AWA Nov 2015-WITH BAZAAR INSERT
Transcription
AWA Nov 2015-WITH BAZAAR INSERT
A M a g a z i n e fo r t h e Wo m e n o f H o n g K o n g • N ove m b e r 2 0 1 5 November 2015 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. AWAre Production team 6 Editor Angela Bellas [email protected] Contents Assistant Editors Lindsey Gordon Graphics Jacky Ngan Fahima Ahmad Membership 3 AWA Enjoys 5 PhotographY Fahima Ahmad Sharon Mason Welcome Back Coffee 6 The Visitors 8 Advertising Manager [email protected] 16 Published & Printed by R&R Publishing Ltd. 2126 7812 [email protected] www.rrpublishing.com.hk 17 I'm a Girl 10 Maria's Story 12 WOW 14 A Story of a Start-up 15 Asian Tours 16 Calendar of Events 17 Local Tours and Activities 18 Ongoing Activities 24 Contact Information 25 The AWA office is open from Monday-Thursday 9:30am-3:30pm. Visit the AWA website: www.awa.org.hk Follow us on Twitter: @AWA_HK like us on facebook: www.facebook.com/awahk Follow us on Instagram: @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 Hello again AWA members. In October, we laughed for education and walked in support of the fight against breast cancer. A group of you visited the UNESCO heritage site, Yellow Mountain in China. The ladies of WOW hosted a brilliant speaker on funding your start up. We played bridge and mah-jong. We hiked. We volunteered. And we continued to make every day count. As we usher in November, the fun continues! We listened to our members who encouraged us to offer more topical and informational events. On Thursday November 5th, we are happy to co-host a talk on sending our children to boarding school, which will be held at the American Club in Tai Tam. On Friday November 13th, our long awaited annual Charity Bazaar will take place at the PMQ in Soho (see details inside this issue). And on Tuesday November 24th, we encourage you not to miss our panel discussion on domestic helpers and immigration in Hong Kong, moderated by AWA member and Fair Employment Agency co-founder, Tammy Baltz. Finally – it’s been just over a month since our amazing Welcome Back Coffee, and I wanted to reiterate a message from that morning. I WANT YOUR STORIES! We will be celebrating the AWA’s 60th year starting in 2016. Whether you are an “old” or newer member, I want to hear from you. If the AWA means something to you, has meant something to you, and/or if you think that the AWA holds a valuable place in the Hong Kong community, I want to hear your thoughts, your comments, your stories. Email me at [email protected]. Happy Thanksgiving! Marcy From the Editor Have you got your shopping shoes on? I love the AWA Charity Bazaar, it’s such a great opportunity to get all my Christmas shopping done in one go. I must admit though, more often than not, the gifts are for me! Lots of your favourite vendors will be there, along with the Lucky Lai See, Silent Auction and new this year the Giving Tree. We’re looking forward to being in our new location, and if you’d like to know more about PMQ, then two of the AWAre regular writers, Frances Nicholls and Tanvi Gupta have articles in the supplement, so do check them out. It’s still not too late to volunteer to help out on the day, contact [email protected] if you’d like to help out. I look forward to seeing you all there. Coming up on Tuesday December 1st we have an exclusive AWA charity movie screening of the award winning documentary "I’m a girl". This deeply moving and inspirational film features six girls on the brink of womanhood, ready to become something extraordinary. Check out page 10 for more details, and book your tickets through the AWA website. All proceeds from the showing will go to the AWA scholarship program helping young female students in Hong Kong. This really is my last letter as AWAre editor as I hand the reins over to Lindsey Gordon. I’m sure, like me, you will have enjoyed reading Lindsey’s articles over the past few months, see page 8 for this months adventure, and I know the magazine will be in great hands. Marcy LaRont AWA President Angela Bellas AWAre Editor (Temporary) 2 AWARE November 2015 Membership The AWA (American Women’s Association) is a dynamic community of women of all nationalities, with over 800 members from 36 countries. We are sure you will find your niche through our diverse range of activities, events and opportunities to volunteer. All women are welcome – do join us! Current members – you are our best ambassadors. Please introduce new arrivals and old friends to AWA – over wine at OWL, at a Neighborhood Coffee, a WOW event, or encourage them to attend CHAT. AWA’s vision is that all women can connect with us and develop a rich, satisfying and purposeful life in Hong Kong. Joining AWA is easy via our website at: awa.org.hk or call 2527 2961. Welcome New Members Sarah Ball Kirsten Beemer Francine Besançon Carmenchita Boeing Tina Brickhouse Jennifer Brown Rosemary Bruno Chiara Caratti Sujata Chaudhari Jessica Cheng Sonia Chow Elizabeth Clark Cara Crosswhite Ruth Derrien Colleen DiMatteo Isabelle Ensarguet Catherine Furlong Marika Gillis Ksenia Gross Deepa Gupta Christine Harber Jennifer Hayers Barbara Hemmi Verburg Claire Hunter Ro King Tyna (Tanya) Kirk Kara Laskowski Stephanie Laurent Josi Irene Lee Quinn Lockwood Mini Malhotra Deirdre McKechnie Martine Morey Kristin Morse Heidi Peyrefitte Rockowitz Pamela Portsmouth Layton Isabell Seelander Jennifer Stork Marieke van der Meulen Marceline Vieux-Pernon Amy Waag Owl (Out With the Ladies) Come join us any week or every week - same time, same place (except public holidays). Where: Oolaa 20 Bridges Street, Soho When: Every Tuesday, 5:30pm – 7:30pm Coordinator: Susie Edrington, [email protected] November 2015 AWARE 3 MEMbERship Foon Ying wHen: November 11, 18 and 25. Please plan to attend all three dates wHere: TBC coordinatorS: Chrissie Govier, [email protected] coSt: No fee but registration is required "Foon Ying" means "welcome" in Cantonese and what better welcome than to embark on a social adventure designed to foster new Hong Kong friendships. This informal program takes the guesswork out of finding your feet by designing fun activities for your group, sharing experiences and building your “guanxi” or "network." Your commitment? Attend all three sessions over three weeks, be open to exploring your new environment and meeting great people. Join and enjoy! Neighborhood Coffees 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 activities. Contact your local coordinator for details of forthcoming coffees. HK SoutHSide Walli Seegar, [email protected] Sandra Gallaudet, [email protected] SAI KUNG Katherine Fenton, [email protected] KowLoon PoK Fu Lam and SHouSon HiLL Jane Buck, [email protected] Susan Trebach, [email protected] diScovery Bay Kathy Barber, [email protected] Amita Gupta, [email protected] Izumi Ikeda, [email protected] HK centraL/mid LeveLS CHAT (Come Have a Talk) wHen: wHere: coSt: coordinator: Thursday, 10:30am – 12:00 noon (except public holidays) Café 8, Rooftop of Pier 8, above the Maritime Museum. No fee (all beverages & lunches at personal expense) Diane Lamboley 9020 9385 [email protected] 50 Years helping you oY˲nbb½ We can’t wait to show you around In fifty years we’ve learned a lot about what makes relocations more successful for everyone. With experienced and knowledgeable people on the ground in more than 60 countries we equip you well for your relocation: s7ELLHELPYOUGETTOKNOWTHEDESTINATIONWELLBEFOREYOUGO s3HOWYOUHOWTOMAKEITEASIERANDMOREEXCITINGFORCHILDREN and less stressful for pets s7ELLLOOKAFTERYOURBELONGINGSWITHEXPERTPACKINGANDTRANSPORT s!NDWHENYOUARRIVEWECANHELPYOUGETSETTLEDQUICKERAND enjoy the thrill of a new place or a different culture Tel: +852 2636 8388 [email protected] Go knowing www.crownrelo.com/hongkong 4 AWARE November 2015 CR Ad AWA Magazine.indd 1 10/3/2015 6:11:53 PM AWA eNJoyS m ons king Mansi red Chung u to s ! er ce b a AWA mem ugh the pl eir way thro – they ate th A grou p beautifu o f A W A m e mbers l Nan L toured ian ga rdens the Some AWA m ember learnin s had g how fun se to work make ssions t r u ff l e with ch s oco w Teresa i t h fe l Vanden l o w A W late and Bosch' A mem ber n a fu had g to s e i d n A la arni ls of AW time le fessiona p u l o o r u r f g s p A es ke succ ir li and heir ha on salon s t style ine Swan a l E at November 2015 AWAre 5 Feature Welcome Back Coffee Sharon Mason (USA) The annual Welcome Back Coffee is always one of our favorite events. We get a chance to see old friends and meet new ones at the beautiful American Club in Tai Tam. This year's event was all about