Yeah. This is how it’s done. I charged into ICBC bank on Hongmei Road like I owned the joint. Shit, I live across the way now. And I’ve been here nearly 6 days. I’m going to show the 2 Caucasian ladies waiting how an American in China does business. I went straight to the futuristic…
Sometimes,
this is breakfast: No milk in the cereal and a small serving of fruit. But I’m not eating the bowls of ramen or rice with eggs. And I’m not sure what’s in the seaweed. It’s all complimentary so I’d be eating like a king if it was a vegan joint. Crap. I feel bad. A…
Fortuned Freak
That’s the supremely interesting thing about traveling: even when things look the same upon first glance, just look closer. China now is a vastly different place than it was even 15 years ago. It’s far more open, cosmopolitan, even influenced by Western ideas. However, it is still a completely unique place all its own. My…
Running Shanghai: The First 8 Lessons
It’s hot & humid as hell here. That’s lesson #1. Knew it’d be hot, but not like South Texas. Therefore, I am being forced to transition from an early evening runner to a wicked early morning runner. That meant starting out at 0620 today. But on a school day, it will mean starting my run…
I’m Getting There…
As I lift my pumpkin seeds with chopsticks, I reflect on my first 46 hours in Shanghai… I’m in Veggie Gather, The all Vegetarian joint that fooled a 17 year vegan. I was traumatized as I ate dinner here last night seeing late in the meal that small chunks of pork were mixed in with…
Shredded, abbreviated
As we wait together outside gate E75 in Toronto’s gleaming airport,I am one of the few non-Chinese ready to board. Seemingly alone, I am free; yet weighted. Why have I shredded my existence? Perhaps that’s a bit harsh. But I never would’ve planned on discarding a majority of my film library. It was like walking…
Oh Canada!
This is my new life, which I embrace exuberantly: preparing to touch down in a foreign nation–yes, Canada is indeed another nation!–having no idea where I will lay my head tonight. Sun shining brightly over our Bombardier CRJ100’s robin blue wings. We circle the airport once, then twice for good measure. Prosperous neighborhoods of tidy…
Today I Am Moving to…Canada?!
Well, I thought I was moving to China today. Not even a layover in Toronto was scheduled; just a quick transfer. However, the Air Canada plane scheduled to depart from Northern Kentucky would not start. That’s a bad sign. I would not feel confident getting into a plane experiencing “mechanical failure.” Surprisingly, only one Air…
Overwhelmed
I saw through to the Other Side… I ran, and ran, and ran I fall now, prostrate to the Higher One.
What Am I Doing?!
I’ve got the seemingly perfect set up: running team, apartment in NYC, recent salary increase with plenty of opportunities for overtime pay, even an incredible woman nearby who I’ve had so many wonderful moments with. So why in the HECK am I moving to China in mid-August?! Wow. Is this really happening? Yes. Yes, it…
Hands
They came to me again in a dream last night. First, my Granny was with me again several nights back. A couple days ago I dreamed of Mamaw & Papaw’s home–the best ever, in every way: 2715 Alice Avenue. I was there helping pack up things to sell after their passing. Feelings of emptiness. …
The Icing
The Icing. More so than snow, it was the ice continuously pelting my face that made this morning’s run challenging. I deliberately ran into the eye of the storm–straight to the ocean water’s edge on Orchard Beach. 50 mph winds there blasted ice pellets across my face. “Please, Lord, lash me!” I cried out. Lash…
