-Reunions were great and most definitely worth the trip.
-I’ve been away for long enough that I actually thought for a millisecond that it was October when I returned to campus and saw all of the orange and black, especially since I have no concept of seasons here anyway.
-It’s amazing how much easier it was to get right back into things than I thought it would be.
-It’s also amazing how, in contrast to previous reunions, when lots of unknown people descended on campus, a year out (and coming from Cambodia), I felt like I knew everyone I saw this year.
-Staying out until 6 AM is much easier when you’re still somewhat adjusted to a different time zone.
-Seventeen-hour flights are great for catching up on sleep from those 6 AM nights.
-It’s a lot of fun to not even be doing it on purpose but to garner impressed reactions by mentioning your previous weekend trip to Ho Chi Minh City.
-Lots more of my friends have blackberrys than did last year.
-The reverse culture shock was not as big as I thought it would be, and I didn’t find myself instinctively using Khmer or anything; however, the one thing that I did continue to do unconsciously was to hand money to people using both hands.
-There are countries where it’s possible not to sweat for five straight days.
-Your lips get really chapped when you come from humid Cambodia to dry New York and New Jersey.
-People in Tribeca look a lot more put-together and well-dressed than people in Phnom Penh.
-It’s a weird feeling to be checking in to JFK for a flight to an exotic destination and to be disappointed that your vacation is over.
-Yet, having been away for longer times during trips to other places in Asia, being back in my apartment again on Monday night felt surprisingly normal and like my regular life.