Welcome 欢迎

and... cue the Mac OS X opening video (that you can't skip!*).

It was really only cool the first time. *(Ran into issues with Migration Assistant and for some reason I was stupid and stubborn enough to refuse to just say "do it later". I insisted on keeping the mac in  the start up mode-thingy... which meant that every time I turned it on I was forced to watch that video... I eventually gave up on Migration Assistant.. all that tedium was in vain... :()
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In any case, welcome to the blog. On the top right is a preview of what should eventually be the photos I take while abroad. For now it's just some filler from a previous trip to China. I will be playing around with the formatting in the next week or two, so don't be too surprised to see things moving around. The layout is still on probation, one might say.

Right now I'm being very precrastinatory about preparations. I've packed most of my clothes and written a packing list... but as you can see from the countdown on the side, I have very little time left. The good thing about this trip, though, is that I will be buying--indeed I am expected to buy--stuff in China. So if I forget a few things... well, no big deal right? I'll just buy them there.

Tomorrow I will go in to work for about an hour and half in the morning, and then swing by in the mid afternoon to pick up my results. The data analysis should be able to wait until I have free time, whether that's in the evening or after I arrive in China. The rest of the day will be devoted to packing and double checking travel plans and information.

I'll arrive on the 24th. I can move in early on the 27th, and there is a pre-pre-session explore-the-city trip (sometime I just enjoy hyphens) on the 28th which is completely optional. In between those I will be hanging out with my mom and adjusting to the jet lag, and then being inundated with relatives that I barely remember. I am not yet sure if I want to go early (and ditch my mom one day earlier.. and maybe pass up prime shopping time/freedom, etc)... any thoughts? There should be about 4 or 5 other kids from the program, since we're there early for the language pre-session. The actual program begins on the 26th of September or so.

I will also be taking a short trip to visit my grandparents on Sept 4. There's some party honoring my grandfather, so it should be fun (and tiring). It will be nice to see them again. It's been about 3 years since I saw them last, I believe.

I'm also somewhat excited and somewhat apprehensive about meeting my new roommate. By the end of last year, I think both my roommate and I were glad to be rid of each other. I fully admit that I am not the easiest roommate; I'm fairly messy and spend a lot of time in the room talking to my boyfriend. On the other hand I don't host parties and invite people over who throw up on the rug. Nor do I listen to a lot of loud music (although I do tend to watch TV and use Skype without headphones) or generally stay up late studying with lots of lights on. Fingers crossed that we will be compatible (and that she is very easy going). I expect there will be less time spent on the phone in the evenings, so that should help things.

In general I currently have mixed feelings about the trip. I tell everyone that I'm excited, but I've been so busy with life this summer (work, frisbee, the bf) that I really have not had time to reflect on the fact that I'll be in a foreign (and fairly homogenous) country for 4 months, studying a class which is not my forte, away from Chris. I am excited, but haven't had the downtime to properly feel it. I'm a little worried that working right up until I leave will not leave me recharged enough to be ready to tackle classes. My hope is that it has been a while since I've actually studied. I also hope that the pre-session is fairly relaxed with a lot of downtime for resting. I'd expect so because people need to adjust to the jet lag. I usually need a week with a lot of sleep before I'm ready to 'charge full speed ahead'.

...and wow. I guess this was an auspiciously long first post. We'll see how time allows for future posts. Until then, 再见！