Welcome to what will be, eventually (22 days or so), a chronicle of my time in the People's Republic of China. Seeing as how shockingly difficult it is for me to keep in contact with my loved ones, this is the best way for you to keep tabs on what I'm doing.

I don't have my address yet, but my phone number will be

86-10-64492709
(Country-Beijing-Room)

Note-- Beijing is 13 hours ahead of Chicago. If it's Noon on Tuesday in Chicago, it's 1AM Wednesday in Beijing. Keep that in mind.

I recently received an email from my future Chinese roommate. His name is Zhao "Jack" De Yu, (I think it's interesting that all the Chinese host students are given American names) and holy-moley does he sound like a blast. Whenever I day-dream about our friendship the Laverne and Shirley theme plays in my head while we fly kites in downtown Beijing and do somersaults around the Forbidden Palace. Truly a match made in heaven, I can't wait to actually meet this guy.