"Birfday" Wishes!

I have several family members and a friend with birthdays here at the end of October. Soooo...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to:

My cousin Maggie Sue- who is turning 3

My cousin (and brother of Maggie...) Garrett- who is turning 7!

My cousin Shannon, who is 25 now (Yay 1981!)

AND

To my dear friend Melissa Porter, who is 24!

Hong Kong Sunsets

The sunsets here in Hong Kong- from my window- are stunning, BUT they confuse me. It's weird because the sun gets low in the sky, but it doesn't disappear behind the horizon. It just gets to a certain level and fades away. WEIRD! I watched carefully tonight to try and figure it out, but I have no idea. Any of you smart science/planet people know the answer of WHY? It is beautiful (even if the brilliant color is caused, as called in something I read, by "choking pollution." )



Can I also just say that I don't know how, by looking at amazing things like this, anyone can deny the existence of a God. That's all. :-) Be happy.

2 Months!

I have now been here in Hong Kong for

TWO MONTHS!!!

Wahoo! Let's hear it for five more!
(And let's hear it for some VISITS from y'all in those five months! )

What a day!

Today I took a trip to Tuen Mun to pick up some packages at the post office- or "The Post" as Terrah Conrad and I called it in West Yellowstone. :-) Terrah had sent me TWO packages- and OH MY GOSH! One was chucked full of Halloween candy... happy happy, and the other was full of GREAT church/missionary materials. I have the bestest friends in the world! THANK YOU TERRAH! I had to take a pic of me with my candy. I love candy. Yes yes. I love candy.

Today I also visited Victoria's Peak- my favorite place in Hong Kong. When I was here with YA's it was by far my favorite place. It is absolutely STUNNING. Today was really hazy, but it is still quite the sight. :-) I LOVE IT! On the ride up I took the tram- where, a guy from Utah just happened to be sitting in front of me. He's from Sandy and on business here for a few days. HA! Who knew that today I would meet another Utahn, and another Mormon... they ARE out there! Hee hee. He showed me a good trail to walk on up at The Peak, and we just talked for awhile. It was fun to see someone from home!

Going to "The Peak" today made me sentimental with YA memories...

The YA's sharing an FHE with Hong Kong members (April 2005)

YA Memory: The McDonald's where Randy took us to get ice cream on Victoria's Peak

Yet MORE observations on HK:

* People on the bus and MTR will always fall asleep on top of you. Ha ha. Seriously, everyone sleeps on public transportation here and well, I like their heads on my shoulder. :-) Hee hee!

* People here are blunt. I had noticed this many times before, but today on the ride to Tuen Mun I didn't know exactly where I was going and this nice guy helped me out and told me which stop to get off at and whatever. Anyway, we got talking (I couldn't understand him very well, his English wasn't the best) and he asked if I were Christian. I told him yes, I am a Mormon. His response? "The Mormon church isn't true." Blunt.

* The world isn't so big after all. :-) I met a guy from Sandy, Utah today in Hong Kong. I'm not THAT far away! :-) Hee hee.

Glowsticks and the Public Light Bus

These are mini-busses, or "Public Light Busses"- they are EVERYWHERE here in HK.. I took a ride in on the other night. Story to follow... :-)

* * *

More "STUFF" about Hong Kong:

* The other night I had one of those, "HA! This is MY LIFE" moments. I had gone into town with the cast members for a big birthday party, and for the ride home I took a minibus for the first time. I had seen them ALL over Hong Kong, but was never exactly sure how to use one. OK- basically I was afraid to use one because I wouldn't be able to communicate with the drivers who MOST LIKELY don't speak Engrish. (Basically the way these work is you hop on them and just yell to the driver when you wanna get off... but I didn't even know how you find out where they were GOING) ANYWAY- my friend Fiona from the cast got me onto one of these busses and was nice enough to tell the driver where to stop and let me off. Communication problem cured.

#1 Thing I learned about mini-busses: THEY ARE MUCH FASTER THAN THE REGULAR BUSSES OR THE MTR (subway). I LOVE MINI-BUSSES!

