Countdown

Five days of classes left and six until Dad sets foot in Beijing. I'm excited for a lot of things: for classes to be done and a six-week break to begin, to see Dad for the first time in 5 months, and to see China new again through his eyes. I've been thinking recently about how normal the city and culture around me feel and remembering how foreign they felt five months back. Sometimes I'm shocked back into remembering how strange it all really is, and I think taking Dad around will do that a lot for me. I'm curious to see Beijing through his eyes, to see what surprises him and remember what surprised me. I'm curious to see how he does with chopsticks and what it's like spending 6 days in China as opposed to 5 months. I know it'll be different. He probably will understand better why it's tough to explain exactly what this place is like, and it'll be cool to share that with him--though he won't see and experience everything I have, it'll be some at least. I've thought all year that the toughest part of being here in China and doing all these great things is that my friends and family can't share in it--and it's tough for me really to just explain it. I'm excited for Dad to see it.

Here's a quick rundown of our plans for the week: Saturday, Dad arrives, jet-lagged and probably ready for some sleep. I'll keep him up as late as I can (for the jet lag thing). Sunday we'll visit a Chinese church in the morning and the Forbidden City and Tian An Men in the afternoon. Monday we'll see my Kindergarten classes and the Summer Palace. Tuesday is our Great Wall day, Wednesday more sight-seeing and a show at the Loa Shi Tea House at night. Thursday we'll finish up any Beijing stuff, maybe do some shopping for folks at home, and then Friday he's off. Not long, but better than nothing. Mostly it'll just be good to catch up.

So (to explain my excitement), this is my first real break since October. I've had a few odd days off here and there, but the big holiday here in China is, of course, the Chinese New Year (based on the lunar calendar) which comes in late January. As a result, I have about six weeks off from January 14 to February 27. The first week I'll spend with Dad of course, and then I'll be leaving for the beaches of Phuket in sunny Thailand. I'll spend a week there and then move on to Chiang Mai, a city in the north of Thailand, up in the mountains, for my company's annual retreat. We'll be there for classes, meetings, worship and relaxation. My plans are to ride an elephant or two, get a tan (the temperature oughta be in the 80s), catch up on my reading and cheer the Steelers to the Super Bowl from Southeast Asia. Super Bowl XL will be the first football I've seen all fall or winter. Then it's back to Beijing for another week off and then back to classes with Spring Training just a week away.

Hope you're all well, and here we go Steelers.