From Rochester, MN (Friday, 4 July, 2008: 8:45pm)

It’s my first day back in the US! It’s so hard to believe that my time living overseas is over…

Seth and I spent our final day hanging out with Synni and Dan in Hong Kong. After doing a little shopping on my own in the malls down the road, Seth and I shared some grocery store sushi then we met with Synni, who took a sick day off work, for our second round of dim sum (this time for afternoon tea) in North Point. We also poked around the neighbourhood for a little while, stocking up on much desired sweet buns for my trip back home, then hopped over to Dan’s apartment. He lives with his family in a somewhat more ‘domestic’ part of town, and we got to meet his Aunt, Auntie (mother), and Amy (little sister). The family was great and very cute—it was the first time a westerner had visited their home and they all seemed very shy. His mother lavished us with sweets then prepared for us the most ‘professional’ tea Seth and I had ever witnessed. Making the tea consisted of a huge quantity of puh-erh tea leaves (maybe a 1/4^th cup), a tiny pot (perhaps 10oz), and six thimble-like cups. After adding the leaves to the pot she poured in a little hot water then immediately poured the fresh tea over the cups and into a bowl, then spun the cups in the hot liquid inside the bowl. She then poured in a second serving of water into the pot and within seconds emptied it into the cups, then poured the cups of tea over the pot. Finally, she filled the pot one more time, then quickly poured the tea into the cups. I am not sure of the purpose of pouring hot tea around the cups and over the pot, but maybe it was to season or heat the clay. Either way, it was done in a matter of seconds, which kept the tannins of the ultra rich tea to a minimum.

Loading up on pastries to bring to Dan's house and to bring back to the US

Dan's mom preparing tea the 'professional' way

After tea we shared photos from our respective trips, then Synni, Dan, Seth and I walked over to the adjacent shopping mall to have our final dinner at a Japanese steakhouse. Before heading out we stopped downstairs, which was full of Japanese shops, to load up on several cute gifts (it is funny how Hong Kong is so obsessed with all things animated and Japanese!).

Dinner at the steakhouse in a food court

We went back to Dan’s place, where his mother and aunt had set up a Majong board. They tried to brief us on the game then had us jump right in. It was so much fun and very memorable! We will definitely need to figure out how to play online with them in the future :o)

Majong with Dan's mom and aunt

Last night in Hong Kong

During this time, I checked my email to look up flight information. I had gotten a note from my supervisor saying both of my thesis examiners had responded and both passed my thesis and said no revisions were necessary! I couldn’t believe it! I had been certain I would spend several weeks working on revisions then would still have to find a way to print, bind, and mail it from the US. What’s more is that I officially now have my degree :o)

It got really late and I still had to pack for my flight the next morning, so Synni and Dan walked us to the MTR to say goodbye. It was sad to leave them and Hong Kong, but I am sure we will see those two again soon!

Seth being silly on the MTR

In the morning I went running with Seth around the park, then he joined me for the long bus ride to the airport and I got set for the 14 hour flight to Chicago and 1 hour flight to Rochester, MN.

Victoria Park: note that the sign says to KEEP LEFT

On the way to the airport: massive harbour for cargo ships

It was bittersweet arriving in the US, the land of soccer moms, high-fructose corn syrup, teenie boppers of all ages, supersize booties, and extra large SUVs. Jennifer, my sister-in-law, picked me up in Minneapolis, I met my little 15 month-old nephew, Carter, then I went to have some much missed ‘Mexican’ food with my brother. Andrew and Jennifer talked to me like I had never left the US, though it still felt weird to be back, especially in some place so American as the upper Midwest on the day before Independence Day—a place of few minorities, lots of suburbs, nosy neighbours, streamers with colourful plastic triangles stung across ‘parking lots’, and American flags hanging next to front doors.

I slept well, despite any signs of jet-lag, and woke up at 5am for my typical early-morning run. However, it was surprisingly cool and crisp and felt like Easter Sunday, much less July 4^th. What's more: I saw squirrels.