Money Exchange

I am relieved that my grandma, my mom and Emily have recovered from their flu. Grandma is still coughing, but has improved significantly. They have returned to Hong Kong on June 8 and will fly back to Vancouver on June 18.

Even though they have visited with different family and friends daily, they have not met up with everyone yet. They particularly enjoy their visits with Cousin S's family. They are excited that they will see Cousin P again tomorrow night. Cousin P moved to Toronto a few years ago. She works for Air Canada and flies to Hong Kong once a month. It is so interesting that they can get together twice in Hong Kong.

My mom ran out of cash and was in debt shortly after she arrived Hong Kong from paying for visa applications and tour packages. My mom had traveler cheques in US$ and C$. When she went to the bank for exchange to HK$. The first bank she went to only accepts US cash. The second bank she went to charges a fee for exchanging traveler cheques (no fee for exchanging cash). My mom proceeded to sign the traveler cheques and after she signed a bunch of them, she was asked for her passport. She could not produce it as it was submitted for visa application to enter China. Cousin P came to her rescue and brought her $2,000 Canadian dollars so that she could pay off her debts before leaving for China.

When my mom went on a tour to China with grandma in the fall of 2005, she brought cash with her. When she exchanged currency during that trip, the rate for cheques was higher than the rate for cash. So she brought cheques this time and yet it would have been better if she had brought cash.