Stateside subsistence (and more)
After returning to the States, I exploited many
opportunities (read: excuses) to re-live my ex-pat youth, usually
involving distant weddings or, more legitimately,
conferences.
Starting on the right foot
I really couldn't help it -- the Berkelely school year just happens to
start very early, and I really couldn't miss my friend's September
1996 wedding in Cairo (with pit stops, of course, in JFK, London,
Amsterdam and Cambridge). Love those frequent flier miles!!
Grand Tour redux
During the summer of 1997 I found myself in gastronomic heaven during a
workshop/wedding trip to Italy (Trento/Biella/Verona/Venice/Padua). I
had work reasons to be back in Cambridge and Paris (honestly!) before
spending a rainy week in Amsterdam at a conference. That took care of
the wanderlust for awhile, but...
Foreign travel in my very own hemisphere!
Summer 1998 was the first of what I hope will be many trips south of the
border: to Peru to visit Tien. See here for the trip
report -- really the only one that's even approaching complete! Now I'm
inspired to do the others properly too (someday...).
January 1999: It took only 26 years, but finally I made it to
neighboring Mexico! How many adventures around central Mexico could
Tien and I cram into 10 days? Let's see: la Ciudad plus Teotihuacan;
then off to Veracruz to satisfy Tien's agua needs, tropical
romp among ruins that are sure to be the Next Big Thing (El Tajin);
southward swing through colonial Cuernavaca, ruinas 'n'
grutas en route to the much lovelier silver center Taxco; last
stop northward in international haven San Miguel de Allende, including
a most religious hot spring experience --- not to mention an
unfortuante brush with a ladron, many friendly Mexicans giving
me a chance to practice both Spanish and fending-off skills (sometimes
simultaneously), salsa of various kinds, chilly night buses and ample
evidence of civic pride. We'll be back!
Santana 2000: China, part 2
...or the madcap adventures of Harriet/Ambika/Nancy/Diana and their
(un)trusty vehicle, the Santana 2000. Until we get around to doing
something with the copious photographic evidence (times 4), these postings from the outback will have to
do. Highlights: three (count 'em!) major and many more minor auto
mishaps in remote parts of Yunnan; the painful consequences of
descending Sichuan's Emeishan; and making the backpacker rounds of
Yangshuo. Oh, and teaching Ambika Chinese!
ISM 03: Italy-Spain-Morocco!
See here
for overview of latest escape.
main / personal / travel
Nancy Chang - nchang @ icsi.berkeley.edu