Winter update

Hi friends and family!

We have been a little slow in the blogging department of late, and I must apologize. The new academic semester just absorbed us, and we seemed to never have time for the non-teaching-related important things outside of basic survival and needs (i.e. making it to the grocery store or getting enough sleep!).

We are also battling extreme cold, and this seems to take up lots of time and energy. I know, you are probably thinking that you check the weather in Hong Kong on a regular basis and it sounds like heaven, especially for those of you living in the frozen tundra of Minnesota... but, in my defence, we do not have indoor heating in Hong Kong and the combination of rain, high humidity, and cold cement buildings make for quite chilly conditions. Everyone wears layers of sweaters and even down parkas! And, no, not just 'weak' or 'skinny', Asians who don't know the pleasure of sub-zero wind chills and snot icicles--- we share an office with a lovely German man, very German, Northern German, in fact, almost Danish really, and he is cold! He wears quite a few jackets and has brought in a tiny space heater for our large office... it's not great, but it's a little more cozy than the rest of campus. The Chinese desire for constant 'fresh air' (if that is possible in Hong Kong, I don't know) also adds to the chill, as we must keep windows and doors open in our classrooms, cafeteria, chapel, etc.... If you still don't believe me, you are always welcome to visit next January (just be sure to pack your long underwear!).

But, we are reassured that we shouldn't have more than a few more weeks of this, as things are suppose to get better after the 'new year' (Chinese New Year, in this case, which is in about a week). Pray all my fingers and toes will survive until then, as I think I have a touch of frost-bite in my left pinky (seriously, but I won't hold it against you if you laugh).

I would like to mention those in China who are trying to get home for the New Year. The same cold that is freezing the pens in our office has snowed in much of mainland China. For many of those who are stuck in the blizzards, this is the only week they have during the year to see their families and take their remittances home. Up till now, we haven’t heard of any riots or mass looting, so please pray that the transportation infrastructure can thaw before the tempers heat up (sorry for the temperature pun). Either the pig is going out with a bang, or the mouse is coming in with a roar.

Thinking of you in your lovely heated homes... and almost nostalgic for J-term at St. Olaf College (in frosty Minnesota)...

Katrina Vigen