Stephanie_Smith

getting ready.

catching my breath.

noticing robins outside again. Hmmmm.

mapping out the essay on big sheets of graph paper: felt-tip sketches and scrawled notes held in place with drafting dots. Very satisfying.

full of optimism and garlicky heirloom tomato soup after a "rethinking soup" lunch/meeting at the Hull House.

wondering if I can stay awake til 9 pm, Frankfurt time.

laying over in Hong Kong, after sleeping for 12 hours on the plane. Starting to recover from Euro-American jetlag and self-imposed stress.

At the hotel cafe eating unfamiliar fruit. Outside: tuktuks, parrot-colored taxis, a cheerful wedding party walking with drums+firecracker.

drinking coffee in the (relative) cool of the morning + gearing up for a morning of writing + then outings in hot smoggy Manila.

fascinated by the jeepneyes.

i mean, fascinated by the jeepneys. although "jeepneyes" sound like they could be cool too, if a bit scary.

Traveling w/o cookbooks. Don't have my go-to biscuit recipe and need it to go w/Filipino soul food tonight. Anyone willing to share theirs?

just had ensaymada for breakfast. Getting ready for Carlos' performance art/walking tour of old Manila (ttp://carlosceldran.com/).

Sitting outside catching a breeze and listening to the muezzin call everyone to sunset prayers.

getting ready to visit the Indonesian Visual Art Archive.

smiling out from scads of Borobodur memento photos taken by Indonesian preteens who wanted to practice English with the white girl.

it's weirdly karmic / live-in-the-momentish to leave camera in taxi on the way to a Buddhist monument and then get camera back the next day.

is processing.

Thanks everyone who participated in the Of Hospitality symposium—as hosts, guests, collaborators, catalysts, provacateurs.

Overheard outside Aon: Iraqi cabbie: "Why is it 'enemy' kitchen? Iraq is not an enemy." Bring your own tasty questions Weds: @EnemyKitchen