foxyroxy
Roxanna Blanco Joined: July 24th 2009
Logged in: April 17th 2011
Logged in: April 17th 2011
Travel Blog Posts
a kiss
So this may not be so much of a travel blog as much as it is a living abroad blog. It's been about a year and a half now since I left home. I almost can't believe it, because time has flown by so fast. I remember packing up my two ginormous suitcases (one of which I ended up sending back home after realizing I brought too much crap) like it was yesterday! Packing up your bags and leaving home isn't always the easiest, but for me it seemed so natural and normal. It was easy. Something I decided over a cup of coffee with my mom one morning. Me- "Mom, I think I may want to move to China." Mom- "That's weird. Why?" Me- "Hmm... I don't know.. for change?" She, like most people I ... read more
Big Buddha
Hello! So this is month #2 in Hong Kong. Time really flies, I can't believe it. This past month has been a lot of fun. I have been playing tourist, visiting all the attractions and seeing all the sights. There's always something new to do in Hong Kong!Life is starting to fall into place here. Work is going well. I teach kids half the time and adults half the time. And every single one of my students is great. One of my students, Tanya from Beijing, has been particularly great. Since I had to move out of my apartment in Wan Chai a couple days ago (the lease was up for my landlord), she has generously offered me her apartment until I go back to America in a few weeks. So I moved in two days ... read more
The Peak
Hello my friends and family! So as of today, I have officially been in Hong Kong for one month. I think the first month in a new city is always the hardest. You have to adjust to the new lifestyle, you have to learn how to get around from place to place, you have to try and meet new people, and in my case, you have to find a job and an apartment asap. I kind of landed here without any idea of what to expect. I had no plan, no job, no friends and absolutely no clue what to do next. This was not in my plans. I was supposed to live in Shenzhen for the next year of my life! I was so prepared. I had done all my research. I found myself a ... read more
Im here!
OK, for all of you who don't know yet... I quit my job in China. Yep. Big news. It was just not working out the way I thought it would. Living in Shenzhen was definitely a great experience. The food, the cheap rent, the cheap EVERYTHING actually, my adorable little students.... but that's about it. The city itself lacked a lot of culture and life, which is what I wanted most. Granted, Shenzhen is a brand new, 25 year old city, with absolutely no history. Just a melting pot of people from all over China who were sick of picking rice all day back home and have come in search of opportunity in China's richest city... The Chinese dream! Then there's the rest that already have successful jobs and drive around all day in their Mercedes' ... read more
Over Night Bus
So I know I am a bad bad blog updater and I am so sorry for not writing more often. The past few weeks have been quite an adventure, so I guess I will start where I left off..Thailand! I left Shenzhen that Friday night, after working all day. It was the last day of the semester, so to say I was exhausted is an understatement. Nonetheless, I was so excited for Thailand and to see Chris (after a long month of separation) that it didn't matter. Well, after a three hour flight delay and a three hour freezing cold uncomfortable plane ride, as well as an hour in the customs line, I made it! I arrived in Bangkok at 4AM. Poor Chris, who had been waiting a long time, was there with open arms and ... read more
Cindy & Me
Hello Everyone! So it has been about a month since I left...I can't believe it..... and everything is going A. O.K. I have learned a little bit of Chinese (and I mean very very little), enough to get me a cup of coffee with milk at Starbucks at least. I swear to you, Chinese has to be the most difficult language in the world to learn and understand, and to top it off I don't have the luxury of the alphabet to fall back on because of course they only use Chinese symbols for eeeeverything. It's like a cruel and unusual joke from God. Other than that, I am slowly getting used to everything; the people (who crowd me everywhere I go) the transportation (I take the bus twice a day) the constant starring from everyone ... read more
Shenzhen Bridge
So I have officially been in China for one week! And ohhh whata crazy week it has been. I arrived Saturday evening and spent the next day and a half locked up in my hotel room, sleeping off my jet lag.. And slightly terrified to venture out into this foreign country. When I finally woke up I decided to make my way downstairs to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. Here's what my breakfast consisted of: chow mien, thick ricey-pork soup, thick ricey-non pork soup, spicy shredded vegetables, brown seasoned hard boiled eggs (with the shell) and boiled roots, with a side of warm milk. Lets just say I walked out of that place still very hungry. Over the next few days I had an assistant from the my school help me become familiar with the city. ... read more
Disneyland
Departure date was July 17th so I started saying my goodbyes early.. Good times spent with friends and family. Lots of final indulgences.. South Beach fish tacos, Souplantation, In and Out, Pizza, Tapas, Bobatime, Newcastles and Amstel lights, Pick Up Stix, Mexican Food, Versailles Cuban food, blue crab eggs benedict at Cody's, Mom's cooking, Ra Sushi, Vegas, wine bars and wine tasting and lastly Starbucks (which happens to only be 2 blocks from my apartment here in China...thank god). The goodbyes started in May around my birthday time. Chris and I spent the day in Disneyland, something I have been begging him to do for a while. A few days later all my closest friends gathered together on a big party bus to go wine tasting in Temecula. A perfect way to celebrate my 24th. Lots ... read more
