Apparently blogspot.com isn't communist friendly and isn't accessible to Aaron in China. No worries... he started a new one and you can follow along here: http://PandaLandStory.livejournal.com

Pass it along

Dpt ELP Arr PVG

It’s looking like this whole China business is actually happening. It took two flights, a less than easy goodbye, and a lovely parting gift in the form of a very public, very intrusive, fully body frisk. Money belts = semi topless Aaron in front of a cop, an elderly couple, and a gentleman who I felt stared just a few seconds too long.

But here I am, trying to wrap my head around what I’ve just embarked upon. I’ve spent the last 2 years preparing, applying, and talking about doing this. I spent the last 2 weeks.. (more like 2 days) packing, and rechecking everything. And not once did I really stop and think about how crazy this is. I’m expected to be able to live and hopefully survive in a country where I can’t even read the street signs.. is that bad?

Solution-ish, spend the next 28 hours cramming some rosetta stone and “my Chinese coach” (thank you ge-ge) and hope for the best. I have a feeling pictures are going to be my friends at first, but I’m determined to be live-able by the end of all of this. It’s going to take some work and a lot of looking foolish (can’t really help that one when all the heads around mine are going to be a foot closer to the ground) but if all goes according to plan.. it should be an experience that will stick with me for years to come.

“Nothing worth getting was ever easy” that’s been tossing around in my head ever more frequently these days. Well to anyone who’s reading this, here’s a little taste of what you’ll be able to find at PR&EN (panda’s rice and everything nice) over the next 6 months. I’m not going to lie.. it’s gonna get weird at times, and you can count on the same grammatical and dictational awkwardness (sorry Dr. D), but if you want to know what I’m up to, it’s really your only choice. I’m going to try to stay adamant about posting and try to include as many pictures as possible, so stick with it.. it’ll get better.

If it’s not your taste, it’s cool, I’ll fill you in upon my return.

Final thoughts

§ Who was the first person who felt it was appropriate/necessary to exclusively play baby-making music in airport bathrooms?

§ Flaming hot cheetos and cottage cheese. It’s like the first time you danced with a girl... you think it’s going to be weird, but once you try it you find it to be pretty awesome. (all thanks to li-lu)

§ How could someone let their 10 year old son watch Watchmen as they sleep idly by in the next seat?? He’s going to spend the next 4 years of his life pondering to himself.. “is it supposed to be blue?”

§ Whoever it was that designed airplane seats was obviously 5’1” and knew nothing of “personal space”

§ For those of you who haven’t heard.. Chicago is apparently now located at the north pole and my pinky toe may or may not have frostbite

SMB

First Post

Shanghai in T-Minus 17 days...