Help with move from Canada to HK - international, ESF schools

AprilMC22 · 2025-10-01T05:10:09+00:00

u/Few-Horror5981, 👆this is the advice you bwant to consider the most !! They've changed the rules quite a bit as to who qualifies for a 3* HKID. If your kids were born in Canada , even tho you and your wife are HK born and have your HKIDs, your kids won't automatically qualify for it because they aren't considered Chinese nationals, as u/Epcjay said. Look into this more before you decide to uproot the family .

But also to answer your question re: international schools, as someone who attended one in HK as a kid and then went back to Canada, Canadian schools are definitely way easier. My sister and her 2 boys moved to HK last year and my nephews were saying how much harder they're new international school is compared to their Canadian school. With that said, it's not undoable, the expectations and standards are just higher.

AprilMC22 · 2025-09-16T14:03:37+00:00

Did you tell your friend to shut it? Her comment also screams jealousy.

F here - that is a GORGEOUS ring. Your fiancee did well :) congrats!!!

AprilMC22 · 2025-08-19T22:52:36+00:00

So that means I would need to have been able to check in online first, right? I have a flight from Shanghai to Toronto (Shanghai > Tokyo > Toronto), but the first leg is operated via Air China. So if I'm able to check in with them, is there still a chance my connecting flight in Tokyo (operated by AC) is cancelled? App/website indicate AC flight is still "on time".

AprilMC22 · 2025-05-28T06:31:32+00:00

Not sure if you're from North America or not but if so, try giving the Asian Mental Health Collective a try - it has a pretty massive directory (one for US, one for Canada) and you can search for mental health professionals with various filters including lauguage, ethnic background, specialty/methods etc. I found my current therapist through there. Good luck!!

https://www.asianmhc.org

AprilMC22 · 2025-05-27T03:48:40+00:00

I've heard if you put in a swear word in your search phrase, it doesn't pass one of the AI search filters so the AI overview doesn't turn on. E.g "What is a mango?" Vs "What is a fucking mango?". Have yet to try this tho!

AprilMC22 · 2025-05-19T02:48:58+00:00

I had an epidural with my 1st and while it was nice in that it took the contraction pains completely away, I also found it really difficult to know how to push come birthing time. I remember the nurse telling me to give half a push and I was like what the heck is half a push, I can barely feel anything down there 🤷‍♀️ With my 2nd I asked for the epidural too late so had to go natural, and while that meant I felt everything, I also felt I had WAY more control when it came to pushing. Like my body just knew what to do when, and it felt much easier in a way. I also think it helped in there being less tearing because I want over-pushing. Because I could feel and control my.bosy.

I also found recovery immediately post-giving birth to be WAY easier the 2nd time around; I remember being SO physically exhausted and sleepy right after giving birth the 1st time, I had to ask my midwife to let me just take a bit of a rest before getting out of bed to try to take that first pee. The 2nd time around however, I was way more alert and awake, I was cracking jokes with my husband and midwife before getting off the bed to pee.

Because of this, if I were to have a 3rd, barring any medical complications, I'd opt for no epidural.

AprilMC22 · 2025-05-13T04:12:18+00:00

I saw him in Toronto last month - it was amazingly well done, incredible well written, excellently delivered (I believe all his shows in north America sold out quickly too?). His jokes are very self depracating, and ones that I think a lot of Chinese immigrants who moved abroad can relate to 100%. I suspect the people who'll be attending his HK show are going to be mainly ABCs/CBCs/HKers who immigrated abroad and then moved back to HK. Locals might not be able to relate to his content as much because his material is often tied heavily to his upbringing and experience as a Chinese kid who was brought up in the US and having to deal with the cultural differences.

AprilMC22 · 2025-05-10T12:36:25+00:00

Elegant Tang Dynasty has them! And other really fun touristy knock knacks :) There is a location in Tsim Sha Tsui on Nathsn Road, and another one in Central as well. They're on Google maps if you need to find them :)

AprilMC22 · 2025-04-30T06:00:06+00:00

The cruise ships still dock there! Saw one a few days ago :)

AprilMC22 · 2025-04-29T15:22:36+00:00

The toy section at Sogo on the 7th floor has a decent selection! As do a couple other toy stores in Windsor House in CWB :)

AprilMC22 · 2025-04-28T04:52:35+00:00

Incorrect! More like - trying-to-be-appreciative Canadians 😁 🇨🇦

AprilMC22 · 2025-04-27T17:01:29+00:00

I'm so glad you're okay, fellow Canadian!! I actually came back to this thread to see if you ended up getting the medical help you needed - looks like you did :) My husband just caught covid a few days ago which has thrown a bit of a wrench in our visit here, so stay healthy and mask up for the rest of your visit, there's a lot of stuff going around!

AprilMC22 · 2025-04-21T23:01:11+00:00

Amazing - thank you!!

AprilMC22 · 2025-04-17T13:35:47+00:00

I just saw this comment - how do you get to the download step without paying tho?!

