Welcome to China, kids

This was the fantastic site that greeted me at Shanghai Pudong Airport. Yes, they're actually covered head to toe with that white plastic material. And yes, they checked everyone's temperature with little laser thingies with the black gun-like object in their hands. Luckily, no one on my flight had a fever, or I'd be much more irritated. Apparently the Beijing FSP kids got quarantined...

My flight back to the U.S. was a lot less eventful. I even made it past Customs without having my bags searched (I've NEVER made it past Customs without having my suitcase searched. Seriously. Not exaggerating.) After spending the night in Newark, I made it back to Hanover and eventually to my apartment in Lebanon after some minor crises, and have set myself up in my summer apartment.

The trip back to China with my parents was good, I think. It was the first time we've actually managed to stay a whole week in my Dad's parents' house without someone storming out angrily halfway through the visit, so I consider that progress. We also went to Jiuzhai and Huanglong, two beautiful resort-type areas where we spent a few days hiking (nothing like DOC hiking, though. For one, everything was paved, and there were cable cars and buses sometimes, and I didn't have a giant pack on my back) and enjoying the scenery. My only complaint is that we barely spent any time in Shanghai with my grandparents and cousin's family. Technically, we spent a week in Shanghai, but since the days were spread out between visiting my dad's side of the family and the week at Jiuzhai/Huanglong, it felt like a much shorter duration. My cousin, who is only 3 months older than me, is someone I used to be really close to as a child, and I wish I had gotten to spend more time with her. She's currently studying to be a doctor in China (which is infinitely different than studying to be a doctor in America), and hearing her talk about her studies is really fascinating. It's kind of crazy thinking that the rest of her life is pretty much set now, whereas I don't even know what my third class will be in the fall.

The trip to China also hardened my resolve to start exercising again. This morning, I went for a run for the first time in possibly years, and the fact that it was so difficult convinced me that it's necessary.

I start working at the lab on Monday, and DemiDec stuff as soon as SL emails me back with details about my project. It's going to be a good summer, I think. I'll be kept busy with my work, and even though I'm technically by myself in this apartment, NK is going to be staying here for a while starting Monday, and AH's coming up for another visit in August, and I'm hoping to make it to New York at some point this summer and meet up with some New Jersey people.




On a side note, Youtube, Pandora, and Blogger are all blocked in China...