Beijing So Far

Nihao!

I started to post a blog from my laptop yesterday and it insisted o doing it in Chinese, so here I am on my blackberry. Once I figure out the dealio, you can read about the great wall experience. I still can't believe I was on the friggin great wall! I might have to walk the whole thing for it to really sink in.

The highlights so far:

My eyeball exploded, yes as in the one you look out of specifically the right one. It doesn't hurt and I can still see but its a bloody mess.ok its not THAT bad, but I woke up yesterday, looked in the mirror and was like "ew gross" I'm pretty sure it was from the 50 hour flight and I'm pretty sure I'll be able to convince people I'm cursing them with my eye and they will give me great deals on many things:)

The people I'm working with are super cool and we have a great team!

The hotel is very nice and the service is great! So far everyone in China has been very friendly!

We are learning one word a day today was "cookie" or Bing-an in Chinese.

I had dinner with my friend Sil, whose hotel is literally 3 blocks from mine. We wandered around her block, had a yummy bite, dropped into this club for a beer and now I'm home and going to bed.

Sil had pulled out these postcards of the "cartoon mascots" for the games at dinner. They kinda look hello kittyish and about 4 servers (girls) were standing around looking at the postcards, giggling and I imagine discussing how cool the cards were. Sil only needed 3 so she left the other 3 as part of our tip, I'm sure the girls were stoked! It was super cute!!

Alright off to bed! Zaijan!

Shanghai Airport

Nihao! Well I've officially made it into China. I don't know why but I always get nervous going through Customs in any country, even the US. The funny thing is, I'm not doing anything wrong. I guess its because one time I was flying to Vancouver and I made the mistake of saying I was working. That didn't go over to well with immigration, luckily I talked my way out it and they let me in.

Upon landing in Shanghai I didn't notice too much of a difference from any other airport. Except for the fact that everything is in Chinese and English. The other thing that become quickly apparent was how freakin quiet the airport is! I was waiting for my bags reading email on my blackberry and didn't even notice the bags were coming off the belt. In the States its like a Chucky Cheese game, bells, whistles and lights letting you know your bags are coming down the belt.

The ac wasn't on either I started sweating as soon as I got off the plane and let me tell you, it's humid!

I made my way from T1 to T2 to check in for my flight to Beijing and I'm now sitting at the gate. Again I feel like I'm in a library, you could hear a pin drop. Its actually very nice.

Alright more later from Beijing!

I'm leaving on a jet plane

I'm sitting here at O'Hare at my gate and I'm finally starting to get excited. I cut it sort of close getting here this morning. I was starting to get nervous that the agent wasn't going to let me check my bags because he kept looking at his watch. But it's all good away they went down the belt with newly minted "Platinum" stickers.

I'm hoping to learn some Chinese by listening here at the gate. There are about 50 teen and pre teen kids flying with me back to Shanghai. So far I haven't picked up on anything:) I'll let you know how my lessons go!

You'll here from me soon!

Cheers! April

Am I Nervous? Excited? A little bit of both.

I leave in less than 24 hours and I'm ready to go! I have both of my suitcases zipped and by the door....yes I said "both". I really wanted to only pack one bag, but I was asked by a few people to bring some things over to Beijing and then I added somethings to the mix and now I have 2 bags. However, the 2nd bag has stuff that will be consumed along the way and will leave be used for souvenirs to bring back. Or I can leave the bag, it originally was purchased when I was in Thailand two years ago when I shopped my head off. I can only imagine Beijing and Bali aren't going to be any better.

I'm both excited and nervous. Looking forward to landing in Shanghai and making my way to my flight to Beijing. I'm the last of our team to arrive and they are all going to dinner at 8:00, so I'll be looking forward to getting to the hotel asap, so I can meet everyone.

Today when I was finishing up my errands I saw the perfect quote on a church reader board "All People Smile in the Same Language". I thought that was an appropriate reminder as I head to China tomorrow- when in doubt just "smile and nod".

hahaha.