#2 The atmosphere of this little bus was one of the most hysterical things I have seen here in Hong Kong. I ADORED it. THIS was living. THIS was experiencing HONG KONG. THIS IS MY LIFE! ( Moment of suppressed giddiness ) I was in my seat, a couple of seats in back of the driver, just smiling to myself. I wanted to take a picture SOOOOO badly but didn't want all the Hong Kong people to think I was a crazy American girl... like I am. So I didn't take a pic. ANYWAY- why was this little bus so entertaining? Well, it was speeding all over going past every other vehicle... I loved that, and the music this driver was playing was totally ghetto with the bass turned up. HA! The dashboard and front of the bus were decorated with all kinds of WHATEVER. The flashing fluorescence of glow sticks and the movement of the M & M bobbleheads attached to the dashboard COMBINED with the music just made me love my little life and this weird little experience I am having here, 7,000+ miles away from home. I need to find THAT bus and take someone on it when I have visitors. Ha ha ha.

My writing juices aren't flowing today. I wish I could adequately paint the word picture of this bus for you guys... it's not working. Sigh...

Anyway- continuing with OBSERVATIONS ON HONG KONG:

* The men here have pretty hands. Most of them have long fingernails and perfectly manicured hands... it makes me feel like Miss Ugly Hands. Hee hee. Wussup with that?

* I am to the point that I don't remember that I look different than the people here. I just don't think about it until I see some little kid staring at me with wide eyes. Yes, I'm the tall, "fat", blonde girl from America! :- ) HA HA HA.

* My favorite thing about working at Hong Kong Disneyland is the fact that every time I single someone out in the audience and wave, JUST AT THEM, it MAKES THEIR LIFE. Their little - and big- faces light up brighter than anything I have seen before. Sometimes it almost brings me to tears. Seriously! I have the best job right now!!!

* Having a fairly young Chinese guy as your dresser in a show is entertaining- especially when he- your DRESSER- has a crush on you. HA HA HA! His name is Sam. He is my dresser every few days. The kid CRACKS me up and looks at me like I am the most blessed thing that has ever looked upon this good earth. He doesn't speak Engrish very well, so his affectionate thing for me is to stick his tongue out at me. He is my Sam of Hong Kong.

* THINGS are cheap here in HK. Stuff for my house is cheap, "STUFF" is cheap. Groceries are not. It seriously is cheaper to eat out every night... well, if you go to cheap places like McDonalds... but who wants to do that.

* I found a new addiction that relates to my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches obsession. I am so bad. They probably have this at home- but it's Skippy "Chocolate Swirl Peanut Butter." Let me die now. I bought a jar and eat this glorious concoction by the spoonful. What has happened to me here in HK? I think it's my medicine to ward of homesickness. Yeah- I'll keep telling myself that...

* * *

I didn't go to Cantonese class tonight. I am a bad student. Oh well. I have two more days off this week- what to do, what to do.... Things here have settled in to being just life. Ya know? It's like home... I got to work, come home, make dinner, and watch TV or whatever, and crash. On my days off I run errands and do whatever I feel like. I feel like I should be out doing touristy things on my days off- and sometimes I DO... but I will wait for most of that till the "tourists" come- for I am now a resident of Hong Kong. Ha ha.

BIFF AND BRETT (my sister and bro-in-law) win the prize for making the first reservations to come see me. I love them. They make me happy. Do you want me to love you too? COME SEE ME. Hee hee. :-) They will be here Dec 29-Jan 3. Happy.

Days off... again :-)

Hee hee. OK- thanks to my dear friends Cy (who I learned new things about today... hee hee) and Ryan for this one. Y'all know my obsession with the musical Les Miz... well, actually now the obsession isn't really an obsession... though I still love the show. But anyway, this made me laugh. Les Miz and Legos. :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0Dn0_gsbA8


Well, today was my day off and I just did normal "day off" things. I went grocery shopping, ran errands (I had to pay Disney back over $2000 cuz they had accidently overpaid me on my last check... darn it...) , and then I went to the Cantonese class that the sister missionaries in the branch are teaching. The only things I can actually confidently say are: Good morning, Hello- How are you?, Move out of the way, Thank You (which is the SAME as move out of the way...), Good evening, and mmm... yeah- that's it. I don't think my mouth is made to make those words... ha ha.


