A Magazine for the Women of Hong Kong • December 2014 International experience? We have it too Many of our people are expats themselves – their expertise helps assignees and HR teams alike. Crown service offerings include: s 4RANSIT )NSURANCE s 0ET #AR 4RANSFERS s )MMIGRATION ,EGALIZATION s (OME 3EARCH s 3CHOOL 3EARCH s %XPENSE -ANAGEMENT Tel: +852 2636 8388 [email protected]
Go knowing www.crownrelo.com/hongkong
CR ad AustCham magazine Sept.indd 1 8/18/2014 9:13:02 AM December 2014
The American Women’s Association of Hong Kong, Limited. Established in 1956 A volunteer organization of women of all nationalities supporting Hong Kong charities and schools through community service and monetary grants, while providing educational and social activities for members. 30 AWArE ProducTion TEAm
EdiTor Joy murray Tel: 6773 7036 [email protected]
AssisTAnT EdiTors Lori Dicarlo Angela bellas Membership 3 GrAPHics Charity Bazaar 4 Jacky Ngan New Website 8 PHoToGrAPHY Social Media 11 Fahima Ahmad 24 Contents Lori Dicarlo Christian Action 13 Sharon mason Beach Clean-Up 16 AdvErTisinG mAnAGEr Year of the Woman 22 Hildy Karev [email protected] Diwali Festival of Lights 24
PubLisHEd & PrinTEd bY Nativity Across the World 26 r&r Publishing Ltd. China Story 30 2126 7812 [email protected] Local Tours 32 www.rrpublishing.com.hk Ongoing Activities 42 26 Contact Information 49
The AWA office is open from Monday-Thursday 9:30am-3:30pm.
Visit the AWA Website: www.awa.org.hk like us on fAcebook: www.facebook.com/awahk folloW us on tWitter: @AWA_hk
Any opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author only and do not represent the opinion of the American Women’s Association. Any reliance by the reader upon any recommendation or opinion in this publication is at the reader’s own risk. the AWA accepts no responsibility for any loss which may result from such reliance. copyright 2014. the content of the Aware publication is the property of the American Women's Association. reproduction in whole or part without permission is strictly prohibited. information from within the publication may not be distributed without the express written consent of the American Women's Association. Welcome
From the President From the Editor
Welcome to the American Women's Association of Hong I love the Christmas Season! The glitz and glitter, the carols Kong! and the snow – well no snow in Hong Kong, of course. However, I do anticipate some of the white stuff in Philadelphia We did it!!! Another successful Charity Bazaar!!! A special where I will spend the holiday. “Thank You” to all our fantastic members who donated their time to make this year’s Charity Bazaar such a In this issue you can enjoy a taste of other festivals. Diwali or spectacular event. The weeks leading up to the Bazaar Festival of Lights seemed to start the season off in October, were extremely busy and very tiring but the hard work was and of course the Nativity is central to Christmas around the all worth it as seen by the wonderful success of our fundraising event. An approximate total of world. You will no doubt enjoy some of the $440,000 was raised in one day which puts many Nativity scenes collected by a priest at AWA’s goal to raise $1 million by the end of Mary Knoll House, and discover the meaning of the AWA year well on its way. Chanukah. No matter what your beliefs and how you celebrate, I hope you will have a I also want to thank all those who came blessed and happy time with family and friends. out to shop, eat good food, buy Lucky Lai See and who brought friends and relatives This year has been very special to me. I have to the Bazaar. Everyone’s contribution made some wonderful friends through AWA, helped make this year’s Charity Bazaar an seen many sights of Hong Kong, hosted visitors awesome event. from around the world and hopefully risen to the challenge of editing the AWAre Magazine. As the holidays approach, I want to invite everyone to the Member Holiday Celebration on December 2nd at Oolaa What an experience that has been and it couldn’t have been from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. Nibbles and snacks at no charge, done without a dedicated editorial committee and a cash bar. Bring your spouses and share in an evening of wonderfully organized and enthusiastic co-editor. That being good cheer and holiday laughter. Be sure to register at said, I will be moving back to Canada in April and will be www.awa.org.hk. looking for a new editor with the hope that she can work alongside me for the next two issues. Is that person you? Whether you are going to visit with family and friends Please contact me if this position might interest you. overseas or explore new and exotic destinations in Asia, I wish everyone a safe and wonderful holiday season! We Meanwhile, the very best of the season to you and yours. If look forward to seeing you in the New Year refreshed, you travel “home” have a safe trip. energized, and ready for the events and activities planned Sincerely, for the months ahead.
Joy Murray Stephanie Bourque AWA Editor AWA President
AWAre Needs You! AWAre Magazine is looking for an Editor to begin for the April Issue. If you have a journalism or editing background this may be the ideal volunteer job for you. Enthusiasm and a willingness to learn are essential. On the job training will be offered for the February and March issues.
Advertising in AWAre is doing well thanks to the hard work of the Advertising Manager Hildy Karev. Hildy is looking for a willing volunteer to make some phone calls to previous advertisers. This is not a selling position. If you like talking to people this is for you!
Please contact Joy Murray at [email protected] at your earliest convenience.
2 AWARE December 2014 Membership
Owl (Out With the Ladies) Welcome New Members Come join us any week or every week - same time, same Janice Wallace Melissa Mariano place (except public holidays). Kim Davis Mary McHale Where: Oolaa Stephanie Quinnild Nikola Andersson 20 Bridges Street, Soho Dena Stephanopolus Amalia Regina Kandou When: Every Tuesday, 5:30pm – 7:30pm Khambee Firestone Kate Morrow Coordinator: Susue Edrington, [email protected] Debby Hu Lan Anh Tran Dipti Shah Genevieve Carle Margaret Whittingham Marie Mok-Rocheleau Foon Ying Ruth Gannon Chrissie Govier When: January 7, 14, 21 Betsy Sweat Ingeborg Schmidinger February 5, 11, 25 Terri Mann Michelle Barrows Where: You will be contacted by the coordinator CoordinatorS: Hildy Karev, [email protected] Kate Mahjoubian, AWA (American Women’s Association) is a dynamic, [email protected] community of women of all nationalities, with over 800 Cost: No fee but registration is required members from 36 countries. We are sure you will find "Foon Ying" means ‘welcome’ in Cantonese and what better your niche through our diverse range of activities, events welcome than to embark on a social adventure designed to and opportunities to volunteer. All women are welcome – foster new Hong Kong friendships. This informal program do join us! takes the guesswork out of finding your feet by designing fun activities for your group, sharing experiences and building Current members – you are our best ambassadors. Please your “guanxi” or ‘network’. Your commitment? Attend all introduce new arrivals and old friends to AWA – over wine three sessions over three weeks, be open to exploring your at OWL, at a Neighborhood Coffee, WoW event or new environment and meeting great people. Join and enjoy! encourage them to attend CHAT. AWA’s vision is that all women can connect with us and develop a rich, satisfying Neighborhood Coffees and purposeful life in Hong Kong. If you live, work or play in any of the following neighborhoods, join others in your area for a monthly coffee. Meet new friends or catch up with old ones, discuss and plan new Joining AWA is easy via our website at: awa.org.hk activities. Contact your local coordinator for details of or call 2527 2961. forthcoming coffees.
CHAT (Come Have a Talk) HK Central/Mid Levels When: Thursday, 10:00am – 12:00 noon Kathy Barber, [email protected] (except public holidays) HK Southside Where: J.W. Marriott Hotel, 4th Floor, Lobby Walli Seegar, [email protected] Lounge (bar area), Pacific Place Sandra Gallaudet, [email protected] Cost: No fee (all beverages & lunches at personal expense) Pok Fu Lam and Shouson Hill Coordinator: Susan Wallace, 9783 3227 Amita Gupta, [email protected] CHAT is an informal gathering for members, newcomers, and Discovery Bay non-members. In a friendly atmosphere, we share a coffee or Tracy Russell & Tina Volkman, [email protected] tea and lively conversation. CHAT is a drop-in activity. No SAI KUNG registration is required. Join us anytime between 10:00am Katherine Fenton, [email protected] and noon. The group often proceeds to lunch to continue chatting. A chance for some "grown-up" time and to leave the Kowloon little ones at home. Jane Buck, [email protected] Susan Trebach, [email protected]
COOKIE DRIVE Don’t forget the Cookie Drive. Cookies will be donated to the Red Cross for children in hospitals around Hong Kong. Please donate your cookies during the first week in December and don’t forget to use less sugar in the recipe. The donated cookies will be distributed between December 10 and 18. Check with the AWA website for drop off locations and times.
December 2014 AWARE 3 Charity Bazaar
AWA Charity Bazaar 2014 by Marcy LaRont photos by Sharon Mason,
We shopped… We ate… We won… The 28th annual AWA Charity Bazaar on Friday, November 14, was a great success. From the moment the doors opened until the vendors were packing up, the floors stayed busy. Shoppers and vendors alike commented the “fun” tone of the event. Just prior to going to print, the approximate amount raised was HK$ 440,000! Thank you again to our generous sponsors: Crown Relocation, R&R Publishing, Little Steps Asia, Vino Esotico for providing welcome drinks, and Hollywood Hair for the amazing entertainment. Thank you also to an anonymous private donor who covered our shuttle bus costs. And finally, our appreciation goes out to all of you who attended on the 14th to shop and support the AWA charity programs. As always, we could not do this without you.
4 AWARE December 2014 Charity Bazaar
December 2014 AWARE 5 So Many Generous Donors!
The success of the AWA Bazaar is the result of the generosity of the sponsors, donors and volunteers. Thank so much….
To our sponsors and the many, many Lucky Lai See donors, both corporate and individuals, in addition to those listed on the following page.
To the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Happy Valley Racecourse, for welcoming our event.
To the bakers who donated delicious goodies to the bake sale.
To the anonymous donor who donated a bus to get members to the event.
To the vendors for participating in the bazaar.
To the coordinator and staff and kudos to the volunteers who gave their time and enthusiasm to ensure the bazaar ran so smoothly.
What a great team!
6 AWARE December 2014 December 2014 AWARE 7 Membership AWA’s New Website! After almost a year of planning, designing, and testing, the new AWA website is up and running. Many, many thanks must go to Angela Bellas, Jennifer Schlueter, and Barbora Mayer for their countless hours of dedication and hard work for making our new website a reality. We hope you like it! If you haven’t yet taken a look, be sure to check it out at awa.org.hk to see all the new and exciting features and changes that have been made. You will now be able to learn all about what’s coming up with the AWA, what’s been happening, and how you can get involved. To help you learn how to navigate the site, we’d like to give you a snapshot of some of what you will find when you visit.
First of all, at the top of the page, you will find the AWA logo. Clicking on this will always bring you back to our home page.
When you are logged in, you will see your name and a drop down arrow at the top of the page. Click here to update your profile. It is important to do this in order for information about you to appear in the AWA Member Directory as this information did not carry over. It is also here that you indicate if you would like to receive the daily email regarding new postings to the AWA Forum.
Talking about the AWA Forum, we have replaced the ListServe to make it much easier to post and search for answers. The AWAForum is available only for AWA members and can only be accessed when you are logged in. You can still get your daily email listing of today’s posts, but only if you sign up.
To access the Forum, click on the top of the page:
To make a posting to the Forum, click on ‘Make a Post.’
There is Forum search facility so you can see if anybody has asked the question before.
8 AWARE December 2014 Membership
Remember, to receive daily emails with new Forum postings, be sure to check ‘Yes’ under your Profile and save.
You will see that you can access all sorts of information from the website. For example, under the tab marked ‘Membership’ you will learn more about the AWA and read Spotlights on AWA Membership activities.
From this screen, you can read all about Upcoming Events:
Once on an event, you can register not only yourself but also a guest. And, if you must, you can cancel out of an event as well.
