Back in Hong Kong

Hey everyone. Sorry that I haven't updated in like a month! I usually wait until Sunday night to update, but I forgot. And then I was on a plane. And then I was home, and since I didn't bring my computer with me there was no reason to update. And now that I'm back in Hong Kong, I'm ready to get back into the swing of weekly blogging.

For this first update, I guess I'll write about being home. I arrived at JFK airport Christmas Day and was able to stay until January 4th. Originally, I feared that the break would be too short (and, of course, there was no way it could be long enough) but it was just fine. It was a nice, relaxing chance to recharge and see the people who I love. And now I'm back in HK, quite ready to take on whatever this city and M.Phil program throw at me.

When I was home, it snowed. In fact, it snowed less than one day after I arrived home. Thinking about the fact that I was only 20 hours or so away from being on the tarmac'd Cathay Pacific flight really does give me the creeps. Next time I go home for Christmas, I won't schedule a Christmas Day flight. I'll schedule a few days or a week earlier, so there's no risk of missing the holiday. Man, what a bummer missing Christmas would have been.

This time, I lucked out. Instead of being stuck in an airport, I got to play in the snow with Casey:



My mom said that I should start planning my next trip as soon as possible. I'd like to, but I can't. I can only keep it in the back of my mind. I know I'll be coming up again in the summer, but there are just too many variables right now so I can't say when. There will be a conference in early spring, for example. And then, at some point, I have my mid-term review. I'm assuming I'll be prepared, but something tells me I'll be better off waiting until that mid-term review is over before coming home.

For now, all I can do is work hard and take the opportunity to go home next time it comes to me. And this upcoming week-- the one that starts tomorrow-- is my first "true" week back, working on things without the obstacle of Jetlag. Speaking of which, I've recently read some scholarly articles which inspired me to begin new readings of the Classic of Poetry. What I'm finding so far, even though I've just begun, is that I can get to a place where I really am able to appreciate these poems from a literary-- rather than historical or linguistic-- point of view.

Can't wait to dive back in tomorrow.