Here's the saga thus far: I get to STL-Lambert airport on time, only to find out that my connection in Minneapolis wasn't going to make it. I COMPLETELY lucked out and ended up being put on a direct flight to Seattle on a different airline. So everything is going just peachy until we're really close to Seattle and end up in a holding pattern because of snow and ice. It hardly ever snows in Seattle, but of course it does on the one day of the year I'm going to be there. We ended up landing at a reasonable time, but [View Full Entry]

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We're at T-minus 32 hours and counting until my departure. A month in China has been packed into two carry-on bags. There is a stack of art history exams to grade, and this must be completed before I leave. I am now going into hiding and will emerge either en route or in Chengdu. Cheers to all, happy holidays, and wish my kitties luck in staying at home with my husband for entertainment... [View Full Entry]

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We have our visas now, so this endeavor is becoming more and more real. Hard to believe that I will be en route in 12 days. It is also hard to believe that I will need to grade 35 art history final exams in a period of 24 hours before I leave, plus pack. Bitchin' [View Full Entry]

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Answer to question one: Pi Xian, Sichuan, China Answer to question two: A prof of mine got a huge grant for her survey archaeology project, and being the only archaeology grad student in the department, I've been invited to go with her for a month. Answer to question three: No So yes, on December 18th I will begin my journey to Chengdu with pit stops in Tokyo and Beijing, carrying two bags: one full of waterproof clothing, boots, and long underwear; the other full of patience, a good sense of humor, and possibly a twinge of insanity. Yes, both Christmas [View Full Entry]

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