Continued December 2014 AWARE 9 Membership
Notice the little shopping cart on the right hand side at the top of the page? With this new feature, you can pay for all the events you have registered for at one time just by clicking here.
Wanting to see what is going on with the organization during a specific period of time? Do a search!
Want to learn more about Hong Kong? We’ve added a section you’ll want to check out called ‘Around Hong Kong’ where AWA members share experiences that will help you navigate Hong Kong.
AWA members actively volunteer and you will find an entire The AWA raises almost HK$1million for charities and section on volunteering on the website: education programs throughout Hong Kong every year. It was important our website made getting involved with our philanthropic arm easy for our members. You will find an entire section dedicated to ‘Philanthropy.’
It is now even easier to register for volunteer activities on our ‘Volunteer With Us’ page. Once your registration is approved by the activity’s coordinator, you will be able to sign up for a specific date.
We hope you are enjoying using our new website. If you have any questions or problems, please call us. We’d be happy to help!
10 AWARE December 2014 Membership Stay Connected with the AWA Through Social Media! LUCKY LAI SEE by KD Schumacher
We have amazing donations to our We’d like to see you in and around your neighborhood, Lucky Lai See treasure trove to win! experiencing Hong Kong, and enjoying life in this exciting city. Send us pictures of some of your favorite places and spaces, Try your luck for some of your discoveries and of hidden treasures you’ve found. To do so, just send a private message to us on the AWA of these amazing items: Facebook page and insert your picture. You can also stay connected with the AWA through our American Club weekday membership, new Twitter account, @AWA_HK and our Instagram account, holidays, beautiful accessories AWA_HK. We’d love to include postings from you! If you're and furniture from Forbidden City out and about and find a great new spot for coffee, shopping, and a $5000 gift certificate for a total or anything else you'd like to share, send us a tweet or a makeover from Hollywood Hair picture on Instagram. We want to help others discover what and so much more! makes Hong Kong such a great place to live. If you are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with utilizing these forms of social media, be sure to sign up for the class we are offering 26 January. See page 40 for more information.
Not only has the AWA recently launched our new website, we are also using Social Media to keep in touch with our members. Knowing that most of our members are becoming much more in tune with navigating the online world, the AWA wanted to utilize these tools to keep members updated on things going on in our association, with fellow members and with activities in and around Hong Kong. Are you utilizing the AWA Facebook page? We have re-launched our page to be more relevant with upcoming events. We are including things like restaurant openings and reviews, recipes from some local chefs, information about free outdoor activities, quick travel tips and so much more. To access all this information, all you need to do is hit the "Like" button on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/awahk. We also want to know what our members are doing!
December 2014 AWARE 11 AWA Enjoys
AWA members had a blast putting themselves into the paintings at Hong Kong’s 3D Museum!
An extremely informative and helpful photography workshop was held to teach members how to maximize using their cameras. Several ladies enjoyed discovering Hong Kong’s Noon Day Gun.
The June Foon Ying group enjoyed getting to know each other better as they explored a guided night tour of Yau Ma Tei. What a spooky, fun time was had when members experienced a Spooky Dinner and Haunted Walking Tour of Wan Chai
Some wonderful ladies tried to say hello to each of the 10,000 Buddhas as they explored this amazing monastery in Shatin!
12 AWARE December 2014 Charitable Donations Christian Action – A Community Lifeline by Melissa Kaftarian Strecker
The AWA is a vibrant community of both expats and locals Another way the organization is supported through with a global outlook. We have made ourselves a welcome volunteers is with administrative support to help with data home in Hong Kong, so it is hard to imagine there is a hidden entry and management. Qualified (in any jurisdiction) mental community of immigrants for whom Hong Kong can never be health practitioners provide counseling or therapy to home. traumatized refugees and asylum seekers. Christian Action’s Chungking Mansions Service Centre for Financially supporting the work of the organization is Refugees & Asylum Seekers (CKMSC) provides a lifeline for through grants such as the one provided by AWA or donation just such people who have escaped persecution, torture, or drives. Funds raised may be used in part to pay for a refugee unimaginably cruel conditions in their home countries. These child’s schoolbooks or transportation so they can attend vulnerable people come to Hong Kong seeking temporary school; provide diapers for a refugee baby or pay for a rice protection, but cannot remain here indefinitely. cooker to cook the rice that is donated in food rations. CKMSC is the only drop-in center where these Conditions are often poor in refugee shelters and needs traumatized people can access their basic humanitarian might include fans or portable heaters to help refugees face needs like shelter, food, clothes and other daily necessities the coming winter. Paying for rechargeable phone cards or while they are temporarily in Hong Kong. CKMSC also octopus cards can help refugees keep in touch with provides valuable educational, training, and psycho-social immigration officials, social workers, lawyers or caseworkers support to these vulnerable refugees, asylum seekers and who are trying to help them in their quest. torture survivors. AWA has been a supporter of Christian Action Since people without resident status are not eligible for humanitarian projects in past years. support from the Hong Kong government or significant funders like HK Jockey club, CKMSC relies on people like us to keep their doors open to the vulnerable people who most need it. The organization works to accomplish its mission through its volunteers who fill various needs and CKMSC looks to the community to step forward and fill the volunteer positions. The volunteer work is varied and volunteers may help in preparing lunch and dinner at a soup kitchen or they may help write for CKMSC’s social media platforms (newsletters, Facebook, etc.) People who can provide training in business, interview or parenting skills to refugees and asylum seekers are involved in the volunteer programs.
For further information on Christian Action, please visit www.christian-action.org.hk or call 2723 6626. December 2014 AWARE 13 Education
Mock Interviews by Bernice Lee
Giving Hong Kong students an opportunity to want to make a meaningful, positive impact in their lives – prepare for university or employment interviews is the this is a great position to be in. It’s doesn’t require a huge purpose of the AWA Mock Interview Program. In this time commitment and you will meet some amazing program, students from six schools are given the opportunity teenagers”. to practice their interview skills with an AWA volunteer. “This Anyone interested in leading or participating in this not only helps with their English skills and employability, but program or the Chatterbox program should contact Bernice also boosts their self-confidence”, said Bernice Lee, Education Lee at [email protected]. and Scholarship Committee Chairperson. “Each school invites us to come once a year for a two- hour session. Only one school has asked us to come more than once in a year. Each session has about 30 students which requires six to eight volunteers”, said Bernice. A volunteer coordinator works with the schools to finalize dates for the sessions and the dates are then posted on the AWA website. Volunteers are provided with sample interview questions and assessment sheets before their session with the students and feedback is given by the volunteers to the students right away. “We are always looking for new volunteers”, said Bernice. “In fact, I’m looking for someone to replace me as the Mock Interview program coordinator now that I’ve become the Education & Scholarship Chair. If you enjoy working with enthusiastic, keen young people -- and
14 AWARE December 2014 Volunteering Reading for the Blind by Kate Mahjounian
The Hong Kong Society for the Blind was established Sometimes, the Blind Society needs “other” things read in 1956 and is an outreach of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. in English. This may include the directions to the rest room or Started to provide vocational training centers, each passing parking for a county park, or maybe even a list of what new decade has brought expansions to offer more help to the books on tape are available to check out. sight impaired of Hong Kong. Factories were built to provide This is an easy…three hour (+ some travel) commitment… jobs, and then dormitories to help the workers. Educational, and it only happens once every three months (or less!). The vocational, medical and rehabilitation services Reading for the Blind outreach has a dedicated, are provided. yet fluid group of volunteers that offers their AWA volunteers assist the organization time to literally read TO the blind! through its Reading for the Blind program. This Coordinating this is made easy by the AWA community outreach is one of the easiest generosity of the women who read. The and least time consuming projects the AWA is scheduling is done three to four months in involved with. The job (should you choose to advance. Some AWA volunteers do so because accept it) is to snip articles out of the South they have sight impaired family members. I China Morning Post (or other English periodicals) volunteer because it just feels right to give for two weeks. At the end of two weeks, you back to this amazing city and to help others. It make an appointment and then, off you go to also made me step out of my very comfortable Shek Kip Mei in Kowloon. In a recording booth, you read the box. I traveled to a new area and interacted with mostly non- articles you’ve selected and then the staff at HKSB transfers English speakers – I lived to tell about it! the recording to CDs to be checked out by Hong Kong’s sight Do you have three hours to give? If so, the Reading for impaired. Who would check out two week old news? People The Blind outreach could use your time and talents! Contact who are English speakers and want to hear news OR those Kate Mahjoubian @ [email protected] for more who want to listen to English to strengthen their skills. information.
December 2014 AWARE 15 Volunteering
AWA Participates in the Annual Beach Clean-Up by Patty Tarallo
by Patty Tarallo
The Beach Clean Up is a global event. I'm very glad this event has started, it is a good example for the next generation, hoping they will do a better job in the future. In each country around the world, it's happens once a year. AWA has participated for a few years now; we are going to participate again next year for sure. I had to attend a seminar a week before the date of the cleaning. They explained the procedure, gave me some information to take home to read, and gave me information on rubbish collection. I decided to clean the trail because everyone goes to clean the beaches but very few go to the country side. They suggested the trail of Pok Fu Lam. The day of the clean-up we met at 10:00am at the entrance of the Pok Fu Lam Reservoir. We were ten members from AWA and six friends, who came along to help. The day was perfect (I spoke to God the night before to give us nice weather because we were doing something for a good cause). The plan was to clean the trail from Pok Fu Lam to the
16 AWARE December 2014 Volunteering
Peak. When everyone arrived, I gave out gloves, an AWA T-shirt to wear, and a rubbish bag. I brought scissors and plasters in case needed. We divided into three groups, one person in the group taking notes of the rubbish collected and the others cleaning up. We cleaned the trail itself and the woods on the side. At the beginning of the trail were two beaches; we managed to get down to them, climbing carefully. It was unbelievable the amount of rubbish we cleaned, there was all sorts of stuff down there. It was my first time to do the Clean-Up and I enjoyed it a lot. I couldn’t believe how much trash people left behind. I had a strong feeling of satisfaction to do something for the environment. It was so rewarding to spend the time in an efficient way. I will definitely do this next year. We had a brilliant time. Other volunteers had the same feeling as me: Amalia Kandou wrote: “The big strong man and the little excited boy, who were a perfect duo, worked together to reach all the difficult spots, collecting trash and waste! Without them we would not have been able to clean up as much as we did. It was really fun to watch Ace and Bill and having them in my team.” Emma Chickles, 14, wrote: "It was troubling to see so much trash near the reservoir! We should all make an effort to be more mindful of our trash." Shelda Chickes, Emma’s Mom, followed up by saying: “It was so good to see my daughter doing something for the environment.”
