Hello everyone,
I am really getting excited now about my trip to China to present at the Reputation Institute‘s conference in Beijing! In just a few days, I will be making the long flight to China– it’s definitely going to be the longest one that I have been on yet! When my family and I went to Australia, it took us about 18 hours flying, and it took me about 20 hours to get to Cape Town last summer. This time– I am going to be traveling for about 28 hours. Yep– I said 28. 🙂
I am actually going to be heading out from Nashville and then to Dallas, and then I land in LA. I get to spend a couple of hours there, and then I am heading to Hong Kong. I am really excited because besides seeing Beijing, I will get to see Hong Kong as well. 🙂 I definitely know that I will be completely and totally jet-lagged because it is 12 hours ahead of where I am right now in Tennessee. Yikes! 🙂
I have basically got everything in order. We finished our powerpoint presentation for the conference this past week, and so what I have been doing now is getting the final things checked off before I leave. What do I mean by this? Well, here are some of the things that I’ve been working on:
Translating my Phone: I know that this sounds weird, but it is true– I have been spending a lot of time to make sure that I know how to work my international phone. I am using the same phone that I got in South Africa, but I have a Chinese SIM card now in it. The only issue that I have been faced with is the fact that everything is in Chinese. 🙂 I’m working on it! 🙂
Talking to my friends from China: In all of my degree programs, I got a wonderful opportunity to meet and get to know students from China that were studying Public Relations. So what I have been doing now is talking with them to find out where I should go and what I should do while I am in the country. I did this before I went to South Africa last year, and I felt that I really got an insight into the culture and had a wonderful time. 🙂 They have really given me some great advice– thanks so much! 🙂
Food & Shopping Research: What can I say– I love to shop and I am a complete foodie! Jenny will definitely have to understand. I really do think that you can learn a lot about a country and citizens by experiencing the food and overall dining experience. Plus, shopping is always a fun activity! 🙂 I have a list of restaurants that Kristin and I will have to go and check out while we are there. 🙂
Training for Trip: I know that this is going to sound a little weird, but I have actually been working out and training for China. No– I am not coming out of retirement from track and field, :)– but what I have been doing is a TON of walking. I figure that Kristin and I will be walking all over the place, so I figure that I better get a head start on it. I have been walking about 6-7 miles now– takes me a couple of hours, but it is great exercise and I am out in the sun! 🙂
Anyway, I hope you all are having a great day! 🙂
Best Wishes,
Karen 🙂
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