Here is the plan. I along with my parents (Ruth and George) are traveling to China to meet up with my friend Leon and his mother (Teresa). For those of you that don't know Leon, I met him at Purdue when we were both working on our PhDs. During those Purdue years, he turned into my little brother and now comes home to Samsula every Christmas! Leon just received his green card this past March and invited my parents and me to make a trip back to China with him. He has not been home in almost 7 years. His mother Teresa comes to visit him in Chicago every year for about 6 months and then returns to their hometown of Kunming.
The current itinerary for our trip is flying into Beijing, staying there for ~6 days, then taking the bullet train to Xian (terracotta soldiers are here) for ~2 days, then flying to Chengdu for ~6 days, and finally to Kunming for ~6 days. The trip in total will go from flying out on October 8th, arriving in Beijing on October 9th, and flying out on October 27th. After the trip, Leon and I will fly back to the States, Teresa will stay in Kunming, and my parents are taking a 45 day cruise from Singapore to San Diego!!!
Leon has been busy getting plans made and we have lots on our schedule. I am most excited about the Great Wall, seeing panda bears, and seeing Leon's hometown (he acts like it is small but it larger than Chicago!). I am most worried about spicy foods, pollution, and not knowing mandarin except hello and thank you (oh I kinda know Panda bears eat bamboo but I don't think that will help).
At this moment in time, this adventure seems surreal. I am ready for a break but can't help thinking that I am going to need a vacation from my vacation!
Here we all are in August 2012!
Great picture!
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