The Return

Gone for exactly four months, and now I'm back home again, in the same chair, in front of the same television, but this time, watching the Jersey Shore (Yes, this is my first impression of the States upon returning... Lookin' Good, America.)

I've been home for six days... and unfortunately, I am bored already. Somehow, even though when away, I plan out these long extravagent days, traveling from one end of the city to the other on food adventures, I always just end up in front of the television (soon to be telly), watching MTV marathons, eating leftovers, and rummaging through the cupboards for some greasy snacks... Ahh, to be an American again.

Anyway, I am officially in love with Asia. The food, the weather (some parts of the year), the fast public transportation, the low cost of living; did I mention the food? So in summary of the four months I've been there, I have stayed in Hong Kong, traveled with Seoul and Bangkok, paid for an overpriced Chinese visa, took a train into mainland China, and all the tourist traps involved.

This year, I will forgo the annual New Year's Eve celebration, meaning a tub of ice cream, homemade cookies, and a Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks movie marathon, to board a flight to London for the new semester! I am curious, actually very curious, as to how the pilots, flight attendants, and passengers will celebrate at midnight, pacific time. "Attention all passengers, we have arrived at the new year...", perhaps...

Location: San Francisco, CA, USA

Song Playing: Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z

One More Week in Hong Kong

I'm probably at the 3 months, 3 weeks mark of my Hong Kong stay. Uhh! But I love it here! Because of my student Octopus card, I take the metro anywhere in the city for under a dollar. My favorite thing at the bakery is this little cheesy puff at Yakazaki bakery, which are 25 cents USD each. I can get a milk tea boba, 24 oz for 1.50USD. No tax when purchasing items. McDonald Value Meals are under 4 USD. The weather finally dried up, resembling more of LA. A wonderful 20 degrees Celsius here in the middle of December. Finished all my 24 hr. finals, group projects, research papers, oral exams, etc. Here, the toilet paper comes in three-ply; the States doesn't even have that. And, for my four months of cell phone use, I've paid about a total of 45 USD. What else does a person want out of life?

But... in a week I have to take a 12 hr. flight home to San Francisco, stay 8 days, and hop on a place of some length to go to London. Then, meet up with Christina, and possibly have to leave again only to reenter as a Student. Silly, immigration office, you're just making more work for yourself by not accepting me as a student in the first place. Like I would really stay there illegally when I'm a U.S. citizen. Discriminate against a national from a developing region. Come on, now.

And look, I've found a cup cakery in Hong Kong. And only a dollar each!

I'm calling this place home!

Location: Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR

Song Playing: One More Time with Feeling by Regina Spektor