There is something that has to be said about living alone. It's quiet and hard work. After living with my parents for 3 weeks, the silence is deafening in my flat. I actually miss the background noise of my family, and I find that playing music in the background falls short of a replacement. But as weeks pass, I guess I'll get use to it.
Not only that, but I have to prepare my own food! Blasphemy. Back home food just appeared on the table and I would just sit down and eat! Or I'd have plans to meet up with a friend and catch a meal. Here my dinner date involves answering the knock on the door from the pizza delivery guy.
Coming back to London the second time around hits a little bit harder because the excitement of moving is gone. The novelty of a new environment disappears and you simply just have to get back into a routine. No worries about finding a place to live, getting a bank account, or exploring new surroundings. The buzz of the trip back home slowly disappears and reality sets in.
The good thing about all of this is the travel opportunity starts again with a trip to Amsterdam, Netherlands this weekend. I've been before, about 6 years ago, and it was quite memorable. It will be hard to top the previous trip, but I'm sure this time, it will be much more educational.
The color purple
Check out the latest photo blog of a coworker.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Globetrotter, and pick up your poo.
Ah.. back in good ol' London. Nothing like grey skies to instill you with that morose feeling. Trying to get back into the routine... Nothing like being jetlagged... Constantly yawning, I feel like a zombie. People talk to you and everything registers so slowly. I've been using, "Huh?" and "What?" a lot today.
So I just realised that in a little over a month I've been on a plane too many times to count. I don't know how people can constantly travel. But it’s been a good month of travel to say the least.
I believe 2005 is by far the year where I've traveled the most.
I started in Cancun to ring in the new year, a visit to the native land over the summer, various European cities in between and ended in NYC, Miami and Chicago to close it off.
Just in the past month in a half - 4 different countries (Italy, UK, the States and Netherlands), 5 different states (CT, NY, IL, GA, FL), spanning 8 cities (Venice, London, Stamford, NYC, Chi-town, Atl, Miami, Amsterdam) and 2 continents if I count Amsterdam, Netherlands this weekend. It didn't hit me until I wrote it down just now. I've been very lucky with the opportunity that’s for sure.
Looking down
So on my walk to work, reminiscing the fun times I had back home, my mind wanders. When this happens I tend to look down at the ground with a smirk on my face. (Random thought - I believe that when most people daydream or when they are thinking about something deeply while walking, they tend to look either down on the ground rather than straight up in the air. Wouldn't that be weird if people looked up in the air with a smirk on their face. At least when you look down at the ground you tend to know where you are going. If you look up into the air and smile, you simply look crazy, psychotic in my opinion. I mean, picture it.. am I right?)
So anyway, as I continue to walk and daydream, I notice, more than usual, the amount of faeces on the ground. Can I tell you how much this disrupts my daydreaming? Sheesh. I counted four instances along the path to work. I don't understand why dog owners can't pick up after their dogs. Usually when I see people walk their dogs in the States I notice they are carrying a plastic bag with them for proper cleanup. Unfortunately, I haven't noticed dog owners here carry this necessary accessory. I'm not saying none of them don't clean up after their dogs, its just I haven't witnessed it yet.
I hope..
Things get more interesting here so I don’t have to write about dog poo.
So I just realised that in a little over a month I've been on a plane too many times to count. I don't know how people can constantly travel. But it’s been a good month of travel to say the least.
I believe 2005 is by far the year where I've traveled the most.
I started in Cancun to ring in the new year, a visit to the native land over the summer, various European cities in between and ended in NYC, Miami and Chicago to close it off.
Just in the past month in a half - 4 different countries (Italy, UK, the States and Netherlands), 5 different states (CT, NY, IL, GA, FL), spanning 8 cities (Venice, London, Stamford, NYC, Chi-town, Atl, Miami, Amsterdam) and 2 continents if I count Amsterdam, Netherlands this weekend. It didn't hit me until I wrote it down just now. I've been very lucky with the opportunity that’s for sure.
Looking down
So on my walk to work, reminiscing the fun times I had back home, my mind wanders. When this happens I tend to look down at the ground with a smirk on my face. (Random thought - I believe that when most people daydream or when they are thinking about something deeply while walking, they tend to look either down on the ground rather than straight up in the air. Wouldn't that be weird if people looked up in the air with a smirk on their face. At least when you look down at the ground you tend to know where you are going. If you look up into the air and smile, you simply look crazy, psychotic in my opinion. I mean, picture it.. am I right?)