December 2014 AWARE 17 FeATure
The High Price of Disposable Fashion by Anne Fifer
TODAY’S CONSUMErS are informed and environmentally • Buy less but better! If you must buy new, only shop with conscious. We read food labels to avoid GMOs, search out vendors that are making a concerted effort to reduce their Calling women artists! sustainably caught seafood and even bring reusable mugs to waste. Starbucks to mitigate waste. But in fashion, we have yet to • Always shop with a list. Avoid impulse buys. We need you to put your embrace green as the new black and our habits are creating • Check the care labels. Assessing how you care for your an environmental disaster. purchases is an important part of sustainability. Think ART “On The Line” To get a sense of the damage our insatiable appetite for twice if they are dry-clean only, don’t wash after one wear clothes is causing we need look no farther than our own and air-dry when possible. Thursday, March 5, 2015 backyard. In China, where 54% of the world’s textile fibers • Take the 365 Day Challenge. Vow not to purchase are made and from where 34% of the world’s apparel is anything new for an entire year, except from An International Exhibition and Art Sale exported, nearly 2.5 billion tons of wastewater and other consignments, swaps or secondhand stores. supporting grass-root charities in Hong Kong. pollutants are dumped annually into water supplies. That • Recycle or donate used clothing. Nearly 100% of textiles Submitting one work could take a family at pollution accounts for approximately 20% of water pollution are recyclable. Reuse reduces pressure on virgin risk off the line. worldwide. resources and landfill. On a smaller scale, the creation of a single pair of jeans Not wearing clothes is not an option. But being more For more information email: [email protected] or visit www.awa.org.hk utilizes or creates: responsible in our purchasing and care decisions can have a • 1,500 gallons of water huge positive impact on our planet—and our wardrobes! • Nearly 7 pounds of toxic chemicals, which often enter the Responsible fashionistas follow the guidelines above. water supply • 400 mega joules of energy, (the equivalent of leaving a light bulb on for 116 days) • 71 pounds of carbon dioxide, (the equivalent to driving 78 miles in your car) • 140 square feet of land to grow the cotton for a single pair of jeans Now, consider that an estimated two billion pairs of jeans are created annually—and many of them end up thrown away! In Hong Kong alone, an average of 296 tons of textile waste is dumped daily, or 12,200 garments an hour. The impact doesn’t stop at creation. Washing, drying and ironing are responsible for 47% of the environmental impact of a pair of jeans. This maintenance uses approximately 240 kwh of energy a year, which is like using 4,000 sixty-watt light bulbs for an hour. Multiply that energy consumption by the average number of clothing purchases per year in the United States (64) and you will find that more than 20 billion garments are being created or maintained each year, with astounding damage.
So what can you do? • Take an inventory. Most of us don’t know all we own and buy many of the same things. • Organize SWAP parties. One person’s trash is another’s treasure! Your friends probably have items that didn’t quite work for them but will for you.
18 AWAre December 2014 Calling women artists! We need you to put your ART “On The Line” Thursday, March 5, 2015
An International Exhibition and Art Sale supporting grass-root charities in Hong Kong. Submitting one work could take a family at risk off the line.
For more information email: [email protected] or visit www.awa.org.hk
To all AWA Members and their Partners
You are invited to share a few hours of fun, camaraderie & good cheer at the
Tuesday, 2 December, 5:30PM to 8:30PM at Oolaa, G/F CentreStage, Bridges Street, Soho
Nibbles & snacks at no charge, cash bar Admission is free but registration is required. Please register on the AWA website at www.awa.org.hk
December 2014 AWAre 19 Feature
AWA’s Social Golf Takes An Exciting New Direction: Introducing the AWA Golf Society by Jodi Jones
AWA’s social golf group enjoyed a fun-filled year of HKGA societies to set up competitions and social rounds. We tournaments, golf skills clinics, a fitness clinic and even a golf will also be able to offer better green fees to play at courses day to Mission Hills in China. A major milestone for the group previously cost-prohibitive like Fanling, Clearwater Bay, this year was registering as an official “Golf Society” with the Discovery Bay and Sheko. Hong Kong Golf Association (HKGA). We are now officially The biggest change ahead will be the way the golf group known as The American Womens Association Golf Society of is managed. AWAGS will now be organized by a Captain’s Hong Kong (AWAGS)! Committee, a group of AWA golfers nominated by the society What this means is that AWA can now extend to its to serve in one of six positions for a one year term. With this golfers a much broader range of opportunities than in the structure in place, players can help AWAGS without past. Once registered with AWAGS, golfers become committing vast time and resources. The responsibilities of members of the HKGA, obtain official handicaps through the running the society will be shared -- no longer dependent on AWA, and have access to the Golf Handicap and Information the goodwill and availability of an individual volunteer. “Many Network (GHIN) score recording system. GHIN is an online hands will make light work,” thereby enabling all to enjoy and mobile app players can access anywhere in the world to playing golf in Hong Kong. AWAGS wants to sustain its post their scores and update their official handicap. existence for many years to come and to reliably provide a full As a society, AWAGS will now be able to contact other range of social and fun golf for players of all levels.
20 AWARE December 2014 Feature
Introducing the AWA Golf Society
The first AWAGS Captain’s Committee is: • Sue Webb, Captain • Marlyn Robertson,Vice-Captain • Rae Azuma, First Treasurer AWAGS wants to sustain its • Jodi Jones, Secretary • Nicci Button, Event Coordinator (tournaments, skills clinics, existence for many years to social events and golf days outside of Hong Kong.) Various sub committees of volunteers will assist her. come and to reliably provide • Jackie Johnson, AWAGS’ very own LPGA pro, will head the Handicap and Rules Committee and be supported by a full range of social and fun volunteers. golf for players of all levels. The AWA congratulates and thanks the first Captain’s Committee. We wish all the best to you as you take AWA Golf into a new era.
December 2014 AWARE 21 Feature
The International Year of the Woman – Looking Back Over 40 Years by Jane Buck
To recognize the important contribution women make to social, political, economic and cultural life around the world, on 18 December, 1972, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 1975 as International Women’s Year. Following the aims and principles of the 1967 Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the UN not only recognized the importance of women but also hoped to intensify the action required to advance the status of women worldwide. In 1975, the AWA and 23 other organizations in Hong Kong came together to celebrate International Women’s Year. AWA member and Program Chair Rosann Santora Kao traveled to New York City to establish ties between the Hong Kong Conference and UN offices. The Hong Kong Conference was held over two days and included more than 21 workshops, speeches and panel discussions which were grouped into five categories (family life, education, employment, health and other topics). Its theme was “The Hong Kong Woman 1975 – Where Is She Now?” I spoke with Rosann to get an insight on the 1975 conference and its relevance today.
Why was the l975 theme “Where is she now?” chosen? The leaders of a dozen or so local and international women’s organizations in HK felt strongly that while many, maybe most, Hong Kong women had a better life than the majority of women in Asia, we knew there were wide differences within the Territory. The conference gave us the opportunity to talk about the status of women as it was then.
22 AWARE December 2014 Feature
Access to health information and services was a priority. In order to care for a family, work or go to school, women had to be healthy. And, the particular health and medical issues of a women’s body had to be respected. Many delegates felt that women had a right to good health services. For that to happen, more women needed to know their own health rights. The program content of the ’75 conference also reflected legal awareness. On education, in the 1970s there were restrictions on the number of qualified students who could get into formal programs in higher education. At that time, boys in the family were almost always favored more than girls. Through women’s organizations, women were educating themselves and each other.
How did you get the two dozen or so women’s groups to cooperate? Because of the broad appeal of the Year, it really was not all that difficult. A press conference was called by the HK Council of Women in May. At that very meeting working groups were formed to focus on venue, program, speakers, fundraising, and press and media coverage. We were groups working together – active organizations agreeing to collaborate on one big event – the two day conference in October.
The women’s movement has gone on since the days of the suffragettes or maybe even earlier. Why draw attention to these particular 40 years? remember “back when.” I want to be sure we do not forget --- When the UN – a respected world body – decided there had it is only 40 years since some of these changes have taken to be a year of attention for women, a signal was sent that place in Hong Kong. the developed peoples of our planet realized things were not In 1975, the question was “Where is She Now?” Forty altogether right for women. Women were poorer, less years later, questions remain. How will a woman’s family life educated, wanting more and better paying jobs and although impact her independence as a woman? When will a woman’s there were effective means of birth control, these were not education bring her the equality she deserves? Why are a known or available to all women. woman’s employment opportunities still not on a par with a Forty years embraces two generations of women. Women man’s? And where are woman’s health issues treated with who were just starting adult lives or were mothers of young the urgency they deserve? Progress has been made; what children in 1975 are now accomplished in life and many are progress is still needed? grandmothers. Girls born in the 1970s grew up knowing that women speak out. Women who have come of age in these Find out this March, as the AWA Celebrates the 40th four decades know that there are role models – for career Anniversary of the International Year of the Woman. Keep development, for balancing a family and a job, and for civic your eye on future issues of AWAre and the AWA website and community leadership. Forty years is long enough to for more details.
December 2014 AWARE 23 Feature
Diwali Festival of Lights
by Tanvi Gupta
Diwali, the Hindu "festival of lights," is the most popular of snuggly. In one word it was perfect. The shops were lit up all Hindu festivals. Falling on a new moon in autumn, usually and chock full of new goods. Every evening was a feast with in October or November, the festival marks the beginning of friends and family visiting us. We always got new clothes to the New Year for most of the Hindu community. Widely wear for each of the five evenings. On the days of the festival, celebrated across India and the world, the interpretation of mornings were the time to hang all the lanterns and lights so this ancient festival differs between the different regions. that when the evening rolled around the entire house However, across all the stories and traditions associated with sparkled. After sunset, all the kids got together to light this festival the theme stays the same – Diwali celebrates the firecrackers. But my best memories were the scrumptious victory of good over evil, the beautiful display of lights in dinners that waited for us when we got home. Wherever we every home signifying the banishment of evil and welcoming may be at Diwali, good food and lots of it is always a must. light in. Diwali celebrations generally last for five days, with every day marked by different activities and religious rites. The big celebration of the festival of lights is on the third day, followed by a day dedicated to the wife-husband relationship on the fourth day. Festivities end with Bhau-beej on the fifth day which is dedicated to the brother-sister bond. Diwali is a special favorite with children as it spells good food, gifts and fireworks. Growing up in India, I looked forward to Diwali all year. With fall just creeping in, the evening air had a slight bite to it, and the weather was photos
by F ahima A hmad
24 AWARE December 2014 FeATure
The story of Chanukah.
