I Can't Remember the Last Time I Cried So Much!

I feel like a huge baby.  I have been working on my Mom's Mother's Day present for a few hours, and it is really getting to me!  I guess it is starting to sink in - I have been away from my mom for almost four months, and now that I am moving to China, it is going to be a long time before I can just see her anytime I want.

And it makes me sad because she is just the most wonderful woman and Mom in the whole world (and now that I have seen the whole world, I can really say that).

Basically, my gift is a slide show of photos, some that are mine and some that represent the lyrics of the song that I set the slide show to: The Best Day, by Taylor Swift.

Even watching Taylor's video makes me cry.  You can check it out by clicking here.

Bottom line: I love you, Mom!  Happy Mother's Day, to you and all of the Moms out there!

Twitter is Exploding...in a Good Way

If you haven't heard of Twitter yet...well, where have you been?

The micro-blogging-based social networking site has been picking up like crazy, and there is tons of talk about the site receiving offers to purchase from Google, Facebook ($700 million in cash and shares), and even Apple (the rumour is that the offer will be $700 cash)...  

Not sure how they decided on $700 million...but anyways...

If they sell out, it probably won't be as cool anymore...so check it out while you have the chance!  You can start by looking at my profile (click here), but then I encourage you to make your own.  

One reason I am really excited about it is because it will allow me to update everyone about what I am up to in Europe when I only have a few minutes on the internet.  So, keep checking this blog over the next few months...but check my Twitter page, too!

Oh, and once you make your profile, let me know so that I can "follow" you!  You will quickly find out what that means...

Only Two Weeks of Classes Left!

Yes, that's right...I will be done classes in two weeks!    After May 14th, I have only one exam (on the 27th)...and then my time as a university undergraduate student has ended!

Weird.

The Face Lift

PS. I don't know if you noticed, but I gave my blog a bit of a face lift.

I did it because it is going to become a permanent part of my life, at least for the next two years.  I thought I would celebrate that fact by making it look a little more interesting.

One of these days, I am going to have to take off the "2009" in the blog title picture.  That's a bit of a pain in the butt.

Interesting Things I Going Down in LKF on Thursday Night

LKF (or Lan Kwai Fong) is Hong Kong's super famous bar district, which is mostly frequented by foreigners and ex-pats.  It is a really fun place to spend an evening (and wee hours of a morning)...and when we went there on Thursday, I saw two interesting things.

The first was the biggest gathering of Dutch people I have ever seen (since I haven't been to the Netherlands yet).  They were all partying in the streets, wearing orange (their national colour, I was told), celebrating their beloved Queen's birthday.  It was a sight to see.

Just down the road, there was a guy in a lab coat standing with the bouncers at the entrance of a popular club.  He was taking all of the clubgoer's temperatures, so as to avoid admitting someone with a fever.

I'm not sure if the club was asked to do that by some sort of authority, or if it was a niche marketing strategy - the bars in LKF exist in a highly competitive environment.  Maybe their thinking was that, by taking temperatures, they could attract customers who are very concerned about the H1N1 virus.  Maybe these customers would be more willing to relax, spend money and stay longer in a "safe" environment, which could increase drink sales and the bar's profits.

Or, maybe the bar owner is just nervous.

Just something I was thinking about...

My Future Home

It's Beijing!

Well, it will never be "home", but it is where I will be living from the end of August 2009 until January 2011, for my Masters program at Tsinghua!

Lisa and Chelsie just got back from visiting Beijing for five days, and they had an incredible time.  After hearing about it, I am even more happy with my decision to move there...if that's even possible.  I mean, it is going to be the adventure of a lifetime!

In Beijing, they also met up with the Ivey students on exchange at Tsinghua, and they are having just as wonderful a time as we are having in Hong Kong...always good to hear.

From looking at Lisa's photos, the one thing that really stood out to me is how "green" the city is - it seems as though there are lots of parks and flowers and greenery!  The downside: they confirmed it...the pollution is absolutely terrible.

I wish the world would do more to reduce their carbon footprint.

Yangtze River Cruise Post Is...

...Done!

You can read it here.