The Vine

I went to The Vine this past Sunday. It's a church located on the second floor of this buisness building (I think it's a buisness building). They held English services, and the people there were multicultural; kind of like walking downtown in Toronto. I never knew there were so many non-Asians in Hong Kong, and I never met a white Christian my age until that Sunday. Pretty weird. I don't mean white Christians are weird. I'm saying it's funny how I never met one in a multicultural city.

Anyway, the worship was amazing. The team consisted of about 7 people, on drums, bass guitar, keyboard, guitar and myabe other instruments that I don't recall at the moment. The vocalists were very talented, and pretty much the entire congregation leapt up, raised their hands, clapped, everything you can imagine, they did. It was very lively. It was amazing.

After service, Casey's cell group had lunch with the newcomers at an empty Chinese restaurant. I thought the food was all right, but my mom thought the place was right to be empty. The cell group leader, whose name I have forgotten now, asked everyone to say their name and afterwards say what we liked to eat, what our favourite animal was, and or where we're from. The first thing that popped to my head was the word "Turkey." I didn't say it though, heh heh. Some guy said his favourite animal was beef. Ha. How morbid.

The gathering was pretty cool. I don't usually get to speak English in HK, so it's kinda refreshing to do it again. Casey's doing well. Still funny as usual, still saying "racist" and making people feel welcome. Good ol' Casey. We talked about how things are back in T.O. and other stuff. It was a good time.

Had a family dinner with the relatives on my dad's side later that night at the chain Chinese restaurant my dad's lil bro managed in Mong Kok. Pretty ghetto place. Chinese triads took up half the place that night. Some blonde HK gangster got married and people got drunk, but not overly rowdy. Good news for my uncle. Word on the street is that if triads complain too much about their meal, they'll stay until like 4 in the morning or refuse to pay just to give you a hard time. And what can you do? Calling the cops may be suicidal.

But enough about fools, let's get back to the dinner. My relatives on my dad's side are hilarious. They wanted me to put this giant lobster to sleep for them (my dad tells everyone I do this at work, which isn't really true but kinda is) and I told them they were different from the ones I usually handle and they were mildly disappointed at most. Them lobsters have spiky exoskeletons. I would've lacerated my fingers nicely trying to put them to sleep. My grandma's got pretty funny comebacks to my dad's comments at times. Can't remember them at the moment... But here's something I do remember:

Dad: Now my boys translate my favourite English songs for me. I can finally understand what they're saying.

Dad's brother's wife: Korean songs are in now. Everyone listens to them.

Dad: Don't listen to that stuff. What's the point of listening to songs you don't understand? Waste of time.

Me to my mom: Then why do you listen to English songs?

The joke was whispered to everyone, followed by snickers all around. My dad smiled, oblivious to what just happened.

Oh good times. Always fun to be with family.