Making an appearance
First, go here. I may link to David’s blog more than any other. He’s posts are so witty, informative and well, yeah, just go read it.
Second, go here. Tell me if you don’t laugh. (Christy, I thought of you when I first read this, and about how hard you would be laughing.)
Does linking to other blogs count as an appearance for me? No? Okay. Well then, in keeping with my title, I’ll talk about other places I’ve made or will be making an appearance:
*All day Friday and Saturday, I spent at the Northwest Catholic Women’s Convocation. No, I haven’t converted to Catholicism. Our organization had a table as one of the exhibits. But I did get a chance to attend some of the speeches and workshops, which were pretty incredible. I got to hear Cokie Roberts and Naomi Tutu. Wow. I have a blog in the works about their speeches.
*Today, I’ll be making an appearance outside. Because it is beautiful! But I just wanted to let Nick know that yes, I’m still here. Part of my issue in my lack of blogging is that I don’t have internet at home. I’ll try and get better. Promise.
*In two weeks I’ll be making an appearance in Florida. My little brother is graduating from high school! So hard to believe. I should clarify though, that he actually graduated in December, because he is just that cool. But he is walking the stage for our family’s benefit. I’m excited to get to go home again and have it be a little more relaxed this time around. I’ll get to meet Michael’s girlfriend for the first time (they’ve been dating about a year), so I’m excited to get to tease him about that. And I’ll be staying a night with my sister and brother-in-law in their new house. Fun!
*Finally, just a little advanced notice. I’ll be heading down in June to Montgomery for a weekend to see my beautiful godson Silas on his birthday/dedication. I am SO excited!!
*And on one final note, someone is playing the bagpipes outside. Random, but true. So I’m heading out there to find out who. 
Little bits of this and that
~I’ve discovered Pandora. I know I’m way behind on the times here, but better late than never? I love this program – free music, categorized for me. All I have to do is type in an artist and it generates a station of similar artists. I’m discovering new musicians that I really like. Jan sent me a CD of Jesca Hoops, and when I typed her in I found Missy Higgins, Chris Pureka, and Mieko (who I knew of before, but just didn’t have any of her stuff). I’m a big fan so far!!
~I’m starting to recognize people on the bus. But the odd thing about it is, I recognize them by what they are reading. Isn’t that funny? If I were to look at their face, I probably wouldn’t remember them, but to see the book more than once I know who they are. The woman reading The Audacity of Hope gets off at 46th St., and the man that always has the most recent Economist gets off at my stop. I don’t read on the bus because I get motion sick, so that must mean that no one remembers me. Maybe I’ll carry a book just so people will remember me. 
~Speaking of books, I saw a guy today with the Kindle. When they first came out I was really fascinated by the idea. I still think its a great idea and would love to own one some day. The only problem I would have is that I often don’t buy my own books – I inherit them through book exchanges, borrow from the library or if I do buy a book, I buy it at a used book store. The Kindle would force me to pay full price for books, which means I would probably never read!
~I’m flying out on Sunday for Florida. My sister is getting married next weekend! Even though I was just home, I’m excited to go back. The weather here has been incredibly cold, and I’m ready for some warm Florida sun! Kris is also flying down for most of the week, so I am DOUBLY excited to see him as well!
~And speaking of weddings, the rumor has somehow gotten out that I’m getting married. I know how it happened, and I blame Facebook. My sister posted her wedding invitation as an event on Facebook, which I said I was attending. Apparently, for a couple of days my news feed said “Liz Hooks is attending I’m getting married!” I got more than one response to that, asking if I’m getting married. Five to be exact. Five separate people in four days asked me if I was getting married. I got asked so often I was beginning to wonder if I had missed out on something and really was getting married. But don’t worry, I’m not. When I do, I promise, I’ll let you know before Facebook does.
~My cooking adventures are going well. I really love cooking. I made a shrimp dish last week that turned out perfectly! I had never cooked with shrimp before and was really nervous about screwing it up, but I didn’t! I was so excited that I was actually dancing around my apartment. *grin* Last night I made a very yummy stir fry with tons of fresh veggies. My two favorite foods of the moment? Bell peppers and feta cheese. I probably buy 4 peppers a week and at least a tub of cheese a week. I just can’t get enough of them!
Thoughts and such
The lag in posting has been for a couple of reasons. Aside from the traveling and busy schedule from the debriefing session I’m currently attending, I have to admit that its not fun to write when it seems like no one is reading. In truth, I know that I’m listed in several Google Readers, and that I haven’t even written much of substance lately, but still, the fewer the comments, the less motivation it seems I have to write. Isn’t that sad? (No, this isn’t a ploy for comments, its just sad that I base my blogging on what others may or may not be reading.) I’ve also been avoiding blogging because I just have too many thoughts to get out on screen. Its hard to organize them all to where they make sense, so I’ve just been avoiding it all together. Which doesn’t help. So, here goes an update of sorts.
~The thing that I missed most while living in Asia, aside from the people and the Mexican food (of course), was driving. There is a freedom to being on the open road that cannot be obtained in any other way. I missed that freedom. The chance to just go. To be in control, at least to a degree.
