Karaoke: Hong Kong style

This past week, we had a lighter week because we had to "work" without any students. So, one night we went to Green Box karaoke. You can rent a room for a few hours with some friends, sit around and have a tea set (ramen noodles or pork dumplings), and sing into some microphones in a small room. The set up is quite different than any karaoke that I had seen, but it's quite popular here, and an experience definitely worth repeating. Here's the Green Box hallway, full of karaoke rooms.

My friend and colleague Michelle puts on the microphone masks. Hong Kong is always concerned with sanitation.
Our meal and room.
Christine and I sing along.

Headlines: Hong Kong cancels school

Yesterday I got to work, only to hear the announcement that no students were showing up that day...or for the next two weeks. Apparently, there's been a flu virus floating around HK, and the government is nervous because the hospitals are filling up and three children have died, so they canceled ALL primary and elementary schools for the next two weeks. I think this is a strong reaction, but quite understandable after SARS a few years ago. After much confusion, we realized that teachers still need to show up, but no students will be here until April. So, until Easter break, we're just waiting this out, getting lots of work done, and taking lots of long coffee breaks. Today we have a staff dodge ball "workshop". It's sort of a crazy atmosphere around here, but it's kind of what every teacher dreams of...a chance to get things done! Here's a link to the article on cnn.com if you're interested in reading more: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/13/hk.flu/index.html