Blogs from Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, North America

We were up early around 8.00am and got ourselves organised to start our road trip. First order of business was to get some breakfast and during our orientation walk of Chicago yesterday we came across a couple of places on South Michigan Avenue that looked OK so we went to this place a couple of blocks from our hotel called the Artists Café. One thing I noticed about Chicago that surprised me was how it is set up for cold weather. They generally have two sets of doors to get into buildings so the cold can stay out and in this café they had a section in the corner with something like 30 coat hangers like you have in a wardrobe. Look weird and then it dawned on me during winter everyone is probably layering up ... read more

Nostalgia strikes again: Only with redeye flight, do I wish the flight was a tad bit longer. It didn't leave until 11pm which is way way past my bed time and didn't even fly for 5 hours. Especially after all week of pre-5am starts, I was passed out at the gate already. I remember my neck hurting and being cold but I must have slept decent. I was surprisingly awake at 4am PST. Mingji picked me up at the airport and we were off to Ann Arbooor, woohoo! It had only been a year. With gray sky and chilly air, I didn't feel so distant to this place. Fuller Rd felt especially familiar from my solo run last year. Covering place on foot is so powerful. We went to the League's Beanster for breakfast. League was ... read more

Being a Michigan fan in Pac 10 (ok, Pac 12 now, whatever) territory hasn’t been easy. With football, some ignorant broadcasting companies would happily cut off an exciting OT with a Bruins game that nobody cares about. Unless it’s nationally televised, I spent many Saturday mornings in front of streaming radio. Last year this time, my fan-dom confidant and guidance brought Women’s Football Academy to my attention, I banged my head for not knowing this earlier. Since then, I had my eyes and ears open for 2012 event and registration. The event not only provides women an opportunity to learn about M football, but also benefits the cancer center at the M hospital – brilliant. I had absolutely no reason not to participate! This year was gonna be special. Last year was one of the successful ... read more

My mother asked me to write a blog for this trip. Make sure to note, this is NOT my idea. Anways. Not ready. At all. I have shopping to do, people to see, classes to enroll for, work to be done, oh yea.. and I'm leaving in 5 days for Europe for 2 months...... read more

Hello again, I am all packed and ready to go. Hopefully I didn't forget too much :-) I'll be sure to let all of my fans out there know when I arrive safely in Moscow, Russia on March 24. I'm am all ready for 10 weeks of education, fun, sightseeing and of course vodka. Ha. ... read more