Where the World Lies

My friend (Let's call her Elle in case she wishes not to be named) studies in a design school in Hong Kong. While I, by no means, regret opting to study in the country and not in the "best" school in the country at that, it does sound like a wonderful lifestyle.

She lives in an apartment by the beach with a bunch of friends.  While I studiously avoid going near deep bodies of water, I can't seem to dislike waves crashing along the shore (I, once more adventurous, used to walk to the sandbar of a local beach in our bi-annual visits to sandy shores. I've turned "wiser" now, owning up to the vulnerability of being one of the few people I know who doesn't know how to swim. Still, those sun-soaked days call to me sometimes: memories, as usual, flash at me sharply: the joy of waking up to a low tide, finding hermit crabs at the sandbar, the jagged edge of a glass shard piercing through my finger as I pick up shells. If I were to do something cheesy like relate this to my life, I could- the hermit crabs illustrate how I find shelter and a home for my heart in the most unexpected, but beautiful of beings; the glass shards are the warning that "all that glisters is not gold [or diamonds]").

She studies in downtown Hong Kong, which about tickles me to bits. When I travel to foreign countries, the first place I love to explore is downtown: what better way to get to a feel of the present culture than in sideways shops and hole-in-the corner cafes? Besides, I love the inhibition it brings: walking downtown in a foreign country gives you so much anonymity.  (Recently, my family and I were caught in a thunderstorm in the streets of Hong Kong- after an avenue full of business-y buildings, we found shelter in a random restaurant that was so tiny. Needless to say, the noodles and the dimsum were very good. Much, much, earlier, my parents & I got lost in a train station in France- ironic, really, since we were on the way to a pilgrimage at Lourdes. We ended up having to sleep in the train. It was quite the adventure.)

Needless to say, I am very pleased that she has worlds to explore in that one country- er, I mean administrative region. ;) I'm keeping this as a reminder that someday, too, the world shall be mine to explore. :)

(I started this entry with very different ideas- I'm not sure how it evolved to this. I seem to be very fond of stream of consciousness writing at the moment o.o.)