(Or Judaism 101) by Hildy Karev
ThE STOrY OF ChANUKAh began almost 2500 years ago for one night, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days, the at the time of the Greek reign of Alexander the Great. time that was needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil for the Alexander conquered the land of today’s Syria, Egypt, and menorah. That is why Chanukah is celebrated for eight days, Palestine. Under his control, the Jews were allowed to keep to commemorate the miracle of the oil. their customs & beliefs. A century later, the successor to Traditions of the holiday include lighting a menorah (which Alexander, King Antiochus IV, was in control of the area. He has nine candles) for eight nights; adding another candle each oppressed the Jews and desecrated the Temple, killing the night until on the eighth night, all eight of the candles are lit. Jews and sacrificing pigs inside the Temple. The Jews, under It’s also observed by eating foods fried in oil such as Potato the rule of Judah Maccabee and his disciples, revolted against pancakes, and sweet donuts. Another tradition is playing with the Greek government. The revolution succeeded and the a square top called a Driedel - it has four Hebrew letters on it. Temple was cleaned and rededicated. They symbolize the words: Nes, Gadol, Haya, Po – A Great According to tradition, at the time of the dedication, there Miracle Happened There. Gift giving was never part of the was very little oil left that had not been defiled by the Greeks. holiday, but because of the proximity to Christmas, Chanukah Oil was needed for the Menorah (Candelabra), which was has also adopted this tradition. supposed to burn every night. But there was only enough oil
CCWM AWA Half Jan 2014 Horizontal.pdf 1 3/12/2014 5:02:32 PM
December 2014 AWAre 25 Feature
Nativity Across the World by Dimple Shah Photos courtesy of The Mary Knoll House. "Infant of Joy - Christmas Cribs from Around the World"
It is that time of the year again. The baristas at your priests at Mary Knoll House, and it was his passion for favorite coffee shop masquerade as elves. The strains of collecting nativity sets that sparked the start of the annual “Silent Night” overshadow the cacophony as you walk tradition in the late 1990s. Over the years the collection grew, through the MTR. The HSBC Building in Central eschews its primarily through donations, and it now consists of between white and red lights for the more appropriate red and 150-200 different sets. In Rev. Burke’s words, “For over green, accompanying the panoply of neon 2000 years, the Christmas story has inspired snowmen and reindeer festooning the people of all ages, races and faiths. The facades of Hong Kong’s skyscapers. It is nativity display shows how the story has Christmas in Hong Kong, and this city, been told in different cultures which takes to heart any and all throughout the world. The story is a celebrations year round, pulls out all simple one: a manger, a mother, a the stops for the Yuletide Season. father, a child. But each culture takes And yet, far from the madding that basic theme and wraps it in the crowd of malls and embellished language of its own art. With wood sidewalks, there are hidden and plaster, straw and glass, clay treasures to be found. One such and paint, the story is molded anew gem is the annual Christmas display to fit each different culture, time and of Nativity Cribs from all over the world place”. at the Mary Knoll House in Stanley. Rev. Burke’s tradition of bringing the Mary Knoll is the popular name of the joy of Christmas through these beautiful Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, sets continues at Mary Knoll House. The display founded in 1911. Its chapter in Stanley celebrated its is usually set up around Advent, and since the house 75th anniversary in 2010. Set up as a rest house for visiting continues to function as a rest house, visitors are requested priests and missionaries working in the South China region, it to call beforehand and schedule an appointment for viewing. also served as a language school for new missionaries learning Mandarin, Hakka and Cantonese. At the time of the For further information please contact : Japanese invasion and occupation of Hong Kong, the resident priests were imprisoned and the House was occupied by the The Mary Knoll House Japanese army until its surrender in 1945. It was declared a 44 Stanley Village Road cultural asset by the Hong Kong government in the 1990s. Stanley, Hong Kong S.AR The late Rev. Sean P. Burke was one of the resident Tel : 28130357
26 AWARE December 2014 Feature
Nativity Across the World
December 2014 AWARE 27 Feature
MyChinese New Year’s Resolution
by Shelda Chickles
Foon Ying means welcome in Cantonese. It’s one of the very few Cantonese words I know. I’ve been meaning to study this language ever since our first assignment in Hong Kong in 1999. However, I never took a class until this year. Fifteen years later. I always make a New Year’s Resolution and I do the usual promises – I will lose that last 5 pounds (or more recently that last 10!) or I will be more healthy (eat better and drink less – that makes me laugh actually). But for 2014, I promised myself that I will finally learn Cantonese. I am bilingual. I speak both English and Tagalog (Philippine dialect). My Tagalog is at a fourth-grade level and I read very, very, very slowly in Tagalog. But it has some small advantages whenever I’m in Philippines. Unfortunately, when I am in the Philippines, the locals think I am Filipino. But when I travel to other countries, the locals think I am from that area. Bizarre but true and, at times, frustrating. The locals look almost disappointed that I would stammer and lamely shake my head, “English?” I would love to converse in Bahasa or Mandarin. But most of all, I would love to speak in Cantonese. Not fluently but enough to be able to order in a restaurant or haggle the price of shrimp at the fishmonger or simply understand the MTR announcements. I signed up for my very first lesson with three other friends at a language center in Wan Chai. I enjoyed the lessons so much that I signed up for two more sessions. To me, Cantonese has a musical element that appeals to me. The rising and falling tones. The high and low. I would listen to the recordings and amaze myself that I could follow the dialogue. At times, I would be brave enough to converse with taxi drivers but apologizing if I butchered the language. It was good practice. Then summer happened. With all my good intentions, I brought my workbooks with me on holiday but I did not open any of them. Without practice, I’m afraid that I lost ground. However, with optimism for the New Year, I promise to continue with my lessons. So, I declare that for my 2015 New Year’s Resolution, I will continue with learning Cantonese. I will continue to practice by talking to taxi drivers and shop vendors. I will find courage to order dumplings in Cantonese. And, oh, also lose that last 10 (okay, 15) pounds.
28 AWARE December 2014 Asian tours Book now for Asian Tours
Resolution All you have to do is pack your bags, get your visa and go – AWA’s Asian Tours are all-inclusive! ASIAN TOURS 2015 TRIPS
Trip Date Destination Sign-Up Start Date Leader 23 – 25 January Harbin Sign-Ups On-going Cynthia Lackey, 6200 3222 6 – 14 February Myanmar Sign-Ups On-going Marja Lasek-Martin, 9675 2596 12 – 17 March Asia Biking – Central Vietnam Sign-Ups On-going Amanda McGovern, 6200 3976 11 – 15 May Zhangjiajie (where “Avatar” was filmed) 1 December 2014 Kate Mahjoubian, 6462 6559 September 2015 Mongolia March 2015, date TBA Julie Naughton, 9028 6606
For more information on any trip, please contact the trip leader. The AWA office will not have the information.
Asian Tours' World War Two Weekenders getting ready to watch "The Bridge On The River Kwai" in preparation for their Asian Tour to the real thing!
December 2014 AWARE 29 Feature Stupendous. Breathtaking. Amazing. Wondrous… From Far to Near – the Beauty of Asia is ALL of the Above and More by Kate Mahjoubian photos by Kate Mahjoubian and Carol Lampard
The blue skies and reflective A young Monk relaxing waters of Yamdrok Lake. before continuing his Elevation 4838 meters. pilgrimage
Tibet mom cuddles her son
In the span of three weeks, AWA members, spouses and guests had the opportunity to travel to Tibet, the “roof” of the world that is over 2400km away, AND to a World Heritage UNESCO site in Shaoguan China…a mere 290km away via high speed train.
Tibet A definite highlight of the trip to Tibet was the visit to the Potala Palace, home of the Dalai Lama. This UNESCO world heritage site dominates the city The group had a blast! of Lhasa and is the most famous landmark in Tibet. Our group was able to visit the inner sanctum of the Dalai Lama’s Executive Board and see the “safe room” where, upon threat, the sitting Dalai Lama is hidden for safety. The colors of Tibet are as varied as a large box of child’s crayons. The blue skies, the crimson robes of Monks, and the vast brown and green mountains topped by snow held firmly in place by glaciers all kept the photographers of our group snapping to their hearts’ content.
AWA member Debra Conant did a quick water painting of a Monk while he posed patiently 30 AWARE December 2014 Feature
Danxia Mountain Stupendous. Breathtaking. Less than a month after the AWA’s trip to Tibet, members learned it does not take an airplane, special visa and high altitude medication to enjoy an exotic and magical travel opportunity in Amazing. Wondrous… China. From Far to Near – the Beauty of Asia is ALL of the Above and More The Local Tours Committee (as no planes were to be involved) coordinated an overnight trip to Danxia Mountain, near Shaoguan City in the province of Guangdong. Traveling by high – speed train (upwards of 300kph), the destination was a mere 290km from Hong Kong. The trip to Danxia was a quick 36 hours over a Friday and Saturday, letting those who normally can’t join tours due to working obligations a Rock Formation chance to steal away for a quick vacation. "Sleeping Beauty" Also a UNESCO World Natural Heritage resting above the river boats site, Danxia offered a different palette for all to enjoy. Bathed mostly in brown, tan, black and beige, one might think this land does not have much to offer visually. Nothing could be The Local Tour further from the truth. group enjoyed the Danxia Mountain is known for its amazing river boat ride rock formations. There are two ways to enjoy and photograph the area. This can be done by enjoying a river cruise OR by taking a quick cable car ride to the top of Danxia Mountain for a panoramic glimpse of such majestic formations. (There was a possibility of climbing down the mountain but heavy rains the day before prohibited us from doing this.) The scenic area contains more than 680 stone hills, stonewalls, stone pillars and natural bridges of different sizes. One could spend an entire day in the park walking, hiking and photographing this lovely area.
Travel to China! Do not miss an opportunity to enjoy what China has to offer in the way of travel. The opportunities are endless, and it does not take extensive or expensive transportation to get there!
The group had a blast!
Relics on the wall in Danxia
The stone teapot made a brief appearance for the group
December 2014 AWARE 31 Humor
Who Knew Lunch Could be an Adventure! by Joy Murray
Who would think a lunch break in the middle of working years off my age. I’ll go with that! on the magazine layout could be an adventure! Well, let me As it turned out, the venue was an outlet for a well-known tell you it can! international health product however, it seemed to be a spot Wearing our serious editorial expressions and conducting where local people could concentrate on losing those extra ourselves in a true business manner, Lori and I had spent the pounds or have a quick nap! We will soon be in a new year morning working at the publisher’s office on this issue of and as always, losing weight is on my resolution list. AWAre. Lunchtime rolled around, and having received a However, if it means crunchy shakes and (probably) no wine coupon from a nice young man outside the building, we with dinner then I will have to be happy with the way I am. In decided to check out what we thought was a café on the 11th any case, I have discovered I am 10 years younger! It’s all floor. The picture on the coupon showed a delectable fruit good! salad, great for the brain, we thought! We left with smiles on our faces and a glass of herbal tea A winding hallway led to a no-name door but we were in our hands. Who knew lunch could be such an adventure? game! The interior revealed a rather untidy room with a small counter and countless Chinese people sitting around with mugs of liquid – and not a crumb of real food in sight. We were greeted politely though I suspect a visitor from Mars would have been less of a surprise! Signs on the wall were all in Chinese and we did our best to find out whether the fruit salad was available. But it seemed that we had ventured into a “nutrition first” venue. Before we knew it, we had ordered chocolate and strawberry shakes with appetizers of aloe concentrate – this actually did not taste at all bad. The shakes however, were another story, being warm and containing crunchy bits which turned out to be brown rice. I have to say it was the first shake I had ever had that contained undefinable crunchy bits! Never mind, we soldiered on. A young woman called THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015 Olivia spoke good English and introduced us to a young man TICKETS: $500/person who had lost 100 lbs by following the brown rice shake diet. INCLUDES: Icy cold pint, pub grub, fun company, lots of laughs, brain teasers, great prizes and much more… Olivia then told us she could work out a program for us and give us information on our body fat, and other telling health indicators. We said we could come back for that but, undaunted, she pulled out two forms, in Chinese, and as we continued to chew our shakes, we learned all the hidden (and 7:00 – 8:00pm HAPPY HOUR maybe not so hidden) flaws in our body make-up. 8:00 – 10:30pm QUIZ TIME The scales came out of a cupboard, fortunately the batteries were dead – but no, more batteries appeared!
Standing on the scale was enough trauma but more was to Registration opens follow! It seemed we needed to drink more water (wine was 3 January not mentioned), step up our metabolism and lose weight – Lori fared much better in that department than I, however, as Olivia reviewed all the numbers, she managed to knock ten
32 AWARE December 2014 Local tours and activities Local Tours & Activities – At a Glance! Sign-up Starts 1 December
Tuesday, 2 December Diane von Furstenberg Holiday Shopping Event Thursday, 4 December Everyday Popular Culture: Lecture by Jason Wordie Monday, 8 December The Changing World of the Middle East Tuesday, 9 December Christmas Decorations Shopping in Sham Shui Po Tuesday, 9 December How to Look and Feel Fabulous in Hong Kong by Glow with Ceri Silk Wednesday, 10 December What It’s Worth – Understanding Gemstone Valuations and Appraisals Wednesday, 10 December Kowloon City Walking Tour with Jason Wordie Thursday, 11 December Yuet Tung China Works – Hand Painted Porcelain Friday, 12 December High Tea at the Peninsula Hotel Tuesday, 16 December Heritage Festival Series: Jiao Festival in Ha Tsuen Register by Monday, 8 December Wednesday, 7 January Learn about Feng Shui Series: The Chinese Art of Auspicious Date Selections Register by Monday, 29 December Monday, 12 January Tour of the Yuen Yuen Institute – A Most Amazing Monastery Tuesday, 13 January Health and Wellness Series: The Meditation Experience Register by Monday, 5 January Thursday, 15 January Jump Off Your Excess Calories! Register by Thursday, 8 January Friday, 16 January Dim Sum (as recommended by Gwyneth Paltrow!) followed by a 50-minute foot massage! Register by 8 January Tuesday, 20 January Styling in the New Year Wednesday, 21 January Understanding Chinese New Year! Thursday, 22 January Cooking with Passion: A Taste of Southeast Asia – 3 Thursday, 22 January So You Think You Can Salsa Dance? Register by Monday, 19 January Monday, 26 January Social Media a Mystery to you? Tuesday, 27 January The Art of Chinese Ink Painting Wednesday, 28 January Historic Yaumatei Walking Tour with Jason Wordie Thursday, 29 January Behind the Scenes Tour of DHL Central Asia Hub Register by Thursday, 22 January Tuesday, 3 February Chinese New Year Paperwhites Tuesday, 3 February Feng Shui Series: Feng Shui Predictions for 2015 Register by Monday, 26 January Wednesday, 4 February Triads – An Historical Overview: Lecture by Jason Wordie Friday, 6 February Cooking Demo and Lunch: Valentine's Dinner that will make you Fall in Love
December 2014 AWARE 33 Local tours and activities
Health and Wellness Series: The Meditation Experience
When: Tuesday, 13 January 10:00am – 11:30am Registration must be received by Monday, 5 January Where: AWA office Cost: $330 member/$410 member’s guest Capacity: minimum 6, maximum 12 Coordinators: Yelena Zakharova, 9726 2378 By now, most of us have heard of the benefits of meditation. However, how many of us practice meditation on a regular basis or are even aware how to meditate? In this short program, you will learn what meditation is all about, gain a basic scientific understanding on why people meditate, and experience in touch with the magnitude of your inner world. These getting into a meditative state easily and effortlessly. benefits may not materialize in a couple of sessions; they Through practical exercises and discussions you will learn slowly accumulate over a period of time as we bring the both guided meditation to cleanse and heal your body art of being present into our daily lives. This series of talks and self-induced meditation techniques for relaxation. is done by one of HK's highly-regarded personal Whether you are practicing meditation for curiosity, development practitioners, a trained image consultant, relaxation or peace of mind, you will find that it can offer clinical hypnotherapist, and owner of “All About You” you far more than you ever expected and that you can get wellness center.
