Unaccustomed to Customs

Dear Customs Inspector; Hong Kong,

The purpose of this letter is to inform you as politely as I can of a situation I hope you can remedy. I sent a very important package from Kathmandu, Nepal to the USA sometime around November 29, 2005. You remember the USA - that country across the ocean who accuses you of devaluing your currency in order to somehow piss off our businesses; Tom Gates included. Or if that doesn't ring a bell, we're the ones that had to land our U.S. spy plane on Chinese soil after colliding with your Chinese fighter jet back in 2001- you know, you wouldn't give us our plane or crew members back. Yea; that's us!

I respectively received my valuable package here in the USA since I arrived back. However, I seem to be missing one very fragile item - a CD of all my photos taken in India and Nepal. Funny, I found the sleeve for the CD and even the receipt from the Fuji photo shop for copying the photos TO the CD, but no CD in sight. :( Perhaps my first mistake was using Fuji? Is that what this is all about? Hey, if it's any consolation, my only other option in Thamel was Kodak - which would you have chose? Whatever the case, please return my CD - it does not serve any political situation, group or party - well, except for the photo party I was planning on having amongst a few friends who also have no affiliation - I swear on Buddha.

If you do come across this CD, please send it first class to:

Lora Hish
666 Upyours Avenue
Denver, CO.
80210 US frickin' A

Thanks a bunch, Mr. Customs Inspector. You're the best!

Yours Smoothly thanks to CL,

Lora lu

Seclusion, an illusion

Rumor has it I'm back. Is it true - am I really sitting in my very own dining room typing this blog away? Woah . . .listening to my favorite Proton radio, spending time with my animals again & staring blankly at a house that needs some serious TLC. Can it be that I made it back, alive? Did I really do all that? I think Dad was surprised! Ok, so am I.

Speaking English like a Zombie - just seems I have to think a little harder about what I want to say. . . yea I know, what's new, right?

Seems like alot has changed around here - land has been leveled, new shops, houses excavated, new technology, new cell phone plans, more people married - gee, has it really been that long. What's I-25 look like?

Its good to be back. I'm happy to report I won't be moving any time soon - well, for now anyway. Denver suits me just fine and a real job, well, a job can fill in the gaps for now. I'll take things as they come. One store at a time, one friend in each pocket.

The good news is I feel I came back richer than before I left. Met some amazing people; saw some incredible sights. Denver ain't so bad though. No, not so bad at all! I'm here and now feel ready.

New Perspectives

Well, as with any crazy trip, you come back and are in some kind of state of shock. Still feels surreal; I wake up and not sure where I'm at. This past year is a blur - can't believe that all happened. Anyway, here are my fresh perspectives or in some cases, first shocks to the system after hitting the states:

Ice cubes are a luxury
More than one food cuisine
Woah – seeing people in shorts and women’s midrift or even worse, is a trip
Man, its cold
What’s up with all this animal hair?
Nice, more than 2 long sleeve shirts to choose from
Are you sure its ok to put the toilet paper down the toilet
Ahh, real q-tips!
The Kleenex here is so soft
Americans are weird.
Do I really have to stop at the stop signs?
Which way is University avenue?
Denver has pollution? Where?
Bummer, I can’t bargain any prices down – so boring just to walk in somewhere and pay asking price
It is hard for me to leave the house without some spare toilet paper
Its feels strange unpacking all my clothes
Wow – a real bed
Fresh air is nice
Yeah, Chipotle! Where have you been all my life?
Where’s my TV and my cell phone?
How do you use this thing?
Ah, I forgot I had that.
What’s that noise?
Bathtubs are excellent for taking baths.
You Americans are sooooo lucky but you just don't know it!
Wow – people exercising!
What? What happened to gas prices? Geeooorrrgggee?
Blue and brown theme in every store? What took them so long?
There’s a gadget for every little thing we possibly might want to do – pssst, I have a secret – it’s all a marketing scam!
Feels so strange to wear shorts

I really save all this stuff - I should have thrown that out years ago.
My dogs are still so beautiful!
I cherish my friends and family

Epsom, NH

I left Cairo behind and flew into Boston on March 23rd. Going to see Pete Kerouac and Sarah Barnum! Great friends if you know them! They live near a small town called Epsom, NH. Never been to New England.

Coming back to the states is strange at the very least. Just seems that Americans are their own breed of people and culture. However, I was able to relax and enjoy the country living that Pete and Sarah have acquired and slowly emerse myself back into western standards. Visiting the grocery store was my first major reality check aside from London Heathrow, Terminal 3.

I love Pete and Sarah's home. It sits on a solid 4 acres, 2 of which protudes of thick timber and a slew of wild turkeys. Felt like I was the only person around when they were at work. Fresh air, beautiful bird sounds, a multitude of ladybugs. . . Their house is lovely too - charming and an original. Just a great place to get away from it all.

Hearing the New England accent was strange for me especially when I'm not used to it and coming from Arabic. Actually I'm not sure that I've really heard this accent in person before - I just thought maybe the Kennedy's were the only ones who spoke like this :)

New England is lovely and beautiful. But I think the winters might be too cold and the summers too hot for my blood. I had an excellent visit though and relaxed in peacefulness. Thanks Pete and Sarah for your hospitality and great food, Sarah - if we can keep the mice out of it!