New home, New hobby, New life?

I have been meaning to get this thing back up and rolling. I mean I have written a bunch of blogs but none I want to make public. I hope my internet security doesn't bug me out like the last time I started writing blogs. Which was back in March in an attempt to keep my BFF in the loop of all of my surroundings and new discoveries. I have since found the world of video blogs. Yes, I became a youtuber! haha

Not a serious one at that, but definitely enjoying the process of making videos and sharing them with people back home. I needed another way to keep not only my parents in the loop but also my nieces and nephews. Let's face it... with all the writing I do I would loose them all. You, Shorty are probably the ONLY one who would read every one of my words and for that I love you and that is why you are my BFF. Thank you!

So if you stumble upon this blog, and would like a glimpse of my vlogs, go check it out.

Click here; Mario and Tere's Day 1 in Hong Kong

Tomorrow is September 1st, 2017, which means we have been living in Hong Kong for about two weeks! Two weeks that seem like they have flown by but also feel like its been months since we have been here. I think a lot of that mixed emotion has to do with the fact that we literally arrived, and hit the floor running. We arrived on Thursday, with enough time to just run to the nearest supermarket and pick up quick meals to make in our hotel room. Mario insisted that we start living like locals.... and refused to order room service or go out for dinner, even though his company would cover our charges. I fully supported that, especially because I am not fond of the typical food here. Dim sum, is alright but lacks taste... What I mean is that its bland, and we are used to tasty food loaded with spices, and hot peppers, and cheese, gooey,  melty, savory CHEESE!!

OMG! Why did I go there.????... My mouth just got all watery.  

After making a quick sandwich and sharing the most spicy ramen soup ever... YUP!! we did! .... we forced ourselves to go to bed. (Jet lag is real!!!) Mario had scheduled an appointment at the DMV of Hong Kong, I am sure it isn't called DMV here but, we went to go apply for our ID. You need that thing for everything.
After filling out forms and going through an interview like process, we got our receipt and tomorrow we get to show up again and pick up our actual ID cards.

After getting our IDs we spent the weekend apartment hunting and looked at different areas of the city. There was also a lot of thought that went into picking a location. We had to take into consideration the travel times on trains for both Mario and I. We soon realized that we had to find a middle point between Shenzhen and the district of Kowloon in Hong Kong.

Before we left the US, I took a job with an English Learning Center. I was able to sign a contract and I got all of the documents needed for the Chinese work Visa apostille, authenticated, and motorized by three different sources. Which would have been nearly impossible to do after our move. I am glad I didn't listen to Mario. He didn't want me to take the job just yet. He thought that I could find something better once here, but the paperwork process was a complicated and would have been unbearable to deal with once here.  It was a hectic ordeal that made me appreciate all of the people who handled all of Mario's work and visa permits. His company handled everything ... LUCKY!!!

I managed to hand deliver my documents to the agency and was told the visa process takes up to 21 days to go through. So September the 5th will probably not be my start date, like I had been told.

On Saturday we settled on the Sha Tin District and decided to go venture out and located a leasing office. We walked into one, where there was a young guy but surprisingly his English was not very good, and our Chinese is well.. let's not go there! He took our info down and I think he got the gist of what we were looking for.

Just around the corner there was a Century 21 office and we walked in. Bennie was one of two people in the office and he gladly invited us in. Little did we know he would be taking us to his own apartment complex and that a few days later, we would be block neighbors. After a brief meeting about our needs and wants of an apartment he sent us to go have lunch while he looked at his listing and our needs/wants.

#Goals

After walking around the neighborhood we quickly notice how uncrowded it was and both Mario and I felt good about the place. Kowloon and all its fancy hotels/shops is nice but we aren't really big on crowds and felt more at home surrounded by less people and mom and pop shops. To add to its potential, the MTR Station was close by and exactly where we wanted to be as far as convenience and time travel. Mario ended up getting a haircut, and THEN we found a nice quiet restaurant where we ate pasta, and found ICED tea... yes! We were told it would be nearly impossible to find ICED TEA in Hong Kong, and we though it to be true because Mario always asked.. only to be told.... "no no not cold, hot tea good for you."

If you follow my snaps you would have seen this!

Tower 1 of  5 - Where we live! 

Long Story short, we were showed several apartments, and we made a choice that day. Bennie brought it down in price for us which was the only thing that had us a little worried. That and the fact that it only had a washer, not dual machine that washes and dries. (Laundry deserves its own post! More on that at another time!) Bennie is the MAN!!! also the Landlady is the man for agreeing.

Prima Villa = Home for 2 years! 

Though it took an entire week to get deposits and utilities all squared away. We have an unfurnished apartment, but have great views enjoy. After 3 trips to IKEA and countless minutes spent telling Mario that we weren't going to find anything cheaper than IKEA, he caved and we ordered furniture that will be arriving Saturday! Can't Wait!! The best part is that we are on the 13th floor. Well technically the 12th, Chinese cultures bands the number 4 at all cost.. so there you go.

I was thrown off for a bit. I came down with something. I don't know if I was dehydrated, exhausted, ate something bad, etc... or maybe it was all.. But I lounged around for about 3-4 days. Yesterday was the first time since Saturday to do anything. I finally got to working out again and of course make Mario breakfast and made sure to have dinner ready when he got home. I am enjoying this off time for now and spoiling him rotten because I know that once I get to working myself, this won't be our daily schedule. Though I am sure if it were up to Mario, that exactly what he would want me doing.

Thanks for reading!