Tearful Goodbye

We left India Tuesday night after long goodbyes with Justin's family and flew to our absolute favorite city for our overnight layover. We were back in Singapore once again and headed straight to my friend's place for a morning nap. We caught some rays at the pool then off to happy hour having $20 Singapore Slings at the ritzy Raffles Hotel (the hotel that created the famous drink). We couldn't sleep at all that night as it was our last night together before we headed our separate ways in the morning. Justin flew back to the U.S. while I headed to Hong Kong. He will fly to Pittsburgh to be with his family, and I have decided to spend the next two months in Hong Kong studying Mandarin. I am staying with my uncle in the meantime where I will share a room with my 6-year-old cousin. Although Justin and I will not be together for the rest of the year, we thought this was the best decision for the both of us since I wasn't ready to go back yet (and what, like get a job?) Besides, I've always wanted to live in Hong Kong again and reacquaint myself with my birthplace after leaving over twenty years ago. Although this new path is a drastic change of events for us, we both feel really good about our decision. The hardest part about all this will be being apart from each other for two and a half months, but I look forward to exploring Hong Kong and taking you all with me.