how much AWA has to offer each of us, whether we have been in Hong Kong a month or a decade. As mistress of ceremonies, I looked out at the faces of friends I had not even met a year ago as I attended my first Welcome Back Coffee. President Marcy LaRont gave a warm and enthusiastic welcome to everyone. She highlighted AWA's many endeavors and how proud she is to preside over such an impressive group of women. We heard about the fabulous 6 AWARE November 2015 Feature upcoming Asian tours and our champion Globe Paddlers dragon boat team entertained us with their fight song. A fabulous stay at Five Elements in Bali donated by Charlotte Travel was on the line as the Lucky Draw topped off the morning. Everyone in the room cheered as Diane Lamboley, who had just described to us why she loves travel, claimed her prize. What a perfect ending! Many thanks to Barbora Mayer, Joanne Lam, Jane Buck, Marcy LaRont, Stephanie Bourque, the staff of the American Club and sponsors, Charlotte Travel and Asian Tigers who made this event possible. November 2015 AWARE 7 Feature The Visitors Lindsey Gordon (UK) Six months ago my 80-year-old dad called me at four in the morning to let me know he’d booked flights for him and mum to come and visit me in Hong Kong. Two weeks before they were due to arrive, mum had a fall and was confined to a wheelchair. Did they cancel? No, they did not. Nothing was going to stop them from making this trip. I waited at Exit B in the Arrivals hall for two hours before eventually finding them in the middle of the concourse like a couple of Paddington Bears with their handwritten parcel labels on their suitcases. How they got past me, I do not know and neither do they. They weren’t in bad shape considering they’d left their sleepy Somerset village more than 24 hours before, arriving via Dubai. Their main gripe was that it was too cold on the airplane: “We asked them three times to turn off the air-conditioning!” Mum does not like the cold, or the hot for that matter. She doesn’t like spicy food, or bland food. She is a big fan of salt and Tetley tea. “This is going to be interesting,” Mick said a day before the visit as we went to collect a wheelchair from the Red Cross at a hospital in Chai Wan. Navigating Hong Kong with a wheelchair is no easy task. This is a hilly city with a lot of steps. On the plus side, my biceps and calves are looking pretty toned now, and I discovered a whole new world of elevators. Also, I have to admit, I was loving the preferential treatment that a wheelchair can sometimes attract. At Ocean Park, we were whisked to the front of every line with the special ‘wheelchair plus three helpers’ Golden Ticket they gave us. They even stopped the cable car while mum got on. Dad, Mick and I cast our eyes to the floor in mortification as we trooped past hundreds of people to the front of the line – but we weren’t so mortified that we didn’t take full advantage of the situation at every opportunity. Apparently my dad loves penguins, I never knew that before, so he was in his element in the South Pole Attraction. 8 AWARE November 2015 Obviously the Antarctic conditions were not acceptable to mother who waited outside with her little battery-operated fan. “Does it really need to be that cold in there?” Hello mum, they’re penguins! The wheelchair also came in pretty handy at Disneyland; The Peninsula Lobby (no queuing for Afternoon Tea); the (soldout-except-for-wheelchairs) Cirque de Symphony show at The Cultural Centre; Wong Tai Sin Temple and The Peak Tram. (However, I have had to promise Mick that I will never make him visit Madame Tussaud’s ever again. Ever.) The highlight (of exasperation) of the tour for me was partaking of Chinese tea at the Lock Cha teahouse in Hong Kong Park. (Be careful not to accidentally order the Fuyuanchang pu-er tea at $38,000!) Dad and I caught each other’s eye and looked at mum as she took her first slurp of Lapsang Souchong… “Ewwwww! This tea tastes like smoky bacon!!” And apparently the moon cake is like a ‘chocolate pork pie.’ You can take the girl out of Somerset but you can’t take Somerset out of the girl! We went on the Big Bus, The Star Ferry, we visited Stanley, the Ladies Market, The Flower Market, The Jade Market, Nan Lian Gardens, Repulse Bay, Lamma and mum and dad saw pandas at Ocean Park and the real Mickey Mouse for the first time in their lives. I think they had the holiday of a lifetime and I know dad will be recounting his adventures to everybody down at his golf club. Mick and I took the wheelchair back to the Red Cross on Saturday but the office was closed. He had to stand on my back and pass the wheelchair through the one-foot gap above the door because we didn’t want to have to come back and the hospital refused to take responsibility for it ‘til Monday. I dread to think what it would have looked like on the CCTV! As we walked away, we were both thinking the same thing after pushing it around for two weeks, we would miss the wheelchair… and its occupant! Feature November 2015 AWARE 9 Feature I’m a girl Exclusive AWA charity movie screening Award winning documentary Deeply inspirational and moving There is a group of people in the world today who are more persecuted than anyone else, but they are not political or religious activists. They are girls. Being born a girl means you are more likely to be subjected to violence, disease, poverty and disadvantage than any other group on the planet. As a day on earth transpires from dawn to dusk and into the night, we meet Manu, Kimsey, Aziza, Habiba, Breani and Katie – each on the brink of womanhood and dealing with the realities of what it means to grow up female in their world today. As they come of age in the way their culture dictates, we see remarkable heartwarming stories of resilience, bravery and humour. I AM A GIRL is a feature length documentary that paints a picture of the reality of what it means to be a girl in the 21st century. Feminism may have promised equality and sought a better and fairer world for women, but the reality is that girls make up almost a quarter of the world’s population, yet still face the greatest discrimination of any group on the planet. Technology and science offer unimaginable potential but we still struggle to ensure men and women are afforded equal opportunities. In spite of these obstacles, girls have found extraordinary ways to persevere and in our documentary we hear their stories of strength, hope, courage and a refusal to be second best. The journey takes you through a pastiche of diverse cultures and societies around the globe including Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, Cameroon, Afghanistan, USA and Australia. The causes of girls and women are very dear to our heart as a women's association. We are excited to offer the screening of this inspirational documentary in Hong Kong and to share the stories with our members, families and friends. All proceeds of the charity movie screening go to the AWA scholarship program for young female students in Hong Kong. 10 AWARE November 2015 All beneficiaries are students with financial hardship who despite this achieve excellent grades, and show great examples of leadership and participation in their schools. Date: Tuesday December 1, 2015 Time: 5 pm Venue: House 2, UA Cine Times, Level 13, Times Square, Causeway Bay Cost: 200HKD Open to all, parental guidance, see website for more details, recommended. Order tickets via the AWA website. Tickets to be collected at the cinema directly before the screening. We are most grateful for the generous support of UA Cinemas who donated the cinema. November 2015 AWARE 11 Feature Maria’s story, a refugee in Hong Kong Andrea Roth (Germany) If you follow the news, you can’t help but notice the desperate conditions of the hundreds of thousands of people, who leave everything behind to flee from war, torture and persecution. While many Syrian and Afghan refugees try to reach the EU, thousands of Rohingya people from Myanmar and Bangladesh are taken by human traffickers to South East Asia. You would think that refugees are not a topic for Hong Kong. However, even though Hong Kong has one of the smallest global refugee populations, there are still more than 8000 people seeking protection here. Christian Action, one of the 2015 AWA grant recipients, runs a service centre for protection claimants. They shared the story of Maria with us. Maria was forced to flee from her home in 2012, to escape death threats following her husband’s murder by the political extremists in her country. Her own life at risk, but with