Ryu2.mind

Yes, coming back after all... I'll be at the usual 650-906-XXXX number if any if you want to reach me.

Through the magical combination of air travel and the international date line, I'll be able to celebrate Christmas on two continents with two sets of friends and family... the very concept still amazes me, even after all my trans-Pacific travel over the years.  Moreover, I liken it as a symbolic milestone along the path of establishing and entrenching myself in two communities and cultures...

	Airline/status	Dates
	Pudong Shanghai China (PVG) to San Francisco California (SFO) Sun, Dec 25
	United Airlines 0858 Flight: Confirmed	Dec 25 01:45 PM depart PVG Dec 25 08:10 AM arrival SFO
	San Francisco California (SFO) to Pudong Shanghai China (PVG) Mon, Jan 2
	United Airlines 0857 Flight: Confirmed	Jan 02 01:55 PM depart SFO Jan 03 07:30 PM arrival PVG

*** The usual shopping for books/music/gadgets unobtainable in China

*** Watching Narnia, a film which (surprise, surprise) isn't being released in mainland China, and for which I've resisted the temptation of going the pirated DVD route here... anyone up for joining me? ;)

Like my fellow Bay Area->East Asia transplant dreyersice, and I'm sure many other expats in general, my logical/analytical/efficency-oriented thinking kicks in even on "break", trying to cover every possibility in terms of what to do and whom to see.  Consequently I pack things in as efficently as possible, leading to too much of a good thing.  Indeed, last October, by the time I returned from the US after my first real visit back, I pretty much felt I needed a vacation from the vacation...

This time, it's different: recognizing the need for downtime and how it itself can be blessed, and just seeing what interactions and actions Someone up there provides during this next week...

Here's to a merry and joyous Christmas to everyone on both sides of the Pacific!  See some of you soon... =)