Happy March

Feeling a bit homesick on account of two different reasons.

One - I came down with a violent case of food poisoning Friday and there's nothing more uncomfortable than being sick in a foreign place with strange foods. I mean I was ill, body rejecting every substance I put into it using every evacuation method possible ill. Definitely could rival the time in South Africa that started at that really nice restaurant. That's another thing, all I'd eaten that day was Starbucks and Yoshinoya two CHAINS from OVERSEAS! Weeks of streetfood? Touched by bare hands and soiled terricloths? Totally fine. Have a tall vanilla latte and bam, viral attacks galore. I was completely out of commission for the entire weekend and am still on the mend. In fact, pair this with the time in SA, I've puked more in the past two months than in the last 5 or 6 years. I love to travel but sometimes travel just does not love me. But given China's notable standards for food hygiene, it's bound to happen at some point. Let's just hope this is it for this trip. People've been pretty nice here though, my RA Henry brought me soup and Rosie gave me some herbal tea stuff that my Grandma always gives me when I'm sick. But I wanted nothing more than to be able to crawl into my own bed at home, one where I can't feel the individual steel springs pressing against my scapulae and junkless trunk, and have my mommy take care of me. Ah well. Recovering xian zai.

Two - There is a blizzard happening at home. Actually in both homes. In NYC and in Boston. I never thought this'd be the thing to trigger my yearning for home but after weeks of trudging to class through beige/grey puddles in cold rain, I'd welcome some of the white stuff.

This is not to say that I hate being here. Not at all, I actually really like Shanghai. Just going through moments of the expected. A bit overwhelmed with the industrial grunge coating all surfaces and the supposedly "clean" renovated spaces (which I'm convinced are about as sanitary as the showers visited by "Bathfitters"). Ok, I'm sure they're not that bad but when, on a good day, the air holds an "inhalable particulate matter" count higher than that of LA on a bad one, you kind of question.

Sorry, today's just an off day, as have been the last couple. I'm sure once I'm physically better my mental outlook will improve as well. Plus we're going to Beijing this weekend so that should be exciting! I promise, some stories of idyllic adventure and wide-eyed wonderment to follow. Until then, cynicism makes its ugly appearance as I fumble in recovery mode.