Working for the Weekend

This humongous city of Beijing can be described in the acronym of CRAZY

C ars - way too many!!!  If you think New York or Chicago are bad, you would be crazy here.
R unning - people are always running down the streets to catch subways and such.  Not sure why when
                  they come every two minutes. I kept looking for fires the first two days...
A lways hearing fireworks!  If you ever desired to own a firework stand - come here and be rich. 
Z eleanders - New Zeleand to be specific - butter, breads, mayonnaise and foreigners from there-bunches
Y oung - the age of the police and security guards.  I have been told that most students are made to serve
                the government for one year as police or public security (like in subways) before they go to
                college.  If so, this would explain one why Chinese exchange students want to stay in the
                states. Yet..the crime is very low.
 
I am starting a new schedule this week and looking forward to having my days off during the week.  Less crazy and more time to be productive because the banks (no online banking here) and such are slower and I will only have to wait in line for 30 minutes at the checkout as opposed to 60 minutes.  Oh yes - I said standing in line for sixty minutes playing bumper crash of the carts (called trolleys here) the entire time (thank goodness they respect the elders so I can cut and not get cussed out - LOL).  No wonder you can have McDonalds and KFC delivered to your place.

As I have told some, my process of being "Disneyfied" is in motion and reflective of how I think at times.  I sing silly kids songs in the shower and occasionally the subway, I wave with the big "hellooooo" hand like I do all day at work (just like my man Mickey) AND I have been know to phonetically introduce food to my other foreign friends - yup you can hear me now: p p p p pop....ugh!

For those of you who care to know, my Chinglish is progressing nicely and I am fluent in chopsticks now.  I have even been observed hailing a taxi and haggling over the fee. So as much as there are differences now, some parts of me are deeply engrained and always present.

Later Mates!

Welome to Beijing...

Interesting day filled with lots of plane changes and airport food.  And I took the challenge of the game "Last Supper" seriously.  I made sure to eat everything - and I mean everything I enjoyed and did not thing I would be able to eat in China.  That means lots of diet Mountain Dew, beef jerkey. good french fries, and the list goes on.  The only snag with my plan was by the time I got to Seattle, I had a stomach ache.  Imagine that??  I proudly ate some Tums like any good American who eats inappropriately would and boarded the jet to Beijing.

The last time I came here in China (like 16 years ago)  I was
one of only six westerners in the airport.  Today - all of first class and a bunch in
coach were.  Cool for me.  Here in Beijing it is 26 degrees and snow -
just like home.  Yet NOT like home.  I had a great plane ride and a
scary commute to the hotel with the driver who was in training for the
Indy 500.

 I had forgotten how much people stare at Americans and how giggly
Chinese are.  My urban girl keeps wanting to say "what you lookin at!"
and "really??" Then we have the fireworks for the New Year
celebration...I keep doing a duck and cover move...imagine that one.
Everything here is so small - my bathroom is like a version you have
on the plane just a little bigger and completely made of plastic - the
bed - OMG who can sleep on bricks!  I will totally be out tomorrow
looking for something to fix that problem!  My hotel room is about the
size of my office at school and...wait for it...the Phoenix Center is
across the street - too funny!! (just like the name of my last school)

Off to unpack my over poundage luggage and figure out how to handle
the need for so many converters for the eletrical outlets.  Ahhh - it shall
be quite a Disney adventure ... but without the fun rides.

The Night Before China

After a long drive to Memphis with a car loaded full on luggage and items to take to the farm, I arrived.  My husband met me here to say goodbye.  After a great meal and even better company, I am in the hotel room making sure I have everything.  I mean doesn't everyone travel with one suitcase just for shoes!?  Well, I do and am glad I have them.  Tomorrow I depart at 8:35 a.m. to begin the whirlwind adventure with Disney.  Yeah!

Let the stories begin

Today....the day of firsts.

First day without being required to go to work AND not getting paid....
First day back from a whirlwhind of amazing out of town experiences...
First day being parentless...
First day of ever going out for a late night date during the work week...
First day of realizing that - yes...life is going to change drastically in the next few months.
First day to own up to the committment I have made to...
First day of my future as a totally independent, self sufficient adult...
First day I have ever been so scared of change