Emerging from the snowstorms, the stomach norovirus that hit a third of students in a Chicago school and whatever else that has knocked tough Americans hard this winter, spring appears to have arrived. Now, especially on weekends, the mind drifts to relaxing and vacations. The modern life is to work hard for days off. So … Continue reading
Category Archives: Thoughts
Everyone is singular
She eats alone tonight. The steam of a single hot pot of broth, vegetables and meat rises, clouding her face. He eats alone at another table. Smartphone in hand, he picks at a plate of rice, beef, tomatoes and eggs. No family style at this Chinese restaurant in Chelsea, but personal hot pots, personal soup … Continue reading
Sounds of a city
On the morning of 9/11, my Uber driver Chris said last night, he was on his way to an interview at the World Trade Center’s Windows on the World restaurant. But traffic was so bad he had to cancel the meeting. I immediately thought of Delwar Khondoker, a Bangladeshi immigrant I interviewed five years ago … Continue reading
There is no time
No time to speak the truth fully. No time to have every single conversation. No time to stop all the evils in the world. No time to say goodbye properly. The reality is, suddenly it’s time to move into a new house. It’s time to say goodbye to my hosts with so much still unsaid … Continue reading
Cheering for you
One drumbeat, one word from the announcer, and the crowd is chanting: defense, defense! The home team melts as their opponents approach and let the basketball slip past, straight into the hoop. Applause from the other side. The announcer tries again. Make some noise. Louder, louder! The crowd stirs and yells, following the prompts of … Continue reading
Weekend in the Village
He’s wearing shorts; she’s in wool and boots. Continue reading
An NFL Chinese New Year
The Chinese website Sina reports that over the last five years, an average of more than 12 million in China watch every Super Bowl. Continue reading
Who gets the new year first 誰先過新年
台灣又是比紐約先過新年
Again, Taiwan enters the New Year before New York Continue reading
Thankful for running water
“There is a w–r problem in Hoboken. There is a w–r problem in Hoboken.” The intercom jolted me out of sleep Sunday morning and for the second time in a month my life was disrupted by a broken water pipe. The first was a 2 a.m. alarm in London for a leak that that sent … Continue reading
Wander
I want to walk a winding road where there’s no end in sight Not a straight road but down small streets alleyways and bypasses with a view Mountain roads through the evergreen And shore roads by the ocean I want to wander And take in the sights Not rushing but savoring every moment Every twist … Continue reading