I have an obsession with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches here in Hong Kong. I love them. That's all.

Too bad I don't have more to write about... ummmm.... I bought a little red rug for under my coffee table today. I am happy for that. I got it for like $15 US too. :-) Happy me.

I have lots of time to go running and walking here. I go for at least an hour each day. It's nice and if I start cutting down on those PB and J's I can get rid of the little flab I have. (Don't take this as me saying I am fat... BUT we all have places we can tone up!) :-) Hee hee.

Speaking of fat.... OK- I am a size 3/4 (Yes, I just posted that on the internet). NOT FAT AT ALL. Have y'all seen The Devil Wears Prada? OK- here, I AM THAT GIRL. Among all these Phillipina dancers and other dancer girls I am the "fat" one. It is really weird. :-) Oh well. I am the tall fat girl from America. It's all good. :-) I like it. Bring on the PB and J, baby.

I found myself on YouTube! Ha ha ha!

So if this is NOT me, then this Belle sounds just like myself to me. Hee hee. Yes, I DO have too much time on my hands. :-) Watch this video because it has a great view of how the "transformation" works. In the video I posted you can't see it. :-) Anyway, go check it out!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNI7wRI6D08

There are also chunks of the rest of the show in links on this page. I am in "Friendship" (the one laying across the block in the beginning) and I am in the Mulan (Heros) section as well! :-) I play a man. Ha ha. Oh yeah, and in the opening number (before "Friendship"), I am an usher... I say "The costumes are finished!" Ha ha ha.

The Giant Buddha

Today was my day off so I visited the giant Buddha on Lantau Island. It was giant. :-)

The view from the back of the giant Buddha

Statues around the giant Buddha

I think this is Hong Kong's version of a pine tree. I like Christmas.

Tonight the local Hong Kong girls put a little party together for the Chinese "Lantern Festival" that has been going on this week. We all just hung out and ate and talked and stuff. :-)

Belle... Again :-)

My "job."

Belle and Tetchi- one of the Phillipino cast members

"G" - another cast member.. and Belle

There's something sweet, and almost kind...

OK OK- try to control yourself.... SOOO hot in this pic. HA HA HA. I think I am gonna cut my hair like this! Uh... NOOOO. I need a picture of it without the hat. It's my Opener costume and without the hat I look like a soccer mom- "Deb." Hee hee.

Sentimental Ramblings and Other Junk :-)

I miss my Provo...

And Layton... and PEOPLE!

Yeah OK- so I can admit it- I finally hit the point of homesickness last night. Now I hardly ever post sentimental thoughts/emotions on the blog... but here I go.

Last night as I was watching Conference online at BYUTV.org, I ran across a program they ran in between sessions called "Young Ambassadors: Journey Through China." There, on my computer screen, was an hour full of memories of my YA days... people, the YA show, events from our China tour- all being thrown at me. I LOVED IT. But, I felt SO far removed from it all. It catapulted me into a bout of homesickness and sentimentality. I wouldn't ever change that fact that I am here, but I think we all have to have moments of wanting "home." Yeah, I miss my family, friends, and my pets. I miss jumping in my car (even though I HATED the car I was driving... hee hee) and driving wherever I wanted- even though gas prices were killing me.

I am CRAVING a J-Dawg, BYU creamery ice cream (Peanut Butter Cup and Raspberry Cream Cheese), The Brink Oven "Market Room Buffet," and Costa Azul (or Costa Vida in SLC-Layton-Ogden area).