only a few resources left in her pockets, Maria was forced to choose which of her three children she would be able to take to safety. For a mother, this was no easy decision, but she came to Hong Kong with her youngest, a girl of 15, who would otherwise have been defenseless against her persecutors. Her other children fled and have since been in hiding within the country. In Hong Kong, Maria’s life has been far from easy. In her 50s with a young daughter she was suddenly rendered homeless in a foreign city, each day fearing that she might be sent back to her persecutors. She had no right to work or acquire an income, which would have given them a comfortable roof over their heads and allow her daughter to continue her education. She was given no choice but to live a life of destitution, dependent wholly on the goodwill of the community. With only a total of $1,800 a month to cover their rent and $50 a day to feed both herself and her daughter, still Maria does not complain: “at least, we are safe”, she says. Three years later, Maria is still waiting in Hong Kong for a durable solution for her situation. She is only able to cope, she says, by being able to take part in her Church activities as well as those at the Centre for Refugees where she engages in education, well-being and recreational groups and is given counseling and access to psychiatrists who work with her to overcome the trauma of her past. However, with no income, Maria cannot always afford to cover the costs of transportation from her home to the Centre and other services. At the Welcome Back Coffee we collected octopus cards that will be given to refugees such as Maria so that they can afford the transportation. A big thank you to all who donated generously. 12 AWARE November 2015 About PMQ Chances are by now that you have visited or heard of PMQ – the newest, swankiest design and creative hub on the heart of Hong Kong. Opened as recently as last year, it has much to offer whether it be jewellery, home décor, clothes or art. An innovative idea, it offers space for artists to share their talent, creative process and goods in an exciting and casual setting. Currently PMQ houses about a 100 regular shops, with pop-ups coming up every now and again. There are also workshops held through the year, which run the gamut from meditation to jewellery design. At first when I walked into PMQ, what struck me most was the simplicity and utilitarian approach to the building. Fully expecting to be greeted by a sterling example of art deco, I was rather underwhelmed to be greeted by a simple white structure, much like a standardissue block of flats. I was not too far off the mark. PMQ of today, is a structure that has been built, razed, built again and re-purposed through it more than 100 years old history, and its last avatar was that of dorm-style quarters for the police force. The site first housed Central School, the first government school offering western education. This was much in demand by the fast-growing, middle class Chinese merchant community. Central School was initially located on Gough Street. When it moved to its new location on Aberdeen Street in 1889, the name was changes to Queen’s college. The school boasts some very notable alumni, including Dr Sun Yatsen. The school was closed in 1941, due to the Japanese invasion and converted into Army Head Quarters. Unfortunately, as a result of this the building was destroyed due to Allied bombing. For a few years the site was unused, till it started its second run. As a way to incentivise people to join the police force, the government decided to offer married quarters as a benefit. There was an influx of refugees into Hong Kong at the time, and the government needed to expand the police force. The Police Married Quarters were built on the site in 1951. The Quarters comprised about 190 living units, spread over two blocks, as well as a Junior Police Call Clubhouse. The building’s architecture is typical of the period - pragmatic, simple, built with an eye on the functional and not the ornamental. The building was vacated in 2000. Initially listed to be sold, it was discovered that the building still preserved some structural remnants of the old Central School, having been built upon the original structure. Re-listed in 2009 as a project under ‘Conserving Central’, the site got its third avatar – current day PMQ. Operating as a not-for-profit, PMQ has refurbished and enhanced the three original buildings while staying true to the original structure. There are tours offered regularly that take you through the preserved historical spots and landmarks, including the underground foundation remains. Walking around PMQ, browsing through the interesting and sometimes downright odd items on display, I am amazed and awed by how much history lies beneath my feet, literally. Welcome Welcome to AWA’s 29th Annual Charity Bazaar, our biggest fundraising event of the year. When something has been done well, over and over again, to do it once more, but keep it fresh, is a challenge. We’re excited to be at PMQ in Central for the first time, and hope you’ll enjoy the convenience and vibe of this great location. We’re thrilled to have 70+ vendors bringing you an eclectic mix of gifts and goodies, and hope you’ll enjoy a full day of shopping. There are so many fun places to eat and drink in the neighborhood, we hope you’ll find a great spot to refuel and then, come back to check on Silent Auction bids. We’ve wrapped all the Lucky Lai See prizes, so trade in your winning ticket and choose a surprise gift to yourself (look and point, no shaking allowed!). Hang a star on the Giving Tree and know 100% of your gift will go to the charity you select. Most important of all, share the day with friends, and have a great time! Lisa Strunin & Kay Suzuki Silent Auction This year we have an outstanding number of items on the silent auction list that will titillate and tantalize. We have truly delicious lots from restaurants, hampers, cooking classes, as well as soothing and pampering from spas and salons. Then there are the experiences. Would you like to getaway to Cambodia or perhaps Myanmar? Or how about a stay-cation sitting by the pool at the wonderful American Club? Thinking of a gift for your best friend? Bid on the stunning jewellery from Hilary Schwartz. Something for your husband? Bid on the flight simulator or cufflinks from Patinova. Something for your home? Bid on a gorgeous treasure from Bowerbird or perhaps, the perfect contemporary Asian piece from Forbidden City. You don’t have to pick one - bid on both! There are so many wonderful items to choose from and new pieces will be added throughout the day. And remember, you’re giving the best gift of all with 100% of all bids go to the AWA Charities Fund! Lucky Lai See We’re SO tempted to tell you about the hundreds and hundreds of Lucky Lai See prizes you can win, but we want to surprise you this year, so we won’t. They’re all wrapped up in pretty packages and tied up in bows. When you win, you pick whichever package catches your eye and give yourself a present. And if your ticket doesn’t win the first time around, you can put your name on it and enter THE SECOND CHANCE Lucky Draw at the end of the night. For this Christmas and Forever LANIGER cashmere Special Fair Sale - 50% off Giving Tree Giving back to our Hong Kong community is at the heart of AWA, a tradition of 60 years. Building on that tradition, AWA’s Giving Tree makes its debut at this year’s Charity Bazaar. Our goal by evening’s end is to cover the tree in golden stars, each star a gift from you to a selected charity. Whether you make a donation from yourself, or as a gift on behalf of someone else, 100% of your contribution will go to the charity you choose. Find the Giving Tree in the center of PMQ’s Courtyard. Charitable Giving Committee members will answer any questions you have about the charities selected for support. Choose a charity and a star (available in 3 sizes for HK$100, HK$300 or HK$500).* Put your name or a message on the star and hang it on the tree. Our heartfelt thanks to Crown Relocations for their generous sponsorship of AWA’s Giving Tree If your donation is on behalf of someone else, Giving Tree gift cards with a description of the charity will be available for you to send. *Cash, local cheques and credit cards accepted. The Happy Shopper By Frances Nicholls PMQ (35 Aberdeen Street) is an easy walk from Central. Exit C takes you out to Des Voeux Road Central, cross and walk right until you get to Central Escalator Line Alley Shopping Arcade where you can save your precious shopping energy by taking the Mid-levels travelator up (it goes up from 10.30 am). Continue for about 10 minutes until you see New Look Yorkshire Pudding or Staunton Wine Bar & Café. Continue along Staunton Street past Elgin Street and turn right into Aberdeen Street. 