course, using headlamps.) After we were done placing everything, I was sent back to the grid to write down the numbers of all the mults we just placed. I found two out of the four runs we prepped. I stood there for like 5 minutes trying to get my barings, but of course, it's dark and hazy and my headlamp only goes so far and there are giant cable runs everywhere... Needless to say, I did not find the other two on my own. But I did manage to find my way back to the shop and locate someone to help me and he was very understanding.

People have been very patient with me so far and I am so grateful for that. One of the hardest things in the world is to walk into a situation like this as new as I am when everyone else has been here since September. They had time to get lost and find their way back on their own. I do not feel I have that luxury, but people are patient and assure me they understand how I feel. I think I've got the theatre directions down pat now: North is the back wall (with the show backdrops), South is the booth. That was a huge hurdle. Now I just need to learn how to orientate myself accordingly. Because when you're in the catwalks of Level 5, everything kinda looks the same. Same for Level 8 with the lights off.

I'll try to be more witty in my next post, this one was just informational.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY PEOPLE!!!!!!

First Day of Work is a lot like the First Day of School

You want all the kids to like you and want to be your friend. You have to pack a snack for break in case you get hungry. You obsess over what to wear and change your outfit at least twice before settling on something, even though you know you can do better...you're just not quite sure what "better" is. You fix your hair again and again until it's perfect. See the parallels? C'mon admit it. I know it's not just me...

Anywho. Today's my first day of work. I have to be there at 6pm. I got the night shift. I knew coming into this whole situation that would most likely be the case. It will still take some getting used to. Maybe it will work out better with this whole "jetlag" thing. I do not sleep very well at night and wake up early after going to bed at unreasonable hours for a twenty-something like between the hours of 730 and 930pm. Yeah, that's right. And I admit it, too! I'm supposed to be napping right now, in fact, but here I am, writing a post. Oh well. Maybe I'll sleep more than six hours whenever I get back to the hotel next.

Interesting phenomena (confession: I had to confirm the spelling on that word): I find myself dumbing down my speech here. I mean that not as an insult to anyone, but it's the truth. If I were in Spain or Mexico attempting to communicate, I am sure the locals would think the same thing about talking to me. But when you are in a foreign country with NO clue how to even begin speaking the language, you have to rely on the graciousness of people speaking your language. Thankfully most everyone here, so far, speaks at least some baby English, or can pick up key words. That being said, it is easier to communicate with these people in the most elementary of terms. I can only hope that my efforts to work on my vocabulary can be extolled here and in emails. Don't be surprised to see bigger and better words from me, as I fully believe in constantly attempting to better onesself. I hope that doesn't sound TOO narcissitic. If it does, forgive me? It came out wrong. As I like to say "It sounded better up here (gestures to head) than it did out here (gestures in front of person)." But I can leave it in, because it's my blog. HI-YA! {To borrow a phrase from the infamous Cadi Thomas (SHOUT OUT!)}

So think positive thoughts for me, my friends. I already took the barrette out of my hair and I'm not rocking the side pony. {Much to my chagrin the consensus was that the side pony was detrimental to my "professional appearance." Thanks to all who participated in the poll- Alex, Melissa, Ashley - SHOUT OUT. However, I maintain that they should take me seriously regardless of how I look (hello, "don't judge a book by its cover"???) and I am-under protest-not wearing the side pony.} I want people to take me seriously. For the first day at least. I made the stupid quotes board at ATL within 6 hours of starting my job. That was a ... proud moment. We'll save the side pony for the second week of work.

Post Label: 430pm. There. I know what time it is. WHATUP!!! But I continue to refuse to change the clock on my comp. (It won't let me include punctuation in the label. So I beat the system. Holla.)