Random Facts of Amy's Life in Hong Kong:

* I change my clothes roughly 15 or more times per day (Seems as if I have gone back to childhood when I used to change my clothes all day for no reason and always ended up in the same outfit... a purple and white polka dotted sun dress thing...)

* I encounter unknown smells at least 10 times per day. Some of these smells- well... I just don't like them. Yuck. I am craving the fresh air of Utah in Autumn.

* I come across mystery meat at least twice per day. And for those of you who understand my HUGE dislike of dead fish... well, I try and stay away from the meat counters in the grocery stores. The other day a fish head was rolling around on a counter and I really about DIED.

* I love my iPod. LOOOOOOVE my iPod. I never thought I would be one of those obnoxious people with the iPod earphones in their head 24-7, but I to believe I am becoming one. Ha ha. Just kidding, not really. But I love it for my walks/runs around the complex at night, and for my standby days at work. Thanks to everyone who pitched in to get it for my birthday!

* I read The Da Vinci Code in about four days. I am now starting The Chronicles of Narnia (Thanks Tom Every!) It's like 800 pages. I will probably finish it sometime next week. Did I mention I have TONS of time to READ?

* I still get really confused as to what side of the road we are on- or what we're supposed to be on. It all just confuses me. I feel disoriented. I ride busses all day long for transportation and it still weirds me out. Roundabouts are REALLY bizarre when going the "wrong way"- which is the "right way" here in Hong Kong.

* Being here no longer feels like a vacation. It's just life. It's where I live. Like at home, after work I come home, make dinner, and do whatever. I feel like I need to be out sight seeing or something ALL THE TIME- but wait, at home I don't spend my evenings visiting the landmarks of Utah- not ever night anyway. :- ) So on my days off I think I am going to explore the touristy things this month. I am already coming up with good things for my visitors to do! HEY- I AM BOOKING MY EXTRA ROOM. I need dates from people! :-) YAY!

It's too late to be writing tonight. I have lots all sense of wit and entertainment in my writing. I need to sleep. All is well! Hong Kong is stunningly beautiful at night and I feel EXTREMELY blessed to be here. I love my job, and the people I work with are great. All is well in the HK.

Hardee's Lives in Hong Kong... and MAIL! I GOT MAIL TODAY!

And PRESENTING.... MY HOME. Still in progress.

My little apartment in Hong Kong is slowly looking more like "home." I am all about decorating CHEAPLY because I won't be able to take any of this stuff home anyway... SOOOOOOOO I found these pillows for like $5 US each. So I got four of them and when I find some more colors I'll add to it. Ha ha. Rainbow colors. Random... whatever. It's cheap! I also bought a PLANT.

Brooke, Blake, Biff, and any Shreeve people appreciate this next picture: Hardee's is still here in Hong Kong- only it uses the Carl's Jr. star! Weird huh? Anyway, I had to take a picture because of all the time we used to spend at Hardee's. Every Saturday morning we'd play in the balls at Hardee's. Ha ha. Our grandpa would take us there while he met with all his friends, and afterwards we would go to the CAR WASH. THAT was living I tell ya! :-)

Again, I heart Bryan Madsen. He officially wins the prize of being the first person to send me mail... and BOY was I excited!!! YAY! He sent me a DVD of our New York Showcase back in May. Made me smile. It also made me a little sentimentally sad inside. I love all those people and it's weird knowing that now we've all gone our own ways and are doing whatever...

Last week- On my day off I went to Kowloon Tong and saw the temple. Happy. :-) I also went into the mini Distribution Center they have. It was fun.

This is the view from my living room and guest room on a CLEAR day here in Hong Kong. Have I convinced anyone to come YET????