3rd floor where you can find Bamboa (sells bamboo items, obvs!) and Soil which sells laquerware. PMQ (former Police Married Quarters) was re-opened to the public in April 2014. After revitalisation work the residential units have been transformed into design studios and shops for local designers. With a total floor area of 18,000 square metres, PMQ is a mix of well known big retail brands (Vivienne Tam, Goods of Desire) and small Hong Kong brands (who receive subsidised rent) and is a destination in itself; food and shopping - what more could you ask for? BLOCK B (HOLLYWOOD) Wilbur’s serves burgers and burritos as well as Asian favourites. On the 3rd floor is Mall852.com which is one of my favourite shops selling fun Hong Kong based items such as bags designed to look like old Hong Kong letterboxes. On your left as you enter is the Info Centre, pick up the “Past & Present Heritage PMQ” leaflet – it’s facinating! Look out for the ‘historical spots.’ PMQ is home to 100+ ‘create-preneurs’ with design studios and pop-up stores. There’s also loads of places to eat – check out the special discounts on the day. PMQ itself is divided into distinct areas – Block A (Staunton), Block B (Hollywood), QUBE which links Block A & B with the roof garden PLATEAU on the 4th floor, Central Junior Police Call Clubhouse (JPC) and Hollywood Garden. Here are some of my favourite shops and eateries: BLOCK A (STAUNTON) Look to the left as you enter and you will see the old letterboxes for the residences behind perspex. Floors 6 & 7 are design studios so start your journey on the 5th Floor. A Day with Fe sells yoga stuff and next door, Cecilia Ma sells funky clutches. They even do a clutch bag workshop (Tel: 9662 8571 for details). Homeworks sells leatherbound notebooks, handmade soap and yummy honey with turmeric and cinnamon. Hulu Culture is an NGO dedicated to the preservation of Hong Kong’s culture and heritage. S508 (Historical Spot 6) is set up to show what one of the original married quarters looked like. If you watch the video, CY Leung is being interviewed and he discusses living there as a child and how the ‘naughty’ children would slide down the granite banisters (I wonder if he was one of those ‘naughty’ children?). Next door at S509 they show the history of PMQ. Also on this floor is Jade Art which has a good selection of jade and jadeite jewellery. On the 4th floor is the rooftop garden (Historical Spot 7) where PLATEAU interconnects Blocks A & B. Once you have finished on the 4th floor continue downstairs to the Phoenix Sweets on the first floor sells yummy cupcakes and drinks which you can get in a plastic cup or pay extra and get it in a glass mason jar which you get to keep. For the serious coffee drinkers, next door is Coffeology. Once you get back to the ground floor, cross over to Block B (Hollywood) and take the lift up to the 4th floor. On the 1st floor Alice Wild - Luscious sells fine cakes, gelato and drinks or you can get a light bite to eat at Levain - a bakery which also runs bread baking classes. On the ground floor is Showcase by Bread n Butter where you can sit and eat your food amongst the scented candles for sale. Design Gallery promotes items by local Hong Kong designers and has fun items such as a green banana umbrella! A good shop for presents, they also have a branch at the airport. CENTRAL JUNIOR POLICE CALL CLUBHOUSE (JPC) (Historical Spot 4) Aberdeen Street Social is located at JPC which is just down Aberdeen Road from Block A & B. If you get there by walking down Aberdeen Street don’t be put off by the security guard standing outside as it is not a private Club. Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton collaborated on this take on modern British cuisine, a smart upmarket eatery with high quality food - set lunches ($238 2 courses, $288 3 courses) or have high tea ($288 for two). For a quick light bite Libertine, just across the road from PMQ is a casual eatery which has an unlimited salad bar at lunch for $88, so you can eat and quickly get back to the important business of shopping! Next door to Libertine is Soul Art Shop which promotes traditional Chinese culture with a modern style. Selling colourful Chinese folk art items and paintings which are handmade in Beijing, the bright colours promote happiness and send a positive message. The cloth tigers are believed to ward off bad spirits and you can put these in your home for protection. The shop also sells red or green paper umbrellas ($225 – 495) with a dragon and phoenix painted on them, which have been treated with oil to make them waterproof. Once you have finished shopping at PMQ if you need the MTR head back left down Aberdeen Street. Down the hill further is Petite Petite – an adorable bag shop where you can also say hi to the owners two poodles Cola & Sprite. As you continue back towards the MTR there are a plethora of shops to entertain any last minute shopping desires you may have. How To Get Here! There are many ways to get here! Check this map for MTR and walking directions! We’ve included a taxi card down below for your convenience! Taxi Card Show to your taxi driver! 50 years helping you find your feet We can’t wait to show you around In fifty years we’ve learned a lot about what makes relocations more successful for everyone. With experienced and knowledgeable people on the ground in more than 60 countries we equip you well for your relocation: • We’llhelpyougettoknowthedestinationwellbefore you go • Showyouhowtomakeiteasierandmoreexcitingfor children, and less stressful for pets • We’lllookafteryourbelongingswithexpertpacking and transport • Andwhenyouarrive,wecanhelpyougetsettledquicker and enjoy the thrill of a new place or a different culture Tel: +852 2636 8388 [email protected] Go knowing www.crownrelo.com/hongkong CR ad_AWAre magazine.indd 1 10/2/2015 1:40:20 PM FeAture CCWM AWA Half Jan 2014 Horizontal.pdf 1 3/12/2014 5:02:32 PM November 2015 AWAre 13 Feature 14 AWARE November 2015 Feature A Start-up Story Feeling in the Pink by Carole Atkin (UK) This past month has been fun. My son has been visiting from London and as I had hoped, kindly donated a lot of his holiday to helping me with social media, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram etc - things that to a baby boomer are another language, but for Generation Y are their lingua franca. From agreeing on the vibrant pink of our logo to the hilarity we shared while trying to shoot a video (with both outdoor and studio footage!), we have had a blast. Even the family dog has been roped in and asked to work with a stuffed boot…. Chris has now returned to London with said footage and is going to learn editing skills on a new software package, while for me, the “holiday” is over too and I am back on product liability testing, packaging and website development. Trademarking is next. I am learning to outsource on a budget and not to beat myself up too much on the things I do not have a clue how to do. I hope to see lots of you at the launch of my baby at the AWA Bazaar at PMQ. Please be kind and think pink! November 2015 AWARE 15 A s i an T o u r s Book now for Asian Tours All you have to do is pack your bags, get your visa and go – AWA’s Asian Tours are all-inclusive! ASIAN TOURS 2015-2016 TRIPS Trip Date Destination Sign-Up Start Date Leader December 2015 January 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 September 2016 Bangkok Shopping Corregidor Sri Lanka Japan Mogoa Caves - Danxia (Rainbow Mountains) – China Bhutan Registration On-going Registration On-going Almost Full! Registration On-going November Date TBA March Date TBA Rebecca Wong, 9278 2727 Julie Naughton, 9028 6606 Diane Lamboley, 9020 9385 Cynthia Lackey, 6200 3222 Kate Mahjoubian, 6462 6559 Julie Naughton, 9028 6606 For more information on any trip, please contact the trip leader. The AWA office will not have the information. The beauty of China Mogoa Caves, Rainbow Landforms and The Tibetan Plateau It is no secret that China IS a popular travel destination….for the Native Chinese and Non-Natives alike. Join Asian Tours in May 2016 and experience China as you’ve never seen it. We begin our journey in Dunhuang – where not only will we take a camel ride to view sunset, but also visit Crescent Moon Lake, a natural wonder of the Gobi Desert. We spend the entire next day exploring the world famous, UNESCO-listed Mogoa Cave site, with its thousands of caves, each with its own exquisite Buddhist mural. After journeying by overnight train, we visit the world renowned Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park. The park is known for its’ colorfully layered rock formations. For the truly adventurous, an optional extension will be made available where we will visit Xiahe. Considered “More Tibetan than Tibet” this is an area known for the Labrang Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery outside of Tibet. We will also visit Sangke Grassland around the village of Sangke. This area is known for its’ expansive grasslands and wildflowers in season. 