B and I took the kids to the library today to sign up for library cards. From what I read on the library website and from what I had heard from a few different people it sounded like it would be sort of like a trip to the DMV. We had to bring copies of utility bills to prove our address and passports to confirm the identity of the kids. I had to fill out a full page application for all 4 of us while B wrangled the kids.

The lady checked every line to make sure all the info I provided was correct. She checked every one of our ID's and asked to see proof of address. Apparently they do not abbreviate Avenue around here. She had to correct my address on all four forms and she also added our middle names to each one too. And THEN she had to enter all the info from each sheet separately into the computer. Whatever works.

Since the kids are minors of course I had to fill out the "guarantor" part assuring them I'd pay the fees for my kids and all that. I left the signature line on the kid's forms blank and just signed down by my info as the guarantor.

library lady "This line need signature here."
me "Yes I see. Kids too little to sign."
library lady "Oooohhhh kids no can sign names? Cannot?"
me "Cannot." I nodded.
library lady "Ok is ok is ok. You sign here."
me "Ok." I sign my name on both forms.
library lady checks my signature and pauses... "This your signature? Yes?"
me "Yes." ???
library lady "No. You sign kid name."
me "You want me to sign the kids names?"

And so I did. Whatever works.

We left with our cards and that is all I really wanted! It seems the library here in HK is much the same as in the US. Some libraries have play areas (that you have to make a reservation for to schedule a time slot!), they do story time (but you have to make sure you pick the one for the language you want to hear). It all seems sort of the same. You can reserve and renew online. But I think I caught today that if you reserve something online they charge you a small fee like .35 us cents... And you can only check out 6 items at a time.

I haven't had a chance to even go online to create a log in and play around with it yet. I have been on a hot streak today learning all kinds of things about the public school system. I hadn't ever bothered to look into it too deeply because I understood that most schools weren't appropriate for kids who don't speak Chinese. But today I learned there are a hand full of public schools who teach primarily in English. This could be a great option for us. It would be the most affordable option by far. I feel like I have opened a can of worms though.

We have an appointment to go see a school next week and I am looking forward to it. It's located in a rural village about 40 minutes south of us (which is not far by HK standards--it takes that long only because of the hills. Geographically it's pretty close). Supposedly when you take the taxi there to go for the tour you feel like you are driving through people's yards and the school is not much to look at. But it's right on the beach and the kids spend a ton of time outside and the teachers and curriculum are supposed to be really good. The only hang up is the (lack of) facilities. It should be interesting. I'll report about that next week.

I have a feeling later this summer and into the fall I will be writing lots about school... We apply for primary school for G this fall and I think it will be all consuming. But interesting.