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#AR4RANSFERS s )MMIGRATION,EGALIZATION s (OME3EARCH s 3CHOOL3EARCH 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.