All it takes is one yes

It's official.  UCLA is a yes! 

I got the generic "decision status" email and I had to logon to retrieve said letter.  It probably would've been smart to write down that password.  Because I tried about seven before I found the right one.  Phew.  The whole time I was thinking to myself, "If this ends by being a rejection, that would suck so bad."  I had received an interim email two weeks ago from the chair letting me know my application has been recommended for an official offer.  His words were, "The Graduate Division has the final say on all offers of admission, but in most cases they follow the recommendation of the Department."  This would not be a good time to be an exception to the rule.  lol 

UCLA is pretty early, so I'm still waiting on others...just going to focus on being happy about this right now. 

All it takes is one yes.  OMG.  I'm going to be a doctoral student this fall! 

Bucket list: Platter dinner

The first time I saw a platter dinner (I made this up because I don't know what the translation is...) is in the school's foyer.  Students and professors were celebrating the start of the school year.  A platter dinner is traditionally part of some celebration in villages where people get together and share a meal from the same pot.  Literally.  All ingredients are already in the pot and the point is to keep digging through the layers.  I thought it looked really cool and a "Chinese culture" experience I should probably check out, so I added this to my bucket list.

I totally did not expect to check this item off in such grand fashion!

Hale and Frankie invited me join them at this event.  I don't even quite know what organization this was for but it must have been a big deal because the head of HK government was in attendance as well as many high level government officials.  (All on stage...)  After a bunch of speeches--one guy was particularly memorable because he spoke, more like yelled, a mixture of Cantonese and Mandarin throughout his speech that made me laugh more than anything--we were instructed to stay in our seats because the Guinness Book of World Records people were on site to certify the largest ever platter dinner event.  Supposedly about 22,600 people in attendance.  I said to Hale, "Um, I don't know how to top this when you come visit me..."  Hahaha.

                                    Plastic table covers and plastic chairs.  Going for authenticity!

Have to wait for everything to boil a good half hour before taking the foil off (or the world record could have easily been the largest group of people getting food poisoning at once)

Shrimp, fatty pork, fish balls, mushrooms, some kind of root vegetable, chicken, duck, pig skin (it was actually super yummy--tasted kind of like tendon)

Hale thinks we're gonna win one of the grand prizes...heh

With Hale and Frankie

There were a lot a lot of people!  We were right by the harbor.  It was really awesome to be part of this.  To have yummy food, with this as our backdrop... 

along with 22,000 of our nearest and dearest...lol

My new obsession: Cara cara oranges

After dinner at my godparents' house, Petula (eldest daughter-in-law) started peeling oranges.  I noticed they were a deeper color.  We both gasped and said, "Blood orange?"  In HK?  The maid had accidentally purchased "blood oranges" (in quotes because after some research, Petula found out that these are actually cara cara oranges grown in northern CA...oh well.  They're still really tasty!).  Petula said, "This is a pink sticker!  Look for the pink sticker."  We couldn't for the life of us figure out how these oranges got mixed in with the others.  Because Chinese people don't really eat blood oranges.  Well, whatever, the orange was really delicious.  I left thinking that would be the last I'd hear about them.

NOPE.

The next day, I was at my local park-n-shop.  I wasn't even looking for them but then I saw the pink sticker!!!!  And then I heard the clerk saying they would be getting rid of them the following day because no one was buying them!  I quickly grabbed six.  (I know, you're asking, "Only six?"  Doesn't sound like me.  You're right.  If I had my own fridge I would've gotten at least twelve.)  Hahaha.  They were gone in two days.

Three days later, I went to another park-n-shop, a smaller one.  I spotted the pink sticker again!  This time, the blood oranges were bagged and sold at a discount.  OMG.  Hahahaha.  I bought enough for me, and extra to take to my godparents' so Petula can take some home.  She couldn't find any in Tuen Mun (far far away from Shatin).

I hope they keep showing up at my local park-n-shop so I can get a couple every other day.

