Davids

I’ve been bombarded with Davids. Is this some sort of sign?

These past few weeks, my interaction has been with:

1. David the brother

2. David the friend

3. David the client

4. David the intern

5. David the colleague

 

????

Anyway, had dinner with Allen and Ken today at Edward’s Steakhouse near my house. Yay! They make me happy. AND I’ve convinced them to come with me to tea station on Friday. Double Yay!

 

我想学中文。

I want to (re)learn Chinese.

 

So badly!

I’m taking all of that talk from my previous posts and putting it to some action:

Today, I spent a good three hours researching careers in china, chinese tutors and online language courses. I reached out to Gena, my former boss, to see if she could set me up with a language partner.

Recommended by David, I took a look at www.chinesepod.com, which is probably the best chinese online learning program I’ve come across so far. They have over a 1,000 lessons that you can download onto your ipod. GENIUS! It’s a very interactive learning website. I’m excited – I’m hoping to listen to 2 lessons/day during my commute to and from work. I learned about 方便面 (instant noodles) today … such useful information!

Talked to Chuck this evening – we both need to get on top of taking the ethics exam so we can get licensed. We set a goal of finishing within a month. It’s good that we keep each other in check.

Hm, is it terrible that I’m already thinking of 4th of July and I’ve barely returned to work? Vacation – I miss you.

Back, back, and back

Back in LA. Back to work. Back to reality. My vacation was just an illusion … a temporary escape from life. But damn, what a great escape that was.

The Asian Invasion 2008 trip was nothing short of amazing.

Hong Kong/Macau:

I finally reunited with David and that in itself made the trip so memorable. Just thinking about him makes me smile – he’s akin to an older brother. I have nothing but love and respect for this old man … this old friend! David was our unofficial tour guide in HK; we got to see Stanley Market, Central, Victoria Peak, Macau, and the big Buddha during our four-day stay in HK. I even got to meet David’s friend, Edward. Fun, but I definitely need to come back again so we can go out at night!

Macau.

Harbor City in Hong Kong. We went here almost every night for shopping!

Singapore:

I took a weekend trip with my brother and David the first weekend of Asian Invasion. We stayed at a hotel close to City Hall, which was cool because it gave us easy access to the subway that basically took us everywhere. Didn’t get to do too much in Singapore, but we got to shop at Orchard Road, walk by all the government buildings at night (beautiful!), shop in Vivo City, join a night safari at the zoo, check out Sentosa island, ride the Singapore Flyer, and bar hop/club. Oh, and I got to meet David’s super chill friend, Cermaine. She and I are such a great duo. Did I mention that Singapore food is AWESOME? Chili crab, stingray, snails … oh man, so good.

I love city lights.

The big group in Singapore. Oh food, you are so delicious in my tummy.

Cambodia:

I climbed the Kulen mountain, hiked through forests in Kampong Cham, toured the ancient civilization of Angkor, visited family in the countryside, swam in white sandy beaches in Sihanoukville, rode in a boat in the Tonle Lake river, and sat in crazy traffic in Phnom Penh. I returned to the Motherland and couldn’t be happier to share the experience with David.

Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.

Angkor Wat.

View from a restaurant on the way home from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh.

******

So I’m finally back and ready to implement the new lifestyle/professional changes that I realized while in Asia. I’m nervous and somewhat stressed about trying to meet my challenging goals, but am confident that I will at least try to get where I want to be by next summer. Of course, it’s so good to talk to my PAK again. I got to see Allen today over Pinkberry (he didn’t want boba – shocking!!) and visit Ken and his new super cute pug. Oh, I love my favorite boys and am happy that the trio will be reunited this summer.

Alright, I should get ready for work tomorrow. I hope jetlag doesn’t kick me in the butt.

Check out photography for more photos.

 

 

 

Linda Goes to Asia 2009?

Currently in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Spent the past weekend in Singapore which was fabulous, despite the pouring rain. FOOD WAS DELICIOUS! Chili crab and baked stingray – yum!

This trip has exceeded my expectations of a family vacation; not only have I reunited with David, but I also met some new friends from Asia as well. Why does it take a trip to Asia to set my priorities straight? It always feels right to be here, despite the fact that I’m considered a foreigner. I intend on coming back next summer and doing another Asian tour – perhaps to China this time. I have so many life(style) changes that I need to do when I get back … I better not fall back into the same ol’ me, settling for just satisfactory.

I need to (re)learn my putonghua and khmer. The “Linda Goes to Asia” campaign may be more than just temporary if things work out well. David: you have to help me, remember? You owe me .

 

Hong Kong. Macau. Singapore. Cambodia. Three weeks.

What a catharsis.

 

Transitions

Last night in Hong Kong. I wish I had more time to discover this city on my own instead of heeding to the wishes/demands of the parentals and brother. Next time … next summer, perhaps? I am thinking of revising next year’s vacation plans so I can come back to Asia. This time, on my own.

ACK. I am consumed and perplexed by both uncertainty and determination. Is that even possible? Seeing/talking to David is always a reality check. A good and much needed one. I need to stop making lists  and just doing what I really am set out to do. I never make it to the end of the list anyway; I’m so frustrated at myself for settling for less when I should be pushing myself to do more. I want (and need) to take bigger leaps because, in all honesty, that’s what it’s going to take to make me truly happy. I have already thought of 3 life changes that I need to make. I should commit these changes in writing, but that always seems to backfire on me. So this time, it’ll be private. I’ll check back in a year and see how I’m doing.

Yep, I’m always in search of this evasive feeling of freedom. It only seems to come when I’m abroad so maybe that’s what I need to do … ADVICE MUCH APPRECIATED.

Anyway, off to Cambodia tomorrow. Limited internet access there but will update as much as I can. Took some amazing photos – will post when I’m in the States again.

Take care!

L.

PS And oh, gotta wish a happy bday to Caroline. See, I’m nice to you.

HONG KONG, at last!

im typing on the tiniest keyboard ever, so pardon me for any typos that i was too lazy to correct …

hong kong is as amazing as i imagined it to be! being here makes me realize how much i want to be (live and work) in asia. oh, this time i am dead serious! david and i are talking about meeting up once a year so i think i might be back in asia next summer! we shall see.

but yes, here’s what we’ve done so far: harbor city, stanley market, peak tower, tian tan buddha, and mong kok for shopping. tomorrow: macao and mueseums?

the best part so far: without a doubt, seeing david.

more to comeeeeeeee!!