3 Days and Counting

3 days from now I'll be sitting on a plane at O'Hare waiting for everyone in Coach to get on the bus :) I used miles and a little bit of cash to get upgraded to business. Thank God since the flight to Shanghai is 14.5 hours. 

I'm almost ready to go. I need to run to the store and pick up a few things and I still need to pack. My friend Jen and her Moldovan daughter- Galina are here visiting today and tomorrow. Galina was on a mission trip to Chicago, so Jen came up and the three of us are hanging out.

It'll be a fun two days. We are headed to the Hancock building, Chinatown, Millennium Park and of course Garrett's Popcorn. Much to Jen's dismay Galina isn't a fan of Chicago style pizza, so we may or may not hit up Giordano's.

I have a feeling I may be running around like a mad woman on Sunday..oh well that's how I roll.

Tell Me

Exactly what am I supposed to think when three people whom I sent my blog out to, quickly reply and say "hey I know people in China, if you need to get bailed out while you're over there-shoot me an email".

I have no intentions of misbehaving....yeah yeah yeah I know that sentence is even hard for me to believe. As much as I like causing trouble I don't really like the thought of being sent to a slammer in any country.

So I'll behave in both China and Bali...okay fine I'll try and get in a little trouble just to keep the blog exciting, but for the most part I'll be keeping my nose clean!

My horns do hold up my halo!

Let me get this right, did you say there is a SLIDE at the Great Wall of China?

Last night I was on a conference call with the people I'll be working with in China and it was mentioned that our signature event will be at the Mutinayu section of the Great Wall. Mutinayu is about 90 minutes from Beijing and is supposed to be a less touristy area of the Great Wall. 

On the 30th of July our team is headed up there to check out the wall and get a lay of the land for our signature event that we will do 4 times during the course of the Olympics. Our Account Manager says yes you can take the Gondola or the Slide down the Wall...I'm sorry what did you say a "SLIDE?". Tell me exactly how LONG is this SLIDE? Having the nickname "nancy drew" for excellent internet research I google "Slide Great Wall" and this is what I found:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDX2IIg3kmQ

Yes that's right folks a friggin toboggan like metal slide that appears to run for miles and miles and miles. Which route do think I'll take back down the Great Wall!?!?  :) And yes I do have travel medical insurance....

Later.

Ni Hao!

Greetings! Welcome to my 2008 Travel Blog...in 12 days I will be departing for the 2008 Summer Olympics. I will be working in Beijing for a month and then plan on traveling for 2 weeks afterwards. As you can imagine I'm very excited...I still have lots to do, but in true AGulley fashion I will pull it off in the last few days before I go. I do have some things started...like a pile of clothes, a few books, a list of all the consumables I plan on taking with me, a short list of things to do before my plane pulls away from the gate of Terminal 3 at O'Hare.

I'm trying to pack reasonable, as I know I'll be shopping a little...yeah yeah yeah put your request in now cuz I'm capping who I buy for at 20 people and my personal trainer already has his request in! 

I keep hearing you can buy anything you need in Beijing so yes I can buy shampoo but is it Suave, Paul Mitchell or Rhino Poop!?!? I do hear Rhino poop really makes your hair shine...

Now most of you know I'm far from a prima donna, but if I'm going to be working my butt off for a month in a business setting I would like a few comforts from home... if I wasn't at the Beijing Hilton I'd wash my hair with Rhino Poop and wear the same underwear for 4 days....but since I sorta have to look presentable, I do plan on packing some of my favorite toiletries. I'm doing my best to pack a small backpack, one medium size suitcase and possibly one smaller bag but that's it!

I am super duper psyched for this trip!! It hasn't quite set in yet that I'll be in China soon. I can't wait to experience all the stuff I've read about: the food markets, the people, me not understanding them and them not understanding me, getting lost, making new friends, people staring and laughing (that's nothing new:), even the pollution...I mean "how bad can it be?". 

Stay tuned for more updates before I leave and during my travels!!

Cheers!