Looong overdue

Well, I've been back for weeks. I will begin with general impressions of China:

1. Lots of rear ends. EC (Elimination Communication) is used by Asian parents via split pants. If your young one needs to expel, without diaper butt, you're able to notice more of the signs that the child has the urge. you can more quickly cart them off to one of many public toilets, squat them over a squatter toilet and give a signal that they should begin. Or over a bush. Whatever. Because one doesn't need to fuss with pulling down pants, the child eliminates in the proper location, not their pants, leading to an enormous deficit of landfill clogging disposable diapers.

2. Community hang out. The elderly population is so much better supported and social, parks are filled with groups of people chatting and socializing, playing games street-side, walking to markets together, etc. Grandchildren are often cared for by grandparents. Spending time together and keeping your mind and body active is paramount in Chinese culture.

3. FRESH FOODS, everyday. I can't tell you how many fruit carts there are, how many markets are all over the place, and you pop by one on your walk home for items for that day. No mass quantities, just a daily purchase of fresh fresh fresh yumminess, because you take home only what will fit in your arms.

4. For as conscientious as the culture is about some things, it's so wasteful about others. I can't tell you how many times I saw tiny nick nack crap for sale. $.05 for a carved walnut, $.15 for a handful of plastic beads, $1.37 for a fake jade carved tiger. Why? Nick nacks everywhere.

5. My language skills were in a frustrating in-between stage. I could ask many questions and would be able to communicate further if and only if the person responded with a specific answer. The yes or no response to my question was never given, rather a full-fledged explanation of something vaguely related was the response I received, so I never knew what was going on. For example: I might ask a pottery vendor "These two- how much money?" Response: "This one $5, this one $6." Okay, no problem. I understand. So, I feel bold and ask, "Which one do you like? I want one. I will give it to my friend." I was pretty proud of myself for being able to convey all of that information. If the response was simply 'That one' with a point indicating the preference, I would have been fine. But that was never the case. I'm sure I received an answer about blue vs. green and fine vs. poor quality, but the key words I knew were never used. Alas, I was lost. OOOOR, I could pick up a vegetable and knew how to ask "What is this?" And the response was in Mandarin. And I remained clueless. I didn't even know 'cook' 'raw' 'sweet' 'with garlic'... nothin' that would clue me in. I totally played the smile and nod game a lot.

I'll begin stories day by day or adventure by adventure soon. Hope this gets you pumped for more!

Three days left!

With the exception of books and cereal for Sarah, my suitcase is packed, toiletries figured out, overnight pack with party garb and plane entertainment stuffed in. Only 1/2 of the contents are my clothes, it's all carefully edited for maximum mix and match compatibility with all highly washable items. I'm ready! Sarah and I Skyped twice this past week and she has everything, literally EVERYTHING figured out for my arrival. Bikes, subways and busses, a temp cellphone in case I get lost, everything! I pretty much need to show up and start having fun.
I'm a little nervous about getting lost upon arrival in HK... I have maps and addresses printed, lots of cross-reference maps reviewed, read up on the Central Terminal, but that kind of doesn't change the fact that I am going to be wacked out on sleep aids and in a country I have never been to before. Plus I'll need to make myself presentable post-trip for the rooftop party Sarah is attending. Oi. Here's to hoping I don't stink.
I'll post again next from overseas! See y'all later!

Latest & Greatest

Sarah is a busy bee, making mystery plans and arrangements. I love that I'm just kind of along for the ride. My biggest worry lately has been "Will I have effective shoes for the adventure?" Not a bad problem to have.
Also, it's official, I will be flying into Hong Kong, arriving Friday night, Saturday and Sunday adventures (TBD by Sarah) and then we'll make our way back to Beijing. Then a week of touristy visits, which I still need to fully list out. Sarah's friend, Wendy, will be joining for some of it, I'll be off on my own for some of it. Friday night overnight near the Great Wall with Lee. I have a feeling week 1 will be nuts and week 2 I will putter around the city, getting good and lost, which will be fun!
There's a lot of life stuff to be figured out before I go, which makes me a little nervous. New phone plan to be figured out, prepayment of bills, cleaning, preparing, meal planning for Rob, just all the little junk that adds up.
Back to work!

Hong Kong possibilities

Sarah brought up a few days ago the option of flying into HK instead of straight into Beijing, just for the chance to check out a new city. Ha, I need options, people, and plenty of 'em. (Please, if Sarah sent me into the Beijing and told me I was confined to two city blocks, I would still be ecstatic to get out of the States.)
So, I'm waiting to find out from Dad if he wants some overnight company or if I should fly straight on. Then I'll call Delta and find out how much extra the revised ticket will be. Then I'll make Sarah figure out all the travel plans once I'm in Hong Kong.
Have I mentioned that I packed already? It's not in the suitcase, but I have shirts and pants picked out, which I won't wear until I get there. Pah-thetic.

Map a little more filled in

Now I just need to remember what was what and why I was interested in each. Plenty of time to memorize and remember, though.
Here is the start:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=217019046890732741135.0004a550782c1acd7afbb&ll=39.944489,116.454048&spn=0.112392,0.308647&z=12
Leave some comments and additions, family!

T-Minus 4 Weeks

Less than 4 weeks to go and I'm starting to think through the game plan a little more in-depth. Sarah just broke the news over Skype that LEE! is going to be in Beijing while I'm in town. What a treat to visit with a friend who I haven't seen in 9 years (pathetic track record on my part, by the way). I started back through the phrase guide and quickly realized I recognize quite a bit, but don't remember it well enough to pull it out of my back pocket to communicate effectively enough. Also, I fear I will be a dumb tourist, and coming from a family of travelers, this is not an option. I will not be the "dumb one". I'm gonna plan the crap out of this trip, Google Earth everything, know where the frick I'm going and THEN relax and play it all by ear.
More word on the plans after I spend a little more time today posting things into our map. I suppose scribblings on a piece of paper isn't an effective way to put plan in place with anyone else. Oops.