Blog 4 Sana Helwa ya Sarah!!!

“It’s been a whiiilllllle, since I could…..”
While a less dedicated person would sing along to the real song (and since I am most definitely not less dedicated), I sung along in pain, anxiety, and agony how “it’s been a while (a long while too) since I have… WRITTEN A BLOG!”

Let me not stress how dedicated I am, lest I surprise myself (and you). I’ve had two to three stunningly dedicated weeks—flowing with hard work and determination and prudence—it’s some prideful stuff:
· 1: Business mid-term on Wednesday October 17 was one midterm I studied absolutely nothing for till the day of. Praise goes to God the test was 7 at night.
· 2: A religion essay and a genetics essay—both late, two (Te DoubleU Oo) essays turned in late, two too many than I ever ever had ever ever done before.
· 3: I had not written one of you blogeess for “a while.”
· 4: I missed 4 classes so far— that is not counting the ones I had to skip for Vietnam, and not counting the ones I simply showed up to do no more than take up space in a lecture hall, my head wandering not once to the ChinaR professor, but the essay on my computer (refer to bullet point #2).

I couldn’t have been so dedicated for no reason of course! It needs discipline and responsibility… and not to mention Macao excursions, MY birthday parti(es), incredible surprises, parent visitations, unexpected showing up of brother, six fabulous 5-star hotel lodgings in 10 days, Guanzhou furniture shopping expeditions, and of course, waking up one morning to lose it all… in my N1422R spacious room and soft bed in HKBU.

We didn’t really go to Macao, who cares about Macao? We went to the Venetian in Macao! Ohhhh Myyyy Gooddddd! We were stripped from the earth to a heavely realm, one with its own skies and rivers, bungalows and high-class chocolates, shops and brands, bars and CASINOS—a serious Venetian province in a world far from its own, one I’ve never visited in my wildest imaginations. The ferry ride, although not the most exciting commencement to my trip, most definitely made me triple-excited to reach my future-honey-moon destination.

What I first recall was me, Evy, Fabs, and Leann jumping on our double beds having a very deep conversation which I do not remember a word. What kids we were in such a grand, luxurious, royal suite, talking pictures in the elevator and the bathroom? Activities undertaken: a lot of sleeping, eating, and the 100%-guaranteed-wasting-of-money-activity called gambling. That was ok though; it just made us resort to a lot more sleeping. I left early the next morning; I had so much work piling stones over my shoulders. I mean come on…parents were coming in a few days! Obviously, my dedication here seems to be ground-breaking, even awe-inspiring! Now that I think of it, I wish I stayed though; it wasn’t worth missing Michael bungee-jump for doing nothing when I got back.

“Sarah, do you know what tomorrow is?” Kris asked on the phone.
“What, no? Do we have vacation or something?” I got a little excited.
“No, no, no, but it’s a special day…” he continued. “Sarah, think a little harder, just a little…!”
I forgot it was my birthday. Kris thought I was an idiot.
Although October 11 2007 was my 6th birthday away from home, it was as sweet as my midnight surprise cake, the one I dove into with both hands—don’t ask me how that happened… Most definitely, I did not look 20 years old then. It all started at Taste after we had dinner at Festival Walk. I made us all go, I needed oatmeal; they made me wait. Apparently, Brian and Kris met two Saudi girls whom I advised not to talk to because “they will think you guys are crazy freaks.” But who listens to me? No one, not even my dog. Ends up, Kris and Brian wanted to ask them how to say Happy Birthday in Arabic and indeed, the girls thought they were freaks. But what can I say, this is Kris and Brian, and they figured it out! My cake did say: “Sana helwa ya jamil,” or happy birthday beautiful-- the Saudi way, not Egyptian style!

Although most definitely what started out as another meaningless night in my room escalated to a heart-glowing memory filled with baklava, cake, champagne (Oh was this in the dorms, I didn’t mention that!), and birthday cards dedicated to me as a loving wife on the one hand and an aging glass of fine wine on the other. I was so happy, so happy I had to hide my burning red face in both hands wrapped in a towel, as my heart shook with exhilaration. My friends surrounded me in a warm splendor, all wrapped in energy that was contagious and fulfilling—Evy, Miky, Krisy, Fabi, and Baboon—reminding me how simple nights can be most special… thank you my sweeties!

That was NOT the end of my birthday surprises! The next day we went to La Villa for my birthday dinner, an elegant restaurant infested with red disco balls on the ceiling and a clear Harbor view to the right (well actually depending on where you’re sitting). Everything was absolutely incredible there—food, talk, and even fashiontv—fun times. I had the time of my life, I wonder if I was the only one though… about $2600 was paid for 6 people, none of which I contributed... I swear I didn’t want it that way, I tried to pay! I had a surprise cake here too with a cute little pink candle on top! Then we went to a martini bar called Martini Bar, only to be followed by a night in Lan Kwai Fong running all over the tight streets, chasing each other, spinning around poles, and disturbing the Wan Chi district with loud screeches called Pepperdiners singing.

A few thoughts: I’m 20 now, a young Pepperdine girl, far away from home and college, sandwiched somewhere in between. Where am I? Who am I with? I found my head spinning with question marks as I spun around that pole on the street in Wan Chi, a hand gripped to the blue thing, the other waving 360 degrees. What in the world was I doing?! I had two classes the next morning, one 9:30AM! Awaiting my parents desperately with feelings of time crawling after a snail, there was an equal force on the other side asking me, how come everything seems to be happening so fast? I was thinking about mom and dad, I miss them. I was thinking about the late night out, could I handle this? I was thinking about not going to church since I’ve come to Hong Kong, could God approve of this? And yet, all I knew was that all my friends did this night for me, and I wanted them all so close, and they were indeed very close, closer than we’d ever been before, and I loved it. I loved it so much! That night, on my birthday, my birthday in Hong Kong, was the best!

My parents came the next day… read the next blog for more of the surprises… my birthday was not over yet!!!