Diane Von Furstenberg Holiday Flickering red candles in darkened doorways, women beating Shopping Event shoes on the ground under busy fly-overs, coins scattered on When: Tuesday, 2 December the ground on funeral routes and other seemingly-inexplicable 6:00pm – 9:00pm aspects of local life. Do you want to know more about some Where: DVF Pacific Place Store, Shop 211, of the numerous commonly encountered ritual observances Level 2 practiced here in Hong Kong? Join us today as renowned Cost: $80 member/$160 member’s guest historian, Jason Wordie, helps clarify many of those “what Capacity: minimum 20, maximum 50 was that about?” questions you have probably asked yourself Coordinators: Susan Trebach, [email protected]; many times. Celine O’Connor, 6383 2508 Just in time for the holidays, Diane Von Furstenberg is offering an exclusive AWA members-only evening shopping event. Latest fashions will be available at a 10% discount; sale items at an additional 10% discount! Join us for this opportunity to browse DVF’s beautiful clothes at special prices.
Everyday Popular Culture: Lecture by Jason Wordie When: Thursday, 4 December 1:15 pm – 2:45 pm Where: AWA Office Cost: $330 member/$410 member’s guest Capacity: minimum 10, maximum 25 Coordinator: Celine O’Connor, 6383 2508
34 AWARE December 2014 Local tours and activities
The Changing World of the Middle us how ‘less can be more’ and how to quickly apply make-up East to enhance our features. Hong Kong’s high humidity can also When: Monday, 8 December make our hair frizzy and Vikki Sheridan will advise us on how 12:45pm – 2:30pm to manage the frizzies and also help with hairstyles that are Where: AWA office modern and easy to manage. Cost: $80 member/$160 member’s guest Capacity: minimum 5, maximum 20 Coordinator: Hildy Karev, 6799 9604 Interested in understanding a little about World politics and what is happening today in the Middle East? Come to an informal lunch discussion to better understand some of the pressing news stories of today. We will talk about the threats from the Islamic State (IS) – or the Islamic State In Syria (ISIS). What is happening in the war in Syria? Who are the players in the region and how are they changing the whole map of the Middle East? Why can’t the Western countries of the world change the dynamics of the region? How will this affect our lives in the future? This is a friendly discussion with plenty of room for questions and answers. Bring your own lunch, coffee and tea will be served.
Christmas Decorations Shopping in Sham Shui Po When: Tuesday, 9 December 1:00pm - 3:30pm Where: Meet inside Admiralty MTR, near Exit A Cost: $80 member/$160 member’s guest Capacity: minimum 4, maximum 12 Coordinators: Lisa Wallis, 6715 0653; Diane Lamboley, 9020 9387 Want to bring some Holiday spirit into your home? Looking What’s It Worth – Understanding for those “fill-ins” for your Christmas decorating needs? Gemstone Valuations and Appraisals Sham Shui Po has long been known for its “crafty” qualities, When: Wednesday, 10 December but for a short span in December, it is also the home to those 9:45am – 12:30pm hard to find Christmas decorations at reasonable prices: Where: D’Alejo Jewelry, 9/F, On Hing Building, village “snow,” fabrics, tree trims and shirts, stockings to No. 1 On Hing Terrace, Central hang and much more! Join us as we do a walk-about of this Cost: $180 member/$260 member’s guest eclectic area of Kowloon. Please bring your loaded Octopus Capacity: minimum 6, maximum 10 card, small bills (best for bartering) and your Holiday Spirit! Coordinators: Marybeth Coffer, 6624 4484; During our series of talks by Celso D’Alejo, we have learned How to Look and Feel Fabulous in much about gemstones and pearls. But there is probably one Hong Kong by Glow with Ceri Silk question we all have – what’s it worth? The “value” of jewelry When: Tuesday, 9 December has many meanings and this value is not necessarily what 1:00pm – 3:00pm was paid. “What’s it worth” varies depending on the purpose Where: AWA Office of the valuation and the intrinsic value of the gemstones, gold Cost: $80 member/$160 member’s guest and designer of the jewelry. Learn about the current market Capacity: minimum 6, maximum 10 value of the famous gemstones: diamonds, emeralds, rubies Coordinator: Sheila Hutchinson, 9841 6464 and sapphires and how the origin of the gemstones can Ceri Silk, the director of Glow with Ceri Silk, Skeyndor significantly affect commercial pricing. This in an insider’s look Institute, will give us some fabulous, personal tips on how to into how professionals determine origin, gold content, age, deal with Hong Kong’s humid climate. Ceri will advise us on manufacturer and quality. In addition, the different types of the best skincare regime for humid weather. She will show appraisals will be explained and examples of both good and
December 2014 AWARE 35 Local tours and activities suspicious appraisals will be shown. Learn what you need to Yuet Tung China Works – Hand protect yourself and your valuables. This hands-on seminar Painted Porcelain will be conducted by Celso D’Alejo, a certified gemologist and When: Thursday, 11 December appraiser. 9:30am – 2:00pm (approx.) Where: Meet inside Admiralty MTR Station, Kowloon City Walking Tour with near Exit A Jason Wordie Cost: $80 member / $160 member’s guest When: Wednesday, 10 December Capacity: minimum 4, maximum 8 8:45am – 12:30pm Coordinators: Lisa Wallace, 6715 0653; Where: Exit A, MTR Lok Fu Station Lisa Isley, 5597 6033 (Allow 20-30 minutes from Central MTR Are you looking for a great place to buy some of the best to get there) porcelain in Hong Kong? Well, since 1928, Yuet Tung China Cost: $425 member/ $505 member’s guest Works has made hand painted china for restaurants and Capacity: minimum 10, maximum 18 hotels and individuals such as you. This shop offers a range Coordinators: Katherine Fenton, 6708 3345; of ready-to-go china, but the real draw is either choosing a Barbara Galligan, 6080 6523 pattern from their sample book or having your own design Kowloon City, the district surrounding the old Kai Tak airport, custom made. Optional lunch will follow at shared expense. has much color and interest yet it remains little-explored, except by those who live there. With no tourists and no touts, you’ll want to come back again and again to this fascinating corner of the “real Kowloon.” The old Kowloon Walled City, once a notorious crime-ridden slum, has been demolished and turned into a magnificent public park, which incorporates the nineteenth century Chinese Yamen (magistracy) buildings. Nearby Nga Tsin Wai is the last remaining walled village in the urban area. There are also interesting temples such as the Hau Wong Temple, vibrant street life, and an historical rock carving that dates back to the 12th century AD. Kowloon City is Hong Kong’s “Thai village” and there are numerous good value cafes and shops – just the place to stock up your Thai kitchen shelf at very reasonable prices. For about three hours we will explore the sights and sounds of Kowloon City so be High Tea at the Peninsula Hotel sure to wear very comfortable walking shoes. You will be on When: Friday, 12 December your feet the entire time. Hat, sunscreen (oh, let’s hope it is 1:30pm – 4:00pm a cool, sunny day!) and camera are good things to bring Where: Meet inside Admiralty MTR Station, near along. Optional Thai lunch at one of the excellent small Exit A eateries to follow at shared expense. Cost: $430 member/$510 member’s guest Capacity: minimum 6, maximum 10 Coordinators: Katherine Fenton, 6708 3345; Susan Trebach, [email protected]
36 AWARE December 2014 Local tours and activities
It’s nearly Christmas time! Hong Kong is bubbling with Learn about Feng Shui series: The excitement and joy and has even put some makeup on! All Chinese Art of Auspicious Date those decorations, all those lights – and no better place to Selection admire it all than from across the harbour in Kowloon at the When: Wednesday, 7 January Peninsula Hotel, one of the oldest, most elegant and most 10:00am – 12:00pm popular gathering places! Bring your octopus card and join us Registration must be received by for an afternoon of holiday cheer and camaraderie at the Monday, 29 December Peninsula Hotel’s world famous high tea. Where: AWA office Cost: $330 member/$410 member’s guest Heritage Festival Series: Jiao Festival Capacity: minimum 10, maximum 12 in Ha Tsuen Coordinators: Yelena Zakharova, 9726 2378; When: Tuesday, 16 December Mary Marsh, 6316 7705 10:00am – 4:00pm Date selection is a classical Chinese practice which dates to Registration must be received by the era of the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD). The concept Monday, 8 December behind Date Selection is simple: the objective is to carry out Where: General Post Office, an activity at the point in which the energies of the universe 2 Connaught Place, Central are optimized for that particular endeavor. In that way, a Cost: $450 member/$530 member’s guest particular event can commence on a positive note and Capacity: minimum 16, maximum 22 footing. Originally utilized for matters relating to war and Coordinators: Regine Pocsatko, 6141 7061; peace, Date Selection was eventually extended to key Lena Zakharova, 9726 2378 activities such as planting and harvesting of crops, marriages, Professional Chinese photographer Kwok-Leung Paul Lau will moving into a new house, travel and burial. This talk will reveal provide insight in understanding the historical background of some of the methods used in Date Selection and will pinpoint traditions regarding this year’s large-scale Jiao Festival which dates that are particularly prosperous for certain activities, only takes place every 10 years. These fascinating events, while also pointing out dates on which important business or held in traditional rural villages in the New Territories, are personal decisions should be avoided – and why. This series listed as national intangible cultural heritage. First we will visit of talks is given by a Feng Shui Business Consultant. the ancestral hall and temples in the old village of the Tang clan, followed by a brief walk to the festival site where a huge Tour of the Yuen Yuen Institute – A bamboo theatre is erected for the Cantonese opera shows. Most Amazing Monastery The festival starts with deities of nearby villages being invited When: Monday, 12 January to participate in processions to be presented in a special deity 10:00am – 1:00pm hall facing the theatre. We will try to arrange a special Where: Meet inside Admiralty MTR Station, backstage visit to the opera before the show and enjoy the near Exit A opening section of the performance. Don’t miss your chance Cost: $80 member/$160 member’s guest to explore this guided local festival and take advantage of Capacity: minimum 8, maximum 16 some unique photo-ops. Note: Please bring your own lunch Coordinators: Jane Buck, 9530-7957; snacks and drinks along and don’t forget to wear comfortable Regine Pocsatko, 6141 7061 walking shoes.