What the??? This magnet was here on my fridge when I came. I thought it was funny so I am posting a picture. :-)

This is the gate to Hong Kong Disneyland. Just thought I'd show y'all where I am working. :-)

Anyway, so life here in Hong Kong continues to be good. Tonight I started a Cantonese class that the sister missionaries in the Branch are teaching. I am sure I will just learn the basics... this language is INSANE. It has 9 different TONES, so the same word can mean something COMPLETELY different depending on the TONE you use. Scary. Ha ha. Anyway, I will give it a try, I guess. :-)

Wednesdays and Thursdays are my days off until November 11. My "work week" really goes fast- it's five days long and my schedule goes something like this:

* Friday: PM Shift (I go in at 2:30 and finish around 7- ususally 2 shows)
* Saturday: Standby (USUALLY two shows... depends on if it's a PEAK day or not)
* Sunday: I am SCHEDULED for the AM shift but one of the girls has been GREAT to trade me for PM several times so I can get to church in the morning
* Monday: Standby (1 show... not a peak day)
* Tuesday: AM shift (Start at 11:00 and work till 2:15)

I am starting to really recognize places and I don't feel NEARLY as disoriented as I have. I am learning my way around! WAHOO!

Oh yeah... and another big

CONGRATS

goes out to my dear friend and former roomie Andrea... she was just cast as Laurey in Oklahoma at BYU. I AM SO HAPPY FOR HER!!! YAY YAY YAY!

So that's life for me here. All is happy and well in the HK. I still want visitors. :-)

One Month!

Today I have officially been here in Hong Kong for

ONE MONTH!!!

Wahoo! Let's hear it for six more!
(And let's hear it for some VISITS from y'all in those six months!)

Outings on My Day Off... and a New Baby!

My Yissa, Steve, and new baby
Nathan Reid Voorhees
Born September 19, 2006 at 7:43 PM
8 lbs 8 oz and 22 inches

Tonight I went out on the town with some of the other single members in the branch. We took a ferry over to Lamma Island and ate lots of really great seafood! I don't even like seafood, but I was daring and really loved it all... well, MOST of it! :-) It was SOOOO nice to get out into Hong Kong at night. The skyline here is absolutely stunning and it was just so wonderful!

Wednesday and Thursday are my days off, so I've just been hanging out doing whatever. Uh, if anyone is willing to send me books to read I really would LOVE it. Books here are really expensive, and I am DYING for some. Two of my five days at work during the week I am on "standby-" WHICH MEANS that I sit in the green room all day and have to find ways to entertain myself. I need books. I really need books. :-) That is all. Yes, I am begging. Loves.

I "Heart" Bryan

First of all, today, I have to give a big cyber hug and

CONGRATULATIONS

to my favorite Bryan Madsen. He just emailed me and told me that he has been cast in the national touring company of the musical "Wicked." I AM

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

proud of and happy for him!!!! I need to find a pic of Bryan and his sexy hair. Hee hee. :-)

For those of you who don't know Bryan- he graduated from BYU with me in April. We went through the last couple years of MDT together, and I gained so much respect for his incredible talent and kindness! :-) I love the guy! I never had any doubt that his talent would give him amazing opportunities like this!!!

I am now going to become a Wicked National Tour groupie. Lindsey and Kallie, start saving because we are going on a trip in my new Mazda 6 when I get home to see "Wicked" on tour!

Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong....

OK- here are a few pics that I took in the last few days. The first is the entrance to the theatre I work in. And the second is the amazing sunset that I witnessed tonight. I wish that the picture could do it justice, but it just doesn't even come close. The sun looked HUGE from my living room window... it was stunning. Hong Kong might be polluted, but it sure makes for pretty sunsets. :-) Hee hee.

I am working hard to get a picture of me as Belle, but they are REALLY REALLY not budging on the "taking pictures backstage" thing. I need to find someone to just watch the show and take some good pics. I also wanna find someone with a good digital video camera to get another video... but we'll see. Anyway...

My cousin Melissa is having her baby Nathan today!!! She is being induced at some point today... and I am sitting by my MSN to hear all about it. :-) Hee hee.

Goodbye Hotel... Hello "Home"

Well, goodbye to the elegance and service of being waited upon. Yesterday I moved into my apartment at the Gold Coast in New Territories. The apartment is great- granted, not as deluxe as the website makes it sound (but what website ever really tells the truth??). Anyway, it's nice and moving here makes me a little TOO anxoius for people to come use the extra room. :-) I am on the 11th floor in tower# 7. It's got a great view, and after getting it decorated a bit it will be quite a nice little home for me. (By the way, the above picture comes from the hotel... I just thought those elevators were awesome...)

