Laggin'
Here I am, 15 days after returning from Asia, still crawling groggily through my days. The return from Bhutan to Berkeley was by far the most difficult re-entry I've had in my numerous trips across the Pacific. Factors that increase the severity of jet lag, according to The Lancet, include age (ugh!) and westward travel, as well as dehydration on the plane, and exhaustion before travel. I think I managed to hit almost all of these on this trip.
Upon returning to Berkeley, I needed to catch up with the semester already in progress, meaning that there was little time for relaxing and easing back into American life. In addition to skewed sleeping and eating cycles, irritability, anxiety, cognitive difficulties and memory loss are some of the under-appreciated side effects of jetlag. The foggy greyness has much in common with having a concussion. I have NO IDEA how our global leaders manage to jet around from conference to meeting to summit!
In spite of all this, I managed to finish an article for Mountain Research and Development. Look for it on a newsstand (or university library shelf) near you in November.
Upon returning to Berkeley, I needed to catch up with the semester already in progress, meaning that there was little time for relaxing and easing back into American life. In addition to skewed sleeping and eating cycles, irritability, anxiety, cognitive difficulties and memory loss are some of the under-appreciated side effects of jetlag. The foggy greyness has much in common with having a concussion. I have NO IDEA how our global leaders manage to jet around from conference to meeting to summit!
In spite of all this, I managed to finish an article for Mountain Research and Development. Look for it on a newsstand (or university library shelf) near you in November.
Comments
Us proletariats believe in self empowerment and sufficiency.
Congratulations on the publication. Since I don't even KNOW where my library card is these days, can you just shoot me the PDF version when you get it?
Off to St. Louis for a tag-along long weekend with Sheri's work.
Talk with you soon!
Say 'hello' to the Arch for me, and make sure to go and get some Ted Drewes frozen custard, preferably in the form of a chocolate-chocolate chip concrete: food of the Gods!!!
I'll endeavor to make pdfs available, within the limits of copyright laws.
Yeah, going to the Forest Park balloon race and will sneak in the Arch and the Purina Farm for Sami. Also will check out other STL sights.
Know of a good church for our Sunday morning that's the norm for Midwest?
U City Loop and Central West End are fun places to walk around. But DO NOT MISS Ted Drewes. It's really a bit o' heaven.
I grew up going to the First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, which is about 20 mins. outside of StL proper. Not sure if it's your flavor, but it is (or used to be) a real friendly place.
We're staying just a couple of blocks away from the Arch and that is one HUGE structure.
Funny story. Note to self. Do not relying solely on portable GPS device since it may send you to a Berkeley, MO, neighborhood for a fast food restaurant. There were many curious stares and pointed fingers at Sami and me going around in circle looking for lunch.
Also, did you know that there aren't many minorities in the Kansas City airport that we saw in our 30 minutes layover? Kinda weird.
Last thing. Did you know that there are smoking sections in restaurants here? Who knew?
STL reminds me of Boston with its goofy freeway onramps and weird turnabouts throughout downtown. Will wander around during the day and then go watch Sheri work at the night hot air balloon glow event @ Forest Park tomorrow night.
Maybe I can finally get a bite of this famous White Castle burger.
It is weird how few minorities there are in the midwest - the town I grew up in was white, white, white - and then one neighborhood was black. Don't even get me started on the racism... actually, I should write a blog about it sometime.
So strange that people still smoke indoors! That seems like spitting on the floor - just not done. I haven't been back to StL in years -I usually meet my dad, the only who still lives there, elsewhere.
Sounds like quite the interesting cross-cultural experience.
Did you find a good church? A White Castle?
1. Midwesterners are really friendly and kind. Sami and I were travelling on a separate flight than Sheri on the way over there. We were assisted all along the way be kind souls taking pity on a single dad with two carry-on bags, stroller, car seat, and a baby.
2. There are very distinct racial lines in the city. You just KNEW that a particular neighborhood was not used to seeing Asians rolling around the neighborhood lost.
3. I don't understand the appeal of White Castle. Guess I'm just too old to relate to Harold and Kumar.
4. There are a lot of constructions happening around the greater St. Louis area. And these have to be pretty recent since my GPS doesn't know about it and the detour usually takes us through exciting and vibrant neighborhoods.
We didn't make it to the balloon festival since Sheri said it was super crowded. However, I was able to see most of them from Kingshighway and I-44 while Sami was napping.
On the upside, the local zoo was awesome considering it's only $10. The best money we spent since its penguin exhibit was inside of a 45-degrees building.
The Arch was cool with its 60s-era tram/pod that we had to all squeeze in. I'll send some pictures once I locate MY usb cable... tee hee
One regret. Forgot to go to the frozen custard place. grrrrr.