a Journey

London after Paris was a whirl. The highlight was catching Chicago, the real musical. James Duncan from Blue was the guest star : ) And I thought one of the actresses was the Changi V sort. Urps. But it was so much better than the movie, maybe cos of the chemistry and sparks that comes with a live performance.

p.s. We have found Chang's PSP. However, I still don't think Ramada should be let off the hook for the way they treated us when we reported what we thought was a possible burglary at that point in time. Thier service, or rather the lack thereof, is making me think twice in staying in their otherwise fantastic hotel.

After awhile, we realise that life is all about chapters.
Nothing ever stays the same.
Our relationship with those around us, with our environment is dynamic.
Although we'll never be able to replicate the moment, it lives forever, internalized within each of us.

We always look back and say, the good ol' days. But, the good ol' days can be the here and now. It's not easy. Everytime we close a chapter, we bring with us memories and lessons which can weigh us down with time.
After awhile, we get tired because we feel that the lessons are too much to bear.
Lessons from the workplace. Lessons of politics.
Lessons from the mercernary. Lessons of betrayal.
But we also bring memeories of secret inside jokes. Of pillow chit chats till 2a.m.
We bring memories of the warmth of timely phone calls from family.
Simple happiness of kite-flying. of Compassion.

After all that has been said and done, we pack our bags and say goodbye.
My introduction to Shanghai has been nothing short of drama.
But the lessons, and happiness I've had here, have helped change me.
For better or worse, I remember what my Dad said.
"Different is not a bad thing. It just means you're different."

It hasn't been a week, and already I feel settled into the city. Maybe cities are easeir to settle in, beacuse they're familiar in the sense that they're mostly skyscrapers with relatively efficient and comprehensible subway lines, public buses and the ever faithful taxis. It makes adapting easier. Except of that here, everything's in Mandarin (guo yu) even the building names, and their streets. I suddenly realise that communicating in Mandarin even for a day can be draining. Here, coffee doesn't have much effect anymore. I need kopi from the kopitiam. :) Hot off the press on what I've done thus far:
1) Witnessed a fight on Nanxing Xi Lu where the SOLE girl made a group (about 8 or so) back off cos she was shielding her bf and using her bag to wallop the assaulters. She rawks.
2) Bought a Mao badge and Mao alarm clock from the Mao era! ;)
3) Gone to the Bund and Xin Tian Di
4) Shop, shop, shop
5) Scolded a local for cutting my queue in English, and having her back off. Meow.
So I'm sitting in an Internet cafe since I've no connection at home, and my lappie is failing me! :( Tell me which story you want the details on, and I'll write to y'all.

Love! :)