Thoughts from Travelers at Beijing Airport

Buy the lightest laptop possible.

Don’t take too much stuff . . . “I have so much stuff; I just bring stuff.”

Pack so you have one hand free at all times.

Make sure you can carry everything you have.

Pack with one change of clothes…which half of us failed to do.

Bring your toothbrush (and toothpaste) in your carry-on.

Take pills in carry-on.

Drink more water not coffee or soda (it dehydrates you).

When you stand up on a plane, don’t pull yourself up using the seat in front of you.

When possible, travel with others.

Keep snacks in carry-on and ask flight attendants how many meals will be served and when the meals will be coming, (so you can space the snacks accordingly).

Keep dark chocolate in carry-on.

Wear black and other neutral colors and layer them to look like a professional traveler.

Keep 2 books under your chair in the plane; the first book might be a dud, then you’re stuck.

Plan for all contingencies.

Take some random pictures in the airport.

I Leave (a poem from my sentimental side)

In 2 days,
I leave.
Packing and repacking my life into a 44 pound suitcase
Stuffing the caveats in my carry-on.
I kiss my parents good-bye
Through stiff upper lips
And bloodshot eyes
I will leave
These warm embraces from mom and dad
And this peaceful town I can't get enough of

Time pushes me to this departure.
I can't slow it down
Or hit rewind.
No sleep tonight
In 2 days, I leave.

My Olympic Spin

Since being back home, I have had a lot of people ask me why I’m not at the Olympics. Actually, they don’t say that, but they imply it by saing, “You’re missing the Olympics” with a look of pity in their eyes. Yes, it’s true; I am missing the Olympics. But ask me if I feel bad about it? Hmmm, no.
Now, let me ask these same concerned people, when the Olympics were held in Atlanta, Georgia, did they feel an irresistible responsibility to attend them simply because the Games were being held in America? No they did not. This is the same ambivalent feeling I have about missing the Olympics in Beijing. Beijing is about 20 hours away from the Hunan, where I have lived this past year. Furthermore, Beijing is a crowded city as is when functioning at its normal capacity. To imagine the influx of people in this mega city makes my skin crawl and makes me want to put on more deodorant. And finally, even if I were passionate about sports, which I’m not, I would not choose to watch them from the top of a stadium. To do so would be to miss out on the close-ups that NBC captures and the commentators and former coaches in all their splendor and raw emotion.

Random sign

This sign was at the Beijing zoo. I think it was in front of the flamingo cage. Heed the warning or face the fury of the birds.

3 weeks left

Well, it's official. I have about 3 weeks and 3 days left in the Midwest. It's going to be hard to say good-bye to this place. I love how relaxed I feel...where the major decision each day is, "Who should I visit today?" and where for the most part, I can understand what people are saying. Or the other major decision is when should we take our daily bike-ride..before or after dinner. Yes, life is moving a little slow, but it's okay with me. I know that in less than 4 weeks, my senses will heighten, and I will need every bit of relaxation to help prepare me for studying Chinese with Chinese instructors who are only going to be speaking Chinese.

Until then, I exhale, write emails, and call friends. It will all come soon enough.

This week-end, I will be in my dear friends' wedding in Vermillion. I'm so excited for Emily and Tim, but I'm a little worried about my responsibilities...stand at the front of the church, hold flowers, smile, make a toast, and walk around looking eligible; I've got a lot of preparation to do.