16 AWARE November 2015 C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T SL o c a l t o u r s a n d a c t i v i t i e s November 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Emeralds, Rubies and Sapphires When: Wednesday, 4 November 9:45am – 12:30pm A taster of India 1 When: Wednesday, 18 November 11:00am – 1:30pm Working With Chocolate: Focus on Dark Chocolate When:Thursday, 5 November 10:00am – 1:00pm Health and Wellness Series: Enhance Your Personal Image When: Wednesday, 18 November 10:30am-12:45pm Flower Arranging – Tree Bark Packaging When: Friday, 6 November 10:30am – 12:30pm Sex Ed – What is being taught in the schools and what should parents know? When: Thursday, 19 November 10:30am – 12:00pm Walking Tour of Flower Market with Optional Flower Jamming When: Tuesday, 10 November 10:00am – 12:00pm %XGGKD·V0RQDVWHU\7RXU When: Wednesday, 11 November 10:00am – 2:00pm Jason Wordie: Sham Shui Po Wet Market When: Thursday, 12 November 9:45am – 12:30pm Furnishing Your Home – Making Wise Choices When: Monday, 16 November 10:00am – 12:00pm Lush When: Monday, 17 November 10:00am – 12:00pm Pearls and More When: Wednesday, 18 November 2:00pm – 4:00pm Macaroons When: Tuesday, 19 November 10:15am – 1:30pm Shopping Art Treasure Warehouse and Antique Markets Zhuhai When: Monday, 23 November 8:00am -7:00pm Please Open Registration immediately & close off 9 November Heritage Festival When: Tuesday, 24 November 9:30am -3.00pm Not All Trade is Fair! And Not All Trade is Coffee and Chocolate When: Monday, 30 November 2:00pm – 4:00pm Looking Ahead to December You can Heal Your Life Series – 0LQG%RG\&RQQHFWLRQ When: Wednesday, 2 December 10:30am – 12:00pm Sewing, Beading and Crafting Supplies Tour Sham Shui Po When: Thursday, 3 December 9:30am – 2:30pm Flower Arranging – Tree Bark Packaging When: Friday, 4 December 10:00am – 12:30pm Introduction to Pearl Knotting and Necklace Creation (Beginner and Intermediate) When: Monday, 7 December 9:30am – 12:30pm Working with Chocolate – Focus on Milk Chocolate When: Thursday, 10 December 10:00am – 1:00pm Bethanie Private Tour When: Wednesday, 25 November 10:00am – 12:30pm HK Neighbourhoods When: Wednesday, 25 November 10:00am – 2:00pm November 2015 AWARE 17 D a AC L LoOcCaAl L tToOuUrR sS aA nN d c Tt Ii Vv Ii Tt I i EeSs Emeralds, Rubies and Sapphires When: Wednesday, 4 November 9:45am –12:30pm Where: D’Alejo Jewelry, 9/F, On Hing Building, No 1 On Hing Terrace, Central Cost: $160 members/$220 member’s guest Capacity: min. 6, max.10 Coordinator: Marybeth Coffer, 6624 4484 Treasures of royalty and objects of thousands of years of global conquest, Emeralds, Rubies and Sapphires remain the most desirable of the world’s gemstones. Few consumers really understand these gemstones and some of the surprising relatives. To buy smarter and gain an appreciation from the gemologist and consumer’s viewpoint, this seminar is a must. Celso D’Alejo, XIPJTBDFSUJmFEHFNPMPHJTUBOEBQQSBJTFSXJMM conduct this seminar in the showroom. During this class, we will view a variety of gemstones and see the equipment that is used to test and grade these beautiful gemstones. Walking Tour of the Flower Market with Optional Flower Jamming When: Friday, 6 November, 10:30am – 12:30pm Where: W Workshop, Room 21, 3/F, Block H, East Sun Industrial Bldg, 20 Shing Yip Street, Kwun Tong (Closest MTR Kwun Tong, Exit B) Cost: $335members/ $395 member’s guest Capacity: min. 4, max.6 Coordinators: Marybeth Coffer, 6624 4484 Kate Mahjoubian, 6264 6559 The Prince Edward Flower Market is an incredible place BOEBIJHIMJHIUPGBOZWJTJUUP)POH,POH5IFnPXFST and greenery make it a photographer’s dream. For UIPTFPGVTXIPMJWFIFSFJUDBOCFBMNPTUCBGnJOHJO UFSNTPGLOPXJOHXIFSFUPmOEUPHPGPSDFSUBJOUIJOHT TVDIBTIFSCQMBOUTUIFGSFTIFTUnPXFSTTJMLnPXFST nPXFSBSSBOHJOHUPPMTQPUTFUD*OBEEJUJPONBOZPG UIFnPXFSTBSFEJGGFSFOUGSPNXIBUXFTFFBUIPNFTP knowing what’s what, how long they will last, how they should be handled, etc. can be a challenge. Today, 4PQIJBPXOFSPG$MPSJT(BSEFOBOEDFSUJmFEnPSBM arranger, will take us through the market and help us get our bearings for successful future visits. There will be time for shopping after the tour. For those who would BMTPMJLFUPEPBOPQUJPOBMnPXFSKBNNJOHBGUFSUIFXBML we will return to Sophia’s Workshop for a light lunch and nPXFSKBNNJOHTFTTJPO1MFBTFCSJOHBCBHUPDBSSZ your arrangement home. 18 AWARE November 2015 Working with Chocolate: Focus on Dark Chocolate When: Thursday, 5 November 10:00am – 1:00pm Where: Kennedy Road, Wan Chai (exact address to be provided to attendees) Cost: $560 members/$620 member’s guest Capacity: minimum 4, maximum 6 Coordinators: Marybeth Coffer, 6624 4484 This 3-hour course will teach you the basics of working with dark chocolate. First, you will make mendicants, chocolate lollypops, and chocolate decorations. Then you will work with moulds to make chocolate cups and bowls. Finally, you XJMMmMMZPVSDIPDPMBUFDVQTXJUIBEBSLDIPDPMBUF HBOBDIF BOE mOJTI UIFN PGG XJUI EFDPSBUJPOT Our teacher for today is AWA member Teresa Van den Bosch. Teresa is a Belgian trained L LOoC cA aL l T t Oo Uu RS r sA Na Dn dA CaTcI tV iI vT Ii Et Si e s chocolatier and owner of Papillion au Chocolate Flower Arranging – Tree Bark Packaging When: Friday, 6 November 10:30am – 12:30pm Where: W Workshop, Room 21, 3/F, Block H, East Sun Industrial Bldg, 20 Shing Yip Street, Kwun Tong (Closest MTR Kwun Tong, Exit B) Cost: $335members $395 member’s guest Capacity: min. 4, max.6 Coordinators: Marybeth Coffer, 6624 4484/ Kate Mahjoubian, 6264 6559 1SFTFOUJOH PVS nPSBM BSSBOHFNFOUT JO B unique way is often a challenge. In today’s class, our instructor, Winky, will teach us to make a faux wood bark box by gluing CBSL TUSJQT UP PVS XSBQQFE nPSBM GPBN Our arrangement will be in fall colors that will complement our packaging. This technique is a clever way to incorporate different materials into a holder to match any arrangement. This class is a hybrid PG B IJHIMZ TUSVDUVSFE DMBTT BOE nPXFS jamming. Winky will provide basic instruction and teach various skills and then the participants will be allowed to use that knowledge to make their own version of the sample arrangement. Please bring a bag to carry your arrangement home. 10,000 Buddha’s Monastery Tour When: Wednesday, 11 November 10:00am – 2:00pm (approx.) Where: Admiralty MTR Station near Café O Cost: $60 members $120 member’s guest Capacity: min.6, max. 12 Coordinator: Jane Buck, 9530 7957 Lisa Wallis, 6715 0653 Located on the mountain behind Shatin Pai Tau Village, the Ten Thousand Buddha’s .POBTUFSZ DPOTJTUT PG mWF UFNQMFT GPVS pavilions, one pagoda, one veranda and literally more than ten thousand Buddha’s of all shapes and sizes. The exquisite 9-story pagoda is the symbol printed on the Hong Kong $100 note. Especially interesting are the life-size colorful Arhan Buddha’s lining both sides of the many steps leading up to the monastery. Lunch (optional) will follow at shared expense. Jason Wordie, Sham Shui Po Wet Market When: Thursday, 12 November, 9:45am – 12:30pm Where: Exit A. Sham Shui Po MTR Station (inside station) Finish point, Pei Ho Street Market Building (5 min walk to MTR Sham Shui Po) Cost: $375 members $435 member’s guest Capacity: min. 10, max. 18 Coordinators: Colleen Hall 6293 2089 Rating1: Flat walking but some steps in the wet market at the end of walk “Wet Markets” abound in Hong Kong. Some are municipal markets with everything under one roof – others are located along the street-side. In Sham Shui Po one of the most popular in Hong Kong – around Ap Liu and Pei Ho Streets, both kinds can be experienced. Sham Shui Po is one of the older, and more “authentic” residential districts in Kowloon and an exploration of its market streets is always a revelation. On this exploration we will visit a number of produce stalls and learn how thousands of Hong Kong people, every day of the year, transform various fresh and dry ingredients into tasty, economical family meals. 