I Am Back, Sorta

Dear blog, I realize that I have been neglecting you, even I have been back to San Francisco since March 9. It is not my fault, I have so many excuses. I have been adjusting jetlag; I have been watching films at the 28th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival; I have been extending my blogless China vacation; I have been enjoying the life outside of the blogosphere and Facebook; I have been having a good time without typing anything here. However, I do have something to say. I just have not found the time to say it until now. I realize that how different the pace of life is in the US compared to everywhere else in the world. People take time to walk, to eat, to play, to do pretty much everything else around the world, including China. But in the states, I feel that I am always rushing and have so many things to finish. Why can’t we slow down and enjoy the life more? That’s the reason I am neglecting this blog on purpose. I will write something when I feel that I have nothing else to do at that moment and would like to write something. Now I finish my packing for tomorrow’s journey to the East coast, and I can sit down and relax, before I head to bed. I have not getting cozy with my apartment yet since I came back from China, but now I am leaving home again for another 10 days. I wish I could enjoy the nice warm weather here more. I miss hiking in Marin Headlands. I miss cooking in my kitchen. Also, I miss the life in China. I had such a great time in China when I was tehre for about five weeks. The delicious food, the familiar sound, family and friends, the brand new atmosphere, and the new people I have met. However, the air is notoriously bad, really bad. I feel my lung is finally freed from the hazy smoky air in Beijing. The blue sky and the clear water is what I didn’t see when I was in China. Even I took many pictures of the view from my apartment, I couldn’t help to take another one when I got back home. Hopefully during my next trip, I can find some time to organize the more than a thousand pictures and upload some of them here. Before I left for China, I marinated some garlic in vinegar and sugar. When I got back, they surely look good and are ready to eat. They are called "腊八蒜." I made some steamed meat buns to go with them. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Although I have been pretty much in the theaters during the Asian film festival last week, I still manage to find some time to cook. Actually it’s more like that I can’t wait to use my new clay pot I brought from China. It’s a sign of life is back to normal. But, could that be possible? I miss Beijing already. I told my hairdresser today when I was having my haircut: "I want to visit Beijing again." She asked me: "Didn’t you just come back?" Yes, but it’s already been 11 days! It’s time to wrap up and to get ready for bed. I have to catch a morning flight. Let’s hope it will be a smooth one…