Follow-up on my post a month ago.:)
Decisions got finalized late last week, and it was quite a rush yesterday to work out all the travel and accommodation arrangements. A good part of it has been in planning for weeks now, but as these things go, you don’t click on ‘APPLY’ until you’re sure the appropriate agencies and persons have all signed in the right places.
I’ll be flying off on a very early morning flight on the 10 June, with a first stop at Narita after 7 hrs in the air, then another 12 hrs to Detroit, and finally a shorter 2 hr hop to Boston and arriving in the early evening on the same day (hooray for crossing international datelines). Just over 21 hours in the air, and – nicely – very little time wasted between flights. Not quite like if I’d flown westwards and transiting via Heathrow – the latter involved a 13 hour wait between flights…ugh.
Return journey wise: leaving Boston on 2 July early afternoon, traveling the same way back but slightly longer journey in terms of flight time, and arriving in Singapore on the 4 July Sunday morning.
The accommodation arrangements were real tricky though. The research center I’ll be at is very close to the central business district itself which makes nearby suitable hotel accommodation terrifically expensive, even with the hefty discounts MIT has secured for staff visitations. I was lucky enough to find though a lovely Bed n’ Breakfast homestay situated well-away from the city itself and right next to Harvard University (oh yes – museums!!!), which is about 15 minutes travel from the MIT. The house was built in 1910, and owned by a member of the Harvard alumnus and who now works at the Harvard Museum of Natural History.
And our family Ang Mo friend Matt will be visiting during one of the weekends, and we’re thinking of driving around and exploring the state a bit.
On the one hand, I’m looking forward to the trip. It’s a historically-rich city, pleasant weather (summer but cooler than Singapore by any measure), and I don’t have to deliver lectures at all unlike last December’s Kumamoto trip. That said, it’s still a 23 day trip in all. Shorter than originally planned, but I’m still gonna miss Hannah and Ling when I’m away.
Still, that’s what video conferencing is for. More details to come.:)
Who’s going to help Ling and Hannah when you’re away? Joerg has been away for just 3 days for a Johor school camp, and already we’re missing him…
Ling = Supermom.:)
Yes agreed she is totally! :) but she’s sureto miss your being around I’m sure!
Ya, especially in the evenings when we would usually have our family time…but I’d have the car and would be empowered to go places, with or without Hannah! Hee hee :D
Ok Ling, jia you :) Well Joerg reminds me that, even though I may be alone with baby, actually God is right there with us to watch over and protect us! That really makes me feel much better and less helpless. Joerg comes back this evening, yay! :)
ya i really 佩服 ling. working mom ＋ no maid *clap clap clap*
CY transiting in narita *deep breath* japan air smells so good =D
Unfortunately, I’ll be inhaling processed air at the airport transit lounge. :(