Connecting the dots

What do the planetarium, Chicago, and an open bar have in common? Well, it's the perfect combination to meet an old high school classmate! I couldn't believe it. I was at a formal with a friend of mine and just as I turned around in my sassy red dress, i saw a girl from high school that i hadn't seen in over 9 years! talk about a small world. what do you say to someone you haven't seen in almost a decade? hello is good for starters. and then comes the catching up part.

chicago is fantastic. despite the cold and "windy city" namesake, the town is brimming with life and diversity. as i sipped my tall nonfat latte from one of the many Starbucks on michigan ave, i couldn't help but feel like i wasn't in the midwest. chicago is very cosmopolitan and the architecture of the city is very unique.

out of curiosity, i went and visited the lakeshore apartment buildings designed by the well known architect mies van der rohe. i studied his work in my architecture class in berlin, and it was quite satisfying to see one of the works i'd read and learned about in the flesh! ah, the sweet pleasure of reconnecting with a past experience.

as i strolled along the street all bundled up (yes, it's cold), with a beige wool scarf wrapped tightly around my neck and cotton gloves protecting my california hands from the biting cold, i kept having flashbacks of those cold winter days in stockholm.

Why life is good

I heart California. I love the weather, the clean air, the warm and friendly people, the non-crowded streets, san francisco, running outdoors, playing tennis in the sunshine, the fresh fruits and vegetables, Jamba Juice, the concerts, the amazing restaurants... I could on and on, but then it might be too much.

I've been back from Shanghai now for over 8 months and I'm getting used to life here again. But believe me it took a while for me to get here. There was a bit of culture shock and once I touched down in SFO, I experienced some definite denial that I was no longer living in Shanghai. No more speaking Chinese on a daily basis, eating delicious street food, hanging out with my fantastic friends, shopping for amazing deals, meeting new people from all over the world, going to new bar and restaurant openings, going to Shanghai Eaters, living in the heart of the city, $1 cab rides, understanding the true meaning of crowded, living at Ambassy Court, getting free Elton John tickets at a bar, riding my bike to the tennis courts, salsa dancing at Silver Moon, chillin' at Arch Bar, seeing familiar faces around town, and just feeling a constant sense of excitement around me. Shanghai was a happening place and is still going strong.

Although I miss that pulse of Shanghai, I am happy to be back. I've realized over the years how important it is keep in touch with good friends. They are the people who know you best and that you can count on when you go through tough times. There's something to be said about sharing a moment, or several, with someone or many people. Whether it's a fun night you shared with your college roommate or silly notes that you shared with a childhood teammate, it's these moments that make up our memories and remain with us for life. Which is also another reason why I take so many pictures! Pictures really are worth a thousand words. Although my next thing is going to be video. I have a video capture feature on my digital camera that allows me to take 1 minute videos so I'm going to start doing that more often. I'm going to try and load some short clips online, so we'll see if that works.

Another reason I'm happy to be back is that I've been able to spend much more time with my family and I feel really fortunate that I was able to be back here before my grandfather passed away. Death is always a tough thing to handle, but you learn to cope and then move on. I'm amazed at how strong my grandmother and mom have been. It must be that Asian female strength that everyone talks about. When my grandfather passed away, it also made me realize how important it is to stay optimistic and to make the most of everything that life throws at you. If I can quote Helen Keller, she said:

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us..."

Life really is short, and you have to cherish every moment that you have with those close to you and enjoy your life as much as you can. I know I'm going to try to.

I can't believe that it's November already. I'm looking forward to my first Thanksgiving at home in over 3 years. I can't wait for my mom's stuffing and this year, I've promised to bake the pumpkin pie, which is going to be delicious. I'm going to stuff myself silly and not be able to eat two days after.

Well, I think that's enough for now. Stay tuned for the next installment...