We have lift off!

We have lift off!

2 September 2010

Barcelona, Spain

Today I am leaving for China. Enough of visas and preparation and bureaucracy, and now for airplanes and dumplings and pajamas and probably some more bureaucracy.

In the past few weeks, I went home to Memphis and had a great time seeing my family and the farm in Mississippi and catching up with friends and enjoying another fantastic Fancy Nancy party in Memphis. I wore a fantastic hat that was Chinese, according to Mr. Lincoln, Memphis' imminent costume proprietor, and I'm sure he's at least as accurate as Wikipedia.

The Conversation Award undoubtedly goes to the yankee Sarah Coleman and the Whitehead's who propounded on "Who is your favorite forefather?" Beware of folks who have recently started history PhD's if you aren't ready for this sort of swerve ball cocktail party query. Leave it to the Whitehead's to have not only an opinion but lots to say on the subject, and, if reports are accurate, even to have corrected said Princeton PhD student about the name of some forefather or President or the like.

The Happy Award goes to Johnny and Amy Lamberson, who brought me a mason jar with something very special and homemade in it. I'm not going to say what it was exactly, but I will take this chance to announce that the Happy Award is being renamed the Moonshine Award for future years.

Anyway, it's time for me to finish packing, though so far I have packed the really important things like my technicolored dreamcoat and praline pecans for gifts and a rather impressive med kit with every medication anyone could imagine needing in China during four months, from Diamox for that Tibet trip to painkillers because I foresee a hike in Yunnan. More notable is what I'm not taking. This ranges from the hairdryer and straigthener that are reportedly cheap there and mine from Europe won't plug in anyway -- to business suits as about ten people have suggested I make the first order of business to get some made there -- to things I almost forgot, like contacts, that, remembering, I opted not to worry about anyway because aren't they made in China?

Whether or not I can communicate or get anything cheaply instead of at laowai prices is another story.

So, I'm signing off as far as Europe is concerned, unless I get stuck in Amsterdam. In closing, the fourth picture provided for your amusement was sent to me minutes ago by my Father, ostensibly as a subtle reminder of where I come from (in case the Lamberson's mason jar hadn't done the trick).

This patriotic Southern American will report back from the People's Republic of China, where she is scheduled to arrive at 11:30 Beijing time on Friday 3 September. In the unlikely event that anyone reads this, please say a prayer over this venture into the unknown, as it marks the first time I've been the slightest bit apprehensive about a trip. Before today I never understood that twinge (or deluge) of stress people describe about traveling overseas or moving to a new place. Alas, as I head off to country #28, I understand.

Zaijian!