The trip back from Guangzhou to Hong Kong was quick and relatively uneventful. Gupo was very paranoid that I might lose my passport since I only brought a backpack. She suggested that I sew a secret pocket on the inside of my shorts. After I rejected that idea, I jokingly told her I would just put it under my shirt in my sports bra. Gupo seemed satisfied with that suggestion, but not until I demonstrated for her that it would not fall out even if I jumped up and down. So of course Gupo insisted that would be my plan to protect my US passport. See, it is around 97-99 degrees during the day, and one cannot possibly step outside without getting a little sweaty. So of course I am dying of thirst and of course, I run into one of the 7 million people there and spill some water. The combination of these factors results in a slightly damp passport. Not a problem, right? But I pass over into immigration, and the lady tries to scan it and since wet water warps, it could not scan properly. She then looks at me suspiciously and asks her supervisor to come over. I awkwardly try to explain the situation, and after about 8 minutes of scrutiny, she decides to let me through.
Each time I come to Hong Kong, I start feeling more like a “local” after about a week and a half. I have changed into their clothing, caught a few words of new slang and starting to worm my way through the crowd like a pro. Someone even asked me for directions on the street! But by the time I start to get acquainted again, it is time to leave.
We left my grandmother’s apartment around 7:10AM on 6/23 and arrived home at 9PM on 6/23. I managed to watch the most random assortment of movies on the plane: Sweet Home Alabama, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Thelma & Louise, Beijing Bicycle, Pride & Prejudice and Finding Neverland. I tried to make myself watch Casablanca but I really can’t bring myself to and lose interest about 5 minutes in. I felt normal-sized again once I entered the Newark airport. Taking into consideration the time difference, it was about 27 hours of travel from door to door. Katherine is still in China staying with Gupo – today Gupo is construing an elaborate cover story in which Katherine is a 17 year old high school student from Qing Yun. This is in effort to make Katherine seem like a local student from China instead of from the US so the doctor does not overcharge her.
But now, I’m home and I’m booking tickets for my July travels! 
Better enjoy traveling while I can…
