Good company

I've always embraced spontaneity as a key element in my life. It relates to what I was writing about last time; being open to whatever presents itself in the moment keeps me from sinking into numbing routines. Of course, it can bring its own set of problems, but I think I've been particularly fortunate in that it has mostly brought great richness to my life. And living in a new place invites lots of fresh opportunities.

Yesterday, I was wandering around on the web, looking into travel plans for the break coming up at the end of this month, and I found a notice in a local ex-pat site from someone giving away a kitten. They responded to my email right away, and several hours later I was waiting in front of my school for them to show up. As seems to happen often here, 2 other couples were passing by, and they were so excited they decided to wait with me. So not only did I have the joy of getting a new kitty, but friends to share it with. Rose had her 2 little girls with her, and 3 year old Talinn erupted in giggles of excitement at seeing the kitty, so they all trooped up to my apartment to help get her settled in. The other couple, Justin and Sarah, live next door, with 2 small cats of their own.

I had planned to go to Hong Kong on my own today because I'm anxious to see for myself what it's like. Even though traveling by myself isn't the thrill it once was, I won't let that stop me from going wherever I want. (The teacher I'd planned to go with today got sick.) But now I think I'll stay close to Sweetie and make sure she feels comfortable here. Rose and the girls said they'd come over for a visit. And besides, there's a group going hiking on Hong Kong Island next weekend, and always a lot more opportunities, if I'm open to them.

Sunday Musings

In a sense, my "real" life is in the states and this time overseas is a kind of pleasant fiction I get to live for awhile. Not that it's all pleasurable; the heat and the cockroaches in my kitchen are real enough, and I still have to wash dishes and buy groceries and go to work every day. It's just that the "everyday" is so far outside of my range for "normal." It's not hard to understand why some people choose to live as ex-pats for long periods of time; even at its most mundane, life overseas calls on you to stay awake. No matter how many times you see them, those barbecued chicken feet remind you that this isn't Kansas anymore, and you marvel at the whole thing all over again. And isn't that what so many of us complain about? That life seems to be just passing us by in an endless procession of routines?

Please understand, I'm not suggesting that those of you reading this blog should pack up right now and head for the far shores, or that I have a leg up on anyone because I've chosen this path. I titled this entry "Sunday Musings" because that's what it is and reflects what I'm thinking about right now. It's a subject that occupies my thoughts often: what is it that gives meaning to people's lives? What keeps any of us going even when what we're doing doesn't seem particularly meaningful?

Now I can see that I'm about to get myself in way too deep, and I consider whether to abandon this post or go ahead and publish it for what it's worth. Writing a blog is a curious exercise in revealing what is normally a private diary, and I struggle constantly with how much to leave in and what is better left unsaid.