Funny tidbit: Before I realized they were in the smaller park-n-shop, I had asked Dorothy to see if she sees them at the store near her.  She found them and the next day texted me to say, "Come get your bloody oranges.  They are on your desk."  Apparently auto correct does not know that there is such a thing as "blood orange."  Hahahahaha  (Okay, it was funnier when it showed up on text...)

Dai pai dong hot pot

Before sangria and game night, Nat, Hale, Dor, Tiff, and I went to a dai pai dong for hot pot.  Makeshift roof.  Yes, the food is basically outdoors.  It was such a bargain.  About US$10 for all you can eat hot pot.  Pretty good selection of items.  Unlimited soda.  But extra for satay sauce and extra for beer.

 What an environmentally friendly way of reusing a washing machine

This guy was slicing beef the entire night 



meat and fish and oysters

 

and all sorts of intestines

and veggie items like tofu and turnip

and all sorts of balls--squid, beef, fish, mushroom, etc.

One of my favorite items--deep fried fish skin

oyster and some kind of ball and mushroom ball (tasted like Chinese people ravioli...)

High tea: Antique Patisserie

For Hale's birthday, she wanted to have high tea at Antique Patisserie in Sheung Wan (HK Island).  The place was cozy and the food was pretty good.  The savory items were better than the sweet ones.  But service was lacking, no refill on tea, and we had to jump through so many hoops to get a reservation.  Not to mention it's a prepaid reservation if you're not a member (membership costs $3,000).  Overall, we had a nice time.  Hale enjoyed it, so that's all that matters.

Monty, Nat's boyfriend said it looks like candy crush...it kind of does.  lol

Chocolate making for single awareness day (aka valentine's day)

Hale's friend asked if she wanted to make chocolates for valentine's day.  Hale wanted some company so okay, I'll come.

Irene, Hale, me, Rachel, Angel, Eva (I only know Hale in the group; Hale only knows Irene; Irene knows Rachel; Rachel are friends with Angel and Eva)

It was nice meeting other girls while doing something fun for the afternoon.  How do I look pretending to pipe chocolate into the mold?  lol

We melted chocolate and used molds.  We piped chocolate into pre-made chocolate shells, and made marzipan flowers for them.  We shaped truffles and rolled them in cocoa powder and almond powder. 

Rachel bought these boxes and I have to say, packaging does matter.  Hale's box for her husband vs. my box for me...lol

Cha chaan teng

Hong Kong style cafes.  Literal translations is "tea meal hall." 

The meal consists of a drink, often HK style milk tea or lemon tea, plus a rice or noodle dish.  Used to be much more affordable, but rising prices have made McDonald's a more affordable option.  They are usually kind of cramped and you have to share tables "daap toi." 

Tastiness of food is nothing is write home about, but it's fine for lunch.  There are some "specialty" items like thick toast and butter, ramen noodles in different forms (soup or stir fried or with sauce).  I guess this is HK cuisine?

Tai O

Our family decided to check out Tai O.  It is a nice day trip.  You feel like you're out of the city, but travel time is reasonable.  We took MTR to Tung Chung.  Then a bus to Tai O.

Entrance to the market

 Charcol grilled dried fish

Made with glutinous rice, in either peanut, red bean, black sesame flavor.

This is her simple store front.  There was a sign that said "no branches"

 Dried fish, scallops, and Tai O's specialty--shrimp paste (in jars)

 

Herbs that is boiled with water into a drink that quenches thirst.  I LOVE this drink.

Drying salted fish

Boat tour of structures on stilts.  Some have be transformed into restaurants but there are still people living in these structures.  I guess that's one interpretation of "harborfront real estate with view."

It was just a really great day with mom and dad and Hazel.  We weren't on a schedule and just did basically whatever we felt like.  Want to buy sesame candy?  Sure.  Let's take the boat tour now?  Sure.  We saw the elusive white dolphins!