December 2014 AWARE 37 Local tours and activities
Hidden away in the wilds of Tsuen Wan, the Yuen Yuen Dim Sum (as recommended by Institute is a remarkable monastery far off the beaten tourist Gwyneth Paltrow!) followed by a track. The Institute is made up of beautiful pavilions and 50-minute foot massage! prayer halls built in the 1950s to bring together the three When: Friday, 16 January streams of Chinese thought: Buddhism (which emphasizes 11:15am – 2:00pm nirvana and physical purity), Taoism (nature and inner peace), Registration must be received by and Confucianism (following the practical and philosophical Thursday, 8 January beliefs of Confucius). The main three-tier red pagoda is a copy Where: Meet at the taxi stand in front of 2 Pacific of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and houses 60 statues Place representing the full cycle of the Chinese calendar – you can Cost: $280 members/$360 members’ guest look for the one that corresponds to your birth year and make Capacity: minimum 4, maximum 10 an incense offering. This tour is a haven for photographers, so Coordinators: Sheila Hutchinson, 9841 6464; don’t forget to bring your cameras, and your octopus card for Kate Mahjoubian, 6462 6559 the MTR. A small hidden treasure with the locals has become even more popular after Gwyneth Paltrow visited and Jump Off Your Excess Holiday Calories! recommended it in her GOOP newsletter. The extensive When: Thursday, 15 January photo menu boasts MSG-free dim sum and the approachable 10:30am – 2:00pm wait staff makes ordering easy. Many people come for lunch Registration must be received by and place a take away order for dinner. We will enjoy a nice Thursday, 8 January selection of dim sum house specialties at a shared expense. Where: Outside Quarry Bay MTR Station, Exit C Afterwards, we will walk next door and enjoy a relaxing Cost: $220 member/$300 member’s guest 50-minute foot massage with a back rub at Lively Foot. This is Capacity: minimum 10, maximum 30 an opportunity to visit Happy Valley and experience a new dim Coordinators: Jennie Parker, 9860 5646; sum and massage place to take your next visitors. “My Celine O’Connor, 6383 2508 friend Ellana took me for brunch at Dim Sum in the Happy Did you indulge just a little too much over the holidays? Do Valley section of Hong Kong. As its name suggests, it serves you need to burn off a little steam? Do you just want to have up just this. If you want to have an authentic Chinese dining a little fun and feel like a kid again? Come join us for an hour experience, Dim Sum is a good place to start.” Gwyneth of exhilarating heart-pumping fun of jumping at a 7000 square foot indoor trampoline park. To refuel after a full hour of Styling in the New Year jumping, please join us for an optional lunch afterwards at When: Tuesday, 20 January shared expense. 9:45am –1:00pm Where: AWA Office, Conference Room Cost: $200 members/$280 member’s guest Capacity: minimum 4, maximum 6 Coordinators: Marybeth Coffer, 6624 4484 What better time to relook your personal style and get some professional pointers than the beginning of the year. In this workshop, Alexia Stapels will share with us some simple strategies to help us make the most of our existing wardrobes and to make good selections when adding to it. Participants will be asked to bring or wear a wardrobe item they absolutely love and to bring something they don’t wear. Alexia will talk about the basics of color psychology, the creation of a personal style, body shape analysis and how to best flatter what you’ve got, wardrobe de-cluttering, and a few basic makeup tricks. Finally, she will give us some great hints for packing for your next holiday. Optional lunch at shared expense to follow.
38 AWARE December 2014 Local tours and activities
Understanding Chinese New Year! Cooking With Passion: A Taste of When: Wednesday, 21 January Southeast Asia 12:15pm – 2:30pm When: Thursday, 22 January Where: AWA Office 11:00am – 1:30pm Cost: $360 member/$430 member’s guest Where: 41A Stubbs Road, Villa Monte Rosa, Capacity: minimum 12, maximum 30 Flat 1, Block C, 9th Floor, Hong Kong Coordinator: Lori DiCarlo, 6136 9871 Cost: $390 member /$470 members’ (includes Whether you’re new to Hong Kong or have lived here for a sit-down lunch with wine) years, it is important to understand the many aspects and Capacity: minimum 5, maximum 8 nuances of the very important upcoming holiday of Chinese/ Coordinator: Lavinia Hemandas, 2838-2199 Lunar New Year. What is it all about? Why do we see lion Travel through Southeast Asia from Lavinia’s spacious kitchen dances performed everywhere in Hong Kong? What are the and discover the wonderful flavours of four countries in the many traditions, foods, meanings, and celebrations associated orient. From chilies and coconuts, lemongrass and tamarind with this holiday? Why are there so many flowers and plum to cardamom and fenugreek, spices are blended to create the trees around town? What do they all mean? And, very, very wonderful cuisine of Asia and a true voyage of discovery! importantly, what is the proper protocol for the numerous red Today’s menu is: ‘Channa Masala’- spicy and fragrant Lai See envelopes expected from you? If you're not sure of chickpeas (India), ‘One Pot Casserole’- a delicious blend of the correct answer to these questions, you need to attend tender pork, fish fillet, mushrooms, vegetables and beancurd this lecture! “Gung hei fat choi, sun tai gin hong, dai gat dai sheets with aromatic sauce, cooked and served in a clay pot lei” – do you know what these sayings mean??? You will (Canton), ‘Malay Boneless Chicken Curry’ (Malaysia), and after this lecture…. ‘Prawns in Chili Garlic Sauce’ (Szechuan). A sit-down lunch will be served with wine. (Guest parking available upon request.)
So You Think You Can Salsa Dance? When: Thursday, 22 January 10:00am – 2:00pm Registration must be received by Monday, 19 January Where: Inside Wan Chai MTR station, exit A3 Cost: $330 member/$410 member’s guest Capacity: minimum 10, maximum 30 Coordinators: Jennie Parker, 9860 5646; Joy Murray, 6773 7036 Release your dancing soul and move to the salsa beat! Many Latin American dance competition TV shows were started in 2005 and have been replicated in many countries. Hundreds of millions of viewers around the world tuned in to watch and signed up to learn Salsa dance moves. If you are a beginner and want to try this popular Latin dance in a friendly environment, join us for an Intro to Salsa Dance class in Wan Chai. It will cover the basic steps of salsa, turns, and partnering. So put on your dancing shoes and come burn up the dance floor! After our lesson, you are welcome to join us for an optional lunch, at shared expense.
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Is Social Media a Mystery to You? Historic Yaumatei Walking Tour with When: Monday, 26 January Jason Wordie 2:00pm – 4:00pm When: Wednesday, 28 January Where: AWA Office 8:45am – 2:00pm (approx.) Cost: $80 member/$160 members’ guest Where: Inside Jordan MTR Station, Exit A Capacity: minimum 6/maximum 30 Cost: $425 member/$505 member’s guest Coordinator: Lori DiCarlo, 6136 9871 Capacity: minimum 10, maximum 18 Do you feel like you are constantly trying to keep up with the Coordinators: Katherine Fenton, 6708 3345; times? Don’t know how to tweet? Not comfortable with Sheila Hutchinson, 9841 6464 Facebook? Don’t have a clue about Instagram, Pinterest, or Today, local historian Jason Wordie will guide us as we Snap Chat? Join us today as the AWA’s Director of Public explore the numerous fascinating back corners of Kowloon Relations, KD Schumacher, introduces us to these and other that many long-term Hong Kong residents often overlook. We forms of social media, teaches us how to use them, and will take in some interesting areas around Temple Street and helps us download desired apps to our phones. Social media Shanghai Street and surrounding side roads, visit the Tin Hau is always changing and it is best if we learn how to change Temple at Public Square Street and learn something of its with it. There are thousands of ways for us to organize our wider role, both within the Chinese community and health- world and communicate with family and friends at all times of care organizations such as the Tung Wah Hospital. Along the the day, no matter where they live, but these tools are only as way we will see the historic Yaumatei police station, learn useful as our ability to utilize them. Please be sure to bring something about the historical development of the typhoon along an Ipad or a smart phone to download the free apps. shelter and how the daily lives of its “floating” inhabitants have greatly changed over the past half-century. We will also The Art of Chinese Ink Painting visit the gwo-laan, where most of Hong Kong’s fresh fruit is When: Tuesday, 27 January traded, and a number of interesting old buildings nearby. 9:45am –1:00pm Numerous vanishing occupations and businesses – legal and Where: AWA Office otherwise - will all be explored along the way north through Cost: $360 member/$440 member’s guest Kowloon. Optional lunch to follow at shared expense Capacity: minimum 6, maximum 14 Coordinators: Marybeth Coffer, 6624 4484; Behind the Scenes Tour of DHL Lori DiCarlo, 6136 9871 Central Asia Hub When: Thursday, 29 January 10:00am – 3:00pm (approximately) Registration must be received by Thursday, 22 January Where: In front of the Central Post Office, Connaught Road, Central Cost: $80 members / $160 member’s guests Capacity: minimum 10, maximum 25 Coordinators: Linda Hsu, 9188-9970; Yelena Zakharova, 9727 2378; Regine Pocsatko, 61441 7061
Have you noticed that traditional Chinese paintings are comprised of one color? Unlike western oil paintings, Chinese Ink Paintings, as they are called, utilize one color – black – to achieve all the different shades. Have you also noticed the unusually large amount of “empty” space? In Join us on this extraordinary tour of DHL, one of the world’s this workshop, learn the basics of Chinese Ink Brush Painting. leading express and logistics companies. We will visit its Our instructor and local artist, Vincent Chu, will introduce us US$210 million expanded Central Asia Hub (CAH) which is to the history of ink painting, its traditions, development and equipped with the first large-scale auto-sort system in Asia techniques. In addition, we will have a-hands on opportunity Pacific. We will travel by coach to the airport, where DHL will to try to create our own masterpiece. Optional lunch at provide a briefing of the industry, a tour of their facility, and shared expense to follow. lunch. We will watch live action as air cargo is sorted and
40 AWARE December 2014 Local tours and activities shipped to destinations worldwide. You may bring your how to plant them later on, and how to care for them. While cameras for outside shots, but due to security and customer we work, we will enjoy snacks and tea. Afterward, we will privacy concerns, photography is not permitted inside the have a lunch of roasted goose, wonton soup and more. Cost facility. All transportation, souvenirs, and lunch are includes a ceramic planter, bulbs, all other materials, snacks, complimentary and graciously provided by DHL. Your and lunch. For those who do not wish to stay for lunch, we passport/ID is required for airport security clearance. Don’t will get you safely on the bus and headed back to Central. forget to bring your camera! Adults only, please. Start the New Year with a visit to the less explored side.
Feng Shui series: Feng Shui LOOKING AHEAD TO Predictions for 2015 When: Tuesday, 3 February FEBRUARY 10:00am – 12:00pm Chinese New Year Paperwhites Registration must be received by Monday, 26 January When: Tuesday, 3 February Where: AWA office 9:15am – 1:00pm Cost: $330 member/$410 member’s guest Where: Starbucks, 1st Level Pacific Place Capacity: minimum 10, maximum 12 Cost: $250 members/$320 member’s guest Coordinators: Yelena Zakharova, 9726 2378; Capacity: minimum 2, maximum 10 Regine Pocsatko, 6141 7061 Coordinators: Marybeth Coffer, 6624 4484 “Feng Shui Predictions for 2015” talks about the upcoming Year of the Wood Goat, how it affects your life, the overall financial outlook for 2015 and how you can harness the positive energies of the environment throughout the year. You’ll learn how to take advantage of the opportunities and circumvent the disadvantages of the Year of the Wood Goat, and gain a deeper understanding of the Feng Shui afflictions brought on by the Wood Goat.” This series of talks is given by a Feng Shui Business Consultant.