~That being said, what I did not misswere other drivers. I got so ticked off one day in Lexington traffic at the horribly bright blue SUV in front of me who obviously could not see the large while “turn only” arrow in our lane, as he sat idly at the light while I fumed. Nothing bothers me more than people who just flat out don’t pay attention to traffic and signs. Okay, there is a lot more that bothers me, but not in that moment.
~My father, wonderful man that he is, was kind enough to lend me his truck to take on this 3 week traveling stint, so that I could finish moving out of Kentucky. He did so, out of the kindness of his heart, because I sold my car before I left for Hong Kong and renting just gets so stinkin’ expensive. One of my favorite features in his truck is the XM radio. I have fallen in love with the Coffeehouse Station. I heard Patty Griffin’s rendition of Crazy and it was awesome.
~One of the most common questions people ask me, now that I’m back from Hong Kong, other than, “Are you glad to be back?” and “Was it hard to be away from Kris?” (both seem like too obvious questions to even warrant an answer, but the answer is Yes to both), is, “Are you experiencing any kind of reverse culture shock?” Reverse culture shock is an odd syndrome that occurs when people become immersed in another culture for any period of time, and then return home to find that they miss the foreign culture and have a hard time adjusting to being home. I have many thoughts on this subject, and if the mood and time suits me later, I’ll write another post. But for now, I’m just going to leave it at a No, I haven’t. At first, that really worried me. What was wrong with me for not experiencing reverse culture shock? For now though, I’ve just accepted it with gratitude.
~That being said, one of the hardest parts of being back in the States is remembering that I don’t have to calculate time change all the time. I’m so used to quickly figuring out in my head what time it is back home before I call. I nearly almost didn’t call Kris the other day because it was 6pm, and in my head I was still calculating it as 6am. Note to self: We’re in the same time zone now.
~It is wonderful to be back around my fellow MIs. Even though we had only previously spent three weeks together over a year and a half ago, we have spent so much time connecting through blogs, emails, skype calls and Facebook messages that they are like family. They are easily trusted, and this time with them, though short, is a beautiful time for which I am much appreciative.
~And finally, I had a bit of a scare this week, that I won’t go into detail here. It was something that I had personally never had to deal with before, and it was overwhelming. Things turned out to be fine, thankfully. But it just makes me so thankful for the opportunities and services we have readily available here.
That’s all for now. More coherent thoughts possibly to follow.
News and tidbits
*Fastest response to a boycott ever. Thanks Lane.
*I leave in the morning for the Philippines. I’ll be gone for an entire month. Blogging may be sporadic, but that’s okay, because so have the comments recently.
*I am still waiting to hear about my domestic placement. I am told it will be any day now. It is really hard not to be anxious knowing that at any moment, I could receive an email that will define the next year and half of my life!
*My best friend is getting married so very very soon! For any of you who are going up or over or down to the wedding, please please please takes lots of pictures for me! Hug Val and Nate one extra time and tell them its from me. I’m so sad to be missing this incredible day, but I can’t wait to hear all about it!!
*I was sick for a good two weeks. I am finally over it. I went to see a Chinese medicine doctor, and he was really nice. He gave me some herbal medicine to drink. It was incredibly disgusting. But, it worked. And, one of my co-workers gave me a bag of candy to help get rid of the nasty taste each time. I rested so much that I was bored out of my mind. But I’m feeling better now. Nearly 99%. I went into work this morning, and one of my co-workers said, “I’m sorry you are still sick.” “I’m not sick anymore” I told her. “Well, your face really shows that you are. And your voice sounds funny too. I think you look sick.” God love the honesty.
*Kris will be here in Hong Kong in 61 days. Not that I’m counting or anything.
*I’ve started packing stuff to send home. I came over here with only two suitcases, and somehow, I’m gonna return home with a LOT more stuff! A good bit of it is books – they are heavy and take up space, but there are some that I just can’t bear to part with. I’ve already donated a whole bag of books to the Church, but I’m still left with a shelf of books to send home. I’m dork, I know.
*Okay, seriously, this is the season of babies. In the time that I have been in Hong Kong, 6 of my friends have had 7 babies. There are another 5 on the way. If I get one more phone call or email that says, “Guess who’s pregnant?” I’m gonna start looking for the candid cameras – cause this is just getting to be silly.
*When I come back from the Philippines, I’ll only have 4 weeks left in Hong Kong. I can’t believe how fast this is going.
Okay, back to work for me. Then on to the packing.
She’s baaack…
I’m back and wish I could transfer to Thailand. Seriously – it only took a week to fall in love with the place!! But, I’m back in Hong Kong now, where its still cold (at least not as cold as when I left!), I have a “roommate” for the next couple of weeks, a journalist from GBGM is coming tonight to interview me and some of the women at the Shelter tomorrow, I have a draft to re-write and a survey to compile and my internet is out….again. Back to real life, huh?
As soon as I get the internet working again (cross your wires or fingers, whichever works), I’ll post about my trip!
