Wow..

This is my last night in China. It's been a fun-filled, long 12-days in the mainland, and I have absolutely been inspired by the Chinese culture. In fact, I have all the decorations I need for a dining room, now I just need the room and table to put them in! Dad and I each got our Chinese names, along with our zodiac sign, written on a beautiful silk paper yesterday - for $15 total. Speaking of great deals, I enjoyed a 1-hour foot massage tonight for a whopping $5.... And am going back in the morning.

My "China Spree" group leaves around 730 am tomorrow, but I'll be in the hotel area until 1 pm, when I leave for the PuDong airport. Ming, my tour guide, came to my room last night to write diretions in both Chinese and English (how helpul). Ming is absolutely wonderful, and has decided to take me under her wing and calls herself my "older sister" - I hope you don't mind, Meghan.

I'm sort of both extremely emotional, and completely empty, right now; too many emotions running through me and not enough sleep. I was up until 2 am working on my good host responsibiltiies, as my mom will soon visit in Thailand for two weeks. I'm really looking forward to that trip, and know my mom will immerse herself in the culture as I do (minus the food, perhaps...).

Thanks for checking in on me, and following me on this journey that seems to really only be beginning... Here's to good health and longevity (as the Chinese say).

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