Triads – An Historical Overview: Lecture by Jason Wordie When: Wednesday, 4 February 10:30 am – 12 noon Where: AWA Office Cost: $330 members/$410 member’s guest Capacity: minimum 10, maximum 25 Coordinator: Celine O’Connor, 6383 2508 A thrilling, gory staple of the local film industry, few aspects of modern Hong Kong life are as heavily overlaid with myth If you have been in Hong Kong for Chinese New Year, you are and urban legend as the Tin Dei Hui 'Heaven and Earth probably familiar with the blooming paperwhites seen in Societies' – better known as the Triads. In this lecture we will homes and businesses. But did you know that Chinese explore exactly what a Triad is in contemporary Chinese Custom believes if the paperwhite blooms on the first day of society – and what it is not – and how the Triad Societies Chinese New Year, good fortune will be had throughout the evolved in China from Ming loyalists in the early Manchu coming year? We will meet in Admiralty and take an almost period onwards towards the Republican era and the present express bus ride to my home in the village of Sham Tseng in day. Illustrated detail will be given of Triad ritual and mythology, the New Territories. Once there, we will each choose a and some discussion will be made of their pervasive role in planter and select bulbs for planting. We will be shown how contemporary local life. to clean and prepare the bulbs, how to start them in water,
December 2014 AWARE 41 Local tours and activities
Cooking Demo and Lunch: Valentine's Dinner That Will Make Refund, Cancellation and You Fall In Love Substitution Policies When: Friday, 6 February Every activity includes an administrative fee of HK$80* 10:00am – 2:00pm Member/HK$160 Member's Guest. This base fee is not Where: Flat 29A, Branksome Crest refundable at any time unless the AWA cancels the event. 3A Tregunter Path, Midlevels Charges in excess of the base fee are refundable if cancellation Cost: $380 members/$460 member’s guest is received by the AWA office at least one full week before the Capacity: minimum 4, maximum 6 activity date. For example, if the activity is on a Tuesday, Coordinators: Lena Zakharova, 9726 2378 cancellation must be received prior to midnight of the Why overpay for a mediocre dinner at an overcrowded previous Tuesday. If the AWA cancels an event, the entire restaurant on Valentine's night when you can prepare a activity cost will be automatically credited to you. Credit notes scrumptious dinner that is easy to make, won't leave your are not transferable and must be used within six months from the date of issue or by the end of the AWA fiscal year (30th wallet empty and will set the stage for a very romantic night? June), whichever is earlier. You may request a check in lieu of a Come join me for a cooking demonstration of preparing four credit at any time before the credit expires. different dishes – two appetizers, a main dish and a dessert. Owing to the popularity of AWA activities, many have a We will learn how to make cheddar coins (they are wonderful wait list and therefore substitutions cannot be accepted. If any day of the year with wine!), a green salad with pears and you are unable to attend an activity, please inform the AWA avocados, seared scallops with herb-butter sauce, and office to cancel your place and allow someone on the waitlist individual mocha soufflés. And, if that isn’t enough, here’s the to attend. best part: We will sit down to enjoy all this delicious food for lunch with a glass of nice wine! Bon Appétit!
Registration Procedures Local Tour and Activity (LTA) events are open for registration as of the first of each month in which the activity will be held. Activities being held in the early part of the following month are open for registration on the first day of the prior month. Check the AWA website at www.awa.org.hk for the most up-to-date schedule and don't forget to register early as many of the events will sell out.
* The $80 registration fee is purely an administration fee. It is not donated to the Charitable and Education fund.
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LET US INTRODUCE YOU! ONGOING ACTIVITIES - When: Anytime Ongoing activities are organized by AWA members Where: Anyplace for AWA members with similar interests and Coordinators: Barbara Macho, [email protected] passions. Take a moment to see what interests you. Patti Smith, [email protected] Register for S.O.C.I.A.L. online at Please Note: One-time annual registration is www.awa.org.hk to receive your required to become a member of an ongoing activity invitation to join our private AWA group. If you haven’t already done so, please register members’ only Facebook group: for your favorite ONGOING ACTIVITY GROUP so social awa hk. coordinators can keep you updated with their Home alone with nothing to do? group’s news and events. Want a glass of wine and conversation? Try out a new Register online at www.awa.org.hk, or contact the restaurant? Afternoon movie AWA office at [email protected] companion? Gallery opening? Need a fourth for Wednesday night Bridge? You can post whatever you’d like to do OR you can accept someone else’s invitation, whichever you prefer. Either way, you won’t be NEW AWA BUDDY PROGRAM “home alone with nothing to do” AND you may just meet The purpose of the new AWA Buddy Program is to welcome your new best friend! new members in a one-on-one fashion by paring them up with existing members. For those new AWA members who MOMS & TOTS MORNING PLAY DATES are also new to Hong Kong, this can help to ease their When: TBD transition and provide a first friend. For those who are simply Where: TBD new to the AWA, it helps to make a stronger connection to Coordinator: Alpa Tolia, [email protected] the organization by introducing or engaging them in activities Moms-to-be, moms and tots up to three are welcome to join that existing members enjoy. us for a morning of play, chatting, and coffee or tea! Play groups are arranged by children’s age. Let us introduce you to When possible, buddies are matched based on the district a group with tots who are the same age as yours. After that, where they live and whether or not they have children living the play groups set their own schedules and activities to suit with them in Hong Kong, as we all know how different those them. experiences can be.
Buddy activities can range from merely offering to answer questions the new member might have via email correspondence to meeting for coffee or tea to inviting the new member to join in an AWA or other activity with them. We buddies are simply one more gateway to making life in Hong Kong more enjoyable for our members! AFTERNOON BOOK CLUB When: Tuesday, 9 December, 1:30pm – 3:30pm If you are interested in becoming a Buddy to a new member, Where: TBD please contact Alison May at Coordinator: Penny Van Niel, [email protected] [email protected] and provide the following information: Anna MacDonald, [email protected] • District where living Come join us for a lively discussion of • Mobile number "One Hundred Years of Solitude," one of • Whether or not you have children living with you in Hong the best known works of Columbian Kong novelist and Nobel Prize winning author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It is "a story of success and failure, dreams and reality, traditions and change, enemies and
December 2014 AWARE 43 Ongoing activities friends, and most of all, love and revolution." Please join us for be sure to sign up! conversation and coffee! Our January meeting is tentatively Upcoming Events: scheduled for Tuesday, 13 January, 1:30-3:30pm. 09 December – Shooting Christmas Decorations in Times Square ART LOVERS 20 January – Street Shooting on Hollywood Road When: Monthly 02 February – Capturing Chinese New Year Decorations Where: Various venues Coordinators: Kumiko Matsushima, SPIRITUAL LITERACY BOOK/ [email protected] DISCUSSION GROUP Cynthia Lackey, [email protected] When: TBD The “Culture Vultures” explore Hong Kong's fine arts scene. Where: TBD We visit museums, current exhibitions, galleries, film Coordinator: Kate Weisman, festivals, the Hong Kong Arts Festival, and the Literary [email protected] Festival with its numerous lectures by international authors. SLG is a group of international, interfaith and spiritually- minded women who celebrate unity in diversity and who gather to foster spiritual literacy in everyday life. Entering our third year, SLG participants have represented Baha'i, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. With reverence and respect for each faith-based tradition, we've learned from each other that there is more that unites us than divides us. The group opens each session with a short meditation and an interfaith devotional. We then discuss our reading of a chosen spiritually-oriented book. Books in the past have included The Dalai Lama's “Towards A True Kinship of Faith,” Echart Tolle's “The Power of Now” and most recently, Dr. Eben Alexander's “Proof of Heaven.”
For December and January, SLG PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP continues with Linda Kavelin Popov's "A When: Group meets monthly Pace of Grace - The Virtues of a Where: Various locations in and around Hong Sustainable Life," a book containing Kong vivid examples of how to make our daily Coordinator: Sharon Mason, lives more meaningful. The group [email protected], 5217 3884 discusses one chapter per meeting.
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A+ Living In Hong Kong
6031-4930 [email protected]
The AWA Photography Group is a social way to enjoy photography as a hobby while giving us a chance to practice our skills and explore Hong Kong. All that is needed is enthusiasm and a camera to join us as we capture Hong Any premises leasing business with us by Oct 31, Kong’s contrasting architecture and communities. All camera 2014, you will have supermarket gift vouchers types welcome as well as suggestions for excursions. Please equivalent to 10% of service payment.
44 AWARE December 2014 Ongoing activities
NEEDLE ARTS BRIDGE AND LUNCH SOCIAL When: Fridays, 10:00am – 12:00pm When: Mondays, 10:00am – 1:00pm Coordinator: Alison Levingston, Where: AWA Office [email protected] Coordinator: Lisa Strunin, [email protected], Glenys Kilazoglou, 6184 8370 [email protected] Note: This group is for players with a previous knowledge of Join us as we work on needle arts projects – sewing, quilting, the game. needlepoint, cross-stitch, knitting, and embroidery – while Make Monday your bridge morning! Come and enjoy social chatting about our common interests, exchanging new ideas, bridge at the AWA on Monday mornings. We rotate tables so learning and getting advice from each other. This is not a class there are plenty of opportunities to make new friends and but an informal group. Members should bring their own enjoy the company of others who love playing bridge. project to work. Optional lunch at a local restaurant follows.
MAHJONG MADNESS When: Tuesdays, 10:00am – 4:00pm (come anytime) Where: The American Club Tai Tam Road, Fireside Lounge or other location to be posted GAMES GALORE Who: AWA, American Club, or AMHH members When: Fridays, 10:30am – 3:30pm only Where: The American Club, Tai Tam Road, Coordinator: Katherine Fenton, [email protected], Fireside Lounge 6708 3345 Who: AWA or American Club members only Christine Scullion, 6777 1182 Coordinator: Beth Hall, [email protected] Come and play mahjong on Tuesdays with other AWA/ If you enjoy playing Mahjong or Bridge, plan to come to the American Club members. This activity is suitable for all skill American Club on Fridays. Mahjong tables and tiles will be levels, but players are expected to have a prior knowledge of set up, and Bridge cards and tables will be available. All skill the rules. Optional lunch at individual expense. Non-American levels are welcome; however, players must have prior Club members must settle their bills prior to departure by knowledge of Mahjong or Bridge. Lunch is at individual credit card only (no cash or checks). expense. Non-American Club members may make payment by credit card only, no cash.
December 2014 AWARE 45 Ongoing activities
ITALIAN CONVERSATION GROUP GALLOPING GOURMET When: 1st Monday of the month (except for When: Monthly public holidays), Where: Various restaurants 12:00pm-1:30pm Capacity: Varies with venue Where: Various locations, TBD Coordinator: Linda Gomoll, [email protected], Coordinator: Patty Tarallo, [email protected] 9730 8791 Enjoy Italian conversation in a fun, casual group setting! The Hong Kong restaurants offer an international gastronomic Italian conversation group meets once a month with an aim extravaganza that we explore by visiting different restaurants to socialize, have fun, and improve conversational skills while each month. A designated host selects a restaurant for the gaining more knowledge about the culture. Activities are group. Events are published monthly in AWAre and on the organized by rotating hosts. AWA calendar. This group is open to singles and couples alike. FRENCH CONVERSATION GROUP When: Every first Wednesday afternoon at Date: Sunday, 7 December, 1:30 PM 12:00pm Location: Umami Collaborative Private Kitchen, Where: Central and Southside Sai Ying Pun Coordinator: Barbara Markovits, [email protected] Contact: Marybeth Coffer, Enjoy French conversation in a fun, casual group setting! The [email protected], 6624 4484 French conversation group meets once a month with an aim Capacity: Maximum 16 to socialize, have fun, and improve conversational skills while Cost: HK$850 per person. Includes cooking gaining more knowledge about the culture. Activities are lesson, wine and gratuity organized by rotating hosts. All levels welcome!
