Friends from Sichuan visit Sabah

My best friend from China mainland, CC, and her cousin-sister, zhengjia, came to Sabah for a week to visit me. I had such a great time reconnecting with my friend and showing them around the place that I now call home. At times I felt like I was on a Chinese girls vacation honeymoon, but it was great fun and a good time to relax. It was a bit odd doing more tourist-like activities, but it was fun nonetheless. It was a blessing to have my best Chinese mainland friend to get to know my best Chinese Malaysian friend, Jing Jing! Halfway through the week I became violently ill, but with the care and love of my friends I recovered quickly!

-Kaia

Chinese New Year in Kudat

My friend Jing Jing and her family invited me spend Chinese New Year with them in Kudat.

Hong Kong Retreat

Teaching

Merry Christmas 圣诞节快乐

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season.

Art Class

Did I mention that I am an Art teacher now? This is from my tuition class today!

Island time

YAGM friend Patrick ( a fellow KK-er) and me at Manukan island yesterday! Lovely day!
(photo via Patrick)

Where I live

A view from the balcony of my apartment. You can see the ocean and the city mosque.

中秋节。mid autumn festival

This weekend I celebrated mid autumn festival here in Sabah. I have been celebrating for the past few years (ever since I started learning Chinese). For folks at home, this is a traditional Lunar harvest festival. It is a time to gather together, eat, celebrate, and light lanterns. People typically will drink tea and eat mooncakes, which are a dense sweet cake of sorts that is traditionally filled with sweet bean paste and an egg yolk that resembles the moon! After eating dinner, lanterns are lit and people take a walk down the streets.

I went to two different celebrations this weekend. One was at the home of one of the members of the church, along with my fellow YAGMs. The second night (the real Mooncake night) I gathered together at the church I worship at in Kolombong for a barbecue with my coworkers and my supervisor’s family. I ate until I could breathe no more. I attempted to make banana boats, which were a hit!

It was fun to get my yearly dose of “mooncake” (and a sugar high) in a new place.

I hope you are enjoying the autumn season, wherever you may be!

-Kaia