wu life 236

WU LIFE 236


THE shang-HAI LIFE

ahhh, the dreaded train.. 26 hours of filthy, stinky, spitting, and screaming.. great fun. this last trip wasn't so bad though.. there was a really sweet young lady that got on the train with me, and we managed to talk about mucoid plaque for a majority of the ride. granted, i'm not exactly fluent with chinese.. so i couldn't fully express myself in regards to this (fecal) matter,.. but with all my excitement and the help of a few pictures from my book, i think i got the point across. in all, the train ride went well - lots of MP3s, reading, and resting. i did, however, get my usual sinus slam from all the recycled air on the train - but aside from that, transit wasn't too bad this round.

by the time i got in.. i had a day to play before ramadhan, so i had super spicy ginger soup with every meal to try and smash my sinus slime.. for the most part, it worked, and by the next day, i was ready for ramadhan.


MY FIRST RAMADHAN

i've been hip to the month long daylight fast for many many years now.. i remember teasing friends with lunchtime cupcakes and pizza in grade school whenever this month long fast came around.. i remember it being especially difficult for my friends when day light savings would hit. i thought to myself.. 'these people are crazy! why don't they just eat something?' ..now, 15 years later, here i am embarking on my first ramadhan.

funny thing is, i've been wanting to observe ramadhan for the last four years now, but i always seemed to find out about it halfway through the season, so i would always just skip it. this year, however, i got the heads up three months in advance, so it seemed that this time would be the right time. to make it even better, i also plan to do my first colon cleanse as soon as i get back to the states.. ramadhan rocks.. what a perfect time to flush my gut and reset some internal harmonies.

it's now day three of the sunlight fasting. my brother sam, whom i'm staying with here in shanghai, is also observing the season with me. we are both regular fasters now, so that, teamed with a little martial discipline is making this thing a breeze. by the time sunset drops, the meal time becomes such a meditative practice,.. slowly enjoying each carefully calculated chew, appreciating every taste sensation, grateful for every swallow... i love fasting, it always helps me remember how much i love food, and how little gratitude i show for it. ramadhan rocks.


I'M LEAVING ON A JET PLANE

in less than 12 hours, i'll be on a jet plane to travel over 6000 miles across the pacific ocean back to my home in the bay. i have lots to look forward to. i would like to thank everyone that put up with my weekly generic journals over the course of these nine months.. just think, soon you'll get a chance to slap me for clogging your inbox all these months.

there is, however, a typhoon right now in shanghai.. i hope that it doesn't effect my travel plans. anyway.. i'm heading home.. see you soon!