Interesting Find: Hong Kong

I bought a bottle of sweat, sorry, hydrating sweat. Mmm, Delicious.

Now to Conquer Asia!

On the eve of my departure for Hong Kong, I can't say that I have spent enough time in San Francisco to start up a routine nor had enough time to get unhung up about my time in Peru. But anyway, I've once again packed up all my clothes, this time with more variation than just jeans and v-neck tee shirts, into a suitcase for the next four months. For this part of the year, I have honestly done the worst amount of research, as in none. No Lonely Planet or Fodor's. No checking the weather channel for the latest updates. Just a suitcase of clothes, a Northface Denali for those chilly nights, and running shoes. I don't even know when and where my orientation is for Chinese University (CUHK) nor do I know if I have been assigned to a dorm on campus just yet. And I thought, not knowing if I was assigned to a host family for my stay in Peru was a low point in 'preparedness' (Cub Scouts of America, you can take away that honorary badge I got in 3rd grade).

I had all intentions of pulling an all-nighter tonight, binge-watching How I Met Your Mother, but I really can't stay up any later passed midnight. Especially knowing that it will probably be my last night on a real mattress for a while, since I will probably be bumming on my gram's couch for the next week.

P.S I will proudly be wearing my party pants/official backpacker pants while flying to Hong Kong tomorrow. I hope that means 'welcome to the club.'

Current Location: San Francisco, CA, USA

Trek of 30 Hours and Reverse Culture Shock

30 hours after my initial departure from my house in Cusco, I am back home, sitting in wifi internet, with my dearly-missed laptop and a cup of coca tea. How I have coca tea in the States, please don't ask. After a stop in Lima for 13 hours, then panicking through the security and customs at Lima Airport because I was actually late for my departure time, a brief layover in Houston, where I realized that the States, a land of gringos, is so boring compared to Peru, I arrive in San Francisco. At one point of my trek home, I turned to Katie, my fellow intern, while at the Houston Airport bathroom, and said "Katie, you realize that this sink (complete with hot water and slight pressure) is better than the shower we've had for a month and a half." Despite my amazement of water pressure in sinks here, I truly do miss Cusco. Walking out of my Cusco house mid-day with the beaming sun and the stray dogs roaming the streets aimlessly. The sight of the fountain in Plaza de Armas with Peruvian children bundled up in adorable hats with earflaps, selling packets of gum. And then at the sight of the newest People Magazine on stands and overhearing the CNN reporting about the autopsy of Michael Jackson at the domestic terminal in Houston Airport, I suddenly had the greatest urge to return to Avenida del Cultura and buy an alfajor (a shortbread cookie sandwich with caramel and powdered sugar; yes, it is delicious).

Before my return to the States, my last weekend, I did go to Urubamba for the first time with Matt and Alena. On a Saturday at noon, the central plaza in Urubamba is completely empty with barely a moto riding through. What a change from the crazy, hustle and bustle streets of Cusco that I can barely get cross without getting run over. Having never been there before, we aimlessly wandered around town and north of the plaza, including breaking into another volunteer office, thinking it was Casa ProPeru. We should have stayed. But, by late afternoon, everything was in order with us finally finding a decent hostel, and having eaten lunch. At one point, probably my favorite point of the night, we three sang the lyrics of Wonderwall by Oasis (having heard it in a discoteca the night before) while walking down the lonely streets of Urubamba, looking for a good dinner spot. The next morning, we woke up way too early in order to go to the Sunday Pisac Market to buy some last minute souvenirs. Oh, how I love the Pisac Market; I could never help stroking the alpaca scarves or picking up the knick-knack sized Incan crosses, but bargaining with those ladies is ruthless.

Several times in the last two days of being home, I think back and can't believe that only three days ago, or only four days ago, I was in Lima, Cusco, and Urubamba. Being back in my house with my room intact as when I left it a month and a half ago, there's an odd reflection that being in Peru, taking a combi to work, and walking around Machu Picchu just seems like an unreal episode of a summer.

But the remnants of my month and a half still remain after two days of home, probably called some form of culture shock. I still flinch at the sight of oncoming cars, even though there's a traffic light indicating me to go. I now flush my toilet paper into a toilet with a sense of guilt as if I was doing something wrong. Right as I enter the shower, I still hold that slight hope that the water would be decently warm, even though I have turned the hot water knob to the furthest extent. I have learned that the most educational way of watching Friends is with Spanish subtitles. Oddly, I think I'm experiencing more reverse culture shock in the States than when I first arrived in Cusco.

Location: San Francisco, CA, USA

Song Playing: Wait for Love by Josh Ritter

Last Week!

I can now say I am have been here for more than a month now! Time certainly flew by fast but at the sight of seeing my fellow volunteers leave on Sunday, it's not flying fast enough! Even though I am so ready for hot showers, hot water in sinks, warmth, traffic laws, dogs on leashes, and pedestrian's right of way, I did sign up for a 5 week program and should not settle on anything shorter.

Going to the airport on Sunday with Emily and, more or less, everyone else was the biggest tease of my life. Bigger than those Harry Potter trailers! Standing in line for check-in, yelling over the LAN airlines counter, and frantically resolving any flight complications all teased me about my non-existent flight back to the States that day! And, of course, being on the verge of tears, as people walked up the escalators toward security. Hello, last scene in Garden State with Natalie Portman. 'No, it's not an ending/period, just an elipsis.' What bullshit, Zach Braff! Fortunately, my flight on Monday the 10th, I will not be alone but I will not be ready for a 30 hour trip back home. Layovers when flying home are the most torturous! For the time, being I am hanging out at the ProPeru office, like it's my best friend, clinging onto the desktop circa 2000.

For this week, I have to have an intense souvenir shopping session, spending the last of my Soles, probably on little llama statues. Which reminds me, for my newfound hate of airport tax. 5 dollars to get out of Cusco to Lima, and then 30 dollars to leave Lima. I think this should be investigated as some form of ransom for my month.half long kidnapping in Peru. Homeland Security, work your wonders! I barely spend that much in a week here! I prefer my airport tax, hidden in my airfare, which mysteriously jumps several hundred dollars after I choose the flight on Travelocity. Please con me that way from now on!

Anyway, several more days to go before I am back in the States. Only for 9 days before I am off to Asia, so catch me if you can (I want to be Leo, and you be can Tom Hanks. Receding hairlines so do not bring out my eyes.)