Hong Kong Kowloon Harbor in misty fog
Marsha and Me in BU Hong Kong Office
Cora and Me
Cora and Alan
Kristin and me: Brrrr!
Kristin and CharlesMay 6th: I had every good intention of keeping up weekly! I started this post a couple fo weeks ago when I had a long layover in Hong Kong...
I know, I know... it has been too long since I last blogged. Note to never really take a holiday because there is double the work to do when you return.
The rest of my Greek holiday was wonderful. I returned to Athens from Mykonos with the intention of flying back to Jeddah on Thursday so I would have Friday to rest before going back to work. Silly me. I was having way to much fun in Greece and really wanted another day so I delayed my return to Friday. This meant I got to spend some quality time at the new Acropolis Museum which had opened since I was last in Athens last April. The weather was perfect Spring weather and I thoroughly enjoyed staying and walking around my favorite neighborhood- Kolinaki, and walking all the way up to the Acropolis through the Syntagma Square and Plaka areas. I enjoyed more Greek coffee, more wine, and ate sushi (which there is not much of in Jeddah). I had a long leisurely lunch with my good friend Helen Kokkinis at the Cafe of the Benaki Museum and we visited a new modern museum in an old home that houses some modern Greek art.
Most of the pictures are from my walk up to the Acropolis and of the new Museum. So I thought the museum would actually be at the Acropolis behind the Parthenon where there is the reminants of an old museum. I have climbed up to the top several times but really could do it each time I am in Athens simply because it is so beautiful and so historical. You really can imagine great philosophers and artists and everyday people milling around. Unfortunately I did not find the museum where I thought it would be. It is actually on the main road the leads up to the Acropolis. Because I had walked from behind I did not pass it... When I did eventually find it I gawked in amazement. There is a glass walkway leading to the entrance where you can see the ruins under your feet. And the whole of the inside of the Museum is so well arranged.
now back to May 6th:
This is my first weekend at home in a couple of weeks and I have to admit I am very happy to be lying in my bed on a Thursday morning watching old episodes of Law and Order, drinking coffee and catching up on personal emails and blogging.
My long layover in Hong Kong was a result of Eyjafjallajokull's disruption of flights through Europe. I was going to San Francisco for a conference and there was just no other way to fly. The long layover wasn't so bad because I got to have breakfast with my friend Marsha who is the Director of the Boston University Liaison Office in HK. I didn't even mind the drizzle and rain- such a welcome sight after so many days of hot sunshine. We met in Kowloon which is a part of Hong Kong I have not been to before. I got some great pictures of the harbor and truly ran through the Calligraphy exhibit at the Hong Kong Museum of Art.
San Francisco was my first time back in the US since I left last October and I have to admit there was some unexpected reverse culture shock for me. I was so excited to go shopping and be able to actually try on clothes but my first trip to Macy's was overwhelming. There was just SOO much! We don't realize what we take for granted. Of course by the end of my 4 days I had adjusted and done lots of shopping. You would think I had never been shopping or that I wasn't going to get to go shopping again any time soon. Shoes! I bought 5 pair of shoes. Lingerie, I have now replaced all of my lingerie. Williams and Sonoma- 4 floors! I got a rolling pin and liquid measuring cups and sea salt for my salt grinder. It really is just the simple things.
And friends! I got to see friends in San Francisco. My friend Kristin who is from Boston but lives and works in Morocco was at the same conference. She is the Regional Director of the Education USA Advising Offices. She travels a lot in the Middle East/ Gulf and we made plans to meet more frequently. I ate wonderful Cuban food with Cora and her new boyfriend Alan at Cha Cha Cha. Cora is Paul's daughter and I have known her almost as long as I have known Paul. She grew up in San Francisco and when she was in her early teens and would come visit Paul in Boston we would have a girls day- manicures and pedicures or shopping. She just graduated from UC Berkeley and is starting a Master's program this summer. And her new boyfriend Alan is a keeper! And then an incredibly fun night out with Kristin and Charles. I had been craving sushi and the restaurant they took me to surpassed my expectations. A photo op stop at the Golden Gate Bridge and dessert and drinks in Union Square after a driving adventure/tour.
Oh and I was there to attend a conference- the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals. Mission accomplished- I went specifically to meet with vendors to discuss admissions application processes. I think if we have to work with the same system next year I will cry. We have several different options and all are working on our requirements document due tomorrow. I know implementing a new system will mean a busy summer but I am hopeful.
Last weekend I took a quick trip to Mumbai, India to interview applicants who have been admitted. The administration feels it is important to interview all admitted students who accept our offer of admission to ensure that their expectations and goals meet those of our community. Basically to ensure they are not on the extreme conservative or extreme liberal end of the spectrum. Which I can understand. We are doing the majority via skype but chose to do some in person as well. It has been an interesting experience to say the least. I have done most of the skype interivews but for the group in India. Jamal traveled to Cairo, Islamabad, and Dhaka and he and Paul are both in Shanghai now. Our largest group of students coming are from China but then Pakistan, India and Egypt follow. The ones I did in person in India were great because students got to meet each other too as they were coming or going. The skype ones have been challenging because of connectivity and band width. One student in Nigeria I had to text the whole interview because the connection was so bad. The good thing is that I think we have a really great group of new students coming in the fall. And I think it helps ease their minds that they can ask questions about living in Saudi Arabia.
Unfortunately no pictures from India as I was hardly even there. I did realize though, as soon as I walked out of the airport, that I had missed visiting India. The smells and sights are like nothing else in the world. I spent my 24 hours at the Hyatt near the airport all the time wishing I was at the Taj by India Gate. My few hours of free time I spent selfishly in the spa. And sleeeping since I had flown overnight with a 4 hour layover in Dubai.
Back now on campus for three weeks- well, one down and two to go until I fly home to the US! I can't wait to see everyone! Boston first and then Memorial Day weekend in CT with the Duschang family.
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