The heat and humidity are so intense that walking down the street feels like trying to run through a pool of water. It’s the hottest time of the year in Shanghai and the heat sucks out every ounce of energy and leaves your body soaked in sweat. Cool water vapors spray from an air conditioning vent even while set at 65 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s so silly to find every shop downtown blasting the air conditioner. They even leave their doors wide open letting the cold air spill out onto the streets to attract customers. Practically every apartment has at least one air conditioner, sometimes two or three. I can’t imagine how much energy is being wasted. The residents of Shanghai seem indifferent of this waste.

It is also difficult to capture a blue-colored sky with a camera in Shanghai. This is because the haze lingers everyday. On the clearest days it holds a very pale light blue. Not like Santa Cruz where a blinding bright blue emerges through the fog everyday. Being back in Santa Cruz feels like I’m the only person for miles. Everything seems so still and quiet, leaving me a bit freaked out. As if the less people inhabit an area, the more likely the gravitational force will weaken in this specific vicinity to the point of lifting people out into orbit. Maybe I should have stayed in San Francisco. At least then a mere million people would surround me.

No, this trip has shown me that there are a thousand things to love about Santa Cruz. It is uniquely beautiful from every angle. Even more than the blue skies and calming ocean, I missed the people, the vibrant food culture, and an almost universal respect for our delicate environment.

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