8F XJMM mOJTI PVS FYQMPSBUJPO BU UIF DPPLFEGPPETUBMMTPOUIFUPQnPPSPG1FJ Ho Street Market to enjoy a welcome cup of tea and of course lunch if anyone wants to stay on. homes. He will provide insight into how to stretch our decorating budgets by mOEJOH NVMUJVTF BOE HPPE WBMVF QJFDFT how to select the right pieces destined to become part of our permanent homes, and in general creating a home away from home that is both attractive and comfortable. After John’s talk, we will be able to walk through the showroom, have time for shopping, and John will address your personal furnishing questions. Richard and Mavis will also talk about how they purchase high quality used furniture in Hong Kong and how those who are EFQBSUJOHDBOCFOFmU LUSH Beauty School & Skin Care Product Making When: Tuesday, 17 November, 10am –12:00pm Where: Exit D3, Mong Kok MTR Cost: $535 members $595 member’s guest Capacity: min. 8, max. 12 Coordinators: Marybeth Coffer, 6624 4484 Furnishing Your Hong Kong Home – Making Wise Choices When: Monday, 16 November, 10am –12:00pm Where: Exit F1 Inside, Tuen Mun Station, West Rail Line Cost: $100 members $160 member’s guest Capacity: min. 8, max. 20 Coordinators: Marybeth Coffer, 6624 4484; This morning we will go to Hong Kong’s largest second hand furniture store, 2nd Chance, in Tuen Mun. Owners Mavis and Richard Bowsie will make us welcome in their huge warehouse of antique and contemporary furnishings. After a welcome and introduction, local interior designer, John Shostrum, will give us advice on making wise furniture and accessory selection for our Hong Kong LUSH is well known around the world for their environmentally friendly and November 2015 AWARE 19 Or Us R Sa A L oLcOaClA Lt oT u n Nd D a AcCt Ti IvVi ItTi IeEsS Shopping Tour: Art Treasure Furniture Warehouse followed by Antique Markets in Zhuhai, China natural bath and beauty products. They are less well known on their beauty school. Led by their knowledgeable coordinator, we will receive in-depth consultations, learn skin care routines and practice on one another with products used by Lush Spa therapists. The focus of today’s session will be on face and skin care. We will also make our own “LUSH” facemasks and toners. In addition, each participant will receive a 150HKD for LUSH products. Pearls and More... When: When: Monday, 23 November 8:00am – 6:00pm (approx.) Register by: Noon on Monday 9 November. No refunds after 9 November Where: Starbucks at HK Macau Ferry Terminal: 2/F Shun Tak Centre, 200 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan Cost: $620 member $680 member’s guest Capacity: min. 10, max. 30 Coordinators: Tracey-Lee Hayes, 913 00851 After a 70 minute Ferry Tour from HK to Zhuhai we will be meet and transported to start the shopping tour at Art Treasures Gallery, which stores and restores genuine antique Chinese furniture and architectural relics. This warehouse was established in 1987. All stock is purchased directly from end users to guarantee authenticity. Whilst at the warehouse we will have a lunch of Dim Sum before heading out to shop at the Antique Markets. Please note whilst Art Treasures are able to ship all purchases to Hong Kong, anything purchased at the Markets will have to be brought home by hand. Please note: Cost includes roundtrip economy ferry tickets, transport for the day, translator for the markets and dim sum lunch. The return trip will end at the HK Macau Ferry Terminal. You must have your passport with at least 6 months validity and a valid China visa, and you’re HKID Card. 20 AWARE November October 2015 2015 Wednesday, 18 November 2:00pm – 4:00pm Where: MTR Jordan Station, Exit B1 Cost: $60 member $120 member’s guest Capacity: min. 7, max. 10 Coordinators: Lisa Wallis, 6715 0653; Diane Lamboley, 9020 9385 Join us on this unique opportunity to meet Lindy Vasey, and view her LJV Collection of jewelry at her lovely apartment in King’s Park, Ho Man Tin. Lindy’s Collection of pearl and semi-precious stone jewelry designed by her and other designers also has many one-of-a-kind pieces. While enjoying afternoon tea, kindly provided by Lindy, she will chat with us about pearls and will give us tips on how to select them and other interesting information regarding semiprecious stones. Her LJV Collection of jewelry, which is only available for purchase through private sales, will be available to us with special discounts on the day just for AWA. It will be an opportunity for you to have your own piece of affordable luxury from her new collection. Cash and local checks will be accepted. Cooking with Passion ‘A Taste of India-1’ When: Wednesday, 18 November, 11:00am – 1:30pm Where: 41A Stubbs Road, Villa Monte Rosa, Block C, 9th Fl., Flat 1 Cost: $390.00 members $450.00 member’s guest (includes a sit-down lunch with wine) Capacity: min. 5, max. 8 Coordinator: Lavinia Hemandas, 2838 2199 Join Lavinia Hemandas in her popular cooking classes of ‘Cooking with Passion’ to learn the secrets that will excite your palate and delight your family and guests. She will show you how to turn simple recipes into a gourmet’s delight! Today’s menu: Sayel Murgh – braised chicken in ANBTBMBTBVDF.FUIJ.BDIJomMMFUPG TPMFmTITJNNFSFEJOGFOVHSFFLHBSMJD sauce; Sabzi Pulao – fragrant basmati rice with vegetables; Samosa – crispy USJBOHMFT mMMFE XJUI TQJDZ QPUBUPFT onions & peas. Health and Wellness Series: Enhance Your Personal Image When: Wednesday, 18 November, 10:30am – 12:45pm Register by: Thursday, 11 November Where: Meet inside Admiralty MTR Station, near Exit A by Cafe O Cost: $310 member $370 member’s guest Capacity: min. 5, max. 10 Coordinators: Yelena Zakharova, 9726 2378 Do you lose credibility before you open your mouth? It only takes 3 seconds to create an impression, and this determines many opportunities that come your way! Image professional Sonia Samtani will show you how you can discover your personal brand, maximize your image and seize those opportunities. Through interactive exercises and demonstrations, you will: Understand 4 parts of image and gain tools to enhance your appearance, behavior and communication Identify your personal and professional brand Recognize value and contrast of colors most suited to you Discover the style lines that are most LL oO cC aA lL tT O o Uu Rr Ss AaNnDd AaCcT tI Vi vI Ti tI Ei eS s suited to your face and body shape -FBSO UP DBNPVnBHF BOE IBOEMF mHVSF challenges Receive a real-time evaluation on your current image. This series of talks is done by one of HK’s highly regarded personal development practitioners, a trained image consultant, clinical hypnotherapist, and owner of “All About You” wellness center. Sex Ed – What is being taught in the schools and what should parents know? When: Thursday, 19 November 10:30am –Noon 8IFSF "8"0GmDF Cost: $200 member $260 member’s guest Capacity: min. 8, max. 12 Coordinators:Jane Buck, 9530 7957 Susan Trebach, 9402 2334 Parents and grandparents need to know how their children will learn about sexuality, human reproduction and the nuance of romantic love, so that we can help our teenagers face the real questions and talk with us – the adults they know and trust. In this session, Dr. Rosann Santora Kao will explore the content of a comprehensive sex education program, discuss human sexuality and community attitudes and review methods of birth control and sexually transmitted diseases. 