"A picture is worth a thousand words?"
I guess I'm writing Ulysses now.
Amidst the Humid Breeze
Guangzhou, China
The unique scent of Guangzhou’s hot and humid summer—a scent I had breathed for over a decade. The peculiar fragrance of mango blossoms steaming up from the ground after an evening rain; huddling under a parasol with friends on our way to the canteen, yearning for the cool embrace of indoor air-conditioning; sitting in front of the TV with half a watermelon, scooping it out with a spoon; listening to music in the subway, but the noise of the wind managed to escape the noise-cancelling headphones anyway. Primary school, middle school, high school… These memories flowed like a hazy stream of consciousness, rushing through my mind in an instant. They weave together the history and stories that define me. It's home.
"I'd Like a Double-Double, Please"
Toronto, Canada
I think it's fair to say that Toronto is my second hometown. Since I moved here for university, my relationship with Toronto has always been... complicated. I tried so hard to fit in with the culture, the crowd, the seemingly endless winter, like a one-sided pursuit that no one knows where it's going. But gradually, we warmed up to each other. "Toronto" is no longer an abstract, exotic concept, and I am no longer an awkward, shy traveller. Navigating the grid-like streets of the city comes as easy as feeling my own pulse.
