the one with UK the United Kingdom

Last time I updated this should be late May leaving Bergen and now I have been flying twice between Europe and Aisa, settled in London finally. It has been quite an intensive month -- seeing friends and family, adjust myself back to chinese language and culture, then again pluge into western setting and start over again, of course more quickly.

It was bit wierd to see both of my parents appearing in house in shanghai -- it felt like I'm back to high school again and just spend the weekend home and mom trying her best make the cuisine I like and table is just full of food and dad is just same old busy dad. Three of us finally spent a night at Victoria harbour in HK and when I saw them holding hands and walking I felt like the happiest girl in the world. Its true that good times never comes without hard times occur first and also, good times never last long (well long enought that you think its long).

Everything went so fast back home, much faster than the pace I get used to in this half year. I didn't realize I did miss my friends and family so much when actually start meeting them and talking and talking. I was gradually becoming aware of this process I went through everytime back from abroad -- running forward, slow down, look back, then start running again. Culture is definitely one major thing, I won't be me today being sensitive and struggling with culture difference after all those "looking back and comparing" pauses. Don't know if I should be grateful or not that I have always been a slow person hesitate to sense what I really want. But if I'm meant to be like this, it's meaningless complaining the way I live now.

Back home in two most commercial places in whole world also made me bit slow in catching up. Especially when my friends are all graduating, and working now. Everyone has different stories. But being in these two cities making their stories amazingly similar. It can make you feel like on top of the world, also can make you feel you worth less than piece of crap. And these are happening right around me every single day.

And I'm flying again. After getting used to how home is like, I had to leave again. Well, good thing is I sensed more excitement than sadness and sort of just let the things go themself. So here I am, standing in richest part of Europe and trying to find my piece of mind again.

It was great seeing Shweta and Chris in Scotland. And this trip, well fairly short trip, did help me making some decisions. But it is nuts, isnt it?! That seeing each other again after one and half years and we actually didnt change that much. The trip was short but the country was fantastic that I was determined to go back again.

LONDON
It feels I'd spend so much time here -- my life just slows down again and me myself tend to be slow and try best enjoy this part of the country. And it is a absolutely gorgeous place (well although so far I still like scotland more). I love places being cultural and financial same time, and it is perfect here. Well, the weather has been freaking me out but I was told only to get used to it and I was like, I survived Bergen anyways! omg I'm here only half week so far so Im kinda lost here trying to search anything to say!
-Well HSBC is huge here as well so I'm glad to see westerners no more have this confused look when I mention the back.
-I kept forgetting bringing my camera since we have classes in daytime so I did miss lots of nice shots.
-I'll soon move to another flat wich has the perfect room facing the water so Im really excited.
-English guys (by which I mean the young males aging no more than 35) are quite nice but not as gentelmanlike as I expected (well I did expect a lot didnt I?!)
-Im really sad Mich cannot make it to London, I would soooo love to spend time with some great friends here since I basically know no one here.
- Although I've mentioned this, weather sucks here.
- The food I take in everyday is nothing but sandwich.
- I miss my friends a lot a lot (in a way I wish them being here instead of I being there cuz its such a fun place here! lol)

Still hope you're all doing well wherever you are.
Love from London
Amanda