1PSOPHSBQIZ QSPTUJUVUJPO TFY USBGmDLJOH and the impact of mass media and social networks on beliefs and behavior will be part of the discussion as well. Learn to Make Macaroons When: Thursday, 19 November, 10:15am – 1:30pm Where: Exit A4, Wan Chai MTR Station Cost: $440 members $500 member’s guest Capacity: min. 6, max. 12 Coordinators: Marybeth Coffer, 6624 4484 Cocoa Pin is one of Hong Kong’s best pastry schools and is run by Pin, a woman who loves baking, all things chocolate and teaching. Today we are going to learn the ins and outs of making EFMJDJPVT NBDBSPPOT BOE mMMJOHT UIBU XJMM be perfect for holiday gifting or delighting your guests. We will start by learning to make a traditional French macaroon base. In addition, Pin will explain the difference between French and Italian macaroons and to which applications CPUI BSF CFTU TVJUFE 8F XJMM mOJTI CZ enjoying Pin’s famous hot chocolate and some macaroons. Pin holds multiple DFSUJmDBUFT GPS 1BUJTTFSJF JODMVEJOH POF from Le Cordon Blue Paris. In addition, she is the author of 5 cookbooks. HERITAGE FESTIVAL SERIES: Jiao Festival of the Tang Clan When: Tuesday, 24 November 9:30am – 3:00pm Where: meet at Starbucks, near the Airport Express Check-In Counters at IFC Mall Cost: $290 members $350 member’s guest Capacity: min. 14, max. 20 Coordinators: Regine Pocsatko, 6141 7061, Yelena Zakharova 9726 2378 Professional photographer KwokLeung Paul Lau will provide insight in understanding the historical background regarding one of Hong Kong’s most spectacular Heritage Festivals – the Jiao of the Tang Clan, which only takes place once per decade. We will follow their colourful procession passing several local temples from Kam Tin to Yuen Long old town, an eye-catching event, with hundreds of participants, a whole array of dragon and lion dances and much more. Before the start of the parade, we will visit their temple and also the gigantic bamboo halls erected for religious rituals, vegetarian banquets, opera and puppet shows. Don’t miss your chance to explore this guided rare local festival and take advantage of some unique photo-ops. Private Tour of Bethanie When: Wednesday, 25 November 10:15 - 1:00pm (approx.) Where: Taxi stand, Admiralty Station, Exit C4 Cost: $80 member $140 member’s guest Capacity: min. 10, max. 40 Coordinator: Tracey-Lee, 9130 0851 Join us on a private tour of Bethanie, an 1875 French Mission Sanatorium in Pok Fu Lam. This remarkable architectural gem has been lovingly restored as the home of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts School for Film and Television. Our guide will not only share the fascinating history of Bethanie but will explain the loving restoration this historical building has undergone. Optional – Lunch in Kennedy town, shared expense, please bring small notes. Please bring charged Octopus Card for bus from Bethanie or Tram from Kennedy back to Central. Taxi from Admiralty will be at shared expense. Hong Kong Neighborhood Series – At Home in Sai Ying Pun When: Wednesday, 25 November 10:00am – 2:00pm Where: Inside Admiralty MTR Station near Café O Cost: $140 members $200 member’s guest Capacity: min. 4, max. 6 Coordinator: Cassidy Klein, 6073 5654 There are so many different places to live in Hong Kong! Each neighborhood has JUT PXO OVBODFT BOE CFOFmUT 5PEBZ XF continue our new “Neighborhood Series” with a tour of Sai Ying Pun. With an experienced real estate professional as our guide, we will learn how to get there by public transportation, wander through some of the area’s typical apartments, see what the local markets are like, get a feel for what else the area has to offer and have lunch (optional, at shared expense) in one of the neighborhood’s restaurants. November October 2015 AWARE 21 T Ou Ur Rs S a AnNdD aAcCtTi I vV iI tT iI eE sS L oL cO aC lA Lt o Not All Trade is Fair! And Not All Fair Trade is Coffee and Chocolate When: Monday, 30 November 2:00pm – 4:00pm 8IFSF "8"0GmDF Cost: $200 members $260 member’s guest Capacity: min. 8, max. 20 Coordinator: Jane Buck, 9530 7957 Textile artisans and jewelry designers, as well as farmers, at the beginning of the chain in the global south, rarely get a fair TIBSFPGUIFCFOFmUTPGUSBEFFWFOUIPVHI their products rival brand names. So just what is “fair trade”? You’ve seen the fair trade symbols on merchandise, but are they real? In this interactive talk, social entrepreneur Sharon Vipond of Knots & Strokes will help us learn to make ethical choices while shopping by learning just what “fair trade” means and how to recognize those items that are produced in a socially responsible manner. Sharon will have samples of exclusive fair trade fashion accessories from various artistry cooperatives available for purchase on the day. manifestation associated with physical discomfort. This dis-ease in the body is what brings you pain. This workshop leader uses the work of renowned Dr. John ,BQQBTUPTQMJUUIFQIZTJDBMCPEZJOUPmWF different zones so that you can map your physical discomfort back to the emotion that caused it, and work towards resolving your discomfort right from the root. The workshop will be conducted by DFSUJmFE )FBM :PVS -JGF¥ GBDJMJUBUPS corporate trainer and coach Sonia Samtani. Sonia is also an International 5SBJOFSGPS)ZQOPUIFSBQZDFSUJmFE*NBHF Consultant and runs a wellness center called All About You. Sewing, Beading & Crafting Supplies Tour Sham Shui Po When: Thursday, 3 December 9:30am –2:30pm Where: Sham Shui Po MTR, exit C2, ground level Cost: $330 members $360 member’s guest Capacity: min. 6, max. 10 Coordinators: Marybeth Coffer, 6624 4484 Looking Ahead to December When: Your mind may be able to control or suppress your emotions, however your body can’t. You may have heard that the body is an expression of your mind and emotions. In this talk you will be able to understand the mind-body connection and how thoughts in the mind can trigger painful or pleasurable emotions, which lead to ease or discomfort in the physical body. Any symptom in your body is indicative of the emotions that you are experiencing. Holding a negative emotion in rather than releasing it will lead to a physical 22 AWARE November October 2015 2015 Flower Arranging – Tree Bark Packaging When: Friday, 4 December 10:15am – Noon Where: W Workshop, Room 21, 3/F, Block H, East Sun Industrial Bldg, 20 Shing Yip Street, Kwun Tong (Closest MTR Kwun Tong, Exit B) Cost: $260 members $320 member’s guest Capacity: min. 4, max. 6 Coordinators: Marybeth Coffer, 6624 4484 Kate Mahjoubian, 6264 6559 1SFTFOUJOH PVS nPSBM BSSBOHFNFOUT JO a unique way is often a challenge. In today’s class, our instructor, Winky, will teach us to use a teacup and saucer set as our packaging for a pretty holiday DPMPST nPSBM BSSBOHFNFOU 5IJT DMBTT JT a hybrid of a highly structured class and nPXFSKBNNJOH8JOLZXJMMQSPWJEFCBTJD instruction and teach various skills and then the participants will be allowed to use that knowledge to make their own version of the sample arrangement. Please bring a bag to carry your arrangement home You Can Heal Your Life series – Mind-Body Connection Wednesday, 2 December 10:30am – 12:00pm Register by: Thursday, 26 November 8IFSF"8"0GmDF Cost: $310 member $370 member’s guest Capacity: min. 6, max. 12 Coordinators: Yelena Zakharova, 9726 2378 to this listing, by raw material, of the shops, their addresses and a brief description of why Emily likes to shop there and/or what they have is also provided. Optional lunch at shared expense will follow the tour for anyone who is interested. Do you like to sew, craft or bead/make jewelry and want to know where to purchase what you need here in Hong Kong? If so, join this walking tour dedicated to all things sewing, crafting and beading led by Emily Hoaglin, who will lead you through Sham Shui Po, a veritable treasure chest of shops that have any raw materials that you can think of to make almost anything you can imagine. This tour combines her separate sewing and beading tours into one to save you time. The walking tour will last approximately three hours and allows time to see the shop, but not for shopping. At the end of the escorted tour, you will have the opportunity to return to the shops you want to revisit. Emily has put together a map of the area with shops JEFOUJmFEUIBUDBSSZEJGGFSFOUJUFNTGPS you to take away as a reference. In addition, she provides a supplement Rare and Unusual Gemstones When: Wednesday, 9 December 9:45am –12:30pm Where: D’Alejo Jewelry, 9/F, On Hing Building, No 1 On Hing Terrace, Central Cost: $160 members $220 member’s guest Capacity: min. 6, max. 10 Coordinators: Marybeth Coffer, 6624 4484 As we continue of series with Celso D’Alejo, we will move on to the topic of rare and unusual gemstones. There are more than 100 different gemstone varieties, of which the typical consumer can probably name only 4 or 5. This seminar will introduce us to the lesser-known gemstones that LOCAL TOURS AND ACTIVITIES Local tours and activities Introduction to Pearl Knotting and Necklace Creation (Beginner and Intermediate) When: Monday, 7 December 9:30am – 12:30pm Where: Venue on Stubbs Road near Adventist Hospital Cost: $510 member $570 member’s guest Capacity: min. 4/max. 8 (excluding coordinator) Coordinator: Emily Hoaglin, [email protected] Whether pearls or beads inspire you, the knotting technique is an indispensable one for jewelry makers. In this class, you XJMMmSTUMFBSOBCPVUQFBSMTBOEUIFJSDIBSBDUFSJTUJDTUIFNBUFSJBMT needed to create a necklace and tips on how to care for that necklace. Then, you will learn the basics of the knotting technique and how to begin and end a necklace on a clasp. At the end of this session, you will have a completed necklace to be proud of