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1011 days ago
Well we have been on the road for a few weeks now. And here is an update... We started in Xi`an and really enjoyed the 'old' city. My parents were very impressed with the city walls, but more so with the terracotta soldiers. It was really incredible, although I though all of the empty shops lining the 1.5km walk up to the soldiers was a little much. From there we went on to Hong Kong. My parents were put in charge of finding the hotels for the trip, and they have done a great job. In HK our hotel was right next to Times Square which had a major shopping center there. When we are not walking around the city to see the sights, they are shopping...buying electronics, jewelry, silk and medicines. Yes, medicines. My dad can't walk past a pharmacy without stopping in to load up on his prescription medicine. I started taking pictures of him in each one, but I finally got bored. About half of our time travelling has been spent on shopping. They are loving it, but it is a little ...
1025 days ago
Well mom and dad arrived in Beijing this week. Unfortunately I have to work a few more days, so I was unable to spend all my time with them. But I have not finished work, more or less, and we will be travelling for the next three weeks around China. This week I sent them on a tour of the Summer Palace. My mom took a fall and hurt herself a little bit. Not a great way to start the trip! She banged her chin on the ground (big purple bruise in some of the pictures) scraped her shin, and injured her knee. She has been able to get around, but is a little slow going up and down stairs. Today we got up, went to Starbuck's and then to the Temple of Heaven. It was a beautiful day in Beijing. The temperature was around the 50's, and the sky was blue. It has been really windy the last few days, so most of the pollution has been blown out...at least for now. Afterwards we went to lunch, and then came home. A few more days in Beijing, then we are off to Xi`an to see the Terracotta ...
1148 days ago
Well just got back from a long weekend in Shanghai going to the Formula 1 race with Chris. Quite a fun time, especially since one of my colleagues was also getting married that weekend...in Shanghai haha I won't go into details of the bachelor party, but it was a good time and exactly the kind of night I needed. Our plane landed in Pudong airport at 9:30 and by 11 we were in a bar with a bunch of rowdy friends...and then we went to a bar called Windows where we drank a few beers before hitting the town. yada-yada-yada...got home at 5am. That's all anyone needs to know about that night! Anyway, we went to see the Qualifying race on Saturday morning. I only had about 3 hours of sleep and was pretty tired. The weather was pretty cool, and it didn't rain on Saturday. We had great seats with a giant TV in front of our grandstand. We smuggled in a bunch of beer and just spent the day watching cars race by, eating yang rou chuan'r and buying everything we could find. We walked ...
1165 days ago
OK, yeah I know....The Backstreet Boys. Is there any worse humiliation? Probably not....but as I said... I haven't been myself lately. One, maybe two more weeks and I will be moved on and back to my old self. Superman Ressurected? no...but better anyways I think. Thanks to those who have supported me and given me some "what the f*ck is wrong with you?" butt kicking over the last month. Although I would have preferred someone to complain to, to tell my probelms to and a little sympathy...telling me I'm an ass for doubting myself is helpful sometimes too. If I had a mao for everytime I heard..."there is nothing wrong with you. I still think you are great!" I would be a rich man...and that's OK sometimes too. Ends up I am just rich in true friends, not in quantity but in quality. Thanks all of you :) Still thinking too much about... but at least I feel like I can start thinking about the future again sometime soon. My chinese lessons are finally starting ...
1175 days ago
Well the last two months have been eventful, although not always for good reasons. Anyone who really knows me already knows that I have not been myself lately. I've had a new friend leave way too soon, some old friends turn out not to really be friends, met a few old friends all over again, met a few new people, had the death of "Superman" and even had the return of Mr. Pappy, an "old friend" indeed. A picture of Mr. Pappy in all his glory is attached. My school schedule is starting to pick-up a little again and I have even been offered more responsibility (and hopefully more money, although in China that is not always the case). I am spending more time helping out my friends at the marketing company in Beijing. We just did a presentation for Mitsubishi yesterday, which could be interesting...and they have been teaching me mahjiang after work. I will begin my long over due Chinese language lessons next week or so, just after I find an appropriate experienced ...
