APAC Softball: Hong Kong

I cheered and played tennis when I was in High School. We traveled to schools like Seneca and Liberty…20 minutes max down the road. When I was a sophomore, our football team made it to the state championship game where we traveled 2 hours by bus to the big city of Columbia, South Carolina. Last week, I took a two hour flight to Hong Kong to watch Hannah Grace play in her school tournament for softball. Just a little different, I would say!

The name of the tournament is APAC (Asia Pacific Activities Conference). It is a program that was put together back in 1995 to enable teams around the Asia-Pacific area to compete, as well as travel and experience different cultures. The tournament is held at different times throughout the year in various locations depending on the sport (including visual/performing arts). The teams participating in softball were:  Hong Kong International School (the host school), Concordia International School (Shanghai), Shanghai American School-Puxi, Shanghai American School-Pudong, Canadian Academy (Kobe, Japan), Western Academy of Beijing, and International School of Beijing. From what I have been told, it is really an honor for Hannah Grace to get to participate in APAC as a freshman. I am just thrilled for her and all she is getting to experience! 

Hannah Grace traveled with the team on Wednesday, April 15th. The team was dispersed throughout families of the host school. Hannah Grace and another teammate stayed with a  Korean family with a daughter on the HKIS JV softball team.  She slept on the floor, ate some meals with them, and rode a taxi to the school each day. I, on the other hand, was too chicken to travel to Hong Kong by myself and stay at a Marriott, so I took Ellis out of school to be my travel buddy. HA! My daughter is running circles around me in the “I AM BRAVE” category! 

Overall it was a great trip! The girls came in 5th place, but they seemed to have a great time together. We (Tony joined us on Friday) loved watching the Brent girls compete, but also loved getting to see a bit of Hong Kong! Hopefully we will get to tag along on another trip next year!

Loading the bus for the airport. Don't let Hannah Grace fool you, Cesar would never let her lift a finger!

My travel companion!

The view outside of our hotel.

A little sightseeing before we head to the softball field.

It is true that a taxi ride is cheap in Hong Kong. What they don't tell you is that every taxi driver seems to be on a suicide mission. 

And we made it!

The view at the school was spectacular! The children at HKIS must be in incredible shape climbing those stairs everyday!

Great catch, Hannah Grace!

We visited Stanley Beach in between games.

Was there any doubt?

Post Game swim and relaxation.

Up to bat!

I only wish I caught the "fist bump" between HG and Coach Teddy.

Running home!

Love the Coach Teddy photo bomb!

Between games, we took a ride up to the Peak. Here is our lovely view.

Apparently, on a clear day, this is what you can see.

The tram ride was pretty cool, though. Sure beat the taxi!

We ran into the team back at Stanley Beach.

Y'all know I love a market!

Post win celebration in their crazy socks. Watching these girls slide in those shorts makes me hurt, too!

Hannah Grace and Coach Kat. I am so thrilled that she is such a positive role model for Hannah Grace!

Go Brent!

After the tournament, we went to a restaurant to fill Tony's desire for Asian food.

Mmmm...green beans!

Reminded me of the Christmas Story movie.

I had a little trouble managing chopsticks and rice.

On Sunday, the coaches surprised the girls with a  trip to DisneyLand. So cool! Oh, how I love a surprise!

Third and final bribe: Australia

You may have come to realize that, as parents, we use bribery alot. Not in most day to day cases, but when it comes to moving our children to the other side of the world. So far I have told you about the Iphone and the trip to Singapore. We recently followed up with our third and final bribe: We told the children by moving to the Philippines, we would be able to visit Australia. Over Spring Break, we made a trip back to Brisbane/Bulimba. It was different than most vacations because the kids were out and about doing there own thing most days. Ellis spent most every night away. We had a marvelous time, though, walking down memory lane and catching up with good friends. It is amazing how much has changed in a year. New restaurants/shops/apartments, friends gone, and new people living in MY apartment. How dare they?! I was hoping I would leave saying, "Yeah, it was fun here, but it was time to move on." Not so much. I still love it...and miss it.

So glad to be back! We took just a few pictures of the bridge!

Even the Easter Bunny made it to Australia!

Home sweet home. Oh, wait, not anymore.

One of the many new establishments on Oxford St. With the construction and hustle and bustle in Brisbane, you would never know the Australian dollar is down.

One of our favorites!

 

The moon this particular night was spectacular!

Love that smile!

Yummo! Nothing like a fresh fruit drink!

We all had a catch up with good friends at Love Street Park.

 

Love them!

Despite the cranes, Bulimba still exhibits spectacular sunsets!

 

The Boys

 

The girls will probably hate me for this one, but I just love that we were together!

 

Basically Ellis's home for the week.

 

I couldn't visit Brisbane without a stop at the Custom's House.

Another newbie: Jamie's Italian

We highly recommend it!

And of course, there is always lawn bowls. The "professional" had to help us measure this one.

And the girls won! All thanks to Hannah Grace! Pretty sure she earned every single one of our 11 points!

Can't make a trip to Bulimba without climbing the trees! Ellis has a painting of these trees from a local artist. Great memory!

Of course you run into friends when you are at the park climbing trees...even if you have been gone a year.

 

So, we may have eaten at Pancho's twice.

Again...the bridge!

Southbank

Can't go to Brisbane without going to at least one market. We made it to two!

 

Hopefully we won't have to bribe the children again after we go to the states this summer for holiday. Then, again, what does it hurt? We sure have fun!