Celebrate Chinese Food Month

IMG_0061, originally uploaded by shuebox.

I haven't had the motivation to blog...as of late.  I haven't been in the mood, mainly because I have been so busy with being a full-blooded American.  Actually, trying to remember what it means to be a full blooded American.

Since being back, I hit the ground running, very typical of me, and pretty much haven't had time to look back.  After moving back from Kunming, China in November, there hasn't been a dull moment to reflect.

When I first moved, I expected I would experience reverse culture shock, so I just accepted it and didn't think too hard about wheather I was feeling homesick for $2 meals and $1 pirated DVDs. Instead, I threw myself into the grind and was determined to learn as much as I could about custom ski boots.

That worked well and my timing was impeckable. I arrived past the start of winter skiing and was tossed into the rounds at Le Ski Lab. I took notes and repeated what was said to me, just to clarify the questions and answers. I never thought of myself as a fast learner, but in the first 6 weeks I had a handle of the process and a good sense of how to bullshit.

Then as Christmas set in, my hands ached with the repetative motion and small hand movements needed to customize and stupid me, I hurt myself snowboarding. Dislocating my shoulder was a huge set back. I was humbled. I took for granted my health and well being, so I had to heal both emotionally and physically. No small feat for me.

January came and went filled with plenty of work, learning and physical therapy.

As February set in, I began to feel more social and decided to seek out friends. Yes, I decided. Not the same and letting it just happen naturally. I just wasn't in the mood to meet new people when i first arrived. I had too much going on.

Oh yeah, and I bought a condo in Fraser with my brother. That was a pretty big leap after being in the country for only 3 months, but I noticed Winter Park's gaining real estate market and the budging out of affordable housing, so I jumped (and encourage my brother to jump with me).

I shopped around and looked at everything under 200,000 dollars and I found this lovely 2 bedroom/2bathroom vaulted ceiling condo with an unobstructed view of the Continential Divide. At first I was freaked out about buying a place, afterall, there is a sinking feeling that I won't let myself be teathered. I still come home and think about how quickly I can pack up and leave. I have some commitment issues, but I think about how financially smart it is to live here and it seems comforting enough.

So after moving in, I have a two Chinese Food themed housewarming parties. One for my co-workers and one for my friends. I figure it is a nice Happy Chinese New Years occasion for the theme, even though nobody around here even knows about the Lunar Calandar. So I taught myself how to make Kung Pao Chicken and reminded myself how to properly cook eggplant.

Now that March has fully set in and I've had a month in my new place, I have started a Women's Writing Circle for the next 3 weeks, until the resort closes on April 15th and I have taken up Yoga to rehabilitate my shoulder.  Plus, I was getting board of going to the gym to do my shoulder exercises.

I can't say for certain how else to maximize the remaining 3 weeks.  Seeing as work has slowed down significantly and the snow is melting furiously, I am already mentally planning my summer around my mom and my girlfriend.  I am going to hold back on details until I have a sense of exactly where I am with it all, but just know that I am on the move...yet again.

Comments

[Meg]

So glad to see things are moving and groovin for you and that the shoulder is healing and you are allowing yourself to catch up physically and emotionally. All good work. I take it you will be back there next winter? When will you be in our neck of the woods again?

PS...check out Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs area. Pretty rocks :)

[Quita]

You are crazy! So, buying the condo doesn't necessarily mean staying in Winter Park, I take it?

[Sean M]

It's funny after returning from China, I didn't eat any Chinese food for two years. Jane and I just went out for Chinese food with our friend, Ben, who taught at SMIC in Shanghai too. Jane has been lately commenting on how she wants Gong Pao Ji Ding. We had it, but it wasn't how they make it in Shanghai. Around Oakland, I sitll haven't found decent Dong Bei cuisine. It seems like most of the Chinese people living around here are from southern China. We're still looking for good jiaozi.