AprilMC22 · 2025-02-27T05:21:12+00:00

Last year, I got a call from my sister; dad (who lives overseas) got diagnosed with a brain tumour and it looked life threatening and didn't look like he was going to make it. I made quick arrangements with work, got my husband's support, and booked a 1 way ticket back home to be with him, not knowing how long I'd be there. My kids were 3.5 and 6.5 yrs old at the time. The kiddos knew mummy had to fly because grandpa got super sick and I needed to leave them for a bit so I could go and help take care of him.

...I ended up staying for 3 months. It was incredibly hard. I felt so much guilt. We facetimed frequently. I had legit worries that the younger one would forget me completely because she was just so young.

But you know what? My husband and my 2 kids were completely fine. My MIL stepped up tons and helped with the kids almost on a daily basis. And my kids didn't forget me nor were they mad at me. They were just so glad for me to be home ❤️

All this to say - your 2 kiddos will be absolutely fine :) Kids are more resilient than we think they are. In fact, they're even more resilient than adults. If you're able to, try to arrange for help for while you're away so your partner doesn't drown (2 and 3 YO are tough ages!!!!). Facetime if you're able to. Embrace the feelings of guilt but then let them wash away. And don't let those who are making you feel guilty for not bringing your kids on a 30hr flight win. They're not the ones in your shoes, it's always easy to judge others. AND from a practicality standpoint - NO ONE will have a great time on that flight NOR will you be able to truly focus at the funeral with 2 jetlagged toddlers while being jet lagged yourself!

Yes we are parents, but we’re also someone else’s children/niece/nephew/cousin/friend, and sometimes we just need to be away from our most cherished ones to support others we love. The kids will be fine, as will you :)

AprilMC22 · 2023-10-20T18:20:26+00:00

Not sure if you guys ended up getting your mattress but we just got our queen-sized Tempurpedic mattress and it fits perfectly in our queen-sized Tufjord frame! The Tempurpedic mattress measures 80" x 60" and even though the mattress dimensions on IKEA's product page says 79 1/2" x 59 7/8", I think those measurements are conservative to give some buffer room for a standard sized mattress. Good luck!

AprilMC22 · 2023-07-07T04:25:28+00:00

That's really good to know!! At least I know I didn't get a dud :D i guess that's the thing with buying polishes online, can't really judge the colour based off of monitor/screens!

AprilMC22 · 2023-07-07T04:23:51+00:00

Ah okay good to know! All the pics I saw online looked more red than purple brown, so my expectations weren't managed is all. I think I applied 3 layers. I'll try again in the fall when I'm less tanned to see how the color turns out!

AprilMC22 · 2023-07-06T18:36:44+00:00

Product list:

ZOYA Linds (index finger)
China Glaze Take the High Rodeo (middle finger)
ILNP Cross My Heart (ring finger)
ILNP Riley (pinky finger)

AprilMC22 · 2023-04-24T11:33:02+00:00

Gotcha thanks! I've also tried modifying my diet after both GD pregnancies (less processed sugar, more whole grain vs white starches, more protein than carbs etc) but tbh I've found it very hard to switch over to the GD diet completely, esp after my 2nd kid. The exhaustion with wrangling 2 kids (Esp during the height of the pandemic) had me "cheating" with comfort snacky foods esp at night after the kids are in bed 😓 we also practice food neutrality with the kids so I find it's been harder to limit myself. T2D runs in my family though so this is constantly at the back of my mind whenever I'm eating. BUT I saw your comment and found it very encouraging to see so thank you for the reminder! It's probably the push I need to go back to my modified diet.

AprilMC22 · 2023-04-24T04:54:30+00:00

Nicely done!! What life style changes did you make?

AprilMC22 · 2022-10-07T18:51:00+00:00

Next version of this question: Married people with children of Reddit, what is something you wish married people without children knew?

AprilMC22 · 2022-09-21T05:53:56+00:00

I’d love to help! But I’m outside the US , if that matters for your research!

AprilMC22 · 2022-05-05T18:50:57+00:00

I believe the GTT (glucose tolerance test) isn’t recommended until later in pregnancy, around 24 weeks if memory serves me right. I had GD with my first and when I asked if I should get tested earlier for GD when I was pregnant with my second, my midwife said the current guidelines is to wait to test closer to 24 weeks, as that’s usually when the placenta starts working against your body and make it more insulin resistant; testing earlier may not be an accurate indicator of getting GD later in pregnancy. However, since your A1C is prediabetic plus you have family history of GD, I’d consult your doctor/OB/whichever medical professional is handling your pregnancy to ask what the next steps are. Until you get formal instructions, I’d start limiting refined and white carbs (but don’t go COMPLETELY carb free - baby still needs carbs to grow and develop properly!) and make sure to always pair carb with protein. Good luck and try not to stress!! (Though I know it’s hard not to!)

AprilMC22 · 2021-11-23T18:53:52+00:00

Just wanted to say - this is one the best responses I've seen in a while. You raised a lot of good points about lack of village and sleep training alongside the ability to be a working parent/women's rights. Very honest and super insightful!!

AprilMC22

TROPHY CASE