End of Senior Year Activities

The HS Choral Music Dept. had their final concert of the year.

Ryan was a member of the Vocal Jazz group - an auditioned 5 person group.

I tried adding a clip of them singing, but couldn't - it's probably too big.

Besides performing their own numbers, their small group was invited

to sing in the all-choirs piece.

Afterward, awards were given. Pictured are two of the Vocal Jazz members,

Ryan and Rachel (also from seminary). I don't remember exactly what Ryan's award was,

but the feather boa was part of it.

Baccalaureate was held on Sunday, May 30 at the church affiliated with HKIS.

All of the seniors in the Concert Choir and Vocal Jazz sang a song for that event.

Seven girls and five guys (Ryan was one of the basses) took part. They sounded great.

Afterwards, the Senior Dinner was held at a very nice hotel in downtown Hong Kong.

As part of the Senior Class Presidency (Ryan was VP), Ryan took part in emceeing this event.

Below is the class presidency:

Arvid, me and our senior, Ryan.

Seminary Graduation

On Sunday night, May 16, Ryan, along with 6 others in his class

(and 2 girls in another class), graduated from Seminary.

Arvid had just been released as the District President that morning

and I was the Seminary Teacher.

Pictured below are: Jehonna and Ami (the other two in our district), and the 7 graduated from our class: Michael, Sarah, Brian, Alex, Ryan, Andrea and Rachel.

We also previously celebrated their accomplishment with a dinner up on Victoria Peak. Only Brian, Mike, Sarah, Ryan and Alex (pictured) made it to that.

Senior Project

All seniors at Hong Kong International School are required to do a Senior Project.

Student choose something they want to accomplish (from sports, singing, plays, to science - the sky is the limit) and outline the procedures they go through.

(David did his on drawing cartoons and Scott did his on 3-D sound.)

Ryan chose to do his on Surviving in the Hong Kong Wilderness. As it had many dangers involved, Jai Leal, a teacher/Med. Tech./wilderness expert, volunteered to go with him. Jai (pronounced Jay) let Ryan do everything himself and would only occasionally offer suggestions. The days Ryan chose to do this (April 5-8) were, unfortunately, very rainy ones. It was difficult building a fire with wet wood and kindling (not to mention the flint and steel). He lived on snails, various plant species, a dead fish he found on the beach and water he collected and boiled. Jai kept him safe, but Ryan managed to burn his hand in the fire and get his arms covered with mosquito bites, despite the netting he used at night.

Here he is returning from the trip, holding some of the things he used and/or collected.

His burned knuckles.

He passed this portion of Graduation Requirements and was on his way....

Prom 2010

On May 22, Ryan meets a group of friends at one of their homes for a pre-prom party.

He greets Noa (pronounced Noah) and puts her corsage on her wrist.

The group makes a toast as the party begins.

Ryan and Noa.

(The big joke was that they were the Mormon and the Jew.)

The group partying before the prom - overlooking the South China Sea.

I know there are only 3 girls and 5 guys, but some guys went stag.

It was mostly a group date - nobody really paired up.

Ryan was crowned Prom King, but refused to pose in his crown after prom.

Instead he put it on me (while I was reading and eating a banana) and took a picture.

I look thrilled - NOT!

I am not photo-shopping this, so you just have to use your imagination.

He reports that he had a great time.

She said "Yes!"

Ryan recently made this poster to ask his friend, Noa, to go to the Prom.

If you can't read it well, it says:

Dear Noa, I hope you don't Snickers but I was hoping To be (the) one to Zip you to prom. I wanted to hari and Rope you first. Yorkie to a bueno night! I would jump to Mars if you Chews me! Your Musketeer, Ryan

Evidently the freshman girls all saw the poster and have been "swooning" over it and saying how lucky Noa is. This is not the schmaltzy kind of thing they do here, but maybe it'll have to become the norm. This Saturday night is the Prom. It'll be held at the 5 star Marriott in downtown Hong Kong. I'll post again to show the pictures.

Tai O

On April 26, I went on a day trip with a group of friends from church. We taxied our way to the Star Ferry Pier where we ferried out to the westernmost part of Lantau Island. We then took a bus ride to the village of Tai O.

This is the village where Ryan went on a service project a couple of years ago. There was a massive mudslide that practically buried the village. A group of about 30 men spent a day digging homes and businesses out of the mud. It was really hard work.

Here you see Denise, Charisse, Christy, Rosie (holding Amelia), Marj and a random Chinese man who must have wanted to be in our picture. We walked the main part of the village where we looked at the wares being sold - mostly assorted dried fish. We bought and ate coconut buns that were so yummy. Terry and I are pictured with an unfortunate shark.

Then we boarded a sampan and boated out into the South China Sea looking for the pink dolphins. But those creatures must have found something else to do rather than entertaining us as we had no luck spotting them. Several in the group had seen them many times before. So I'll just have to go back and look for them again!

As we returned, the sampan "driver" took us through the canals where all the homes are built on stilts and accessed by boat. It is known as the Venice of China.

It was really interesting, but I prefer my high rise apartment building!

It was a fun day.

St. Baldrick's Day

Thursday, April 22, 2010 was St. Baldrick's Day here at Hong Kong International School. Ninety people were shaved, including some women and girls. Ryan and a few friends formed "Team Alex" in honor of their friend, also a senior, with lymphoma. Alex is shown in two of the pictures with them (wearing the BYU shirt). He's bald for real as he's still in chemotherapy.

Five HKIS students have cancer. They all stood on the stage while the types of cancer and the stage they are in was explained. Alex didn't enjoy that part.

Andrea, one of Alex's and Ryan's good friend, is also in two of the pictures - wearing red. Alex's sister, Sammi, is pictured with Ryan and Andrea - they're all great friends.

I took videos of the process, with a long one where most of his hair is shaved - leaving him with a mohawk. He yelled during most of that video. Funny. The one included here shows the mohawk and then him losing it, leaving a small clump of hair. The barber then shaved that and left a really tiny piece front and center. It reminded me of a cartoon picture of a baby with one tiny piece of hair. Then that was gone, leaving Ryan bald!

It was a good experience for everyone. Ryan doesn't mind being bald and as Arvid says " At least HIS hair will grow back!" Team Alex raised about $1700. I have no idea how much HKIS raised in total, but I'm sure it was a ridiculously wonderful amount. When I find out, I'll post it. The hope is that many children can be helped in finding cures for cancer through the money raised. Thanks to all who contributed!

From an HKIS newsletter:

St Baldrick Day: “HAIR” TODAY, GONE TOMORROW!

On Thursday, April 22 in the Middle School Gym, that’s exactly what we all witnessed. 100 brave Shavees including students, faculty and parents were shorn to raise funds for childhood cancer research. And thanks to the Shavee’s families, friends and the HKIS community a “hair” raisingHK$1,093,946. was donated to the cause. And that number continues to climb as donations are still coming in!

Hong Kong International School for the third year has been a strong supporter of the World’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research. See you all next year!

We have made a difference