Ah, the phrase of the month: xin nian kuai le!! or happy new year. As I wind down from celebrating that old fashioned western new year that takes place on january first and is only celebrated for one night, the chinese new year has arrived in a rush of choreographed dances, holiday bonuses in red envelopes, and masses of red decorations. It appears to be celebrated for at least 5 or 6 weeks, to cover everyone's differing vacation times (seems illogical but really should cut down on the travel traffic.) Next travel blog will feature two travel guests, dear old mum and dad are coming on a whirlwind tour of southwest china/vietnam, so if they dont' live to tell their tale of squat toilets and filthy hostels and night buses where people cut money out of ... read more

Hello friends! It appears to have been quite a time since I made an official update. Thankfully no one was fearing too terribly for my wellbeing, because I received no frantic calls from the US embassy. Since I last wrote, I have visited a few more places, but seeing as I am settling in quite comfortably here, I thought it would be appropriate to write a commentary on my current existence. My apartment: a wonderful place to relax after a long day. I recently obtained an electric hot plate stove, and struggled for a few hours before realizing (or being told) that it was weight activated, and did not respond to my insistent pressing of the buttons as I tried to make it hot. However, all was solved and I tried my first fully home cooked ... read more

Hello All! Thought I would make my location Hong Kong even though I am at my trusty starbucks in Shenzhen because I went there two weeks ago and haven't updated since. My fault for telling you all to email me, used up all my internet time replying. Hong Kong though, what a place! Definitely on my list of suggested places to visit. Wandered into a Marks and Spencers and looked fondly at all the English food, then walked a street over to a Chinese marketplace where you can buy your live fish and dig through second hand Chinese stores complete with ancient looking chinese scrolls or ratty old shrek dolls. Hopped onto a random ferry and saw the famous victoria harbor skyline. Someone very smart designed Hong Kong and decided all those people wandering around on ... read more

Hello all! Phrase of the week: I feel hot. I feel cold. Vocabulary: Dog, Playing, Eating, Napping. It seems like a really long time since I last wrote but it's been only a week. That's what being spoiled for internet does to you I guess. Bought a cinnamon bun in starbucks and in exchange they let me use their internet, very decent of them. Thank you for your comments, always make me smile, feel free to email me as well! Always look forward to a good update. Dr. Ingalls sorry I didnt' tell you I was going to China! So let's see... Shenzhen - southern China, touching Hong Kong, population = maybe 18 million? No one knows because everyone is illegal. But judging on my bus journeys I would agree with18 million, maybe more. Perhaps the ... read more

Not sure if I mentioned, but I came back to America. I figured the best way to escape the freezing temperatures and icy roads of good old new hampshire was to head off to sunny california for a med school interview. I thought a rather academic way of debriefing my trip would be to clear up some misconceptions that are held about this state. 1. California is not as nice as New Hampshire. MYTH: california is in fact much nicer than NH, there are more palm trees, more sunny days, and more happy people. 2. I can't actually think of any more. Either way it was a great week, had my first solo couch surfing experience and stayed with two wonderful hosts, anthony and mike. Anthony showed me the beautiful mountains and all the plants and ... read more