and wear home. If you already know the basic knotting technique, you can work on a unique design such as a lariat, non-clasp rope, multi-strand, or whatever inspires you. Included in the course are hangouts and instructions for making your necklace, thread, needles and CBTJDmOEJOHT5IFDPTUPGQFBSMTJTBEEJUJPOBMBOEZPVNBZDIPPTFGSPNBXJEFTFMFDUJPO of shapes, sizes and colours beginning at $30 per strand. If you wear glasses for close work, please bring them with you. Exact address will be provided to participants. are rare and beautiful, but not necessarily expensive when compared to the big three – diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires. $FMTP %"MFKP XIP JT B DFSUJmFE gemologist and appraiser, will conduct this hand on seminar in his showroom. We will get to see many gemstones, learn their characteristics, and learn how to they are graded and valued. the pralines in the milk chocolate. Finally, you will learn how to decorate the enrobed chocolates with special culinary powders and design transfers. These chocolates will be perfect for holiday gifting and entertaining. Our teacher for today is AWA member Teresa Vanden Bosch, a Belgian trained chocolatier and owner of Papillion au Chocolate. Working with Chocolate: Focus on Milk Chocolate Registration Procedures When: Thursday, December 10 10am – 1pm Where: Kennedy Road, Wan Chai (exact address to be provided to attendees) Cost: $560 members $620 member’s guest Capacity: min. 4, max. 6 Coordinators: Marybeth Coffer, 6624 4484 This 3 hour hands-on course will teach you the basics of working with milk chocolate. First, you will learn to make a praline mMMJOH5IFOZPVXJMMMFBSOUPFOSPCFEJQ Local Tour and Activity (LTA) events are PQFOGPSSFHJTUSBUJPOBTPGUIFmSTUPGFBDI month in which the activity will be held. Activities being held in the early part of the following month are open for registration POUIFmSTUEBZPGUIFQSJPSNPOUI$IFDL 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. Refund, Cancellation and Substitution Policies cancels the event. Charges in excess of the base fee are refundable if cancellation JT SFDFJWFE CZ UIF "8" PGmDF BU MFBTU one full week before the activity date. For example, if the activity is on a Tuesday, cancellation must be received prior to midnight of the previous Tuesday. If the AWA cancels an event, the entire activity cost will be automatically credited to you. Credit notes are not transferable and must be used within six months from the date of JTTVFPSCZUIFFOEPGUIF"8"mTDBMZFBS (30 June), whichever is earlier. You may request a check in lieu of a credit at any time before the credit expires. Owing to the popularity of AWA activities, many have a wait list and therefore substitutions cannot be accepted. If you are unable to attend an activity, please, JOGPSN UIF "8" PGmDF UP DBODFM ZPVS place and allow someone on the waitlist to attend. *The $60 registration fee is purely an administration fee. It is not donated to the Charitable and Education fund. Every activity includes an administrative fee of HK$60* Member/ HK$ 120 Member’s Guest. This base fee is not refundable at any time unless the AWA November October 2015 AWARE 23 ongoing activities AWA’s Ongoing Activities Of the many ways to get involved in the AWA, Ongoing Clubs and Sports are the most popular, and easiest, ways to make new friends. We offer something for everyone: from hobbies to languages, golf and dragon boat racing. Ongoing Clubs & Sports offer comfortable and enjoyable ways to keep busy and expand your network of friends. These activities are organized by AWA members for AWA members with similar interests and passions. One time registration is required in order to receive updates about scheduled activities. For more information and to register, go online to www.awa.org.hk. ART LOVERS: Kumiko Matsushima, [email protected]; Cynthia Lackey, [email protected] PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP: STiTcH: AFTERNOON BOOK cLUB: Sharon Mason, [email protected] EVENiNG BOOK cLUB: SPiRiTUAL LiTERAcY GROUP: MAHJONG MADNESS: Melissa Grove, [email protected] Alison Levingston, [email protected]; Penny Van Niel, [email protected]; Anna MacDonald, [email protected]) KateWeisman, [email protected] Katherine Fenton, [email protected]; Christine Scullion, [email protected] SOciAL BRiDGE AND LUNcH: GAMES GALORE-MAHJONG OR BRiDGE: LUNcH BUNcH: icc- iNTERNATiONAL cOOKiNG cLUB: GALLOPiNG GOURMET: iTALiAN cONVERSATiON GROUP: AWA HiKiNG: AWA GLOBE PADDLERS DRAGON BOAT TEAM: Lisa Strunin, [email protected] AWA GOLF SOciETY: Sue Webb, [email protected] 24 aWare november 2015 Beth Hall, [email protected] Judy Lakey, [email protected] Co-ordinator required Marybeth Coffer, Linda Gomoll, [email protected], [email protected] Giuditta Crovato, [email protected] Birgit Imkamp, Patti Smith, Cynthia Lackey, [email protected] Elissa Imran, [email protected]; Anne Fifer, [email protected] CONTACT INFORMATION contact information OFFICE Phone Fax Hours Address 2527 2961/2 2865 7737 9:30am – 3:30pm Mon-Thu No.5, 11th floor, Arion Commercial Centre, 2-12 Queen's Road West, Hong Kong Website www.awa.org.hk Office & Website Manager Barbora Mayer: [email protected] Membership Representative Joanne Lam: [email protected] COMMUNITY COMMUNITY SERVICE Chairperson [email protected] Susie Edrington: [email protected] Fenwick Pier Volunteers Carol Lampard: [email protected] Helpers for Domestic Helpers Nicola Cottrell: [email protected] HK Society for the Blind Kate Mahjoubian: [email protected] Meals in the Home Marybeth Coffer: [email protected] Ronald McDonald House Renee Cheung: [email protected] Trisha Cliff: [email protected] Soup Kitchen Linda Wolfe: [email protected] Riding for the Disabled [email protected] Chung Hok Elderly Centre Co-ordinator required: [email protected] Ark Eden Foundation Co-ordinator required: [email protected] Sunshine Action Co-ordinator required: [email protected] Feeding Hong Kong Co-ordinator required: [email protected] EDUCATION & SCHOLARSHIP EXECUTIVE BOARD EXECUTIVE BOARD [email protected] President Marcy LaRont: [email protected] 1st VP Fundraising Amanda Foster: [email protected] 2nd VP Membership Sharon Mason: [email protected] 3rd Vice President Activities Lisa Strunin: [email protected] AWAre Editor [email protected] Charitable Donations Andrea Roth: [email protected] Community Service Susie Edrington: [email protected] Education & Scholarship Sheila Twinn: [email protected] Public Relations Rachel Bourke: [email protected] Recording Secretary Kay Suzuki: [email protected] Treasurer Annie Fifer: [email protected] Online and Social Media Angela Bellas: [email protected] Corporate Sponsorship [email protected] SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 3rd Vice President [email protected] Lisa Strunin: [email protected] Asian Tours Kate Mahjoubian [email protected] Local Tours and Activities Jane Buck: [email protected] SOCIAL Patti Smith: [email protected] If you would like to join the AWA or if you have any question about the organization, please contact the office or any of the Executive Board members. [email protected] Chairperson Sheila Twinn: [email protected] English Conversation Sheila Twinn: [email protected] Kwun Tong Marti Law: [email protected] Pok Fu Lam Liz Clark: 6083 2400 Sham Shui Po Barbara Iannazzone: [email protected] Chai Wan Julie Naughton: [email protected] Ap Lei Chau tba Dining Etiquette Bernice Lee: [email protected] Mock Interviews Katherine Payne [email protected] Cheung Chau Reading Partners Jill Baran Scott: [email protected] Public Relations Prestige Christmas gift fairs CONRAD HONG KONG GRAND BALLROOM [email protected] Chairperson Rachel Bourke: [email protected] Newsletter/E-Blast Coordinator Rachel Bourke: [email protected] Forum Moderator Rachel Bourke: [email protected] MEMBERSHIP 2015 [email protected] 2nd Vice President Sharon Mason: [email protected] Buddy Program Alison May: 9663 1250 CHAT Coordinator Diane Lamboley: 9020 9385 Foon Ying Kate Mahjoubian: 6462 6559 Membership Discounts [email protected] OWL Susie Edrington: [email protected] WOW Mary Barbara Hanna: [email protected] FREE ADMISSION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC New Ideas New Designs New Products A ballroom of one-stop shopping! Fair - Mon 9 N ovember Gift & Lifestyle F Pre-Christmas Gift Parade - Wed 25 November Christmas Gift Showcase - Tues 1 December Christmas Gift Festival - Mon 14 December Preview the fairs at: www.prestigefairs.hk Vendor Inquiries: email [email protected] Sponsored by: 49 AWARE November 2014 Organised by: november 2015 aWare 25