So anyway, as I continue to walk and daydream, I notice, more than usual, the amount of faeces on the ground. Can I tell you how much this disrupts my daydreaming? Sheesh. I counted four instances along the path to work. I don't understand why dog owners can't pick up after their dogs. Usually when I see people walk their dogs in the States I notice they are carrying a plastic bag with them for proper cleanup. Unfortunately, I haven't noticed dog owners here carry this necessary accessory. I'm not saying none of them don't clean up after their dogs, its just I haven't witnessed it yet.
I hope..
Things get more interesting here so I don’t have to write about dog poo.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Thanks.
Thanks to everyone that made it out last night. It was good to see everyone! I can't believe my visit has come to an end, but my journey continues again and I hope its filled with interesting and funny stories.
Coming back home had put me into a comfortable zone with friends and family, but another test arises as leaving again makes me wonder how bad homesickness will strike.
I think I'm better prepared this time than the last. We'll see. =)
Coming back home had put me into a comfortable zone with friends and family, but another test arises as leaving again makes me wonder how bad homesickness will strike.
I think I'm better prepared this time than the last. We'll see. =)
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Back to the Future.
So if someone could predict your future and could tell you where you would be in 5, 10 years, etc. would you do it?
Initially I would say yes, but come to think about it further, I would say no. What fun would life be if you already knew your fate? I wonder how you would live each day?
I found my high school superlatives and it asks:
"Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"
You would think I'd have these high aspirations or high achieving goals when answering this question.
But Being 19, and not knowing much about life, I answered, and I quote:
"Hopefully, I'll be 29."
I think about that answer and I'm trying to understand what I meant by that. Was I trying to be clever? Did I have a weird negative view in life that I didn't think I could live till I was 29?
Well, I made it. But this whole thing about living and working in another country, traveling around Europe and leaving family and friends behind, I would have never guessed.
So I'll pose the question to you, and to myself.. where do you see yourself in 10 years?
For the record:
"Hopefully, I'll be 39."
Thanks all for the birthday wishes!
Initially I would say yes, but come to think about it further, I would say no. What fun would life be if you already knew your fate? I wonder how you would live each day?
I found my high school superlatives and it asks:
"Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"
You would think I'd have these high aspirations or high achieving goals when answering this question.
But Being 19, and not knowing much about life, I answered, and I quote:
"Hopefully, I'll be 29."
I think about that answer and I'm trying to understand what I meant by that. Was I trying to be clever? Did I have a weird negative view in life that I didn't think I could live till I was 29?
Well, I made it. But this whole thing about living and working in another country, traveling around Europe and leaving family and friends behind, I would have never guessed.
So I'll pose the question to you, and to myself.. where do you see yourself in 10 years?
For the record:
"Hopefully, I'll be 39."
Thanks all for the birthday wishes!
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Random Thoughts..
Happy New Year!!!
Whew.. Its been a while since I've updated this thing, and I apologise. I've been very busy meeting up with old friends and family that I don't have any "me" time. I guess you can say I tend to write more and be more reflective when I'm not surrounded by people I really care about. ;) Talk about night and day compared to London!
Lots of things have happened since my last post, and I will simply post random thoughts that I've come across the past week or two..
Miami
Nothing like sitting on a beach and watching ladies tan topless. =)
And talk about partying like rockstars. Private seating and complimentary bottle service. Thanks cuz! NYE was a blast and partying till 5AM will take its toll on the body.
Beautiful people. Everywhere. This is my third time in Miami, and talk about eye candy. It never ceases to amaze me how good people look there. Even 60 year old grandmas where white see-through pants. (Someone on our trip took a picture of it.) Everyone looks so good there. I don't know what it is. If there is a place to people watch, try eating outside a restaurant on Ocean Drive or Lincoln Rd. But if you plan on going clubbing, make sure you bring more ladies than dudes, otherwise you'll never get in!
It was a good vacation overall. I laughed so much during the trip. There were times I couldn't even breathe and my stomach hurt! I love that feeling.
ATL and Chick-fil-A
So on the way back we had a stopover in Atlanta. Unfortunately they closed the airport when we were on the way there due to the weather! So all the flights were backed up, and our flight even got CANCELED!