Moving in was a bit tough. Yesterday it was POURING all day long. All I have ever seen it do here in Hong Kong is "mist heavily." But yesterday it was POURING rain. I had to get all my stuff moved in that- and it was hard, but I made it. I finally got into my apartment only to discover that the phone, the internet, and the TOILET weren't working. Fuuuun. Actually it's funny because not having the internet gave me the biggest trauma of all. I am waiting to hear if my cousin Melissa is having her baby... and noy having that connection with home made me wanna scream! :-)

Anyway, so all is well here in Hong Kong. Today I went out into a few places I haven't been before. I am reminded that I AM IN CHINA. The streets smell funny and women smell like mothballs. I love them, but they do.

So this next picture is something that made me smile SO big. For those of you who don't know, the bear in the picture is "Binky Bear." I have had her since I was three, or "free," and brought her along with me. Well, one night after rehearsal I came into my room and "turndown service" had occured. Whoever did it had found Binky Bear and placed her on the bed with a breakfast menu in hand. It made me laugh! I loved it. It was like something my mom would do at home. I felt taken care of. Ha ha.

This is the only "Belle" picture I have so far. More will be coming. The mother of one of the girls came and took some pics... so hopefully they will have turned out MUCH better.

Uh, IN CASE YOU NEED A HOOK. These were ALL OVER the walls in my spare bedroom. I was like, "Oooook." But then some guys came and chipped them all off and painted. "Ooooook."

My "living room." My camera STINKS. I need to buy a new one. :-) I also need to decorate...

The view from my bedroom

The view from my "Guest Room" (On a typhoon day) - COME SEE IT LIVE!!! :-)

To Go Along With the Video

Well, as of tomorrow I have been here in Hong Kong three whole weeks! I think I am here for 32 total, so 29 more to go! But who's counting? I mean really though. I am loving it here. I really CAN NOT believe that dressing up and singing is my JOB. I am used to going to rehearsals and doing shows and all that, but THAT is my JOB. I don't have to get a "day job." Uh, THAT makes me happy- no working in the chiropractor's office for me!!! Anyway...

I spent time this week exploring a bit more. I was feeling like Miss Independence on Wednesday when I went into Wan Chai (downtown Hong Kong Island area) by myself and managed to find exactly what I was looking for. Granted, I had to walk around the block twice to "orient" (HA HA!) myself, but I DID it! It was fun.

My first show was on Friday at 5:15. It went really well and I am VERY happy to do done with rehearsals and to be into a regular work schedule. I am scheduled to work the AM shift on Sundays, but one of the girls was REALLY generous and traded me her afternoon shift for my morning one. Now I can at least get to church in the mornings on Sundays. Hopefully, once I have been here a little while, I will be able to request Sundays off. We'll see. Tomorrow I am going to the Victoria 1st Ward in Wan Chai. I take a few different trains to get there, but it's worth it! My days off for the next month are Wednesday and Thursday, so that will be great this week, because on WEDNESDAY I am moving into my apartment! YAY! There are good places to get things to decorate with, and if I can do it cheaply, that will be lots of fun. More exploring ahead for Amy!!! I need to figure out all the places that we went last year on YA tour... we went to a big marketplace on one of the last days here in Hong Kong. Anyone know where that was (Chad Little....) ??? :-)

Yep, so life is good. I am anxiously awaiting word that my cousin Melissa is ready to have her baby boy, Nathan. She is due on the 10th and I am excited to get pictures and everything. Thanks LOTS everyone for comments on the blog and for emails and stuff. I miss everyone a lot. I miss a great social life, but things are GREAT here and I know it's where I am supposed to be at this point in my life. Life is beautiful!!! Be happy.

Belle (Bad quality... but it's SOMETHING!) :-)