LUNCH BUNCH When: Monthly Where: Various restaurants Capacity: maximum 20 Coordinator: Marcia Hammelev Sander, mhammelev@ hotmail.com, 9868 4112, Would you enjoy gathering for lunch on a regular basis? The Lunch Bunch coordinator sets up a group of 12 to 20 members. Each member takes a turn at choosing the restaurant, making the reservation, informing the others, and hosting. Lunch is either at individual or shared expense as agreed upon on the day of the event. This is a great way to Date: Saturday, 17 January, 7:00PM socialize with other AWA members while enjoying a variety Location: 238 Restaurant, G/F,238 Hollywood Road, of cuisines in Hong Kong. Sheung Wan Contact: Linda Gomoll, [email protected], 9730 8791 Capacity: Maximum 20 Cost: HK$600 per person, includes gratuity RSVP: Sign up at awa.org.hk by Sunday, 4 January 2015 Treat yourself and experience “Tapas Style” Modern French Cuisine with European influences at “two, three, eight”. Owner and head chef Patrick Verhoeven, born and raised in the southern part of the Netherlands, worked at several Michelin Star restaurants before opening his first restaurant in his home country. Now we are lucky to have Patrick and his wife, Anne, in Hong Kong. He prepares his signature dishes using only fresh seasonal and ecological ingredients. Dutch cuisine plays an important role and the flavors from
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Europe are combined to create a fusion of tastes and textures ICC – INTERNATIONAL COOKING served in an informal, intimate setting. Share mouth-watering CLUB appetizers including his famous Dutch "bitterballen". Enjoy a When: Group meets monthly, selection of several main courses, including seafood, meat 10:00am – 2:00pm entrees with savory sauces, and seasonal vegetable dishes Where: Various venues; TBA. created especially for you. Of course, sweet treats and Capacity: minimum 6, maximum 8 coffee and tea are included. Coordinator: Sylvie Guyot, [email protected] Patrick’s passion for cooking Are you interested in learning how to cook international and the personal attention dishes that might bring a welcome change to your daily given to his guests routine? Rotating hostesses will introduce foreign dishes and guarantees an evening to demonstrate how to prepare easy, family-oriented dishes in remember. Sharing a variety the comfort of their own kitchen. Lunch follows each class. of small dishes will satisfy We pick a new country monthly and share the costs for food your palate. Wine can be and drinks (costs per person will not exceed $250). Each purchased by the glass or participant will leave with a printout of the recipes. The bottle from their extensive hostess will notify the group each month about the planned wine list for an additional cuisine and the venue–first come, first in! cost. Beer and sodas are also available for purchase. I-HIKES Coordinators: Birgit Imkamp, Sarah Rindlaub, Cynthia Date: Saturday, 7 February, 7:00PM Lackey Location: M Cuisine (private kitchen), Flat B, [email protected] 17/F Derrick Industrial Building, When: Wednesday, 10 December 49 Wong Chuck Hang Road, Wednesday, 14 January Wong Chuck Hang, Aberdeen Cost: No charge. Contact: Marybeth Coffer, marybeth.coffer@gmail. com, 6624 4484 Capacity: Maximum 20 Cost: HK$850 per person, includes gratuity. Bring your own wine/beer. RSVP: Sign up at awa.org.hk by Friday, 24 January 2015 Join us for Moroccan Tangine Night! “A delectable Journey of taste and desire” awaits you at M Cuisine. The “M” is Israeli chef Michael Erlik who trained in France and opened his private kitchen in Hong Kong. Owner and executive chef Michael grew up surrounded by farms, fields, seasonal produce and his family’s home cooking, all constant sources of inspiration. He trained with several renowned chefs, including Paul Bocuse and pastry chef Pascal Molines. Are you amazed at how much space there truly is in Hong Michael was the chef of choice for embassies and foreign Kong? Join us for intermediate hikes in and around Hong diplomats as well as traveling the world catering for some Kong Island, lasting two to three hours, usually on Wednesday Forbes list billionaires. His focus is on using the finest organic mornings. We hike various stages of the Hong Kong Trail, the seasonal ingredients. This is a rare chance to experience a Wilson Trail, and many other trails that may not be as well- fabulous, diverse culinary journey. The menu for the evening known but offer a challenge and a view. Occasionally we reflects his Israeli roots and his experience at Michelin Star venture off of the island to the New Territories, Lamma Island restaurants in France. Sample an array of tasty starters with and Lantau. These moderately paced hikes are recommended amazing spices, followed by a variety of tagine, which are for beginner to intermediate hikers who love the outdoors. slow cooked savory stews that will satisfy your appetite. Save room for sweets, and don't forget to bring your own wine or beer. You’ll be served family style, and it will be a memorable feast!
December 2014 AWARE 47 SPORTing activities
AWA GLOBE PADDLERS DRAGON AWA GOLF SOCIETY BOAT TEAM Contact: [email protected] We Want You For Our 2015 Race Season! Captain: Sue Webb Captains: Elissa Imran, [email protected], Vice Captain: Marlyn Robertson 9618 4700 Whether you are a current member of AWA’s Social Golf, new Anne Fifer, [email protected], to Hong Kong or even perhaps new to golf, AWA Golf Society 5416 8010 welcomes you. We are delighted to share with you our If you want to become part of a Hong Kong tradition, consider ongoing golf activities while we strive to make playing golf in joining the AWA Globe Paddlers, winners of the Stanley Hong Kong simple, fun and stress free for players of all levels International Ladies Cup for the last four years! The Dragon from beginner to advanced. Boat Festival (Tuen Ng) celebrates an old Chinese legend by racing long narrow boats with 18 paddlers, one drummer and If you are not yet registered with the AWA golf group, getting one helmsman and is a quintessentially Hong Kong activity! involved is simple. Sign up to get all our notices and learn how you can play golf with us by registering online via the AWA The AWA Globe Paddlers Dragon Boat team consists of 24 Website under "golf" in the sports section. You’ll start receiving dedicated women who practice twice a week. During our our emails, newsletters and other communications as well as regular season, we practice on Tuesday and Saturday learning the other benefits of being an officially registered mornings from January to June. We welcome women from player with the HKGA. all walks of life, as long as they demonstrate a strong fitness level, a commitment to attend practices, and an even stronger Weekly Golf dedication to our Globe Paddlers family. We are all about When: Every Monday and Thursday working hard and playing hard, and we complement our until 12 December dedicated work with plenty of team social events. Our 09:00 am tee-off on a roll up basis experienced paddlers and amazing coach train about half a Where: Hong Kong Golf Club, Deep Water Bay boat of new paddlers each year. Cost: $550 for AWA Members Coordinator: Marlyn Robertson, [email protected] We are actively recruiting for paddlers. If you are interested in Please make sure you bring your handicap card and your HK more information about joining the Globe Paddlers please ID or passport. contact the captains listed above.
48 AWARE December 2014 CONTACT INFORMATION contact information
OFFICE EXECUTIVE BOARD Phone 2527 2961/2 Fax 2865 7737 EXECUTIVE BOARD [email protected] Hours 9:30am – 3:30pm Mon-Thu President Stephanie Bourque: [email protected] Address No.5, 11th floor, Arion Commercial Centre, 1st VP Fundraising Marcy LaRont: [email protected] 2-12 Queen's Road West, Hong Kong 2nd VP Membership Jane Buck: [email protected] Website www.awa.org.hk 3rd Vice President Activities Lisa Strunin: [email protected] Office & Website Manager Barbora Mayer: [email protected] AWAre Editor Joy Murray: [email protected] Membership Representative Joanne Lam: [email protected] Charitable Donations Andrea Roth: [email protected] Administrator Ces Defeo: [email protected] Community Service Patty Tarallo: [email protected] Education & Scholarship Bernice Lee: [email protected] Public Relations KD Schumacher: [email protected] COMMUNITY Recording Secretary (Position Vacant): [email protected] Treasurer Irene Chu: [email protected] CHARITABLE DONATIONS [email protected] Online and Social Media Angela Bellas: [email protected] Corporate Sponsorship (Position Vacant): [email protected] Chairperson Andrea Roth: [email protected] SOCIAL COMMUNITY SERVICE [email protected] ACTIVITIES [email protected] Chairperson Patty Tarallo: [email protected] ACS Partnering Susan Trebach: [email protected] 3rd Vice President Lisa Strunin: [email protected] Cheung Chau Reading Program Ellen Albrecht: [email protected] Art Lovers Kumiko Matsushima: [email protected] Fenwick Pier Volunteers Carol Lampard: [email protected] Cynthia Lackey: [email protected], 6200 3222 Helpers for Domestic Helpers Tammy Baltz: [email protected] Asian Tours Jane Buck: [email protected] HK Society for the Blind Kate Mahjoubian: [email protected] Bridge & Lunch Social Lisa Strunin: [email protected] Meals in the Home Marybeth Coffer: [email protected] Book Club - Day Penny Van Niel: [email protected] Ronald McDonald House Renee Cheung: [email protected] Anna MacDonald: [email protected] Trisha Cliff: [email protected] Dragon Boat E l i s s a I m r a n : e l i s s a . i m r a n @ g m a i l . c o m , 9 6 1 8 4 7 0 0 Soup Kitchen Linda Wolfe: [email protected] Anne Fifer: [email protected], 5416 8010 French Conversation Group Barbara Markovits: [email protected] Games Galore Beth Hall: [email protected] Galloping Gourmet Linda Gomoll: [email protected] EDUCATION & SCHOLARSHIP Global Insights Stella Schumann: 2493 7114 [email protected] Tracy Russell: 6921 4400 Golf – Events and Lessons Jackie Johnson: 852 5662 7248 Chairperson Bernice Lee: [email protected] Golf – Social Play and Events [email protected] Chatterbox Barbara Thomas: [email protected] iHikes Birgit Imkamp, Sarah Reinlaub, Cynthia Lackey: [email protected] Kowloon Marti Law: [email protected] International Cooking Club Sylvie Guyot: [email protected] Wan Chai tba Italian Conversation Group Patty Tarallo: [email protected] Pok Fu Lam Rachel Bourke: [email protected] Local Tours and Activities Jane Buck: [email protected] Sham Shui Po Lindy Vasey: [email protected] Lunch Bunch Marcia Hammelev Sander: 9868 4112 Chai Wan Julie Naughton: [email protected] Mahjong Katherine Fenton: 6708 3345 Ap Lei Chau tba Christine Scullion: 6777 1182 Dining Etiquette Bernice Lee: [email protected] Moms & Tots Alpa Tolia: [email protected] Phone Pals Shibani Dutta: [email protected] Needle Arts Alison Levingston: [email protected] Mock Interviews Bernice Lee: [email protected] Glenys Kilazoglou: [email protected] Photography Group Sharon Mason: [email protected] 5217 3884 SOCIAL Barbara Macho: [email protected] Patti Smith: [email protected] FUNDRAISING [email protected] Spiritual Literacy Book/Discussion Group [email protected] 1st VP Fundraising Marcy LaRont: [email protected] MEMBERSHIP [email protected] Public Relations [email protected] 2nd Vice President Jane Buck: [email protected] Buddy Program Alison May: 9663 1250 Chairperson KD Schumacher: [email protected] CHAT Coordinator Susan Wallace: 9783 3227 Newsletter/E-Blast Coordinator KD Schumacher: [email protected] Foon Ying Kate Mahjoubian: 6462 6559 Forum Moderator KD Schumacher: [email protected] Hildy Karev: 6799 9604 Membership Discounts Jane Buck: [email protected] OWL Susie Edrington: [email protected] If you would like to join the AWA or if you have any WOW Mary Barbara Hanna: [email protected] question about the organization, please contact the office or any of the Executive Board members.
49 AWARE November 2014 December 2014 AWARE 49