What a pain. Anyway, we end up staying there overnight. Went to the mall and even enjoyed roomservice and the hotel's hottub.
The best part - finally having a sandwich at Chick-Fil-A!! I enjoyed it! Wheat bun with honey mustard and waffle fries.. hmm hmm good. My good friend would talk it up and I agree, it was pretty good.
The worst part - I lost my luggage. I still don't have it as I type this. I never check my luggage in, but this time I did. It's stuck somewhere between Miami, Atlanta or somewhere in the dark corners of O'Hare. Sux.
One last comment - Atlanta people are so nice. Everyone is so kind and helpful. I guess its that southern hospitality.
Board Game Tour
I don't know what it is, but board games are fun. I mean, it passes time and you can get so many laughs out of it. In the past 2 weeks I've played True Colors, Imagine If, Would you Rather, the annual Cranium competition with cousins during xmas, Extreme Jenga and Guesstures. The thing I realised is that I need a board game "clique" in London. I think I'll blog about that when it happens.
Back in the old office
What a weird feeling to be in the old office. The commute, the people, the city. So wierd.
Food
Cross out Portillos and Boston Blackie's off the list as my food tour continues. Still have to hit chipotle.
Finally..
You know how I hate walking around in wet socks?? I blogged about Venice.. wet socks with dirty canal water. I took it to another level by walking on dog urine. Yes, wet socks due to dog urine. I only write about it because people asked if I would. So I have. Happy? =)
Whew.. Its been a while since I've updated this thing, and I apologise. I've been very busy meeting up with old friends and family that I don't have any "me" time. I guess you can say I tend to write more and be more reflective when I'm not surrounded by people I really care about. ;) Talk about night and day compared to London!
Lots of things have happened since my last post, and I will simply post random thoughts that I've come across the past week or two..
Miami
Nothing like sitting on a beach and watching ladies tan topless. =)
And talk about partying like rockstars. Private seating and complimentary bottle service. Thanks cuz! NYE was a blast and partying till 5AM will take its toll on the body.
Beautiful people. Everywhere. This is my third time in Miami, and talk about eye candy. It never ceases to amaze me how good people look there. Even 60 year old grandmas where white see-through pants. (Someone on our trip took a picture of it.) Everyone looks so good there. I don't know what it is. If there is a place to people watch, try eating outside a restaurant on Ocean Drive or Lincoln Rd. But if you plan on going clubbing, make sure you bring more ladies than dudes, otherwise you'll never get in!
It was a good vacation overall. I laughed so much during the trip. There were times I couldn't even breathe and my stomach hurt! I love that feeling.
ATL and Chick-fil-A
So on the way back we had a stopover in Atlanta. Unfortunately they closed the airport when we were on the way there due to the weather! So all the flights were backed up, and our flight even got CANCELED!
What a pain. Anyway, we end up staying there overnight. Went to the mall and even enjoyed roomservice and the hotel's hottub.
The best part - finally having a sandwich at Chick-Fil-A!! I enjoyed it! Wheat bun with honey mustard and waffle fries.. hmm hmm good. My good friend would talk it up and I agree, it was pretty good.
The worst part - I lost my luggage. I still don't have it as I type this. I never check my luggage in, but this time I did. It's stuck somewhere between Miami, Atlanta or somewhere in the dark corners of O'Hare. Sux.
One last comment - Atlanta people are so nice. Everyone is so kind and helpful. I guess its that southern hospitality.
Board Game Tour
I don't know what it is, but board games are fun. I mean, it passes time and you can get so many laughs out of it. In the past 2 weeks I've played True Colors, Imagine If, Would you Rather, the annual Cranium competition with cousins during xmas, Extreme Jenga and Guesstures. The thing I realised is that I need a board game "clique" in London. I think I'll blog about that when it happens.
Back in the old office
What a weird feeling to be in the old office. The commute, the people, the city. So wierd.
Food
Cross out Portillos and Boston Blackie's off the list as my food tour continues. Still have to hit chipotle.
Finally..
You know how I hate walking around in wet socks?? I blogged about Venice.. wet socks with dirty canal water. I took it to another level by walking on dog urine. Yes, wet socks due to dog urine. I only write about it because people asked if I would. So I have. Happy? =)
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